Dear readers,
Last month, at our Social Impact Dialogue—SROI in Practice: Two Stories, One Method—446 people from 35 countries registered, and more than 250 joined us live.
Thank you. The chat was so active that we left with more questions than the hour could hold.
Rather than reply one by one, we grouped your questions into nine themes and turned each into a short, practical read. Use this guide to start with the foundations, jump to the hard parts, or go straight to what the ratio really means.
446 registrations • 35 countries • 250+ live participants
01 — NEW TO SROI
Start with the foundations
How is SROI different from other types of evaluations? →
A clear comparison of SROI with other evaluation approaches—and when the method is most useful.Connecting a Theory of Change and SROI →
How your Theory of Change becomes the backbone of a credible SROI analysis.Getting started: templates and resources for SROI →
Practical tools and references to help you move from interest to action.
02 — DOING AN SROI NOW?
Tackle the hard parts
From outcomes to financial value: how do we select credible financial proxies? →
A practical guide to choosing proxies that are defensible, transparent, and grounded in context.Discounting factors in SROI →
Deadweight, attribution, displacement, and drop-off—what they mean and how to apply them.Practical considerations when conducting an SROI →
What to plan for across data, stakeholders, timelines, and team capacity.
03 — INTERPRETING OR USING THE FINDINGS?
Look beyond the ratio
Beyond the ratio: why SROI needs both numbers and stories →
Why a strong SROI combines financial value with qualitative evidence and lived experience.Using SROI findings: beyond the ratio →
How to turn findings into better decisions, stronger programmes, and clearer communication.Is AI making SROI easier? →
Where AI can genuinely help—and why human judgement remains essential.
Whether you are new to the method or have been applying it for years, we hope these resources make SROI a little more practical and a little less intimidating.
Still have a question?
Reply to this email and tell us what remains unanswered—or what you would like a future Social Impact Dialogue to explore. We read every response.
— Payal & the 4th Wheel team