How can impact investors measure what really matters?
The impact investing market surpassed $1.5 trillion USD in 2024, reflecting a growing recognition of the field’s world-changing potential. But as momentum builds, investors continue to ask: how can we measure impact in a way that is transparent, comparable and decision-useful? What counts as “good” impact performance? What tools exist to help investors best address complex challenges?
As global focus sharpens on the role of capital in solving social and environmental challenges, the need for clear, credible and comparable impact data has never been greater.
The urgency to refine impact performance measurement and management is driven by several factors:
- Rising expectations in the role of capital and investment in addressing challenges affecting people and planet.
- Increased regulatory scrutiny across global markets.
- Growing pressure on investors to demonstrate data-driven results that align with relevant impact targets.
This new report from the GIIN explores four persistent challenges:
- What impact performance data should be standardized, and what data should be customized?
- How should data be structured and shared?
- How can long-term outcomes be measured meaningfully within short-term investment horizons?
- Who should pay the costs associated with measuring impact data to understand impact performance?
Drawing from over 100 impact investors, researchers, service providers and standard setters, this report offers practical recommendations to move the field forward. By addressing these questions head-on, impact investing actors can improve clarity and transparency, improve decision-making and increase the rigor and credibility of the field.
Download and read the report today to access these insghts.
