Social Impact: Measurement and Management
Insights from Experts and Civil Society Organization
Abstract
Social impact measurement and impact management have gained increasing prominence in the civil sector in recent years, primarily in response to growing expectations related to sustainability, accountability, and funding. Beyond serving as a technical evaluation tool, impact measurement can be understood as part of a broader strategic approach that supports organizational self-reflection, the conscious shaping of operations, and the communication of social value. Adopting this perspective, the study examines impact measurement practices in the Hungarian civil sector through the concept of social impact management. The aim of the research is to explore how social impact measurement and impact management are embedded in the everyday operations of Hungarian civil society organizations, what motivations drive their adoption, and which barriers hinder their integration. The study also investigates which elements of internationally established methodological approaches can be adapted to the resource-constrained context of the domestic civil sector. The empirical research is based on a mixed-methods approach, combining structured interviews with ten social impact measurement experts and seven civil organizations at different levels of organizational maturity, as well as an online survey involving 37 civil organizations. The findings indicate that demand for social impact measurement in the Hungarian civil sector is driven mainly by external expectations—particularly donor and grant-related requirements—while internal, strategic motivations develop more slowly. Although most organizations engage in some form of data collection, structured and sustainable impact management systems are rarely integrated into daily practice. Key barriers include limited time and financial resources, methodological uncertainty, and a lack of relevant expertise. The study argues that social impact measurement can become a meaningful developmental tool if it is approached not as an administrative burden, but as part of a cyclical, learning-oriented impact management process embedded in everyday organizational practice. The findings contribute to a more nuanced domestic discourse on impact measurement and offer practical guidance for developing approaches that respond both to international expectations and to the realities of the Hungarian civil sector.
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Társadalmi hatásmérés szakértő interjúalanyok:
Ashoka szakértő
Csernák Janka – Moholy-Nagy Művészeti Egyetem (MOME), Social Design Hub
Fehér Bori – Moholy-Nagy Művészeti Egyetem (MOME), Social Design HUB
Héra Gábor – HOLO. - hatasmeres.hu
Herczog Mária – szociológus, gyermekvédelmi szakember
Kovách Eszter – Scale Impact
Messing Vera – HUN-REN, TK Társadalomtudományi Kutatóközpont
Tolvaj Krisztina – SIMPACT
Tornóczi Zsófia – SozialMarie, Cromo Alapítvány
Révész Éva – IFUA Nonprofit Partner, Budapesti Corvinus Egyetem
Civil szervezeti interjúalanyok:
Benkő Fruzsina – InDaHouse Hungary
Bokonics - Kramlik Márta – Szabadtéri Néprajzi Múzeum, Demencia Projekt
Both Emőke – Bagázs Közhasznú Egyesület
Lencse Máté – Igazgyöngy Alapítvány - Toldi Tanoda
L. Ritók Nóra – Igazgyöngy Alapítvány
Nagy Katalin – Bátor Tábor
Raposa Renáta – Amigos a Gyerekekért Alapítvány
