Entrepreneurship is a tool that can generate positive impact far beyond the business. When we create inclusive and equitable access to the economy, we build pathways to individual and household prosperity as well as broad community and economic benefits.

RMMFI uses a Social Return on Investment (SROI) framework to measure and communicate this long-term success of our approach. By combining our program outcomes with external research and financial metrics, projecting results over five years, and factoring in risk and unknowns, we can calculate — and prove — our social and economic impact.

We’re excited to share that RMMFI created $4,947,075 in impact last year. $3,037,031 represents direct impact to entrepreneurs through benefits like increased financial stability, better life outcomes, and increased capital and investments. $1,910,044 represents impact for our community in the form of decreased emergency assistance needs, increased public safety, and increased local tax revenue.

In response to COVID, we invested more deeply than ever in direct, whole person support to entrepreneurs last year. With those additional resources, strengthened programming, and a more optimistic external landscape, we created an additional $544,811 of projected impact compared to the prior year — something we’re particularly proud of given how hard the communities we serve have been hit by the pandemic and economic uncertainty.

Overall, our SROI framework shows that for every $1 RMMFI spends, we create $3.67 in social and economic impact that is returned to entrepreneurs and our community.

While many aspects of our work are difficult to quantify, this framework helps us leverage outcome data to demonstrate accountability and transparency, enhance entrepreneurs’ experience, and communicate the incredible impact entrepreneurs create for their families, their businesses, and our shared community.

Click here to read more about our SROI analysis.