The Centre for Social Impact

Social Return On Investment (SROI) and accounting for value -

A special course for commissioners and boards
Billions of dollars are being invested annually in WA alone in social infrastructure, programmes and community
projects. But how do we measure the impact of these investments – be they large or small? And, just as
importantly, how do we create a basis for comparison and a robust and common methodology around
measurement of social impact and social return on investment? How do NFPs and community organisation
provide evidence that their programmes and activities are making a real difference? And how do governments
and corporations justify their spending in the third sector (not-for-profits and social enterprises) measuring social
impact and social value creation? This program will introduce the Social Return on Investment (SROI) method,
how it works in practice, how it can be used to improve commissioning and strategic impact of organisations’
performance.

Who is it for?
This program is specially tailored for three groups: social investors from philanthropies, government and
corporate settings, and boards of not-for-profits and social enterprises. Western Australia with the reform agenda
currently being developed has the opportunity to create a step-change in the efficacy and impact of the collective,
cross-sectoral social services investment in the State. This course is designed to bring together a group of people
who can themselves make a decisive impact on the cultural and practice change that is underway.

This course is designed to Only twenty places are available and they will be filled on a first-come, first-
served basis. The program is suitable only for strategic decision makers in not-for-profits, the public sector and
corporations investing in and growing community organisations; philanthropists and managers of philanthropic
investment portfolios; and other social investors.

The Focus
Part 1) SROI was developed from social accounting and cost-benefit analysis and is based on seven core
principles which will be discussed and explored in the program. A practical, step-by-step introduction to SROI
principles and methodology will be presented. Participants will learn how to develop an impact map, the heart of
the SROI process, considering stakeholders, intended and unintended consequences, inputs, outputs and
outcomes – and we will explore appropriate real life examples.
Part 2) how to act as good commissioners: Best practice from national and international examples (UK and US
especially); How to commission at the level of the social impact you are trying to achieve; How to encourage,
collaborations and resource collective impact and sector-wide initiatives; and New skills, resources, measurement
systems and practices required
Part 3) is a practical exercise in groups discussing how to implement such practices and models in your
organisations in Western Australia.

Facilitator/s
Expert in Social Impact Jeremy Nicholls, became the chief executive of the SROI Network UK in 2008. Starting
out as an accountant, his work has increasingly focused on finding ways for organisations to better understand
and then manage the social value they create. He has co-written a number of guides to SROI and also developed
the SROI Primer with London Business School He wrote There is no business like Social Business with Liam
Black and he co-authored the recent UK Cabinet Office supported Guide to SROI. He is the chair of
FairPensions, a director of the FRC Group (a social business based in Liverpool), and a director of the BETA
Model which provides analyses of the UK business population.

Program No: ZOP1137-05

Duration: 1 Day
Dates: 31 May 2011
Fees: $1100 including GST - $880 including GST (not-for-profit organisations)
Venue: UWA Business School

Bookings Client Services on (08) 9383 8090 or www.execed.com.au