Pillars Ka Pou Whakahou
GoodMeasure Renewal validated our progress and showed where to refine and grow. It strengthened our data and direction, helping us to focus on what delivers the greatest impact for whānau.
The GoodMeasure Renewal provided us with a clear roadmap for the future. Internally, the findings aligned our teams and established shared priorities, creating a unified sense of direction and purpose.
The GoodMeasure Renewal provided us with a clear roadmap for the future. Internally, the findings aligned our teams and established shared priorities, creating a unified sense of direction and purpose.
Standing alongside tamariki, whānau and change
Pillars Ka Pou Whakahou supports whānau to break intergenerational cycles of incarceration through wraparound social work, holistic care, and mentoring. In 2024, Pillars completed its second GoodMeasure Renewal, building on its original 2020 GoodMeasure to understand what’s working, what’s changing, and where to focus next.
“We wanted to independently and objectively measure the impact of our work.” — Tuhi, Leadership, Pillars
Measuring change and refining the story
In 2020, Pillars collaborated with ImpactLab to conduct an initial GoodMeasure. This established a baseline of impact around their support for tamariki, rangatahi, and whānau. A GoodMeasure Renewal followed over a year later with the aim of understanding what had changed, what was working well and where improvements could be made.
Through the collaboration with ImpactLab, Pillars strengthened both their data collection and partnership structure. Improved datasets and clearer reporting mechanisms allowed for a more accurate assessment of social return on investment during the GoodMeasure Renewal process. This process reinforced their understanding of strengths, identified areas for improvement, and led to concrete actions.
The Renewal provided clear evidence of Pillars’ progress over time. The SROI increased by 40% from $1.50 in FY20 to $2.10 in FY24, while operating costs fell by 38% and the cost per participant decreased by 27%. The social value per person remained strong at $9,722 which highlighted deeper engagement and richer outcomes for participants. Enhanced data capture also offered clearer insights into the factors that drive positive change, helping the team focus on what works best.
Turning insight into action
Pillars’ measurement journey produced more than a report—it became a reusable tool. Their GoodMeasure Renewal provided an independent perspective to continue validating strengths and identifying areas for improvement. This process offered clarity and confidence, giving the organisation a roadmap to refine priorities and focus on what delivers the greatest impact for whānau.
The Renewal provided Pillars with a clear roadmap for the future. Internally, the findings aligned teams and established shared priorities, creating a unified sense of direction and purpose. The findings also sparked a cultural shift within Pillars to continue using their data to encourage deeper reflection and ongoing learning of the whānau they serve. This clarity has helped staff prioritise initiatives with the greatest potential impact, ensuring resources are used where they can make the most difference.
CEO Tuhi Leef states: “There’s some nuggets in the ImpactLab Renewal Report that we haven’t perhaps been reflective enough of… we’ll go back and pull it apart again.”
Turning insight into action, Tuhi reflected on the internal value of the findings that support the organisation to understand... "What we’re doing well, what we can do better … that’s been good in terms of our own journey."
Externally, the report strengthened credibility with funders and donors. The independent assessment was leveraged to support funding applications and reassure existing donors. One new donor chose to support the organisation after reviewing the findings, demonstrating the tangible value of an objective impact report:
“It paid for itself… over four or five times the cost of the report.” — Tuhi
By using the report as a “briefcase tool,” Pillars ensured that measurement informed strategy and practice.
Continuing to deepen impact
GoodMeasure Renewals are a core part of Pillars’ Know → Show → Grow cycle. By identifying and prioritising the actions with the greatest potential impact, the organisation is able to focus on initiatives that deliver meaningful benefits for whānau while improving overall outcomes. As Tuhi notes, concentrating on these high-impact areas can deliver a huge benefit for whānau and subsequently improve their SROI in years to come.
To further deepen impact, the organisation is prioritising the top actions with the greatest potential effect, recognising that focused effort can deliver meaningful benefits for whānau and improve overall social return on investment.
“If we focus on these two things … we think that would deliver a huge benefit for whānau … and subsequently improve our SROI.”— Tuhi
Finally, the measurement findings are being used to guide programme evolution and align more closely with strategic goals such as whānau experience and better outcomes.
At ImpactLab, we see this as the real power of GoodMeasure Renewal: creating a cycle of learning, improvement, and validation. Pillar's journey is one example of how organisations can use evidence to continue strengthening their work and demonstrate their value to funders, partners, and communities alike.
Read Pillars Ka Pou Whakahou GoodMeasure Report here.
