Social Impact Research

Why Social Impact Research?

To operate within social impact markets, funders need access to the same quality information as investors have access to in the private sector. Today, despite recent progress on performance measurement in the private sector, there are significant challenges in accessing rigorous information about social issues and nonprofit performance.

Social Impact Research (SIR) believes that understanding which approaches are most effective to address social issues provides the best starting point for measuring nonprofit performance.

Director of SIR, Colette Stanzler, engages in discussion at a learning collaborative with State Street.

Our Vision

We envision a day when rigorous, actionable information about social issues and high performing organizations will enable more informed philanthropic decisions and provide a common point of reference for nonprofits, philanthropy, government, and business.

What We Do

SIR aggregates, analyzes, and disseminates information to help social impact funders and donors identify and support the most effective, efficient, and sustainable organizations working to solve social problems. Modeled after private sector equity research firms, SIR produces research reports on social issues and conducts analysis of high performing organizations.