Discover “The Impact Formula™” to boost

your impact results

Learn how to build an Impact Management System from scratch without losing time learning about frameworks, metrics, and industry jargon, so you can focus on improving your social impact performance from day one.

The PRoBLEM

Making a case for Investing in Impact

Fund managers investing in purpose-driven companies believe that it is possible to achieve social impact alongside financial returns. We do too. But proving impact results is easier said than done. This industry is still in its infancy, and it's hard to navigate the amount of new information, frameworks, and standards being defined as we speak. It's easy to get lost, frustrated, and overwhelmed with conflicting information.

You give up on measuring for impact altogether.

Or worst: you settle for unusable and misleading frameworks that just don't give you an actionable plan.

It Doesn't Have to BE tHiS HArd, DoES iT?

A Simpler Way

Imagine a system where you can confidently show real, lasting social and environmental results. One that lets you focus on your fund's impact goals.

Metrics that Matter

Trust the results you show to your LPs, because you are measuring real social changes and not collecting pretty "vanity numbers."

Actionable Dashboards

Get data on time, without overburdening your team and investees.

Built-in Alignment

Be aligned with your investees' mission and your LPs' expectations because Impact is truly embedded in your investment thesis.

INTRODUCING

The Impact Formula™

A turn-key Impact Measurement & Management Program

This is a complete system, a step-by-step program where we guide you on how to build your own IMM framework without being an impact expert.

This is NOT your typical Impact Management 101 course. There is no jargon, no fluff - we show you exactly what to measure every step of the way.

You will learn how to manage and report the fund’s impact performance without wasting time figuring out new tools and software - we use the same tools you already use.

FIND OUT HOW

Our Promise

Be able to hit the ground running when starting to manage your fund's impact. In 7 weeks sprints, you will have a robust impact management system integrated with your investment cycle. The program is structured around 7 modules, with Done-for-You support along the way. The Impact Formula ™ is all about quick wins and simplicity.

What's included:

7 modules with bite-sized video lessons, packed with demos, worksheets, and actionable tips to guide you along your journey
"Done for you" templates for all the stages of Impact management. No need to use or adapt to new software
One-on-One Coaching calls per module, for a customized approach that fits your specific needs
Data collection guidelines for you to share with your team or investees
Integration with the most relevant international standards (SDGs alignment, IMP framework, and IRIS+ metrics)

Program Modules

1. The Impact One-Pager

Define your "Impact Thesis", translating your intentions into measurable goals.

Create your Impact One-pager, where you concisely communicate your goals, aligned with SDGs and IMP Impact classes - a valuable asset when pitching your fund to potential impact investors.

2. Risks & Assumptions

Identify your assumptions and set a plan for mitigating risks.

Use our Cause & Effect Roadmap, so you can plan ahead and systematically improve your impact performance.

3. Measure What Matters

Learn which KPIs can better measure your goals and why "Less is More" is also true in Impact Management.

You will have access to our

Ready-to-use Impact Management template, aligned with international standards.

4. Screening & Selection

Ready-to-use templates to screen, map and select just the right companies.

Impact Due Diligence - what you need to know before closing the deal.

Common mistakes and how to avoid misalignment when it’s time to collect and show results.

5. Impact Management

How to optimize Data Collection through automated processes and clear guidelines.

How to assess and support the data capabilities of your investees.

Get your system into Low Maintenance mode.

6. "Show me the Impact" Report

Visualize your impact performance at the fund level in a unique Dashboard,

Show accurate data to your stakeholders, that really tells the whole story. Data that you can actually use in your decision-making process.

7. Celebrate & Iterate

Congratulations! You will have a complete impact management system by now. You have the tools and processes in place that allow for continuous improvement, based on collected evidence.

It is time to reflect and revisit your assumptions from time to time. Welcome to your impact journey.

About us

Hi, I'm Cinzia.

I'm the CEO and founder of Impact Shaper, an impact consulting firm supporting investors and social entrepreneurs achieve lasting social change.

I had the opportunity to work directly with local organizations and communities in some of the most challenging environments, such as extremely poor rural areas of Mozambique or the slums of São Paulo, Brasil. I worked on tools to promote cross-sector dialogue and consensus between governments, civil society, and multilateral institutions (World Bank, UNICEF, AfDB). The current crisis has amplified the urgency to rethink and act on our systems.

We know it is not easy to account for impact change in our organizations - we have to struggle with opaque data, regulatory challenges, and misaligned projects. That's why we have built and carefully designed this program. We strongly believe in measuring impact from day one.

This practice will guide you every step of the way.

Cinzia Scanu brings over ten years' experience of working with Social Purpose Organizations, the European Commission, the UN, and the public and private sector in Europe, Africa, and Latam.

She is the founder of Impact Shaper and holds a degree in Astrophysics from Universitá di Bologna, Italy.

Why NOW

It's time to act for impact

We get it. Your schedule is full, and impact management is just another thing to add to an already packed bucket list of priorities. Plus, it is a messy process. How do you make sure you get comparable data? How do you collect data on the cheap? How can you even make sure it's useful? It can be daunting.

