Description
Social innovations are created to address deep-rooted issues such as inequality and environmental degradation. Their real value lies in long-term, systemic change – matters like improving community resilience, strengthening social cohesion, and fostering ecological regeneration. Yet, the language of funding is still tied to traditional economic ROI. This creates a disconnect: funders often ask for financial projections, while innovators speak in terms of human and ecological well-being. This gap presents an opportunity to reimagine how we measure and communicate impact, enabling mission-driven projects to secure the investment they need to thrive.
How can we bridge the gap between social innovation and traditional funding by making non-monetary impact tangible, credible, and financially compelling? The goal is to design a framework or communication tool that helps social innovators narrate and visualise their value in a way that resonates with funders, demonstrating returns that extend beyond economic profit.
How to identify and translate intangible outcomes (e.g., empowerment, community trust) into visible, credible, and fundable metrics. What forms of visual storytelling or data representation can best convey this value? How might such a framework support better funding decisions and policy goals?
In this project, we will design a tool, framework, or model that quantifies and visualises the often-intangible outcomes of social innovation. The solution should help innovators map their impact, translate it into a credible narrative, and justify investments based on long-term, non-monetary benefits.