Introducing TRASI Tools and Resources for Assessing Social Impact

Tools and Resources for Assessing Social Impact (TRASI) is a searchable, expert-reviewed database of over 150 approaches to measuring the impact of social programs and investments. It also features a community portal for nonprofits, grantmakers, and social enterprises to connect with peers and evaluation experts.

Launched in 2010, TRASI was developed to address the social sector's need for a knowledge base of tested strategies for evaluation and assessment.

TRASI is a project of the Foundation Center, developed in partnership with McKinsey & Co. and with input from experts in the field.

With TRASI you can:

Browse a listing of over 150 tools and resources for assessing social impact
Search for tools and resources based on the framework outlined in McKinsey's Learning for Social Impact initiative
Find ready-to-use tools to conduct a program evaluation
Learn what leading foundations, nonprofits, and social enterprises are using to measure their impact
Read the latest foundation-funded reports and case studies
Connect with a network of peers and experts interested in assessment

The Database

The assessment approaches in TRASI were developed by a range of organizations, including social investors, foundations, NGOs, and microfinance institutions. The Better Business Bureau, USAID, Annie E. Casey Foundation, and the Center for Effective Philanthropy are among them. The resources in the database range from ready-to-use tools and concrete methodologies to generalized best practices and are complemented by multimedia features and social networking tools.

The database is designed to serve those with experience in impact assessment, as well as those who are just starting to explore these concepts and practices. As a complement to McKinsey's Learning for Social Impact web site and workbook, the TRASI database allows visitors already familiar with McKinsey's terminology to dive into searching for resources. The checkbox search is primarily designed for users with an understanding of the methodology outlined in McKinsey's workbook.

An expert panel made up of practitioners and academics reviewed many of the approaches in TRASI. New additions to the database will undergo an expert review on a biannual cycle. Consult the About the Experts section for more information on the expert rubric, criteria, and involvement.

Suggest a tool or resource.

Share your feedback online or e-mail [email protected].

The Community

The TRASI Community was created as a space where practitioners, academics, and others interested in program evaluation can connect and have conversations about social impact assessment. We encourage you to share your comments and questions, contribute to or start discussions, and network with peers.

The Community portal includes:

User-generated posts
Foundation-sponsored reports relevant to assessing social impact
Tweets and videos
Information on conferences, training, and other events
An up-to-date list of recent additions to the TRASI database
User profiles and chat functionality