What do you do if your social impact metrics and data fail to impress funders and investors?
You have a great idea for a social impact project, but you need funding and support to make it happen. You've collected some metrics and data to show your potential impact, but when you present them to funders and investors, they don't seem impressed. What do you do? In this article, we'll share some tips on how to communicate your social impact effectively and overcome common challenges.
The first step is to understand who you are talking to and what they care about. Different funders and investors have different goals, criteria, and preferences when it comes to social impact. Some may focus on the social return on investment (SROI), some may look for alignment with their mission and values, and some may want to see evidence of scalability and sustainability. You need to research your audience and tailor your message accordingly. For example, if you are pitching to a foundation that supports education, you may want to highlight how your project improves learning outcomes and access for marginalized groups.
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Above all, data should meet the criteria of relevance. A lot of indicators, when really looked upon, aren't really important. Additionally, besides the clear benefits of pitching your quantitative metrics, qualitative data can also be very helpful to tailor your social impact message according to the stakeholders.
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Em gestão de projetos há um consenso que diz o seguinte: O que não pode ser medido não existe. Com isso em mente, quando não estamos conseguindo convencer investidores é porque não estão vendo nosso potencial de impacto através de nossos resultados. Minha dica: Alinhe os projetos à missão da organização ou investidor, demonstre dados de impacto, traga relatos de experiência transformadora e, sobretudo, conecte-se com eles através de evidências tangíveis como, por exemplo, atraves do uso do SROI - Retorno Social Sobre o Investimento.
The next step is to choose the right metrics and data to demonstrate your social impact. You want to avoid using too many or too few metrics, as well as irrelevant or unreliable ones. You also want to avoid jargon and technical terms that may confuse your audience. You need to select metrics and data that are relevant, credible, and meaningful for your project and your audience. For example, if you are running a health intervention, you may want to use metrics such as mortality rate, quality of life, and cost-effectiveness.
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Choosing the right indicators is often the hardest part, specially because certain indicators imply more work than others, both in measurement and in analysis. It isn't necessary to have many indicators, but more important to measure what is really relevant. And what is really relevant for you and for your audience should be, more or less, very similar.
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Escolher as métricas corretas é crucial para demonstrar o impacto social. Se as métricas não convencem os investidores, revise-as para alinharem com a missão do projeto. Apresente dados de impacto e relatos de experiência transformadora. Conecte-se com eles através de evidências tangíveis. Transparência e honestidade são fundamentais.
The final step is to tell a compelling story that connects your metrics and data with your vision and values. You want to show your audience why your project matters, how it works, and what it achieves. You also want to show your passion, enthusiasm, and commitment for your cause. You need to use clear, concise, and engaging language that appeals to both logic and emotion. For example, if you are promoting a renewable energy solution, you may want to use stories of how it improves the lives of people and the environment, as well as facts and figures that show its impact and potential.
By following these steps, you can communicate your social impact more effectively and impress funders and investors. Remember, metrics and data are important, but they are not enough. You also need to show your audience the human and social value of your project and inspire them to join you in making a difference.
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If your social impact metrics aren't impressing funders and investors you're probably talking to the wrong funders and investors. I'd recommend going back to researching investors and funders who are good fit for the impact you're delivering. Alternatively if you're not impressing any funders or investors, then you need to up your game with your impact metrics, and measure more meaningful things that are actually important to your stakeholder - rather than metrics you think matter.
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Uma dica útil é utilizar o M&A - Monitoramento e Avaliação, com ele você pode acompanhar continuamente o progresso do seu projeto, identificar áreas de melhoria e avaliar o impacto real do seu trabalho. Isso permite que você faça ajustes necessários em tempo real e garanta que seu projeto esteja sempre alinhado com seus objetivos de impacto social. Além disso, o M&A fornece dados valiosos que podem ser usados para demonstrar o valor do seu trabalho para os stakeholders, incluindo financiadores e investidores.