Impact Intelligence

Impact intelligence is JA’s next step in becoming a learning organization—one that doesn’t just measure activity, but understands what works, why it works, and how to improve it across the network. It goes beyond traditional impact measurement by combining quantitative data, qualitative insights, research partnerships, and storytelling into a single continuous-learning cycle. Impact Intelligence helps us move from counting learning experiences to interpreting outcomes, identifying patterns, and using evidence to guide strategy, strengthen funding proposals, and improve program design.

Impact Intelligence Toolkit

Thanks to your feedback, we have finalized the Impact Intelligence Toolkit. This toolkit is JA’s practical guide to understanding, measuring, and communicating the outcomes of our work. Built to support members across diverse contexts, it goes far beyond traditional impact measurement by providing a comprehensive, easy-to-use system for collecting data, analyzing results, capturing stories, and using evidence to strengthen programs and partnerships. Some sections—especially the longest one on quantitative research—are complex and dense, and may require focused study. Others are easier to navigate and put into practice immediately.

The toolkit walks you step-by-step through the core components of impact intelligence: foundational concepts in impact and theory of change; practical methods for quantitative and qualitative research; tools for cost analysis and operational insights; and clear guidance on data privacy, ethics, and protection. Whether you're designing a survey, interpreting data, conducting an alumni study, or capturing a compelling story, each section offers templates, examples, and explanations in plain language.

JA Worldwide Impact Report

Check out the JA Global Impact Report published in 2023. We’re excited to release the 2026 Impact and Insights Report in April 2026.

Young people are navigating a world shaped by rapid technological change, workforce disruption, and growing inequality. What they need now is more than knowledge. They need the skills, confidence, and mindset to participate fully in the economy and shape their own futures.

That's where our work comes in.

The 2026 JA Worldwide Impact & Insights Report examines what happens when education goes beyond theory, equipping young people not just with skills, but with agency. It highlights how entrepreneurship, employability, and financial literacy can drive shared prosperity, strengthen social cohesion, and support long-term economic resilience, especially in communities facing instability and uncertainty. Explore the full report at jaworldwide.org/impact.

Create Your Own Impact Report!

We’ve created our latest impact and insights report in PowerPoint (see the design files, here), reducing the time it will take for you to create a version for your JA location. Although this report is organized by the four focus areas of the JA Institute—Youth Entrepreneurship, Work and Tech Readiness, Economic Empowerment, and Education for Future Skills—you can organize your custom version any way you’d like.

One idea: Create a “JA [Your Location Name” section, a JA [Your ROC Name]” section, and a “JA Worldwide” or “Global” section. Move data and stories from your region into your regional section, move some of the data and stories from the rest of the report to your global section, populate your national/local section, and update the cover and some of the intro pages. This way, with only a few pieces of quantitative data from your JA location and just one or two qualitative case studies (impact stories from your alumni), you’ll still have a very full-feeling impact report that communicates regional/global impact as well as local. We’d love to hear how you’re customizing your impact report at contact@jaworldwide.org.

 The JA Institute

The JA Institute is the research, innovation, and thought leadership arm of JA, dedicated to

• Producing research on cost-effective ways to implement learning experiences, scale JA's footprint, introduce innovation, and measure our effectiveness and impact

• Translating research into reports and thought leadership that strengthens our youth-advocacy efforts and helps JA lead global conversations.

The JA Institute’s strategic framework is divided into three priorities:

• Center for Research and JA Labs: Conducting impact research, nurturing innovation through experimentation, and investing in academic fellowships, which aims to offer insights and evidence for strategic decision-making and accelerate digital and AI.

• Thought Leadership and Youth Voices: Advocating for youth education and issues, disseminating research, and presenting novel solutions through global conversations and partnerships.

• Organizational Performance: Building a culture of evidence-based, data-informed decision-making using research, experimentation, and thought leadership, and promoting resilience amidst disruption.

By consolidating the efforts across these areas, The JA Institute supports JA’s mission through innovative research and a commitment to advancing global educational and economic opportunities for youth. Learn more at ja.institute.