Social investment is the way that companies and organisations address social change in their communities, whether by investing in existing initiatives, creating dedicated funds and grants or developing new projects.
Tshikululu is a leader in developing and implementing social impact strategies across South Africa’s diverse economic sectors. We welcome the opportunity to share our expertise in creating transformative, sustainable and measurable solutions for your organisation.
We’ve designed a system that highlights the essential elements every project needs for everyone involved, from social development clients, through our team, to delivery partners.
We call these “Enablers of Change”, and they help us to understand the difference our projects are making. With these factors, we can implement genuine evaluations to create impact and sustainable value. These elements are:
Appoint a leader who brings dynamic energy, overcomes obstacles to progress, inspires others to action and drives change for the greater good.
Know the problems that need addressing and what assets you have. Create a clear, deliberate vision and how it will be implemented.
Build a considered plan for turning your strategy into practical action. It should be asset-based, evidence-based, time-bound and clearly articulated.
Remain agile and curious, be driven to continuously improve and remain relevant in an ever-changing world.
Responsibly manage people, property, equipment and finances. Mobilise your resources to implement the strategy and plan.
Make deliberate efforts to network, partner and collaborate with others to optimise resource allocation for maximum impact.
There is no meaningful change without monitoring, evaluation, research and learning. Our system to measure outputs, outcomes and impact is based on six impact measurement principles.
We make concerted efforts to collect accurate and meaningful data
We use both quantitative and qualitative data to measure impact
We collect data that is important and useful in making better decisions
We lean towards outcomes indicators which paint a more meaningful picture of achievement
Our processes, indicators and reports are simple and easily accessible to enhance communication
We maintain transparency in our reporting to ensure your brand reputation
Measuring impact is central to understanding what your social investment project is actually achieving. Measurement helps us to track progress and make improvements rooted in evidence-based, data-driven decision-making.
We believe in both quantitative and qualitative research: the numbers and the experiences and perspectives carry equal weight. Quantitative research involves stakeholders, allowing us to enhance our clients’ understanding of their impact landscape.
For qualitative research, we use standardised data tools, routine data quality assessments and data analysis for comprehensive social and sustainable impact reports throughout the project. Our electronic reporting tools and business intelligence solutions such as Surveya, Survey Monkey, PowerBi and our own system, IntegrIT, offer insightful visualisations and informative infographics.
Need support with strategy, fund management, programme implementation or impact measurement? Our team can help you build a more effective approach to social investment.
