Activity → Output → Outcome → Contribution, in plain English
Activity
What you did
Illustrative: a hotel runs four mangrove-planting days with staff and a local community group.
Output
What it directly produced
Illustrative: number of seedlings planted, participants, hours, payments to local partners.
Outcome
What changed
Illustrative: seedling survival after six and twelve months, community group income, staff understanding. Survival and ecological claims need proper monitoring.
Contribution
What you can reasonably claim
Illustrative: your share of the change, alongside government, other funders and natural factors—stated with limitations.
These examples are illustrative only. They are not results from Regenera clients.
Five questions for choosing CSR indicators (KPIs)
- What decision will this indicator help us make next year?
- Can we collect it consistently with the time and people we have?
- Does it describe change for people or place, or only our effort?
- Who else contributes to this change, and how will we acknowledge them?
- What evidence status can we honestly claim: planned, observed, measured or independently verified?
Illustrative examples by programme type
- Hotel community programme — local suppliers engaged and spend retained locally (output), repeat supply relationships after 12 months (outcome).
- MICE legacy activity — local partners paid and participants engaged (output), follow-up use of what was created (outcome).
- Environmental clean-up — volume collected (output), recurrence at the same site over time (outcome), with limits on what one organisation can claim.
When simple follow-up is enough
For most small and medium CSR programmes, a clear logic, a handful of indicators, honest follow-up at 3–12 months and a short evidence note are proportionate. You do not need a full SROI study to show you are learning and improving.
When you need an independent evaluator or specialist
- Formal SROI with assurance — use an SROI practitioner and independent assurance.
- ESG disclosure assurance — use a qualified assurance provider.
- Biodiversity or ecological outcome claims — use a qualified ecologist.
- Carbon reduction or offset claims — use a qualified carbon accountant or verifier.
- Formal independent evaluation for funders or boards — use an evaluator who did not design or deliver the programme.
- Regenera can act as an evidence builder for work it helps design, but never as the independent verifier of that same work.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good CSR KPI?
One that describes change for people or place, can be collected consistently, and helps you make a real decision. Usually a few outcome indicators plus supporting output data.
Do we need SROI to measure CSR impact?
Not usually. SROI can help for larger programmes with the budget for proper data and assurance. Many programmes are better served by simpler, honest outcome follow-up.
How do we avoid overclaiming?
Separate outputs from outcomes, state evidence status, acknowledge other contributors, and describe limitations in the same place as the result.