CCS Journal is published under the auspices of UTSePress, Sydney, Australia A Theoretical Model of Social Impact

This paper constructs a theoretical model of social impact as it applies to civil society organisations. It does so by drawing on the social ontology defined by practice theory. This approach begins with what is understood within current organisational practices. It then assesses a practice approach against the recent literature on impact and evaluation. This is followed by an exploration of the capitals, notably social, human and cultural capital and their interrelationships, as a theoretical base for the explication of social impact. A formal model of social impact is finally identified together with a set of basic propositions that may collectively be said to define social impact. Finally the implications of the model are discussed for social policy and organisational management. Defining the scope of the paper While much is talked about concerning social impact, and policy papers stress its importance, there is in fact considerable confusion about what it is, and how it relates to wider issues of community cohesion and wellbeing. This paper attempts to structure a theoretical model of social impact, to construct a conceptual frame which may then be useful in determining not only what it is, but how it might then be measured within a community context