But you didn't choose Impact Investing because it was easy. You chose it because we need to.

We are here to tell you that you can start having a better system in place, now. Not tomorrow, not someday.

This program is right for you if:

You are a first-time or second-time fund manager of a private impact investing fund.
You are a VC wanting to include in your portfolio more purpose-driven companies and measure their social impact contribution.
You are committed to seeking positive lasting social change.
You are looking for a straightforward system that gives you an overview at the fund level, where you measure the most relevant outcome-oriented indicators, not large amounts of data in complex systems.
You want to start measuring impact without spending hundreds of hours trying to catch up with the industry.
You are willing to show up and commit to a few hours per week, for 7 weeks, to get a full-blown impact management system in place.

This program is NOT for you if:

You are using social impact as a mean for brand recognition or as a marketing technique (aka Impact Washing) instead of seeking positive social and environmental change.
You are solely interested in getting some "vanity numbers" up to look good on the impact report. This course is about accuracy and actively building a better tomorrow.
You are not committed to following the process and applying what the program teaches. We do the heavy lifting for you, but you still are required to reflect and contribute in order to advance through the modules.
You are looking for some system to manage impact at the company, not at the fund level. Although we go into some strategies and tactics at the company level (for example, some advice regarding data collection), our program focuses on the impact management needs of portfolios.

Get direct access to our Experts

Ask us anything or get feedback, completely free of charge and obligation.

Book a Free Coaching Session

FAQ

I am new to the Social Impact industry. Will this work for me?

You don’t need to be an impact expert to apply the learnings of this program. This course is aimed at impact investment fund managers that hadn’t measured social impact before or that are not happy with the system they have in place. If you’re looking for an easy, simple system to start to manage impact internally, this course is for you.

If you are not sure, schedule a call with our team to discover how we can help you. This is free of charge and obligation. You can also email us at [email protected]

What if I already have a Measurement system in place?

If you’re reading this, you are probably not too happy with the system you’re using right now. That's ok. In The Impact Formula™, we go through a simple, step by step process: starting from your intentionality, we build a framework, identify the KPIs, and future-proof your system. So that you can show your impact for years to come.

If you’re willing to rethink and reframe your system, looking for a new solution that allows you to measure outcome-oriented indicators in a simple and agile manner, this program is for you.

I am busy... How much time will I need to dedicate to the course?

The course consists of 7 modules - one module per week with actionable, bite-sized video lessons. Action items can take from 15 minutes to 2 hours maximum to complete. It is completely self-paced, and you have the flexibility to adjust the work to your schedule. You also have one 1:1 Coaching Session (1 hour) available per module, which you can schedule whenever it suits you best.

What if I fall behind?

No problem, It’s a self-paced course. Take the time you need to do all the modules. Just bear in mind that modules are cumulative - each builds on the previous one.

Will you be available if I get stuck?

Yes, you will have direct access to our experts to ask questions or get feedback. You also have one 1:1 coaching session available per module to get you through the entire program in the smoothest way possible. We are here to empower you in your impact journey.

Do I need any special software or tools?

No specific software or tool is required. Our templates can easily be imported into software you already use (such as google sheets or excel) and integrate easily with your current workflow.

Do you provide financial advice?

No. This program is solely intended to help identify the social impact goals your fund is seeking to achieve. We guide you on the structure, templates, and guidelines for impact measurement. This website is for informational purposes only, you should not construe any such information or other material as legal, tax, investment, or financial advice. (See Disclaimer)

I still have questions!

Schedule a call with our team or send your questions to [email protected]. We reply to every email.

Sure, you have other options!

You could figure this out by yourself. There's plenty of free information out there. You do your own research, navigating the nascent impact industry and its efforts in standardization. You attend the industry top conferences and search for trends. Then, build up your expertise through trial and error. As with any kind of expertise, this takes time. It could probably take you months just to set the fundamentals (and probably years to master).
The Cross-fingers strategy. You just put it out there and wing it. You define your mission and base your decisions on your assumptions of what can better contribute to social change. Then try to convince your stakeholders that intentionality is enough. While you wait for reality to fit into your plan, with no data or evidence to show for, your stakeholders just need to believe in your word.
You could do this later. You wouldn't be alone. Many impact funds postpone impact measurement, only to find out the later they start, the harder it gets. They miss out on precious, comparable data that you could begin to collect early on. Data that could bring alignment with your stakeholders expectations. And at the same time, improve your impact fund's performance.

Now, compare that to what you can do starting today:

You start measuring the most relevant outcome-oriented KPIs, that truly provide actionable data towards the social change you are seeking
You properly define your Impact Thesis, identifying the underlying risks and assumptions. You select better companies that actively contribute to your thesis.
You attract investors fully aligned with your cause, not with a generic "pie in the sky" mission. You have better conversations with your stakeholders.

A year from now, where will your fund be?
What impact will you achieve in the next 5 years?

Get your Impact Investing right

from the get-go.

Schedule a call to discover how we can help you achieve your fund's impact goals and tailor the program to your specific needs.

Apply for a Free Consultation