To track project survival and scalability, we survey the alumni of the Incubator program every two years. And to isolate the Foundation’s contribution, we ask participants to separately assess our program’s impact on their development.
Here is a short listing of the assessment tools used by the Foundation:
• Development Tracker;
• Special reporting forms and surveys;
• Social impact cases;
• Internal research;
• Interviews with impact entrepreneurs, mentors, and other stakeholders;
• Program alumni surveys, a biennial survey of all alumni from different years.
To learn more about the social impact assessment system and program results, check our annual report[5].
HOW DO WE KNOW THAT PROJECTS CHANGE THE LIVES OF CHILDREN AND YOUTH?
It is important to emphasize that to enter the Incubator program, participants go through a lengthy selection process where they have to prove the effectiveness of their project in solving the problems of children or young people. Throughout the year in the program, we gather their data continuously, including information that, among other things, reflects changes in the lives of the children: the participants provide social impact cases three times a year, describing how the children’s lives change. These cases are based on interviews with the child or his or her representative (parents, guardians, specialists) and follow a predefined structure.
We also collect data three times a year on the number of children receiving support. At the end of the first, or in some cases, second year of participation in the program, the participants provide social impact assessment data, i.e., changes in the lives of children/community, reflected through specific indicators or metrics.
The alumni receive a shorter questionnaire, which, however, contains more complex questions: whether they measure social effects, i.e., the achievement of long-term social impact goals, whether their actions are contributing or have already contributed to creating systemic change, etc.
THEORY OF CHANGE AS A MUST-HAVE TOOL
I have already mentioned the need for impact projects to adopt theory of change. I want to emphasize that this is a tool that is used by many infrastructure organizations working with social entrepreneurs both in Russia and around the world. We consider our experience of using this tool, as well as that of our colleagues, as extremely positive.