ABSTRACT
The foundation of a good measurement system is a clearly articulated model that links actions to impacts. In contrast to trained judgment, qualitative methods rely on objectively validated and systematic documentation and analysis. Measurement approaches can be divided into four basic categories: trained judgment, qualitative research, quantification, and monetization. For many organizations, trained judgment marks the extent of measuring and reporting efforts, both internally and externally. The choices of which impacts to measure and how to measure them are critical to reporting and improving social impacts. Global Giving Foundation, a US-based non-profit that connects social entrepreneurs and non-profits with funders, launched its Storytelling Project to build a better community feedback loop directly from the stakeholders. Social return on investment is conceptually similar to return on investment, which is regularly used to evaluate financial returns expected from or realized by business investment.
