Impact Pioneer: Empowering social enterprises to measure impact confidently

"The programme has made it clear to us that impact is not just something we offer our customers, but rather the foundation of our entire business model”

- Co-Founder, Female
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This reflection from the Co-Founder of one participating organisation in the Impact Pioneer programme captures what the our initiative is all about: Supporting common good–oriented enterprises (GUs) embed impact at the core of their work. 

Impact Pioneer is an educational programme for common good–oriented enterprises (GUs), delivered by leonardo. impact and funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWE) and the European Union under the grant initiative Nachhaltig Wirken (NaWi).

The programme guides enterprises through five consecutive online modules, equipping them with the knowledge and tools to systematically measure and manage their impact. By combining theory, practical methods, and peer learning, Impact Pioneer helps organisations strengthen their ability to measure, understand, and increase their environmental & social impact.

We measured the impact of the programme on the organisations that took part in the first two cohorts and the results show: Impact measurement is not rocket science. With the right tools and guidance, organisations can build the skills and confidence to measure what matters, and make a measurable difference.
Let’s dive in. ‍

What changed?

The evaluation of the first two cohorts shows that the programme created measurable progress in core areas of impact practice:

• Impact understanding deepened. Before the programme, just 24% of organisations rated their knowledge of impact measurement as good or advanced. Afterward, that share had risen to 74%.
  
  
• Confidence in IMM grew. Confidence in using impact processes rose from 9% at the start to 39% at the end, indicating that participants felt not only better informed but also more capable of applying what they had learned.
  
  
• Impact goals became clearer. The proportion of organisations with well-defined impact goals increased sharply across both cohorts, showing that participants moved from broad intentions to more structured planning.
  
  
• Barriers shifted. While many initially cited lack of expertise as their biggest challenge, endline surveys revealed that time and resources had become the main concerns. This suggests that knowledge gaps were significantly reduced, and participants now recognise the practical effort needed to sustain strong IMM.
  
  
• High satisfaction. 92% of participants reported being fully or largely satisfied with the programme, underlining the relevance and usefulness of the approach.

These results highlight that Impact Pioneer did more than raise awareness, it strengthened skills, built confidence, and created a more realistic view of what effective impact management requires. As one participant stated:

“The skills we gained through the programme will enable us to plan impact more holistically, measure it precisely, and manage it strategically and transparently in the future.”

- Co-Founder, Female
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Learn more and download the full Impact Report here to explore findings, insights, and participant stories in detail.

Who joined?

The first two cohorts of Impact Pioneer reached 42 organisations across Germany, representing a diverse mix of:

• 21 microenterprises, often young Impact Startups in an early stage
  
  
• 13 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), working on scaling their models;
  
  
• 6 NGOs, focused on community and social services
  
  
• 2 universities, bringing an academic perspective to applied impact practice
  
  

Around 40% of those are led by women or members of historically marginalised groups, reflecting the programme’s focus on diversity and inclusion. Their activities span a wide range of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with particular emphasis on Quality Education, Decent Work, Reduced Inequalities, and Climate Action.

How was impact measured?

To assess results, leonardo conducted a longitudinal study: Participants completed surveys at the beginning (baseline) and at the end (endline) of the programme. This before-and-after approach makes it possible to attribute changes directly to Impact Pioneer, rather than to external factors (more on the topic of attribution and contribution here).

• Baseline surveys captured expectations, initial skills, and self-assessments.
  
  
• Endline surveys measured knowledge gains, shifts in confidence, and perceived challenges after completing the courses.
  
  
• In total, 41 participants completed baseline surveys and 38 completed endline surveys, giving a robust picture across both cohorts.
  
  

To ensure credibility, all data was processed and validated using leonardo’s deep impact intelligence software. A dedicated data quality audit showed overall strong results (79.5/100), with excellent consistency (98.5%) and integrity (84.5%). The main limitation was representativity (55.5%), which is influenced by the small cohort sizes rather than poor engagement. With response rates of around 65%, the data remains reliable at a 90% confidence level, though with a margin of error of about ±12%.

The way forward

With two successful cohorts completed, Cohort 3 will start on October 2, 2025, followed by Cohort 4 in early 2026. Both will undergo the same longitudinal study to ensure comparability over time. By the end of Q1/2026, a consolidated report across all four cohorts will be published, paving the way for Impact Pioneer to evolve into a digital learning platform – making impact know-how more accessible to common good enterprises everywhere.

Do you want to measure your impact more confidently?

Impact measurement is not rocket science and with the right tools, it becomes practical and effective. You are a common good–oriented enterprise and want to become an Impact Pioneer? Sign up now to be part of Cohort 3 starting on October 2, 2025, and learn how to turn impact measurement into a driver of real change. Visit our leonardo.academy, learn more about the programme and safe your spot. Looking forward to see you!

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