Outcomes – many impact investors use data on the outputs of their underlying investments to indicate their impact. However, outputs do not demonstrate the effects of a company on people and planet. To show impact, investors should publish their outcomes data.

 An example of outputs data is the number of people who take a sexual assault prevention course in a university. Outputs are often sales or operational data in disguise.

 An example of an outcome would be the amount of any reduction in sexual assaults on campus.

Read our other definitions
A for Additionality
B for Blended finance 
C for Concessionary 
D for Double materiality 
E for ESG
F for Fiduciary duty
G for Green bonds
H for Hydrogen
I for Intentionality
J for Just transition
K for Key performance indicators
L for Low carbon 
M for Measurement
N for Natural capital
P for Paris Agreement
Q for Qualitative Impact Assessment Protocol
R for Responsible investment
S for Sustainable development goals
T for Triple bottom line
U for Underserved communities
V for Vocational training
W for Water access
X for Xeriscaping
Y for Youth empowerment 
Z for Zero-waste strategy