New Impact Self-Assessment tool
by Impact Europe
Who is it for?
The Impact Self-Assessment (SA) tool is meant for capital providers, such as impact funds, foundations, asset managers, banks, and other actors who want to examine how their funding practices align with the core principles of investing for impact.
This tool is exclusively dedicated to Impact Europe members.
Interested in the benefits of Impact Europe’s membership and community? Join now!
What is it?
The Impact SA tool is a learning and reflection tool – with benchmarking functionalities that will soon be introduced – which supports Impact Europe’s members in strengthening their alignment with the principles of investing for impact as defined by Impact Europe and the broader European impact ecosystem.
Through a structured questionnaire, capital providers can assess the maturity of their practices and how effectively they embed the principles that characterise credible impact funders.
By combining the pillars of investing for impact (Intentionality, IMM, Investee additionality, Investor contribution, Collaboration and capital mobilisation) with four maturity levels (Impact Explorer, Emerging Practitioner, Advanced Practitioner and Systemic Funder), the Impact SA helps members move beyond minimum standards toward field-building and systemic roles.
What is the added value of this tool?
Unlike other labels or certifications, the Impact SA tool is intentionally positioned as a non-compliance, non-accreditation instrument. Its value lies in enabling Impact Europe’s members to:
Develop a shared internal understanding of what “credible” and “advanced” impact practice means in operational terms
Assess their practices across the full impact lifecycle, from intentionality to collaboration and investor contribution
Identify strengths, gaps, and priorities for improvement at organisational or strategy level
Situate themselves within a common maturity framework used by peers across Europe
Trigger internal dialogue between investment, impact, governance, and leadership teams.
How does it work in practice?
The Impact SA should be completed at the organisational level (e.g. management company, foundation, or institution) if investing for impact represents the majority of the activities. If investing for impact constitutes only part of the organisation’s work, the Impact Self-Assessment should be completed for the specific fund, vehicle, or strategy dedicated to it.
According to this approach, organisations are assessed at the organisational level when impact represents their core activity, and otherwise only their dedicated impact vehicle gets assessed.
Cross-cutting benefits for all member types
Strategic clarity: the Impact SA clarifies how impact principles translate into strategy, governance and capital allocation.
Structured learning and progression: it supports learning over time through four maturity levels, from Impact Explorer to Emerging Practitioner, Advanced Practitioner, till Systemic Funder.
Peer benchmarking without signalling pressure (functionality that will soon be introduced): it allows comparison with peers within a shared framework, without reputational pressure.
Recognition of advanced and systemic practices: it encourages reflection on contributions to both outcomes and systems level change.
Organisational alignment: it helps align impact, investment and strategy across teams and structures.
A concrete output Impact Europe’s members will take away
Once completed, organisations receive a tailored report that:
Outlines maturity levels across each pillar: Impact Explorer, Emerging Practitioner, Advanced Practitioner and Systemic Funder
Highlights strengths and gaps in current practices
Provides concrete capacity building suggestions and next steps
The report is intended to support internal learning and strategic planning, helping organisations understand how to progress toward more advanced and systemic roles within the European impact ecosystem.
What’s next? Benchmarking functionalities to be introduced
In the second half of 2026, Impact Europe will further develop this work by introducing a benchmarking feature, allowing members to situate their strategies in relation to peers using the same framework.
Where does your impact strategy stand today, and what could support its further development?
Click here to find out!