#United States #New York #Social Impact #Corporate Social Responsibility #TCC Group

Introduction

As businesses increasingly position themselves as responsible corporate citizens, understanding the impact of their social initiatives has never been more important. A new report from TCC Group and the Corporate Measurement & Evaluation Community of Practice (CoP) for 2025 sheds light on current practices in social impact measurement across the corporate landscape. Entitled "Understanding the Emerging Field of Evaluation in Corporate Social Good," this report underscores critical insights into how companies evaluate their social contributions and the gaps that need addressing.

Key Insights from the Report

Corporate Support Outweighs Investment

Despite a strong inclination towards evaluating social impact—61% of C-suite executives showing robust support—only 29% of firms report that they receive adequate funding for these evaluations. This discrepancy suggests a considerable gap where corporate intentions do not translate into tangible investments in measurement practices.

Staffing Challenges

The study also reveals a significant shortfall in personnel dedicated solely to evaluation tasks. Only half of the companies surveyed employ full-time evaluators, leading to variability and inconsistency in measurement practices across the sector. This gap leaves businesses with limited capacity to assess the effectiveness of their corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives effectively.

Innovative Evaluation Methods

Interestingly, the report notes a trend towards creativity and collaboration in determining success indicators. An increasing number of companies are partnering with nonprofit organizations to facilitate the establishment of evaluation metrics, though these partnerships are still evolving.

Need for Strategic Reflection

While 62% of firms do share evaluation findings internally, a mere 38% engage in focused learning and reflection based on these insights. This lack of strategic assessment limits the potential for ongoing improvement in social impact initiatives.

The Business Case for Evaluation

The report highlights the need for a data-driven approach to support strategic decision-making. Data insights ensure that social investments align with overall business objectives, enhancing corporate strategy and operational coherence. Furthermore, transparent evaluation practices can strengthen brand reputation, fostering trust and credibility among consumers, investors, and stakeholders alike. Companies actively measuring and communicating their social impact often report higher employee engagement levels as well, recognizing that a purpose-driven workplace culture enhances retention and satisfaction.

Conclusion

As CSR, corporate philanthropy, and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) frameworks gain prominence in today’s corporate world, robust evaluation practices become essential. Jared Raynor, Director of Evaluation and Learning at TCC Group, emphasizes that this report not only serves as a benchmark but also acts as a call to action for companies to invest more strategically in their efforts to measure social impact effectively.

This urgent need for accountability and insight is critical for any organization looking to navigate the modern social landscape successfully. By addressing these gaps, corporations can dramatically improve their strategies and ensure their contributions to society create meaningful impact.

Overall, this comprehensive report reveals that while support for social impact evaluation is high among corporate leaders, actual investment and strategic implementation remain lacking. A systematic shift in approach could lead to improved outcomes for businesses and the communities they aim to serve.