The Social Impact Cycle
The Social Impact Cycle is a framework developed by the Ballard Center for Social Impact to help individuals and organizations create lasting positive change. Each phase of the cycle is anchored in a common core principle: love the one. This principle is rooted in the belief that effective social impact work is propelled by developing empathy, forging personal connections, listening to those affected, and consistently working towards meaningful change for the individual. Just as our faith teaches that Jesus Christ cares about each individual, we choose to start solving social problems at the personal level.
The Social Impact Cycle graphic emphasizes the principle of love the one by placing it at the center, represented by the individual icon. Surrounding the center are the four phases of the cycle: love the problem, design the change, implement, and evaluate, as well as three rings depicting the different scales of impact, individual, community, and the world.
Together, these layers show that while social impact often begins with individuals, thoughtful and sustained efforts can expand outward to influence communities and, ultimately, create broader global change. The cycle is not a linear process and should be revisited and repeated as needed to support the ever-changing needs of social impact work. Using this cycle provides a shared language and structure for those navigating social impact efforts, while remaining flexible enough to adapt across sectors, cultures, and contexts.
