Project monitoring through partnership.

When the topic at hand is choosing a way to monitor a social project, a vast array of possibilities opens up, with various donors, philanthropists, and foundations opting for different paths in an attempt to understand the process, map the social impact generated, and comprehend the results of the actions. Since this is a broad subject, in this post we will discuss the general concept of this activity in Brazilian philanthropy and also how it is practiced within the Bem Maior Movement.

What is social project monitoring?

When making a social investment, the donor's intention is very clear: that the money allocated be useful, in some way, to generate social impact at the grassroots level, focusing on the cause that an organization embraces, and to be able to transform the reality and dignity of people in situations of social vulnerability.

But how do you know if the investment has managed to generate systemic social change? Will the support actually make a difference to the impacted public? How do you know that? So, in general, in philanthropy done in Brazil, the concept of monitoring a social project represents the process of obtaining information, collecting data, having evidence of the actions carried out, and verifying whether the social actors are performing the activities as planned, up to the point where the investor and the institution discuss the actions and results of the social investment.

During this dialogue, depending on the level of the existing relationship between the parties, topics such as accountability, timelines, evaluation of social projects, visibility of actions, report preparation, methodology used, and established goals may be addressed.

On one side, there is an investor who identifies with and believes in a particular cause, and seeks to understand if the adopted investment thesis promotes any social transformation. As this person receives data and information about the investment, a sense of security is established for making further contributions, along with a special feeling of having supported a cause. On the other side, there is the organization that, by being transparent and concerned with generating data capable of proving the results obtained, makes its seriousness clear to its stakeholders, in addition to conveying credibility and, consequently, gaining strength in the process of attracting new supporters.

How do we track it?

Instead of following a monitoring approach, the Bem Maior Movement takes the path of collaboration with partner social organizations. The aim is to build a relationship of exchange based on trust and the mutual exchange of learning, on the vision that each one possesses, and on the sharing of knowledge and experiences.

The entire process is based on theses that align with our vision of systemic transformation, that is, the capacity to completely affect the organism and structure of the cause. This transformation advocates, through a social investment strategy, the creation and strengthening of social systems that can be responsive in a world full of complex and constantly changing challenges.

Discussion Circles

One practice we have, for example, is holding quarterly discussion groups with the organizations we support. This is a time for connection and exchange. On one hand, social leaders share the goals they have achieved and the lessons they have learned, generating collective intelligence, as well as highlighting the challenges they are facing, to understand how we can help them. On the other hand, we learn more about the cause and how the organizations develop a particular social technology that has the potential to transform the territory where it operates.

MBM seeks to support both organizations with national reach – so that they can create innovative and scalable social solutions, both at the territorial level and in terms of social technology, for example, and that serve as a reference to inspire public policies – and also works to boost local organizations, which are usually in regions where public policies do not reach them and which are outside the radar of large social investments.

Futuro Bem Maior

One form of support comes through the Futuro Bem Maior program, which encourages community-based social entrepreneurship by investing in organizations and collectives that, however small, have the capacity to connect deeply with the local population, building responses to social challenges and strengthening the development of the region where they operate.

To monitor the Better Future program, MBM seeks to understand the journey of its partner organizations, observing indicators related to the maturity achieved (how much the organization has managed to develop institutionally), the performance obtained, the reach of visibility, and financial sustainability.

The sense of collaboration is always very strong. When a group, for example, reports its difficulties, MBM can share its expertise or connect it with another institution that has already faced and overcome similar challenges. And, during the exchange of information, we also learn a lot from the work of social leaders, who also have the potential to benefit other organizations in the future.

By establishing partnerships, monitoring collaborative projects, identifying leaders, sharing knowledge, and disseminating best practices and success stories, a network for good is expanded and improved. And thus, important steps are taken on the path towards social transformation in Brazil.

.  .  .

This article was written by

Beatriz Waclawek, Project Coordinator of the Bem Maior Movement