#USA #Washington #Durability Collective #Autodesk Foundation #UBS Optimus Foundation

The Durability Collective: A New Frontier in Measuring Social Impact

Today, a significant advancement in the realm of social impact organizations has emerged with the introduction of The Durability Collective. This global community aims to reshape how organizations measure, design, and achieve lasting change in their respective fields.

Rather than following conventional wisdom that suggests measuring long-term outcomes is complex and costly, The Durability Collective proposes that effective assessment of medium and long-term results is not only feasible but can be approached with efficiency and innovation. Often, funders and practitioners find themselves overwhelmed by the perceived resource investment required for traditional methods like randomized controlled trials. The Collective believes alternative measurement strategies can complement these formal techniques, providing valuable insights that can guide sustainable impact.

The launch has gathered an initial group of members that include renowned entities such as the Autodesk Foundation, Clayton Dubilier & Rice Foundation, Generation, GitLab Foundation, Livelihood Impact Fund, and UBS Optimus Foundation. Together, they aim to drive a shift in focus towards assessing long-term impacts on areas such as employment, income, and overall well-being.

One of the primary objectives for The Durability Collective is to incite a broad discourse around the question, "Does change endure?" This inquiry is to become central to discussions within the sector. Members are committed to transforming industry standards regarding the assessment of long-term results and facilitating open, collaborative exchanges of expertise to allow shared learning.

Upcoming Initiatives

To mobilize a wide network and achieve its ambitious goals, The Durability Collective has announced several initiatives, including:

• - Durability Academy: Slated to begin in June 2025, this two-year program will equip non-profits, funders, and governmental agencies with practical tools and training to adopt effective medium- and long-term measurement practices.
• - Research Partnerships: Collaborations with academic and research institutions to pinpoint interventions that can enhance sustained outcomes, along with the launch of an open-source repository of effective strategies.
• - Intellectual Leadership: Publishing insights, case studies, and best practices to integrate durability assessment into routine social impact evaluations.
• - Community Building: Forming a global network where members can connect to share challenges, ideas, and innovations.

Leaders of founding member organizations have expressed their enthusiasm about the initiative. Ishita Jain, Director of Impact Measurement at the Autodesk Foundation, remarked, "The Durability Collective provides a unique opportunity to deepen our understanding of impact. We are shifting from merely counting the number of students served to genuinely comprehending the long-term effects on employment and income."

Randy Moore, President of the CDR Foundation, stated, "Supporting a long-term results-focused initiative is vital for both talent and the organizations that serve them. The Collective’s practical approach to measuring impact presents an opportune path for transformative change."

Dr. Mona Mourshed, founding CEO of Generation, highlighted that their definition of impact encompasses three pillars: breadth, depth, and durability. She emphasized that durability often remains overlooked in the social sector, and The Durability Collective's efforts aim to shift this narrative as a measure of real success.

Adding to this, Spencer MacColl, Impact Director at GitLab Foundation, articulated the critical need for a shared infrastructure among global funders, practitioners, and researchers, asserting, "Measuring long-term impact is fundamental for systemic change."

The mission of the Livelihood Impact Fund, according to Jeremy Hockenstein, is to significantly improve the lives of the world's impoverished populations, requiring a deeper understanding of how programs create lasting changes over years.

Finally, Nalini Tarakeshwar, Deputy CEO at UBS Optimus Foundation, expressed that they are excited to support the launch of The Durability Collective as it is in line with their commitment to catalyzing systemic change, particularly focusing on addressing the global employment crisis affecting marginalized women.

For anyone interested in joining The Durability Collective or wishing to learn more, detailed information can be found at durability.net.

Through collaboration and a commitment to innovative measurement practices, The Durability Collective stands poised to redefine success in the realm of social impact, suggesting that sustainable change is an achievable goal and a true measure of effectiveness.