What if the organizations we work for, volunteer for, or support had a much simpler way of understanding, measuring and maximizing the difference they make in the world? And what if we could cut through complication and put social impact at the heart of strategy?

This is easier to do than ever before, but very few organizations manage it. This is largely due to impact measurement being over-complicated, not central to strategy, and not prioritized. This book sets out to change that.

“I always know a book is good when I am not regularly checking my phone in case something interesting is happening on it. I know a book is very good when it makes me take action. ‘The Difference’ both kept my attention and inspired me to take action. Matt combines sensible, practical advice with inspiring case studies that bring the framework and concepts to life. All of us serious about creating social value owe Matt a debt of thanks for writing this guide to help us get better at maximising our impact.”

Simon Blake, Chief Executive, Stonewall, UK

The advice in ‘The Difference’ is relevant for both commercial enterprises and NGOs. Matt demystifies impact measurement, his approach is grounded in simplicity and alignment, and the frameworks for understanding impact are as valuable for founders as they are for charity leaders. A pragmatic and insightful guide from someone who knows what it takes to turn good intentions into tangible outcomes. I recommend this book to anyone serious about making a genuine difference.

Alex Manson, Chief Executive, SC Ventures, Standard Chartered

Matt courageously lays out the elements of impact that make a real difference. Beyond simply measuring and reporting impact, his book fills in the missing pieces: courage to align on purpose, willingness to admit and learn from failure, and the clarity to be intentional about genuinely making a difference. I have been a CEO in the sector in Australia for 25 years and I wish I’d had access to Matt’s book and expertise a decade ago – but it’s never too late to start making a better difference.

Paul Edginton, Managing Director, CEO Advantage Advisory Service, Australia

For anyone working in civil society, our primary focus surely must be how to improve the impact of our work – for the causes and people for whom our organizations exist. Matt’s book is focused, accessible, instructive and insightful about the power of emerging technologies in the pursuit of better impact. I recommend it to anyone who wants to make the world a better place.

Tom Lawson, Chief Executive, Turn2Us, UK

Not sure where to start with your impact reporting or even what questions to ask? Start here. Want hope that good people are doing good work and want to share their learnings? Want real-world application of how to move your impact thinking from complicated and complex to clear and concise? Well, buy this book. Matt helps you see the wood for the trees and provides easy checklists to help you take your first steps.

Sandra Schembri, Chief Executive, Nordoff & Robbins Music Therapy, UK

What I love about Matt’s book is that it not only offers practical, real-world examples of how we can evidence and report social impact more effectively, but it also dismantles the myth that doing so must be complex, time-consuming or costly. Matt shows with refreshing clarity that meaningful measurement doesn’t have to be any of these things. By exploring the many ways high-quality impact data can strengthen our work—from helping us prioritise time and resources, to building trust with beneficiaries, partners and donors—this guide sparks the realisation that even modest steps in measurement can generate significant returns. The message is simple and empowering: just give it a go.

Kate Lee, CEO, National Council for Voluntary Organisations

Matt’s straight-talking handbook gets to the heart of the issues and more importantly shows how to crack the age-old problem of reporting impact. The book walks us through the steps to building a compelling, evidence-based approach to narrating our charities’ work; good, bad and indifferent. A brilliant, honest and practical approach to telling the story of change.

Martin Houghton-Brown, Secretary General, The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Foundation

‘Dismantles the myth that social impact must be complex, time consuming or costly’ Kate Lee OBE, CEO NVCO

‘Essential reading for leaders serious about delivering work that matters in the real world’ Jane Ide OBE, CEO ACEVO

