Projects
Pathfinder Pilot
Testing standards adoption with SPOs
In 2022, Common Approach launched its next pilot program, the Pathfinder Pilot. The goal of the Pathfinder Pilot is to see how adopting all four Common Approach Standards alters the process and outcomes of impact measurement for social purpose organizations (SPOs), both individually and within a network of related organizations.
Why the Pathfinder Pilot?
Impact measurement by social purpose organizations can often be time-consuming, bureaucratic, and focused more on reporting and accountability than the information needs of the organization or those most affected by the mission or impact goal.
Through the Pathfinder Pilot, participants are measure impact using the Common Approach’s four standards. We believe this will result in impact measurement that is more effective and more relevant to participating organizations and those they serve. We are testing if the Common Approach standards truly do allow social purpose organizations to collect and use more flexible, relevant data that can still be aggregated at a portfolio level.
The understanding we are gaining from this Pilot with Canadian organizations will help us further develop the standards into flexible, community-driven best practices and encourage the adoption of better impact measurement practices globally.
Meet the participating networks
The Newfoundland and Labrador Social Enterprise and Innovation Coalition, convened by the Centre for Social Enterprise (Memorial University), was formed to promote the development of a well-articulated and robust social finance ecosystem in Newfoundland and Labrador. Members participating in the Pathfinder Pilot are:
- Centre for Social Enterprise (MUN)
- End Homelessness St. John’s
- Food First NL
- NL Federation of Co-operatives
The Community Lending Network, convened by Alterna Savings, comprises community loan fund partners who share a common goal of providing access to capital for underserved communities. Members participating in the Pathfinder Pilot are:
- Afro Caribbean Business Network Foundation Canada
- Alterna Savings
- Business in the Streets
- Ottawa Community Loan Fund
- Fair Finance Fund
The Network for Optimizing Food Impact, co-convened by 10C Shared Space and Colleaga, comprises SPOs that bring more food to communities in need and strengthen local food systems through community-driven innovation. Members participating in the Pathfinder Pilot are:
- 10C Shared Space (serving as anchor organization)
- Be12Give
- DC Farms
- Fanjoy Culinary + Wellness Centre
- A Friendlier Company
- Guelph Farmers’ Market
- Nourish Kitchen
- Ontario Co-operative Association
- Open Food Network
- Shelldale Farm Park
- The SEED
Success by the mid-point of the Pilot will look like:
- All network members meet a minimum standard for impact measurement practice, demonstrated by answering “yes” to every question on the Common Foundations self-assessment
- All network members are using software that is aligned with the Common Impact Data Standard and capturing all data points relevant to the highest tier of alignment for that software.
- All network members will have completed a Common Form and can export/share it.
- Network members have pooled their impact data for analysis, specifics to be determined case-by-case.
- At least two, and preferably all, funders to the network have also aligned with the Common Impact Data Standard and Common Form
Success by the end of the Pilot may include:
- Organizations collecting more useful and relevant impact data that meet their needs, including making program improvements and demonstrating value.
- The process of collecting, analyzing, using and sharing data more efficiently.
- Valuable insights that emerge from new analyses of pooled data.
- Funders able to be more flexible on reporting requirements without diminishing their ability to aggregate data across a portfolio.
What we're learning from the Pathfinder Pilot
Partners
The Pathfinder Pilot is housed at Social Innovation Canada and is funded by the Government of Canada’s Investment Readiness Program, the Northpine Foundation, and the Ontario Trillium Foundation, with additional funding from the McConnell Foundation.
