Social Impact 101: Measuring & Communicating Impact in NGOs
What? A series of 5 introductory webinars
When? April 15, 2026 – May 26, 2026
Where? Online, via Zoom (the link will be sent after registration)
You can register for the entire series or only for the sessions that fit your current needs.
These webinars are conducted in Romanian.
Course description
The Measuring Societal Impact webinar series is designed specifically for NGO and foundation leaders, program managers, and specialists who are at the beginning of their journey in impact measurement. This accessible series, structured into five webinars, provides essential information, practical tools, and guidance from experts to help organizations evolve effectively in planning, measuring, and communicating social impact.
Measuring the impact of programs and interventions is not optional: funders and donors require clear results, and organizations need data to make strategic decisions, adjust programs, and increase transparency. This series is a starting point for NGOs and provides the tools and knowledge necessary to measure and communicate project impact effectively.
Who is this course for?
- Leaders from NGOs and Foundations, who want to plan impact proportionally with the organization’s activities and resources.
- Program Managers who want to implement impact evaluation tools in their programs.
- Impact measurement specialists, those who are at the beginning and want to learn best practices for impact evaluation.
Key competencies you will gain
- Understanding basic concepts: You will understand the fundamental concepts of impact measurement and how impact can be planned and measured in social projects.
- Using practical impact measurement tools: You will learn to apply relevant and efficient methods for collecting and analyzing the data needed for monitoring and evaluating social impact, depending on your organization’s needs.
- Effective communication: You will develop the skills needed to communicate impact data clearly and convincingly to different categories of stakeholders (funders/donors, public, policy makers).
Structure and benefits of the webinar series
Webinar 1: Impact Measurement - Roadmap
Date: April 15 & 17, 2026, 10:00
Trainer: Dr. Lev Fejes, Research Center for Civil Society/UBB
Description: The webinar provides a practical guide for organizations that want to move from simply reporting activities to demonstrating real social impact. The webinar presents basic concepts and tools for impact measurement, following the 7 necessary steps for planning, designing, measuring, and communicating the impact of a project or organization.
Benefits:
- You will learn how to identify changes (positive or negative, intended or unintended) produced by your organization’s interventions.
- You will discover the 7 practical steps for planning and implementing an impact measurement process.
- You will see how impact data can be used for decision-making, communication with stakeholders, and supporting fundraising efforts.
Webinar 2: ToC (Theory of Change) and other impact measurement frameworks
Date: April 21 & 23, 2026, 10:00-12:00
Trainer: Dr. Bogdan Radu, UBB
Description: This webinar provides the foundations for aligning measurable impact objectives with the organization’s mission or with the objectives of a program or project. Participants will learn how to build and use the Theory of Change (ToC) to plan interventions, understand how change happens, and measure impact.
Benefits:
- You will learn how to develop or revise a Theory of Change for your projects or organization.
- You will understand how inputs, activities, outputs, outcomes, and impact are connected in an intervention.
- You will discover how the Theory of Change can be used to improve program planning, result monitoring, and strategic decision-making.
Webinar 3: Feasible design and methodologies for impact measurement
Date: April 27 & 29, 2026, 10:00-12:00
Trainer: Dr. Daniela Angi, UBB
Description: In this webinar, you will explore the basics of impact measurement using rigorous and feasible methods, within the financial and time constraints specific to the sector. You will learn about accessible quantitative and qualitative approaches for evaluating progress and results, with a focus on the most useful research designs underlying the impact measurement process.
Benefits:
- You will understand the basic techniques of impact measurement.
- You will learn to select and use simple indicators and measurements.
- You will gain clarity on choosing appropriate research designs for your projects.
Webinar 4: Data collection and analysis in impact measurement
Date: May 18 & 22, 2026, 10:00-12:00
Trainer: Dr. Sorana Constantinescu, UBB
Description: This webinar addresses one of the most difficult stages of impact measurement: collecting and analyzing relevant data. Participants will learn how to develop data collection tools and how to analyze the obtained information to evaluate progress on impact indicators.
Benefits:
- You will discover basic methods for analyzing collected data and interpreting results.
- You will learn how to create tools that measure progress on impact indicators.
- You will learn how to develop these processes internally or how to prepare a clear terms of reference for contracting external experts.
- You will gain confidence in data analysis to improve program performance.
Webinar 5: Communicating impact
Date: May 25 & 26, 2026, 10:00-12:00
Trainer: Dr. Corina Rotar, UBB
Description: The results of impact evaluation must be rigorous, but the story told by the data must be communicated differently for various stakeholders. In this webinar, you will learn how to turn data into compelling narratives, focusing on communication strategies that help NGOs effectively share their impact with interested stakeholders (donors, partners) and the community.
Benefits:
- You will learn how to transform impact evaluation results into clear and convincing narratives.
- You will discover how to communicate impact effectively to donors, partners, and the wider community.
- You will learn how to present results in a way that increases trust and supports relationships with stakeholders.
Participation options
You can register for the entire series or only for the sessions that fit your current needs.
Price per webinar: 300 RON/participant
Full series (all 5 webinars): 1200 RON/participant
10% discount: for organizations with 2 or more participants (Can be combined with the full series discount): 1080 RON/participant
Trainers
Dr. Lev Fejes
As director of the Research Center for Civil Society, he brings extensive experience in the nonprofit sector and in research. He holds a PhD from Michigan State University and has held positions over time as project/program manager, research manager, and researcher in the area of civil society and philanthropy. He is also a board member of the European Research Network on Philanthropy and of the Făgăraș Research Institute.
Dr. Bogdan Mihai Radu
PhD and lecturer in Political Science at the Faculty of Political, Administrative and Communication Sciences, Babeș-Bolyai University in Cluj-Napoca, Dr. Radu focuses his research on political culture in modern democracies. His work explores the evolution of civil society in post-communist contexts and analyzes youth participation in religious organizations, offering in-depth perspectives on the factors that support democratic values. His academic experience and extensive research help guide NGOs in integrating sustainable impact strategies.
Dr. Daniela Angi
Sociologist and scientific researcher at the Faculty of Political, Administrative and Communication Sciences, Babeș-Bolyai University in Cluj-Napoca, Daniela Angi specializes in the intersection between civil society and democracy. Her research covers civic engagement, especially among young people, as well as inequalities in education and civic education. Her experience and expertise in social trends make her a valuable support for understanding and measuring social impact.
Dr. Sorana Constantinescu
Dr. Sorana Constantinescu is a lecturer at the Department of Political Science, Faculty of Political, Administrative and Communication Sciences, Babeș-Bolyai University. She is co-coordinator of the Data Science undergraduate program at the same university. Her research fields lie at the intersection of gender studies, education, democracy, and media studies. In 2024 she received the annual award for excellence in scientific research at Babeș-Bolyai University. She has participated as a researcher in over 10 international and national projects and has extensive experience in project management, including coordinating the international projects CONSENT and Social Learning to Take Part in Social Movements (funded by the EU).
Dr. Corina Rotar
Lecturer, PhD, within the Department of Communication, Public Relations and Advertising of the Faculty of Political, Administrative and Communication Sciences, Babeș-Bolyai University. She teaches courses such as Verbal and Nonverbal Communication, Cultural PR and Speech and Presentation Techniques, focusing on transforming communication skills into functional tools for organizational activity. Her work combines institutional practice with academic training, being interested in public discourse dynamics, storytelling elements, and the interaction between strategic and interpersonal communication.
Contact and registration:
For questions or additional information, you can contact us at:
E-mail: office@civicresearch.center
To register for a webinar or for the entire series, complete the form available below.