Understanding impact in social investments

Thames Rivers Trust / The Rivers Trust (Paul Colley)

Understanding the impact of our social investments is critical for our learning and ensuring that we are an effective investor. In a new report, we outline how we assess the difference each social investment is intended to make, how we track its progress over time, and how that shapes our learning as an investor.

View the report in full-screen or click the button in the top left hand corner to download.

By sharing our thinking and learning so far, we hope other social investors considering similar questions will find it useful. We are still at an early stage of this work and would welcome feedback, as well as the opportunity to learn from others about what they're doing on understanding impact.

Do get in touch by emailing: communications@esmeefairbairn.org.uk.

Learn more

Latest

You might be interested in

  • Gina Crane standing in the woods

    People can’t build for the future while they're fighting fires

    In Gina Crane’s final project for Esmée, she has been working with Oliver French to pull together six years of learning about Esmée’s strategy for Trustees. In this blog, Gina shares the challenges organisations we fund are facing and shares three things she'd like funders to do.

    Read more
  • The Warren Youth Project crew in Hull after their Good Night Out Campaign training session

    Pre-application Q&A webinar: 28 September 2026

    We're hosting a pre-application Q&A webinar on 28 September at 2pm for organisations interested in applying to Esmée for support who have questions about our application process or guidance.

    Read more
  • annual report 2025

    Annual Report and Accounts 2025

    Our 2025 Annual Report and Accounts gives an overview of our funding, investments and operations during the year.

    Read more