Despite significant progress in some areas, there are still many things broken in our world: poverty is still prevalent, gross inequalities exist and the environment is in crisis. We need to find different ways of holding governments, investors, organisations and individuals accountable for their actions. To do this, we need know what to measure, how to measure it, how valuable it is, and how to report it.
SIMNA – A Learning Network for Social Impact Measurement Practitioners
The Social Impact Measurement Network of Australia (SIMNA) is a professional member network for individuals and organisations that embrace, practice, share knowledge and promote social impact measurement.
SIMNA launched in late 2012 as a small unincorporated association, following a detailed three-year study by Social Ventures Australia, the Centre for Social Impact and PwC that recommended that a Social Return On Investment (SROI) Network be established in Australia. This became SIMNA – a community of practitioners committed to advancing the wider discipline of social impact measurement.
Now a company limited by guarantee, SIMNA operates with the support of 50 committed volunteers, the majority established professionals in the field of social impact measurement, and one part-time staff member.
Our vision is to achieve the best possible outcomes for all Australians, our communities and our environment through the consideration of social impact measurement in decision-making by all organisations. We fulfil this vision by guiding, informing, sharing and celebrating best practice in this growing area of expertise.
The 2019 SIMNA Awards
The SIMNA Awards are the flagship event in our social impact calendar!
Now in their 5th year, the SIMNA Awards are open to any organisation based in Australia that undertakes or supports social impact measurement.
This includes NFP organisations, Government organisations or departments, philanthropic organisations, social enterprises, for-purpose businesses and impact investors.
Our winners shone bright at the 2018 SIMNA Awards Ceremony. Find out who took home the gold HERE!
The 2019 Award Categories
The focus on funders is back! This year, There are four Award Categories to choose from:
1. Excellence in Social Impact Measurement sponsored by Think Impact: for organisations that set best practice standards for social impact measurement.
2. Innovation in Social Impact Measurement sponsored by Urbis: for individuals and groups that have developed or adopted innovative solutions to social impact measurement in their or another organisation.
3. Outstanding Collaboration in Social Impact Measurement sponsored by SVA Consulting: for social impact measurement projects that features collaborative approaches that go beyond the usual. This might include cross sector and/or intra sector collaborations that work to adopt systemic change in complex areas.
4. Effective investment in Social Impact Measurement sponsored by Our Community: for funders, grantmakers, philanthropists, and government departments for whom impact measurement has helped them effectively invest in impact and drive real change.
There is a separate Application Form for each Award Category, as well as an opportunity to submit supporting evidence to tell us your social impact story. To download the 2019 Application Form, please visit the SIMNA website:
https://simna.com.au/open-for-applications
The deadline for entries is Friday, 30 August!
When Is The Right Time To Apply?
By its very nature, your social impact measurement program or initiative will be continually developing. So when is the right time to apply for a SIMNA Award?
We strongly encourage anyone working in social impact to give the SIMNA Awards a go!
The foundation stone for the SIMNA Awards is the Seven Principles of Social Value. These provide the basic building blocks for anyone that wants to ensure decision-making takes a wider definition of value into account (i.e. beyond current economic market values).
The social value principles are:
- Involve stakeholders
- Understand what changes
- Value the things that matter
- Only include what is material
- Do not over-claim
- Be transparent
- Verify the result
These principles may be new to you. Don’t let that put you off! We look at an organisation’s supporting evidence as much as we do the application form in scoring any entry.
Whatever happens, don’t give up. If you’re not shortlisted as a Finalist this year, try again next year! The number of applications that we receive, the team judging the applications and also your organisation’s social impact measurement story will look different every year.
Go for it! What have you got to lose?
Lisa McGhee, Lead Doer and Connector and Simon Faivel, Chair