Great intentions got you this far.

We help you build what comes next.

Trusted by

Who I work with

Private companies

From startups to established businesses building a serious sustainability or impact strategy, and needing the evidence and the story to back it up.

Public sector

Public bodies and institutions that need programs, policies, and reporting that stand up to oversight and can be explained clearly to citizens.

Foundations

Funders who want to know what their money actually changes, with clear ways to evaluate and learn from the work they support.

Nonprofits

Teams with real work on the ground and little bandwidth left to plan it, measure it, and tell the story of it.

About us

Maria Pignatelli, founder of Proof of Change

I started working with social impact startups in 2018. Being around people committed to learning, experimenting, and improving the world shaped my view of impact as something you build intentionally.

Over time, I saw many impact driven organizations struggle to scale due to unclear communication, short term thinking, or lack of structure. That led me to focus on sustainability strategy as a way to help meaningful ideas grow.

Working across governments, NGOs, startups, and companies showed me that collaboration is essential. For example, startups bring speed and disruption, while companies bring structure and scale, and real change happens when those worlds meet.

I built Proof of Change because from working in social impact, I realized that change only counts once you can show it happened. In this consultancy we challenge the assumption that consultants hand over a plan and leave. We'll be with you to find out how it worked.

Maria Pignatelli, founder

Values we stand by

  • Honesty
  • Rigor
  • Independence
  • Continuous Improvement

What people are saying

The team and I really appreciated her understanding of relevant frameworks and methodologies related with impact measurement, and the comprehensive methods she applied to the design of sustainability strategies.
Climate Engagement Specialist, Data Analytics Company
Maria proved from the start to be extremely committed, with full command of the project, confident, joyful and genuinely interested. She works based on knowledge, sharing and delivering concrete results. Her joy and satisfaction in what she does, combined with excellent preparation, make her a truly valuable professional.
National Executive Leader, of a Non Profit Organization
Maria impresses through her grit, sharpness and ease in dealing with topics outside her comfort zone. She always brings very positive energy to the groups she joins, combined with strong critical thinking and reflection that elevate collective work. Her proactive attitude and go get it spirit made a huge difference.
Partner, at Impact Driven Consulting Firm
Maria's definitely skilled in sustainability related decision making and process management. She possesses a broad spectrum of capabilities that adapt to many contexts. I especially appreciate her dedication, precision, in-depth preparation and result-oriented mindset.
Research Dean, Business University
Maria was a true breath of fresh air. I was impressed by her pragmatism, solution focus, versatility and ease in building commercial relationships. She shows very positive energy and a natural ability to adapt to different contexts, with an attitude oriented toward solving problems and creating value.
Founder and Managing Partner, Impact Investment Fund
Maria is very professional, responsible and extremely easy to work with. Maria stands out for her excellent presentation and communication skills, especially her ability to formulate concise and on point answers in complex discussions. She is pragmatic, clear, approachable and enthusiastic.
Deputy Director, European Network
Maria's training opened my eyes to tools I didn't know existed. Huge thanks for how clearly and kindly everything was taught. Every question got a straight answer, and that made all the difference.
Strategic Initiatives Lead at Environmental Consultancy
The team and I really appreciated her understanding of relevant frameworks and methodologies related with impact measurement, and the comprehensive methods she applied to the design of sustainability strategies.
Climate Engagement Specialist, Data Analytics Company
Maria proved from the start to be extremely committed, with full command of the project, confident, joyful and genuinely interested. She works based on knowledge, sharing and delivering concrete results. Her joy and satisfaction in what she does, combined with excellent preparation, make her a truly valuable professional.
National Executive Leader, of a Non Profit Organization
Maria impresses through her grit, sharpness and ease in dealing with topics outside her comfort zone. She always brings very positive energy to the groups she joins, combined with strong critical thinking and reflection that elevate collective work. Her proactive attitude and go get it spirit made a huge difference.
Partner, at Impact Driven Consulting Firm
Maria's definitely skilled in sustainability related decision making and process management. She possesses a broad spectrum of capabilities that adapt to many contexts. I especially appreciate her dedication, precision, in-depth preparation and result-oriented mindset.
Research Dean, Business University
Maria was a true breath of fresh air. I was impressed by her pragmatism, solution focus, versatility and ease in building commercial relationships. She shows very positive energy and a natural ability to adapt to different contexts, with an attitude oriented toward solving problems and creating value.
Founder and Managing Partner, Impact Investment Fund
Maria is very professional, responsible and extremely easy to work with. Maria stands out for her excellent presentation and communication skills, especially her ability to formulate concise and on point answers in complex discussions. She is pragmatic, clear, approachable and enthusiastic.
Deputy Director, European Network
Maria's training opened my eyes to tools I didn't know existed. Huge thanks for how clearly and kindly everything was taught. Every question got a straight answer, and that made all the difference.
Strategic Initiatives Lead at Environmental Consultancy

Before you reach out

You've got questions? We've got answers

How are you different from a big generalist firm?

We work only with mission driven organizations. Large generalist firms tend to bring frameworks built to fit any client in any industry. Every service we offer starts with a diagnosis, scaled to the size of the job. It keeps you from solving the wrong problem, gives you a baseline to measure against and makes our scope and price accurate.

Can I hire you for one service, or do I need the full approach?

Every organization is different, so we shape the work around yours. We can run a project, work in a fractional role, facilitate, or mentor. The price depends on scope and complexity, with your organization's size as a rough guide.

I'm not sure what I need. How do I choose the right service?

Book a call. We'll talk through where you are now and find the best way to help.

Do you work remotely, and in which countries and languages?

We work remotely or in person, depending on the arrangement. We work in English, Portuguese and Spanish.

How long do projects usually take?

It depends on the scope and on how much time your team can give the work. We're flexible and plan around your rhythm.

Do you offer support after a project ends?

Yes. We check in after the engagement to hear what you've put in place and we help further if you need it.

Ready to talk about where you're headed?