ABSTRACT

This chapter discusses how the ability to measure arid communicate the impact of a venture's efforts still remains a significant challenge for most social firms. The importance of this activity is reviewed and an assessment methodology that can ultimately be used to maximize organizational effectiveness and market a social venture's value to its key stakeholders is examined. Social entrepreneurs often have difficulty coming up with a precise and measurable indicator that can accurately represent the amount of social return generated by their ventures. Increasingly organizations are feeling pressure from funders to account for their social returns. One of the main benefits of learning how to calculate a firm's social impact is a clear picture of the measurable results of the organization's work. Social entrepreneurs can become more aware of which of their programs are working and which are not.