When funders ask about “impact,” they often want data — numbers of people helped, workshops delivered, or outcomes achieved.
But impact isn’t just about how much we do. It’s about what changes because of what we do.
For me, impact has always been as much about the story as the stats. The balance between the two is where real insight — and accountability — live.
Counting what counts
It’s easy to fall into the trap of measuring what’s easiest to count. Attendance, income, outputs — they all matter, but they don’t always tell the full story.
A project might reach fewer people but change lives more deeply. Another might run at a loss but create learning that transforms how you work next year.
At Accounting for Good, we encourage organisations to ask: What difference are we really making — and how do we know?
Impact should be a conversation, not a spreadsheet.
Numbers tell part of the story
Good financial reporting is a form of impact measurement too. It shows how resources are used, how funding translates into activity, and whether an organisation is sustainable enough to keep making a difference.
But finance only tells part of the story. A surplus doesn’t automatically mean success, and a deficit doesn’t always mean failure.
Some of the most impactful organisations I’ve worked with have operated at a loss during periods of growth or change. They were investing in the future — in new people, spaces, or services that would bear fruit later.
Impact, like growth, is rarely instant.
Seeing impact through people
Every figure in your accounts connects back to a person. The grant income might represent a community partnership. The travel expense might be a volunteer journeying to support someone. The equipment cost might be a tool that helps someone with a disability work independently.
When we connect the numbers back to people, they take on meaning. That’s what keeps your team motivated and your funders engaged.
Making space for reflection
We rarely stop to ask, “What did this really change?” Yet that’s where learning — and improvement — begins.
Build time into your year to reflect. Look at what worked and what didn’t. Ask your beneficiaries and partners what difference they felt.
It doesn’t have to be complicated. A few honest conversations can reveal as much as a 10-page evaluation.
When reflection becomes part of the rhythm of your work, it builds trust — with funders, your board, and your own team.
Final thought
Impact isn’t a performance; it’s a practice. It’s about staying curious, transparent, and grounded in purpose. Numbers matter — but only when they help us see the change that really counts.
Impact takes time, not spreadsheets.