Pankow launches groundbreaking project for social returns: making added value visible!
Pankow will launch an SROI project to measure social investments on July 2, 2025. Cooperation agreement in the town hall.

Pankow launches groundbreaking project for social returns: making added value visible!
The Berlin district of Pankow has established itself as a leader in supporting social enterprises. A current initiative aims to examine the social added value of these companies using the Social Return on Investment (SROI). Loud berlin.de The project will officially start on July 2, 2025. The SROI approach measures the social benefits of investments in relation to the resources used, with the focus not only on financial profits, but above all on social and ecological effects.
The SROI study is supported by various partners, including the Pankow District Office, the German Paritätischer Wohlfahrtsverband and several social enterprises. The signing of the cooperation agreement will take place on July 2nd at 10 a.m. in the Pankow town hall. Media representatives are requested to register in advance.
Goal and significance of the project
Government investments often focus on physical infrastructure, while funding for social programs is often viewed only as consumptive expenditure. The SROI project aims to make the economic added value of social investments visible. Social enterprises that participate in the study receive individual SROI calculations. These are important not only for sustainability reports and funding applications, but also for socio-political communication.
The concept of SROI has continued to evolve since its development in 2002. Originally created to assess the social value of social projects, SROI provides a comprehensive framework that goes beyond traditional financial metrics. How Faster Capital explains, SROI analysis integrates both investor and stakeholder perspectives. These perspectives help to clearly communicate the social benefits of investments.
Methodological aspects of SROI
The methodology behind SROI takes into account various factors, from inputs to measurable outcomes. Challenges include the monetary valuation of social outcomes and the consideration of long-term effects. The SROI is calculated by comparing social values with the total investments. This approach makes it possible to quantify the actual value of social initiatives, which is particularly important for non-profit organizations and socially oriented companies.
For example, social enterprises that provide training programs for the homeless can translate the benefits of their programs into savings for the community by reducing reliance on social services. This aspect highlights the relevance of SROI, as well Wikipedia emphasizes where it says that SROI can be used as an evaluation and forecasting method.
Overall, the Pankow project not only shows the importance of social returns, but also the potential that social enterprises have for society. By applying the SROI method, the valuable contribution of social initiatives can be communicated more effectively and better anchored in the political discussion.