Social Return on Investment

 
At Foresters Community Finance we are engaged in a continuous pursuit of the measurement of social return on investment.  We have started to account for social return through qualitative means - case studies.  The case studies provided below are a small sample of the stories that come from our Social Investment work.

We continue to provide opportunities to social investors to see first hand where their money is invested through investor tours.  We are also exploring a range of options focussed on accounting for the social impact of our work.

Womens Legal Service is a specialist community legal centre run by and for women. With 5 full time staff and over 120 volunteers providing professional services, they provide free legal information, advice and referrals throughout Queensland; counseling, law reform and community legal education. The social return on this investment includes:

  • Over 3500 instances of free legal advice and services to women in 2005/2006 alone
  • many volunteers every year who carry their experience with the service throughout their careers.
  • A 300% increase in the value of the property over 10 years

Community Living Association provides support to people with learning difficulties or intellectual disabilities. Over 10 years and with three loans from Foresters ANA, CLA now owns two properties in Nundah and has auspiced four new community organisations that address difficulties experienced by people with intellectual disabilities. Through the Nundah Community Enterprise Co-Op, they have established a parks a gardens maintenance service and the Espresso Train Café; businesses that provide part time employment for about 15 people with intellectual disabilities. The social return on this investment includes:

  • effective support across a range of dimensions for people with intellectual disabilities
  • financial sustainability for the organisation through an increase in the value of their property assets of over 500%
  • a stronger local community in Nundah

Sunshine Coast Regional Housing Council is the leading community housing provider on the Sunshine Coast, playing a key role in creating affordable housing solutions for people in the Sunshine Coast area. A loan from Foresters ANA has allowed SCRHC to purchase a property from which to deliver their services with space for growth and to accommodate another community organisation. The social return on this investment includes:

  • tenant advice and advocacy to over 2800 households annually
  • providing low cost housing for 180 households annually
  • increased sustainability of the organisation’s capacity to address the increasingly critical accommodation shortage on the Sunshine Coast.

View the Community Asset Building Case Studies on our Publications page for more examples

More examples of social return on investment will be available soon!