Organisational Learning, Knowledge Innovation & Dissemination

This strand promotes learning and knowledge-sharing within organisations by creating systems and processes that capture, codify, and leverage both tacit and explicit organisational knowledge.

Featured

U&I: Nurturing Empathy for EffectivenessCase Study

2 March 2022

U&I: Nurturing Empathy for Effectiveness

U&I is a volunteer-driven charitable organization based in Bengaluru, Karnataka, India. It provides non-formal education to underprivileged children in 25 cities around India, through a network of over 2,300 volunteers. The casestudy engages with the ways in which conscious design can nurture structures, spaces and processes that enable the integration of an organization’s mission and volunteer model with the leadership’s core principles of empathetic care and authentic relationships. It provides an opportunity for learners to reflect on how designing for empathy can produce tangible programmatic impact, develop in-house leadership and build a self-sustaining organizational culture and volunteer ecosystem.

The grassroots and the grass tree: Humana People to People India (HPPI)Paper / Report

1 June 2022

The grassroots and the grass tree: Humana People to People India (HPPI)

Humana People to People India (HPPI) is a non-profit organization working for the holistic development of marginalised populations in rural and urban India. Established in 1998, today it is an organization with an organizational strength of over 4,000 people, and working in 7,000 villages across 92 districts. The case engages with how HPPI evolved a structure, culture and organizational leadership to hold together multiple kinds of talent as well as work closely with the State and public delivery system that inform the current development narrative. The case can also inform learners of principles of design as they grow to scale.

A Typology of Organisations in the Indian Social SectorPaper / Report

2 August 2022

A Typology of Organisations in the Indian Social Sector

The Indian social sector is vast and growing, but existing typologies fail to capture its diversity. Most research focuses on Western economies, where social enterprises differ in structure and demands. To address this gap, we first review existing typologies of social sector enterprises. Then, we propose a hierarchical typology tailored to India, considering multiple characteristics. Finally, we identify key factors for applying this framework. This approach aims to enhance understanding of India’s unique social sector landscape.

All Content

  • All
Framework / Toolkit / App
  • 1 January 2025

Assistive Funder Toolkit

The Assistive Funder Toolkit designed by Bridgespan under the Pay-What-It-Takes (PWIT) initiative and hosted in collaboration with ISDM. The objective of the toolkit is to provide a simple way for funders to assess for themselves and explore how they can become “assistive funders” that embody the Pay-What-It-Takes principles and promote strong, resilient nonprofit partners and amplify their impact. The target audience of the toolkit will primarily be institutional funders (Domestic Foundation, CSRs, Global Foundations) and intermediary organizations that work with them.
Blog
  • 1 July 2025

What Being An Authentic Development Professional Means To Me

Student’s perspective on what development is and who is an Authentic Development Professional.
Case Study
  • 1 February 2024

Beyond Compliance: Firstsource’s CSR Blueprint for Inclusive and Sustainable Impact

This case study explores how Firstsource goes beyond compliance in CSR by focusing on deep employee engagement and long-term, trust-based partnerships with NGOs to create sustainable impact. It exemplifies practices aligned with Philanthropy for Inclusive Development (PID) through inclusive hiring, volunteering, and community partnerships.
Paper / Report
  • 1 November 2024

Outcomes Readiness Framework

The Outcomes Readiness (OR) Framework provides a structured approach to assess and strengthen the ability of nonprofits to plan, deliver, and adapt programmes for measurable outcomes. It identifies three key dimensions—outcomes culture, outcomes-oriented systems and processes, and programme-level capabilities—that collectively enable organisations to transition from input-focused to outcomes-focused work. Developed through literature review, practitioner input, and field-testing, the OR Framework supports funders and nonprofits in aligning intent, practice, and performance for social impact.
Framework / Toolkit / App
  • 1 April 2025

Data Maturity Assessment (DMA)

