|Core Concepts|

full-spectrum valuation

Full-spectrum valuation summarizes SVT Group's approach to measuring impact. This analytical concept involves information from all information types and value types and includes both positive and negative impacts. Just as the electromagnetic spectrum consists of far more than visible light, any one metric of success cannot tell a complete story. We create a complete context-based visualization of social and environmental impact.

information types

In SVT Group's methodology, information types refer to our categorization of inputs from a client. We have defined four to date: monetizable, qualitative, quantitative and narrative. We assign these equal importance and use them in conjunction with the three value types to create a value profile.

social open source

An expansion of traditional open source thinking, social open source refers to the public accessibility of the SROI methodology. We believe this methodology, though the foundation of our analytical work, is most useful when everyone can access work with it. Like open source software code, it is our hope that the community will take this methodology, expand on it, alter it for optimal use in various situations and most critically, continue to allow improvements and augmentations by furthering the open source approach. The proprietary work of SVT Group is governed by a Creative Commons license. Please refer to this page to better understand how to use our social open source materials.

social returns analysis (SRA)

A social returns analysis, or SRA, is the process by which SVT Group employs the SROI methodology to help clients measure and communicate their social and environmental impact. We work closely with the project owner to articulate the vision of social impact. Together, we analyze the project, venture or new business, and identify its social returns. We then identify outputs and outcomes, quantify values, verify projections with proxy research data, and perform sensitivity analyses to deliver credibility.

social return on investment (SROI)

The non-financial value created by an organization relative to the investment required.

social venture/social enterprise

A social venture or social enterprise is an organization whose primary mission is positive social or environmental benefit. These organizations may be for-profit or non-profit, or a combination of the two. Either way, there is a blending of business principles, social understanding and an entrepreneurial spirit.

transparency and accountability

These unique but complementary terms are becoming critically important in the investor/investee ecosystem. Transparency refers to the open sharing of revenue data, decision-making processes, organizational intentions and influential relationships/affiliations to name a few. Accountability involves the accurate reporting of funding use and the effectiveness with which an organization meets its programmatic or financial goals. These concepts are what we believe enables the best socially and environmentally beneficial work to be produced.

value profile

A value profile is the complete picture of the social and/or environmental impact of an organization's work. The value profile is the means by which environmental value is visualized and communicated. This is the tangible product of full-spectrum valuation.

value types

Value can be found in many different places. In business, revenue is the definitive indicator of value. Social ventures, however, aim to create social and environmental value, possibly in addition to financial. All three types--social, environmental and financial-- are critical and their relative importance varies in relations to the goals of the social venture.