Let’s be honest—most impact reports are written to please funders, not communities. They measure outputs (like number of trainings held or funds disbursed) instead of tracking whether lives have actually changed. According to GIIN, over 78% of impact investors use IRIS+ metrics—but IRIS+ explicitly states that its indicators do not prove impact, only describe it.

This means we’re rewarding activity, not outcomes. We count the number of cookstoves distributed, not whether respiratory illness declined. We report on jobs created, but not on the quality or sustainability of those jobs. It’s theatre: a well-rehearsed performance meant to signal good intent.

The result? Greenwashing. Tokenism. Funds misallocated to ventures that look impactful but don’t move the needle.