Charities Evaluation Services’ National Performance Programme wanted to investigate how well infrastructure organisations are able to demonstrate the difference their work makes. By ‘difference made’ we mean all the changes, learning and benefits that result from work to support, develop, coordinate, represent and promote frontline voluntary and community groups. Our research asked what infrastructure organisations need to help them assess and demonstrate difference, what support is available to them, as well as what gaps exist. We also looked at whether the expectations they have of themselves, and the expectations their funders have of them, are realistic.