SROI
CALCULATOR
Prove your nonprofit's value to funders, boards, and stakeholders. Calculate the dollar value of your social impact in minutes—no spreadsheet expertise required.
Pre-loaded with values from WSIPP, HACT Social Value Bank, Robin Hood Foundation, and more.
WHAT IS SROI?
Social Return on Investment (SROI) is a framework that measures the social, environmental, and economic value created by your nonprofit. Unlike traditional financial metrics that only track dollars in and out, SROI quantifies outcomes that matter—lives changed, communities strengthened, futures transformed.
The result is expressed as a ratio: for every $1 invested, how much social value is created? A 3:1 SROI means your program generates $3 in social value for every dollar spent. This gives funders, boards, and stakeholders a clear picture of your impact efficiency.
WHY NONPROFITS NEED SROI
- →Prove Impact to Funders: Grant applications increasingly require quantified outcomes. SROI provides the numbers funders want.
- →Guide Strategic Decisions: Compare program efficiency to allocate resources where they create the most value.
- →Communicate with Boards: Board members understand ROI. SROI translates mission impact into language they speak.
- →Benchmark Performance: Track your ratio over time to show continuous improvement and learning.
HOW IT WORKS: THE SROI FORMULA
SROI calculation follows a structured methodology developed by Social Value UK and refined by research institutions like the Washington State Institute for Public Policy (WSIPP). Here's the core process:
Step 1: Identify Outcomes
What changes because of your program? (e.g., job placements, reduced homelessness, improved mental health)
Step 2: Assign Proxy Values
What is each outcome worth in dollars? (e.g., lifetime earnings from job placement, cost savings from avoided healthcare)
Step 3: Apply Discount Factors
Account for deadweight (what would've happened anyway), attribution (other contributors), and displacement (negative externalities)
Step 4: Calculate Ratio
Total Social Value ÷ Investment = SROI Ratio
PROXY VALUES: THE FOUNDATION
The accuracy of SROI depends on proxy values—monetary estimates for non-monetary outcomes. This calculator uses values from peer-reviewed sources:
- →WSIPP (Washington State Institute for Public Policy): Benefit-cost analysis of evidence-based programs, widely cited in government and academic research.
- →HACT Social Value Bank: UK-based wellbeing valuation, converts quality-of-life changes into monetary equivalents.
- →Robin Hood Foundation: Poverty-fighting impact metrics, focused on economic mobility outcomes.
WHEN TO USE THIS CALCULATOR
This tool is ideal for preliminary estimates and grant narratives. Use it when you need to:
- • Draft a grant proposal and want to include estimated social value
- • Prepare a board report showing program efficiency
- • Compare the relative impact of different program models
- • Educate staff and stakeholders about impact measurement
Important: For audited SROI reports, regulatory compliance, or high-stakes funder requirements, engage certified evaluators who can conduct stakeholder analysis and validate assumptions. This calculator provides directionally accurate estimates, not audited assurance.
YOUR INVESTMENT
Include all costs: staff, overhead, program materials, etc.
SELECT OUTCOMES
YOUR SROI
Add outcomes to calculate your SROI
PROXY DATABASE
Browse our pre-loaded proxy values from verified sources. Click any category to explore available outcomes.
Homelessness Prevention & Housing
Interventions addressing housing instability, homelessness prevention, and permanent supportive housing
Youth Employment & Workforce Development
Job training, apprenticeships, and employment programs for young people
Education & Academic Support
Tutoring, after-school programs, dropout prevention, and educational enrichment
Legal Aid & Access to Justice
Civil legal services, tenant advocacy, and legal representation for underserved populations
Health & Mental Wellbeing
Mental health services, substance abuse treatment, and health promotion programs
Environmental Conservation
Tree planting, conservation, sustainability programs, and environmental education
Food Security & Nutrition
Food banks, meal programs, nutrition education, and food access initiatives
Arts, Culture & Community
Arts programming, cultural preservation, community engagement, and creative placemaking
Criminal Justice & Reentry
Reentry programs, recidivism reduction, restorative justice, and prison alternatives
Civic Engagement & Democracy
Voter registration, civic education, community organizing, and advocacy
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is SROI (Social Return on Investment)?
SROI is a framework for measuring and accounting for the social, environmental, and economic value created by an organization. It produces a ratio showing how much social value is created per dollar invested, such as '3.5:1' meaning every $1 invested generates $3.50 in social value.
What are proxy values and where do they come from?
Proxy values are monetary estimates assigned to non-monetary outcomes. For example, the value of preventing homelessness or the worth of a high school diploma in lifetime earnings. Our values come from peer-reviewed research by organizations like WSIPP, HACT Social Value Bank, Robin Hood Foundation, and government agencies.
How accurate is this calculator?
This calculator provides estimates based on standardized methodologies and verified proxy values. However, actual social returns vary based on program design, implementation, and local context. For audited SROI reports or regulatory compliance, we recommend working with qualified evaluators.
What are deadweight, attribution, and displacement?
These are 'discount factors' that ensure you don't overclaim impact. Deadweight accounts for outcomes that would have happened anyway. Attribution recognizes contributions from other organizations. Displacement accounts for negative effects elsewhere caused by your intervention.
Can I use these results for grant applications?
You can reference these estimates in grant narratives as illustrative projections, but note the methodology and limitations. For formal impact evaluations or audited SROI reports, consider engaging professional evaluators who can validate assumptions and conduct stakeholder analysis.
Is my data saved or shared?
No. All calculations happen in your browser. We don't store, track, or share your input data. There's no account required and no data collection beyond standard website analytics.
NEED HELP WITH
IMPACT MEASUREMENT?
This calculator gets you started. We can help you go deeper with custom evaluations, stakeholder analysis, and verified SROI reports.