CSR Insight · July 2026 · 8 min read
Designing CSR Programmes for Outcomes, Not Outputs
Counting workshops is easy. Demonstrating change is harder — and far more valuable. A practical guide for CSR and ESG teams.
Under Schedule VII of the Companies Act, CSR spending in India has grown into a significant source of social investment. As portfolios mature, boards and stakeholders increasingly ask a sharper question: what changed?
Start with a theory of change
A clear chain from inputs to activities, outputs, outcomes and long-term impact makes assumptions visible and measurable. It also helps partners agree on what success looks like before funds are deployed.
Baseline everything that matters
Without a baseline, an endline is just a number. Light-touch baseline surveys at the start of a programme are one of the most cost-effective investments in credible reporting.
Report honestly
Programmes that report challenges alongside achievements build lasting trust. Transparent reporting is not a risk to a partnership — it is the foundation of one.
An informational article by ProGrow Foundation. It does not describe specific beneficiaries or completed programmes.