Using SROI Findings: Beyond the Ratio

SROI findings used beyond the final ratio to improve programme design, allocate resources, communicate value and inform decision-making

One of the biggest misconceptions about SROI is that the final output is simply a ratio: ₹4 of social value for every ₹1 invested. In reality, the most valuable part of an SROI often lies in the insights it generates about what worked, for whom, why, and what should change next.

The questions we received during the webinar highlighted an important shift in thinking: How do organisations actually use SROI findings once the analysis is complete?

SROI Is About Value Created—not Value Perceived

One question asked whether comparing programme costs with the community's perceived value introduces bias. It's important to distinguish between perceived value and financial value. Community perspectives are used to identify which outcomes matter, how important they are, and in some cases to estimate relative value through participatory methods such as the Value Game.

However, these perceptions are only one source of evidence. They are triangulated with programme data, secondary research, market values, wellbeing valuation and expert judgement before arriving at a financial proxy.

The final SROI therefore represents an evidence-based estimate of value created; not simply what participants felt the programme was worth.

You May Also Read: Beyond the Ratio: Why SROI Needs Both Numbers and Stories

Negative Outcomes Are Just As Important As Positive Ones

Another excellent question was whether SROI captures unintended negative consequences. 

The answer is yes—and it should.

Every intervention creates trade-offs. A women's empowerment programme may increase participation in decision-making while also increasing unpaid work or creating tension within households. Environmental programmes may benefit one stakeholder group while creating costs for another.

A good SROI deliberately looks for these unintended outcomes and incorporates them into the analysis where they are material. This is one of the reasons stakeholder engagement is so central to the methodology. It helps surface changes that organisations may never have anticipated in their original Theory of Change.

Informing Investment Decisions

SROI is increasingly being used not simply to demonstrate impact, but to support decision-making. For funders and CSR teams, the analysis can help answer questions such as:

• Which outcomes create the greatest value for communities?

• Which programme components contribute most to that value?

• Which activities could be redesigned without significantly reducing impact?

• Which interventions provide the strongest return relative to the resources invested?

In this way, SROI helps move conversations away from "How much did we spend?" towards "Which investments created the greatest value?"

You May Also Read: 5 Things to Consider when using SROI

Working In Partnerships

Many CSR programmes involve multiple implementing organisations, technical partners and funders. In these situations, the purpose of SROI should not be to divide a single impact ratio between organisations.

Instead, the analysis should first estimate the total value created for stakeholders, and then transparently account for attribution, recognising the contribution made by each implementing partner, government department, donor or community institution. This provides a much more credible picture than attempting to claim ownership of outcomes independently.

Ultimately, SROI is most valuable when it is used as a learning and decision-making tool rather than a reporting exercise. The ratio may attract attention, but the real value lies in understanding which outcomes matter most, which assumptions were challenged, what unintended consequences emerged, and how future programmes can create even greater value for the communities they serve. 

Watch the full webinar here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b7glYaklW6w

If you're looking to build your first SROI, the following open-access resources are the best place to start.

Resource	What it includes
Guide to SROI – Social Value International	The definitive step-by-step guide to conducting an SROI, from stakeholder engagement and Theory of Change to valuation, discounting and reporting.
Value Map Template – Social Value International	The standard template is used to map stakeholders, outcomes, indicators, financial proxies and impact adjustments across any SROI study.
Standards and Guidance – Social Value International	Detailed guidance on applying the Principles of Social Value, including materiality, stakeholder engagement, valuation and assurance.
Social Return on Investment (SROI) Sample Reports	Case studies, technical papers and practical examples across different sectors.
Global Value Exchange	A searchable database of indicators, outcomes and financial proxies that can support valuation, while always requiring contextual adaptation.