We recently made some changes to the features available in some of our plans, and many of you now have access to new, powerful features. To kick off 2026, this series will focus on those in the hopes of helping all of you get the most value possible out of your investment in Submittable.
Today, we'll begin with Impact Reports.
What Are Impact Reports?
Impact Reports are a quick and convenient way to view the aggregated responses to a single form (Initial or Additional). They include:
Form Overview
The overview includes high level information about your form: the total number of questions, number of responses, completion rate and most skipped questions:
Quantitative Data
All responses to dropdown lists, checkboxes, and single and multiple response questions will be automatically aggregated for you.
You can filter this data if you'd like to limit the options in your view, such as deselecting "Other". Do so by clicking the Option button:
You'll see the data in your preferred chart: bar, column, or pie:
We recommend the pie chart for single select questions, or for when you are looking to visualize the proportion of a response relative to the whole (such as, what percentage of my applicants are from X county?), and a bar or column chart for when you are comparing responses to each other (such as, do I have more applicants from X county or Y county?).
By showing the data table, you'll also see the exact number and percentage of responses for each option:
Qualitative Data
Impact Reports also offer a convenient option to sift through qualitative responses (to short and long answer questions). For when you'd like to focus on answers to a single question from many submitters, vs. review a full submission, this is often faster than generating a report or going through submissions one by one.
For full details on Impact Reports, be sure to check out our video and help article.
What can I do with Impact Reports?
In general, Impact Reports are helpful when you are looking to check the pulse of a large group of applicants or aggregate data, as opposed to give a single submission your full attention. Here are the most common reasons you might use Impact Reports:
I want to see where applicants are experiencing bottlenecks in my application process. Impact Reports readily provide you with an overview of a Form’s "Completion Rate" and the "Most skipped question". Use this data to proactively revise any aspects of your form which may be confusing or unnecessary.
I want to easily skim answers to the long-form responses to a single question. If you're just looking for a sense of how your larger pool responded to a single qualitative question, Impact Reports will be easier and faster than generating a Standard Report.
I’m mid-application cycle, and I want to make sure that I’m reaching my intended audiences, such as demographic groups. This is where Impact Reports really shine brightest. Instantly check in on how your applicant field is made up, and adjust your marketing strategy as needed to ensure you meet your goals and intended communities.
I've received a round of progress reports, and I want to know how the program is going at a 1,000 foot view. To check in on trends across your portfolio, such as whether your grantees are on track to meet their goals or if they could use more support from your organization, Impact Reports will offer answers immediately.
I've conducted a survey and I want to analyze results. For just about any kind of survey, Impact Reports will give you the easiest access to your data.
I'm preparing a presentation and I want to add some quick visualizations. Taking a quick snip of the charts in an Impact Report is a fast way to zhuzh up your next slide deck in a board meeting.
If you're newly accessing Impact Reports, I hope this synopsis will inspire you to check them out today. Interested in Impact Reports but not seeing them in your account (under Reports in the top navigation bar)? Contact your customer success manager to learn more about upgrading.