We wanted to know: what impact do we have?
Wechange eG, the cooperative behind the WECHANGE platform, is a social enterprise. The focus on the common good is enshrined in our statutes and we are involved in networks such as the SEND eV (Social Entrepreneurship Network Germany). But what makes us a social enterprise? Are we achieving our social goals? And how do you even measure something like that?
The non-profit consulting company PHINEO has developed a tool for measuring the impact of social projects. manual This can also be easily adapted for social enterprises and that is exactly what we have done. We have developed an impact logic for our platform wechange.de developed. This means that we analyzed what we put into the project (input) and what services we can offer as a result (output). The results (outcome) are based on this, which describe the effect at the level of the target group, i.e. the platform users of wechange.de. What these users contribute on a social level with their activity on wechange.de is then the impact that our platform has.
This impact logic is then presented in the form of an impact ladder and underpinned with indicators. Ultimately, our impact should not remain just a wish or a claim. It is not easy to find the indicators for each step, but it is worth it. Ultimately, the selection of indicators determines which key figures contribute to measuring the goals and where evaluations can be carried out more frequently. As part of our impact measurement, we asked different project teams that are active on wechange.de about their successes and use of our platform. This qualitative survey was subsequently an important indicator for measuring our impact. Nevertheless, it would be helpful to be able to draw on industry standards for social enterprises, especially when creating indicators. On the one hand, this would ensure comparability, and on the other hand, identifying suitable indicators is an extensive and resource-intensive task that could then be carried out more efficiently.
In summary, this means that we invest in conceptual and design services, keep the platform up to date by covering operating costs, maintenance and upkeep, invest in in-house developments and integration of open source tools, cooperative self-administration, volunteer work, demands for the common good and sustainability and put love and heart and soul into making the wechange.de platform available (input). This platform offers change agents the chance to digitize their collaboration in a sustainable and transparent way or to support it digitally and also to network with other people and projects (output). Over 100,000 users are now registered on wechange.de, share knowledge and other resources there and thus work together more efficiently and effectively. By joining forces, they become capable groups in civil society (outcomes). Through this, the goals of socio-ecological transformation are achieved by civil society (impact).
You can read about some of the goals achieved in our blog articles from the series WE ARE THE CHANGE read. Here, both portals and groups on wechange.de report on how they are actively promoting the social-ecological transformation. For example, the group "OS Klimaneutral" is organizing itself on wechange.de to make its city climate neutral by 2030. The "Parkcafé Rehberge" initiative uses wechange.de to create a community-managed café, and "Build Share Repair Erfurt" runs a self-help workshop with the help of wechange.de. Not only being able to imagine this social impact of wechange.de, but actually seeing it implemented, strengthens our team's motivation to continue and bring about many more small and large changes!
Header image: pexels.com/fauxels
Graphics in the text: WECHANGE
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The House of Sustainability Ulm creates a meeting place with the help of wechange!
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OS climate neutral is committed to climate neutrality by 2030 with the help of wechange.de
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Build Share Repair Erfurt runs a self-help workshop with the help of wechange.de!
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Initiative Parkcafé Rehberge creates a community-managed café with the help of wechange.de!
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forum 1.5 brings climate actors together regionally
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