08.10.20264 min
Impact measurement and management: what really matters?
How do you measure impact without turning it into a box-ticking exercise? That was one of the central questions raised during the Degroof Petercam Foundation’s recent masterclass on impact measurement and management.
Bringing together perspectives from academia, philanthropists and the field, the discussion made one point clear: impact measurement should not be about proving success. It should help organisations learn, improve and stay focused on the social need they aim to address.
Start with purpose, not with reporting
Elise Leclerc, co-founder and director of the Impact Measurement Lab at ESSEC Business School in Paris, presented the concept of frugal impact measurement: a pragmatic, simple approach designed to support internal learning rather than external reporting. She challenged the idea that rigorous impact measurement must be resource-intensive, noting that randomised studies, while valuable in some contexts, are not always necessary or feasible.
In her view, the most effective approach combines academic rigour, an international perspective and simplicity. Impact measurement is most useful when embedded in strategy and used as a management tool for continuous learning. The key questions are not only “what did we do?”, but also: “why do we do it, who does this serve, what difference does it make, and how can we do better?”
A tool to steer action, not just to communicate
This distinction between communication and management also came back strongly in the field perspectives shared during the masterclass.
Daniel Verougstraete argued that impact measurement should first and foremost serve an organisation's mission. Beyond accountability, he sees impact evidence as a powerful communication tool to bring less visible societal issues to the forefront of public debate, raise awareness and stimulate discussion. To fulfil that role, organisations must remain agile enough to adapt as circumstances evolve and communicate their findings in a way that resonates with practitioners, decision-makers and the wider public. Only then can impact data contribute to meaningful change and help shape public policy.
Frédérick Mathis, from Réseau ETRE, illustrated how impact measurement can strengthen programme management and continuous improvement. When the share of women in ETRE’s training programmes declined from around 50% to 30%, it prompted a deeper analysis of referral practices and ultimately led to the development of new tools for partners, helping more women access these programmes earlier and more systematically. For Frédérick, the value of impact measurement lies not only in demonstrating results but also in understanding them. Used well, it becomes a steering tool that helps organisations question assumptions, improve their practices and learn from both successes and shortcomings. Used poorly, however, it can create perverse incentives, such as focusing on easier cases simply to preserve strong outcome figures.
Keep it useful, keep it honest
At the Degroof Petercam Foundation, this reflection resonates with our own experience. Impact measurement should remain proportionate to an organisation’s reality and support long-term thinking, recognising that meaningful change takes time and is rarely linear.
Our impact surveys show that partners particularly value our non-financial support: helping refine strategy and governance, strengthening legitimacy with other funders and creating relevant connections with peers and foundations. This insight has helped us sharpen our approach. Today, our events and non-financial support focus on cross-cutting themes such as impact measurement, scaling and fundraising, with the aim of helping associations learn from one another and build meaningful connections.
Impact measurement is also a posture as much as a framework. The right balance lies in ongoing dialogue and the co-creation of meaningful KPIs that reflect an organisation’s reality and priorities. More broadly, a partnership between foundations and non-profits is a balance between trust, responsibility and learning.
A few lessons worth keeping in mind
- Start small: one programme or one stakeholder can already provide valuable learning.
- Focus on a limited number of indicators that truly matter.
- Anchor measurement in a clear theory of change and your purpose.
- Use data to improve decisions, be it within your organisation or at the public policy level.
- Build impact frameworks through dialogue, trust and shared learning.
If there is one takeaway from the masterclass, it may be this: do not turn impact measurement into an exercise in confirmation. Once measurement is used only to prove that an organisation is doing well, it loses much of its value.
Impact measurement should not be a reassuring mirror. It should be a compass: one that helps organisations and foundations look more honestly, learn more courageously and act more meaningfully.
Anne-Sophie Pype, Managing Director & Board Member of Degroof Petercam Foundation
Degroof Petercam Foundation: Empower. Society.
Founded in 2008 as a public utility foundation, the Degroof Petercam Foundation (DPF) is one of Belgium’s largest corporate foundations.
Its mission, Empower. Society., is driven by a dual commitment. On the one hand, the Foundation shares its philanthropic expertise and network to promote philanthropy among Degroof Petercam clients, stakeholders, and staff members. On the other hand, it grants the annual DPF Award in Belgium providing unrestricted multi-year funding and strategic support. This enables entrepreneurial non-profit organizations to scale up their impact to empower individuals through education, employment, and social well-being.
Currently operating with a team of four and an annual budget of nearly €1.4 million, the Foundation has granted close to €10 million to philanthropic projects since its creation.
To learn more, visit Degroof Petercam Foundation.
Founded in 2008 as a public utility foundation, the Degroof Petercam Foundation (DPF) is one of Belgium’s largest corporate foundations.
Its mission, Empower. Society., is driven by a dual commitment. On the one hand, the Foundation shares its philanthropic expertise and network to promote philanthropy among Degroof Petercam clients, stakeholders, and staff members. On the other hand, it grants the annual DPF Award in Belgium providing unrestricted multi-year funding and strategic support. This enables entrepreneurial non-profit organizations to scale up their impact to empower individuals through education, employment, and social well-being.
Currently operating with a team of four and an annual budget of nearly €1.4 million, the Foundation has granted close to €10 million to philanthropic projects since its creation.
To learn more, visit Degroof Petercam Foundation.
