Assessing Impact

This guide reviews various ways to assess philanthropic impact. It looks at what assessment can accomplish and what it has difficulty measuring. It sets out a series of questions donors can ask as they consider how to proceed with their philanthropy. And finally, it details some of the limitations inherent in trying to understand exactly how donors’ dollars are working. While precision in measuring impact can be difficult, donors should not be discouraged. One of the hallmarks of thoughtful philanthropy is the co-development of a generous gift alongside a well-designed assessment plan.