You have several options for creating and managing your tag taxonomy:

By default, ImpactMapper provides a sample tag set for tagging within a project called "Default Outcomes". In addition to the default set, you can create custom tag groups and tags to align with your outcome framework and desired analysis. 

This is a great option if you have outcome data that you want to quickly analyze at the aggregate level, but don’t have your own outcome framework or taxonomy. When you choose to use IM’s Default Outcome list, go to the second tab on the tagging sidebar, labeled “Default Outcomes.” A list of high-level outcomes appears in a pre-populated list, such as Changed laws and policies, Increased transparency and accountability, Changed lives, etc. You can use Default Outcomes only or use them in combination with Custom Tags.

Tip: We recommend that you spend more time upfront in developing a comprehensive tag list across different portfolios/programs that could serve as a baseline set of trends that you can use to track over time. More standardized tag lists with less changes over time will help your trend analysis. If you would like support or advice on creating tag lists or tagging report data, ImpactMapper has consulting packages available.
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Custom Tags are the most customized way to apply tags that are specific to your organization, outcomes, or analysis framework. This could be related to any taxonomies of interest (e.g., issue areas, strategies, Theory of change outcomes/indicators, Logframe outcomes/indicators or Strategic plan outcomes, Opportunities, Challenges, Lessons Learned, etc). When you create Custom Tags, they are automatically saved in that analysis and can be edited, used and/or adapted as needed in future analysis projects. 

Note: Currently ImpactMapper doesn't support sharing of tag groups or tags between projects or organizations, but this frequently-requested feature is on our roadmap.
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If you would like to track quantitative, numerical, financial, location or date data in your report text, you can choose from one of quantity, currency, location and date tag types while tagging. These types are automatically detected and suggested or can be manually applied when tagging a report so that the resulting data can be aggregated under the same tag.

We recommend avoiding creating multiple tags to track different types of the same outcome. For example instead of using two tags called "Instances of Funding Issued to Environmental Groups" and  "Totals of Funding Issued to Environmental Groups", you can use a "Funding Issued to Environmental Groups" tag and specify amounts in your preferred currency when tagging. Once you are done tagging, you can count both instances of funding and total amounts under one tag: looking at "Funding Issued" tag should return 14 grants totalling $14,121.

Learn more about different tag types.