The CDSSI Data Maturity Assessment Toolkit takes a holistic approach of evaluating data use across multiple dimensions, considering how organisations collect, manage, analyse, and apply data for both programmatic and operational purposes. Using this online assessment tool, SPOs can self assess their data capabilities and determine their own data maturity. This enables organisations to identify gaps, optimise resource allocation, and enhance overall efficiency and transition towards a more data-driven approach.
Paper / Report
  • 1 August 2025

State of the Sector: A Report on the Data Maturity of Social Purpose Organisations in India

The State of the Sector Report offers insights into data readiness and barriers within the social sector across various relevant segments such as type of organization, thematic areas of work, organizational size, annual expenditure, and geographic presence. The report is designed to shed light on specific challenges faced by organizations in their data maturity journey and to inspire funders and ecosystem enablers to invest resources in advancing data maturity within the sector.
Case Study
  • 1 April 2025

Ask, and they receive

FarmerChat, an AI assistant, is helping farmers across India and abroad get quick, relevant answers to questions about better farming practices, loans, market prices, subsidies, and much more. The result? Improved agricultural productivity Kothapalli Jyothi (32) has hitched up her bright green-and-pink saree, and is plucking onions, brinjals, tomatoes and radishes as she walks nimbly through rows of vegetable crops. Behind her is a sea of fiery red chillies, glistening sharply in the afternoon sun. This healthy produce, and bountiful…
Academic / Journal Article
  • 2 January 2019

Categorical Cognition and Outcome Efficiency in Impact Investing Decisions

This study investigates how categorical cognition impacts outcome efficiency in impact investing decisions. It argues that individuals often struggle to identify portfolios that simultaneously optimize financial and social outcomes, leading to wasted value creation opportunities. Experiments show that suppressing categorical labels on investment options can significantly increase outcome efficiency, suggesting that the human tendency to categorize investments based on traditional labels (e.g., “charity” vs. “for-profit”) can hinder effective decision-making in hybrid contexts.
Case Study
  • 1 January 2016

Blended Finance: Understanding Its Potential for Agenda 2030

The report likely provides a foundational overview of blended finance, discussing its origins, mechanisms, effectiveness, and risks. It probably analyses how blended finance can support the delivery of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, while also stressing the importance of strong governance, transparency, and development additionality to ensure that these financial mechanisms truly benefit those in need and contribute positively to achieving the SDGs without creating unintended negative consequences or market distortions.
Case Study
  • 1 January 2018

Putting the “impact” in Impact Investing: the Rising Demand for Data and Evidence of Social Outcomes

This article addresses the increasing demand for robust data and evidence in impact investing to genuinely demonstrate social outcomes. It highlights the importance of rigorous evaluation, impact measurement, and accurate social value assessment to ensure that investments deliver their intended social benefits. The authors discuss the need for enhanced evaluation capacity building within the social investing landscape to move beyond mere financial returns and truly quantify social impact.
Case Study
  • 1 January 2015

What’s in a Name: an Analysis of Impact Investing Understandings by Academics and Practitioners

This article addresses the conceptual clarity issues surrounding impact investing, including the lack of a uniform definition and interchangeable use of terms like “socially responsible investment.” Through an analysis of academic and practitioner works, it highlights similarities and inconsistencies at definitional, terminological, and strategic levels. The research aims to foster a better understanding of impact investing to advance the field and increase its credibility, particularly regarding the characteristics required of impact investees.
Case Study
  • 2 January 2021

Towards a Unifying Framework of Impact Assessment in Impact Investing

This chapter advocates for a unifying framework for impact assessment in impact investing, addressing the current lack of common language and diverse methodologies. It proposes that the Global Impact Investing Network (GIIN)’s characterization of impact investing can serve as a basis for assessing impact along an impact value chain, distinguishing outputs from outcomes and impacts. Such a framework would facilitate comparisons, aggregation, and better managerial decision-making for social purpose organizations.
We use essential and analytics cookies to operate this website and understand how visitors interact with it. As this site also functions as a login identity provider (IDP) for other ISDM portals, some cookies are necessary to enable secure authentication. By continuing to use this site, you consent to our use of cookies.
Accept & Continue