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Are foundations assessing their impact? Concepts, methods and barriers to social impact assessment in Italian foundations

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  • Elisa Ricciuti

    (Bocconi University)

  • Francesca Calò

    (Glasgow Caledonian University)

Abstract

Social Impact Assessment (SIA) is a mantra for nonprofit studies in recent years and for foundations in particular which are considered to be well-positioned to measure the impact of their grants. This paper aims to explore what foundations mean with impact, the ways they measure it and the barriers in performing evaluations. Its mixed method approach includes an extensive documentary analysis of 196 foundations, complemented by 10 in-depth interviews with informants of 13 foundations which use different methods of evaluation. From our analysis, the degree of foundations’ disclosure on SIA is low, and no common meaning of social impact exists. Foundations prefer qualitative methods for data collection rather than quantitative ones. The reasons behind SIA are primarily based on internal considerations concerning foundations’ legitimacy, and the lack of professional staff is a major barrier. The findings challenge foundations’ accountability and knowledge sharing, fundamental to fostering peer dialogue and increasing participatory evaluations.

Suggested Citation

  • Elisa Ricciuti & Francesca Calò, 2018. "Are foundations assessing their impact? Concepts, methods and barriers to social impact assessment in Italian foundations," International Review on Public and Nonprofit Marketing, Springer;International Association of Public and Non-Profit Marketing, vol. 15(4), pages 553-574, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:irpnmk:v:15:y:2018:i:4:d:10.1007_s12208-018-0213-7
    DOI: 10.1007/s12208-018-0213-7
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Antonella Noya, 2015. "Social Entrepreneurship - Social Impact Measurement for Social Enterprises," OECD Employment Policy Papers 10, OECD Publishing.
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    Cited by:

    1. Ramesh Nair & Roshayani Arshad & Ruhaini Muda & Siti Aeisha Joharry, 2023. "Web-disclosure practices for transparency and the sustainability of non-profit organisations," International Review on Public and Nonprofit Marketing, Springer;International Association of Public and Non-Profit Marketing, vol. 20(1), pages 1-23, March.

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