Free SROI Calculator for CSR & NGO Projects in India
Find out how much social value your project creates for every rupee invested. Our Social Return on Investment (SROI) calculator uses Indian financial proxies and SROI-standard adjustments to give you an evidence-based estimate in under 2 minutes.
- Indian proxies (NITI Aayog, NSSO, government benchmarks)
- Deadweight, attribution & drop-off applied
- Result emailed to you
How to use the SROI calculator
💡 Tip: use actual figures from your MIS or annual report. Count each person once, and don't add indirect or family members unless they directly benefit.
AI-Powered CSR SROI Estimator
Calculate verified Social Return on Investment (SROI) metrics using NITI Aayog & official Indian proxies.
What is SROI (Social Return on Investment)?
Social Return on Investment (SROI) is an internationally recognised method to measure and communicate the value a programme creates for people, communities and the environment. It translates outcomes – better learning, higher incomes, improved health, cleaner water – into monetary values using financial proxies, and compares that value with the money invested. The result is a simple ratio, such as 1 : 4, which means every ₹1 invested creates about ₹4 of social value.
For CSR teams and NGOs in India, SROI turns impact into a language that boards, funders and the government understand – making it easier to justify budgets, compare programmes and report on outcomes, not just activities.
How the SROI calculator works
1. Financial proxy
Your sector selects an Indian proxy – for example, income gained per trained youth or healthcare costs saved per beneficiary – from NITI Aayog, NSSO/PLFS and government benchmarks.
2. Gross social value
People reached × the share who actually achieve the outcome × the proxy value gives the gross value created.
3. SROI adjustments
We subtract deadweight (what would have happened anyway), attribution (credit due to others) and displacement, and apply drop-off only for as long as the benefit really lasts – one-time outcomes are counted once.
4. Present value & ratio
Future value is discounted at 8% to present value and divided by your investment. The range shows how the ratio moves if the outcome rate and proxy value are 10% lower or higher.
SROI example: skill development project
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| CSR investment | ₹25,00,000 |
| Youth trained | 600 |
| Placed and retained 6+ months (45%) | 270 |
| Proxy: annual income gain per placed youth | ₹36,000 |
| Gross value (year 1) | ₹97.2 lakh |
| After deadweight, attribution & displacement | ≈ ₹46.3 lakh |
| 3-year present value with drop-off | ≈ ₹93.2 lakh |
| Indicative SROI | about 1 : 3.7 (range 1 : 3.0 – 4.5) |
Illustrative figures for explanation only. Your result depends on sector, reach and investment.
Why SROI matters for CSR in India
- Impact assessment compliance: companies with an average CSR obligation of ₹10 crore or more must assess the impact of CSR projects of ₹1 crore or more (Companies CSR Policy Amendment Rules, 2021). SROI is a credible way to do this.
- Better portfolio decisions: compare education, health and livelihood projects on one scale and shift funds to what works.
- Stronger proposals: NGOs that show their SROI stand out with CSR funders and foundations.
- BRSR & ESG reporting: quantify social value for Business Responsibility and Sustainability Reports.
Need a full SROI study or CSR impact assessment?
ADOBRA's team designs and conducts SROI analyses, baseline–endline studies and third-party CSR impact assessments – with stakeholder engagement, field data and audit-ready reports.
SROI calculator – frequently asked questions
What is SROI (Social Return on Investment)?
SROI is a framework that measures the social, economic and environmental value a programme creates, expressed in money, and compares it with the money invested. An SROI ratio of 1 : 3 means every ₹1 invested generates about ₹3 of social value.
How is SROI calculated?
SROI = (Net present value of social benefits) ÷ (Total investment). Outcomes are given a monetary value using financial proxies, then adjusted for deadweight (what would have happened anyway), attribution (credit due to others), displacement and drop-off over time, and discounted to present value.
What is a good SROI ratio for a CSR project?
Any ratio above 1 : 1 means the project creates more value than it costs. Well-designed education, health, livelihood and WASH programmes in India commonly report ratios between 1 : 2 and 1 : 8. The ratio is most useful for comparing options and improving a programme rather than as an absolute score.
Is SROI mandatory for CSR in India?
SROI itself is not mandatory. However, under the Companies (CSR Policy) Amendment Rules, 2021, companies with an average CSR obligation of ₹10 crore or more must commission an impact assessment for CSR projects of ₹1 crore or more that have been completed for at least a year. SROI is one of the most widely used methods to meet this requirement.
Which financial proxies does this calculator use?
It uses Indian proxies such as income gains, healthcare cost savings, learning outcomes and government benchmark values drawn from sources like NITI Aayog, NSSO/PLFS and ministry data, matched to the sector you select. Each result shows the proxy and benchmark used.
How accurate is the free SROI estimate?
The free result is an indicative range based on standard assumptions for your sector. It is ideal for planning, proposals and early reporting. For audited CSR impact assessments, a full SROI study with stakeholder data and verified outcomes is recommended – ADOBRA can conduct this for you.
Who can use the SROI calculator?
CSR teams, CSR foundations, NGOs, social enterprises, consultants and students. It is free and works for projects across education, health, skills, WASH, rural livelihoods, women empowerment, environment, renewable energy, disability inclusion and disaster resilience.
What is the difference between SROI and impact assessment?
Impact assessment evaluates whether and how a programme achieved its intended changes, often using baseline–endline surveys. SROI goes one step further by valuing those changes in rupees and comparing them with investment. Many CSR impact assessments include an SROI analysis.
