Impact & scale don't go together.
At least not in the traditional sense

1000+ impact metrics in use

The team of WIP has worked with over 9 popular impact metrics over the last 2 decades including the SDGs, ESG and IRIS. And over the last 6 months has done a systemic research to understand the strengths and limitations of each.

UN SDGs

Global benchmark for impact alignment

Global benchmark for impact alignment

292

LIMITATION

17 goals and 292 indicators standardise the measure of impact - across geographies and varied contexts

IRIS

Widely used by Impact Investors

Widely used by Impact Investors

600

LIMITATION

The comprehensive 600 data points do not capture the subjective user experience of impact and its intangible transformative value

ESG

Environment, Social & Governance

Environment, Social & Governance

1500

LIMITATION

The non-standard ESG measuring frameworks across organisations are focused on protecting shareholder value

ToC

Popular with NGOs & early stage interventions

Popular with NGOs & early stage interventions

100

LIMITATION

The model assumes linearity in change from inputs to outcomes, leaving little room for evidence of causality

SRoI

Dollar value of impact

Dollar value of impact

50

LIMITATION

Translating impact to dollar value leads to high degree of assumption stacking in creating financial proxies for social change