Amplifying the impact of Ontario’s social enterprise community: An Action Plan towards a common approach to impact measurement

ORGANIZATION:
KPMG, Government of Ontario

Year: 2017

The Carleton Centre for Community Innovation (3ci) is a university research centre based at the School of Public Policy and Administration at Carleton University, Ottawa. 3ci is working with the Ontario government and community organizations to develop an impact measurement standard for Ontario Social Enterprises.

Social enterprises are organizations that use business strategies to achieve a social or environmental impact. While generating revenues from the sale of goods and services, social enterprises also expressly intent to create positive outcomes, and measure their results. As the business grows, the social impact grows.

An impact measurement and reporting standard is a common way for Ontario Social Enterprises to understand and communicate the effects they have on society, community and the environment.

Download Amplifying the impact of Ontario’s social enterprise community

As part of Ontario’s Social Enterprise Strategy, the Ministry of Economic Development and Growth (MEDG), working with the federal government, Ontario Trillium Foundation, impact measurement experts, social enterprise leaders and other funders and foundations, convened an Impact Measurement Task Force to develop an action plan for a standard approach to impact measurement and reporting by Ontario social enterprises. The Ministry secured KPMG to facilitate the development of the Task Force and Action Plan.

The Ministry of Economic Development and Growth (MEDG) has provided funding for 3ci take the next steps toward the common approach to impact measurement for Ontario Social Enterprise.

3ci is working with the following community partners:

  • Center for Social Innovation (CSI)
  • Conseil de la coopération de l’Ontario (CCO) – CCEDNet Member
  • MaRS
  • PARO Centre for Women’s Enterprise (PARO) – CCEDNet Member
  • Pillar Nonprofit Network

Together they are convening Ontario Social Enterprises in conversation to answer 3 key questions:

  • To what degree to Ontario SEs feel that the proposed Action Plan is appropriate?
  • How much of the proposed solution could SEs implement today?
  • What is needed to be more ready?

Table of Contents

Social enterprise impact measurement task force
The measurement challenge
The social enterprise community in Ontario
The journey to a common approach
What we heard
The path forward
The task force recommendations
The action plan
Driving adoption and success in the future
Next steps
Appendix A