Standing alongside tamariki, whānau and change
Pillars Ka Pou Whakahou supports whānau to break intergenerational cycles of incarceration through wraparound social work, holistic care, and mentoring. In 2024, Pillars completed its second GoodMeasure Renewal, building on its original 2020 GoodMeasure to understand what’s working, what’s changing, and where to focus next.
“We wanted to independently and objectively measure the impact of our work.” — Tuhi, Leadership, Pillars
Measuring change and refining the story
In 2020, Pillars collaborated with ImpactLab to conduct an initial GoodMeasure. This established a baseline of impact around their support for tamariki, rangatahi, and whānau. A GoodMeasure Renewal followed over a year later with the aim of understanding what had changed, what was working well and where improvements could be made.
Through the collaboration with ImpactLab, Pillars strengthened both their data collection and partnership structure. Improved datasets and clearer reporting mechanisms allowed for a more accurate assessment of social return on investment during the GoodMeasure Renewal process. This process reinforced their understanding of strengths, identified areas for improvement, and led to concrete actions.
The Renewal provided clear evidence of Pillars’ progress over time. The SROI increased by 40% from $1.50 in FY20 to $2.10 in FY24, while operating costs fell by 38% and the cost per participant decreased by 27%. The social value per person remained strong at $9,722 which highlighted deeper engagement and richer outcomes for participants. Enhanced data capture also offered clearer insights into the factors that drive positive change, helping the team focus on what works best.
Turning insight into action
Pillars’ measurement journey produced more than a report—it became a reusable tool. Their GoodMeasure Renewal provided an independent perspective to continue validating strengths and identifying areas for improvement. This process offered clarity and confidence, giving the organisation a roadmap to refine priorities and focus on what delivers the greatest impact for whānau.
The Renewal provided Pillars with a clear roadmap for the future. Internally, the findings aligned teams and established shared priorities, creating a unified sense of direction and purpose. The findings also sparked a cultural shift within Pillars to continue using their data to encourage deeper reflection and ongoing learning of the whānau they serve. This clarity has helped staff prioritise initiatives with the greatest potential impact, ensuring resources are used where they can make the most difference.
CEO Tuhi Leef states: “There’s some nuggets in the ImpactLab Renewal Report that we haven’t perhaps been reflective enough of… we’ll go back and pull it apart again.”
Turning insight into action, Tuhi reflected on the internal value of the findings that support the organisation to understand... "What we’re doing well, what we can do better … that’s been good in terms of our own journey."
Externally, the report strengthened credibility with funders and donors. The independent assessment was leveraged to support funding applications and reassure existing donors. One new donor chose to support the organisation after reviewing the findings, demonstrating the tangible value of an objective impact report:
“It paid for itself… over four or five times the cost of the report.” — Tuhi
By using the report as a “briefcase tool,” Pillars ensured that measurement informed strategy and practice.
Continuing to deepen impact
GoodMeasure Renewals are a core part of Pillars’ Know → Show → Grow cycle. By identifying and prioritising the actions with the greatest potential impact, the organisation is able to focus on initiatives that deliver meaningful benefits for whānau while improving overall outcomes. As Tuhi notes, concentrating on these high-impact areas can deliver a huge benefit for whānau and subsequently improve their SROI in years to come.
To further deepen impact, the organisation is prioritising the top actions with the greatest potential effect, recognising that focused effort can deliver meaningful benefits for whānau and improve overall social return on investment.
“If we focus on these two things … we think that would deliver a huge benefit for whānau … and subsequently improve our SROI.”— Tuhi
Finally, the measurement findings are being used to guide programme evolution and align more closely with strategic goals such as whānau experience and better outcomes.
At ImpactLab, we see this as the real power of GoodMeasure Renewal: creating a cycle of learning, improvement, and validation. Pillar's journey is one example of how organisations can use evidence to continue strengthening their work and demonstrate their value to funders, partners, and communities alike.
Read Pillars Ka Pou Whakahou GoodMeasure Report here.
Pillars Ka Pou Whakahou
GoodMeasure Renewal validated our progress and showed where to refine and grow. It strengthened our data and direction, helping us to focus on what delivers the greatest impact for whānau.
Te Whakaruruhau, Waikato Women’s Refuge
GoodMeasure validated the depth of our work and showed where we could improve. It’s helped us strengthen our systems and expand our reach to better meet the needs of our whole community
Guardians Of Our Children
GoodMeasure helped us establish systems to effectively track our day-to-day interactions with regular programs.
Kilmarnock Enterprises
The GoodMeasure report has reinforced our view that its a strong programme.
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