Defining Our Impact

Impact is everything at Greater Good Studio. Positive change is why we do what we do. Yet defining the impact of our work can be difficult, because every project is different. Here’s how we codify the change we seek.

Project Outputs

Every project has some tangible deliverables, and we think of these as our immediate outputs. We create them during the timespan of the project, and deliver them directly to clients and communities. Each project has immediate outputs of one or more of these types:

  • Tools

    Tools

    Physical or digital products that can be used over and over.

    A mobile app for children with autism

    A resource guide for parents of newborns

    A new brand for a political training organization

  • Programs

    Programs

    Sets of activities, events or processes that deliver services to people who need them.

    A conference for prospective college students

    A reimagined food service for the school cafeteria

    A series of home visits and resources for young families

  • Strategies

    Strategies

    Visual frameworks that describe a landscape of options, and recommend where to focus.

    A prioritized set of grantee activities

    A phased roadmap for residential property development

    A plan for implementation of staff support tools

  • Learning Experiences

    Learning Experiences

    Immersive workshops where teams practice human-centered design principles.

    A capacity-building session for health care and social service providers

    An innovation curriculum for small arts organizations

    A series of hands-on coaching sessions for community leaders

Client & Community Outcomes

Every project also has long-term goals, and we call these our outcomes. Even though some may take years to come to full fruition, they serve as a “north star” to the project team. To track progress toward outcomes, we follow up months and years later. Each project aims for lasting change within at least one these types of outcomes:

  • Mindsets

    Mindsets

    What individuals expect from themselves or the world around them.

    Curiosity

    Local leaders more deeply value the expertise of community members

    Self-Efficacy

    Middle schoolers more readily see themselves as future authors

    Confidence

    Parents have higher expectations for their young children’s learning abilities

  • Behaviors

    Behaviors

    Observable actions that individuals take, once or over time.

    Participation

    Patients attend more of their doctor’s appointments

    Healthy Choices

    Elementary school students eat more vegetables at lunch

    Issue Resolution

    Landlords resolve tenants’ apartment problems faster

  • Culture

    Culture

    The interactions and norms of a team, organization or community.

    Alignment

    Staff have a shared understanding of their organization’s mission and values

    Belonging

    Youth of color feel welcome applying for jobs with local businesses

    Empathy

    Medical providers see their patients’ health as a journey, not a destination

  • Conditions

    Conditions

    The environment and underlying systems that have an effect on many people’s lives.

    Networks

    Community-based nonprofits share data and collaborate more effectively

    Place-Based Shifts

    More children across a city are reading at grade level

    Policy Change

    More land is made available for the development of affordable housing