Foreword – The Difference xiii

Introduction 1

Part One – Getting the basics right

1 ‘Do’ or ‘difference’? 11

2 Failure versus success 19

3 Three eras of impact measurement 31

4 Why doesn’t impact measurement work? 39

Part Two – Understand

5 Keeping things simple 49

6 Aligning on your core purpose 59

7 The impact fundamentals 69

8 Theory of Change 83

Part Three – Measure

9 Measuring what matters (not everything) 99

10 Social return on investment, social value and social impact 111

11 Changing the way we measure 117

12 More than questionnaires 123

13 Measuring the hard to measure 133

Part Four – Maximise

14 Why maximise? 145

15 The power of live data and data storytelling 149

16 Trust and transparency 167

Part Five – Individual differences by sector

17 Corporations and business 177

18 Public sector and government 185

19 Charities and social enterprise 195

20 Social-impact investing 203

21 Funders 211

22 Sport 219

Conclusion

23 The future of making a difference 227

What can I do next? 233

Acknowledgements 235

About the author 239

Index 241

Introduction 8

Part One – Getting the Basics Right 13

Chapter 1 – ‘Do’ Or ‘Difference’? 15 Chapter 2 – Failure versus Success 21 Chapter 3 – Three Eras of Impact Measurement 29 Chapter 4 – Why Doesn’t Impact Measurement Work? 35 Reflections and Next Steps 40

Part Two – Understand 41

Chapter 5 – Keeping Things Simple 42 Chapter 6 – Aligning On Your Core Purpose 49 Chapter 7 – The Impact Fundamentals 55 Chapter 8 – Theory of Change 64 Reflections and Next Steps 73

Part Three – Measure 74

Chapter 9 – Measuring What Matters (Not Everything) 75 Chapter 10 – Social Return On Investment, Social Value and Social Impact 84 Chapter 11 – Changing The Way We Measure 88 Chapter 12 – More Than Questionnaires 92 Chapter 13 – Measuring The Hard to Measure 98 Reflections and Next Steps 104

Part Four – Maximise 105

Chapter 14 – Why Maximise? 107 Chapter 15 – The Power of Live Data & Data Storytelling 110 Chapter 16 – Trust and Transparency 123 Reflections and Next Steps 127

Part Five – Individual Differences by Sector 128

Chapter 17 – Corporations and Business 129 Reflections and Next Steps 134 Chapter 18 – Public Sector and Government 135 Reflections and Next Steps 141 Chapter 19 – Charities and Social Enterprise 142 Reflections and Next Steps 147 Chapter 20 – Social Impact Investing 148 Reflections and Next Steps 153 Chapter 21 – Funders 154 Reflections and Next Steps 159 Chapter 22 – Sport 160 Reflections and Next Steps 164

Conclusion 165

Chapter 23 – The Future of Making a Difference 165

What Can I Do Next? 169

About The Author 171

FORMAT / ISBN / PUBLICATION DATE / RRP

Paperback / 9781788609555 / June 23, 2026 / £18.99

Hardback / 9781788609548 / June 23, 2026 / £28.99

Ebook / 9781788609562 / June 22, 2026 / £7.99

Paperback and eBook Bundle / £21.49

Matt Stevenson-Dodd

Matt Stevenson-Dodd is founder and chief executive of Trust Impact (www.trustimpact.com), a consultancy helping organizations build trust through innovative impact measurement and reporting.

With a 30+ year career as Chief Executive of some of the UK’s most socially impactful and innovative organizations, Matt is trusted by the CEOs, boards, chairs and senior leaders of hundreds of organizations around the world to help find pragmatic solutions to understanding, measuring and maximizing their social impact. He works across the private, public and not-for-profit sectors, helping organizations answer one simple question: ‘Do we actually make any difference to the world we are operating in?’

With clients including The Crown Estate, Shell International, RSPCA, Duke of Edinburgh International, Cambridge City Council, and Refugee Council, Trust Impact has challenged traditional and complicated impact measurement with a much simpler and more strategic offer.

In 2020 Matt was made a Member of the Venerable Order of Saint John and was recently awarded ‘Highly Commended’ in the global Association of MBA’s ‘Entrepreneur of the Year’ award. All of this is underpinned by a strong academic record which includes an MBA with Distinction and a scholarship to Harvard.

Matt has been a guest on numerous social impact and leadership podcasts around the world, written articles for national newspapers including The Guardian as well as relevant sector press.