How to Measure Social Return on Investment

You probably know that businesses determine their return on investment by whether they make a profit, or earn an amount of money that exceeds what they spent on expenses. Well, guess what? There are other ways to see if you are getting something out of what you are working on. For example, you can invest your time into something in order to help others and make a difference. You will learn ways social return on investment can be measured.

Being in a profession that involves protecting and serving others such as law enforcement, you can look at how your community is doing. Is it safer now that you are arresting lawbreakers? If it is, you are making a real difference.

Are you a teacher? If so, you must look at how well your students are doing on their grades as well as in their personal lives. If most of them turn out okay, you are helping them and making a big contribution to society.

Is counseling something you are passionate about? If you go into this field, you will need to focus on how well your patients turn their lives around to see whether you are wasting your time or not.

Are you interested in becoming a social worker? If so, you will need to gauge how well the people you serve are getting the help they need. For example, if you are in the area that focuses on delivering meals to senior citizens, you will need to look at whether they are well fed and less hungry than they were before.

Being a probation officer, your goal is to keep the offenders on your watch from becoming incarcerated. If you accomplish this with almost all of them, you are in the right profession.

Are you in charge of administering social programs? If they are making a solid impact on the lives of the people who use them, they are worth the cost and time that go into running them.

Do you wish to work in the public service field? If so, you will need to measure how much you are helping those you serve.

Is investing your money or time into the arts your passion? If so, you must look at how many people are taking an interest in doing things such as visiting museums and attending performances you devote your money and attention to.

You decide to befriend a lonely person. If the two of you become close for a long time, you will have socially invested your time well.

You choose to become a volunteer. Once you do, you will need to gauge how much you are helping the organization or cause you are doing work for.

You have learned ways social return on investment can be measured.