Social Impact Assessment (SIA) and SROI in Aotearoa New Zealand
Your organisation creates value that standard metrics miss. We help you define it, evidence it, and report it in a way that stands up to scrutiny.
WHAT WE DO
Clarify what changed, for whom, and why it matters
Build a defensible outcomes story supported by evidence
Create board- and funder-ready reporting
Add valuation only where it helps (SROI ratio optional; CBAx bridging available)
Trusted by kaupapa Māori organisations and purpose-led teams across Aotearoa.
Social Impact Assessment
A Social Impact Assessment (SIA) is a structured way to answer three questions:
What outcomes are we creating?
What is the evidence those outcomes are real and material?
What should we do next, based on the best available information?
Sometimes a strong SIA is the right endpoint. Sometimes you also need valuation to compare options, justify funding, or communicate “return on investment”. That is where SROI (Social Return on Investment) can be useful, but it is not mandatory.
Designed with Māori organisations, and desigined for any purpose-led organisation
Matatihi works widely across the impact sector. Our niche strength is supporting Māori organisations and kaupapa Māori initiatives where outcomes include things that standard frameworks often miss:
whānau wellbeing and capability
cultural connection, belonging, and identity
mana-enhancing services and relationships
kaitiakitanga outcomes (people–place relationships, whenua/wai)
If you are not a Māori organisation, you are still in the right place. The same discipline applies: clear outcomes, clean evidence, transparent assumptions.
What you’ll receive
Three outputs that make the work usable, reviewable, and decision-ready.1) Impact Foundation
Core SIAA clear, decision-ready foundation you can use for funding, strategy, and reporting.
- Co-designed Theory of Change (outcomes, boundaries, who benefits)
- Material outcome set (what counts, what doesn’t, and why)
- Indicators and measurement approach (proportionate data plan)
- Evidence map (what supports each claim; where uncertainty remains)
2) Evidence & Assurance Pack
For scrutinyFor boards, agencies, and reviewers who need to see how the logic holds up.
- Counterfactual structure and assumptions (deadweight, attribution, displacement, duration/drop-off)
- Documentation of evidence quality and gaps
- “What would change our mind” notes (what would materially improve confidence)
- Review-ready appendix (so the work is not a black box)
3) Valuation Module
OptionalWhen valuation improves clarity or comparability, we add it carefully and transparently.
- Monetised valuation of material outcomes using transparent sources and conservative assumptions
- Sensitivity/scenario testing (drivers clearly explained)
- Optional outputs: SROI ratio, CBAx bridging, wellbeing-aligned metrics (where appropriate)
Designed for scrutiny: clear counterfactuals, attribution, and defensible valuation choices.
Methods we use
We select methods based on the decision you are making, the audience you need to convince, and the evidence available.
Outcomes, evidence, and reporting without forcing monetisation.
An optional monetised ratio when “return on funding” is genuinely useful.
When you need comparability across policy or investment options.
Valuing outcomes without market prices, with documented sources and assumptions.
Surveys, interviews, focus groups, mixed methods when evidence is thin.
Reported alongside (not inside) SROI when economic contribution is required.
Not all projects need all methods
SROI in New Zealand (Social Return on Investment)
SROI turns selected outcomes into monetary values to express a social return per dollar invested. It can be powerful when you need a simple headline number for external audiences, but it must be handled carefully.
SROI is a good fit when you need:
a funder-facing “return on investment” narrative
comparability across investment choices
a valuation lens to pressure-test assumptions
a clean, auditable parameter set that can be reviewed independently
SROI is not always a good fit when:
outcomes are highly relational and poorly evidenced at present
the ratio would distract from what matters operationally
the best next step is improving measurement, not monetising
How we keep SROI defensible
Clear boundaries and explicit exclusions (to prevent double counting)
Transparent counterfactual ordering (deadweight → attribution → displacement)
Parameter provenance for every key input (sources documented; assumptions stated)
Consistent price year and inflation handling
Sensitivity/scenarios that show what drives the result
CBAx bridging table available for straightforward agency review
How it works
Scoping call — Clarify purpose, audience, decision context, and the evidence you already have.
Outcome and boundary design — Confirm what is in scope, what is out, and what “good evidence” means here.
Evidence build — Review data and literature; map what can be claimed credibly today.
Optional valuation — Value outcomes where defensible; document assumptions and sources.
Draft reporting + review — Workshop the story and the technical detail; revise once scope is confirmed.
Final pack + handover — Final outputs plus a clear “next measurement steps” plan.
Timing
Most projects run 6–12 weeks from data handover, depending on scope, access, and reviewer availability.
Fees: fixed once scoped
We provide a fixed-fee proposal after a short scoping conversation. This keeps the scope clear, avoids surprises, and ensures the deliverable matches the decision you need to make.
*Indicative costs:
Desktop Social Impact Assessment (secondary evidence): from $20,000
SIA + Valuation Module (including SROI where appropriate): from $35,000
Primary data collection or multi-site initiatives: priced on scope
Number of material outcomes, complexity of counterfactual assumptions, stakeholder groups, primary research needs, and level of assurance/review required.
WHO WE HELP
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Government & Public Sector
YOUR NEEDS
You must show that public money is being spent wisely and making a real difference. You want clear evidence about which programs work and how they improve people's lives. This helps you explain your decisions to the public and other government agencies.
YOUR BENEFITS
You'll receive solid evidence about which programs work best and why, helping you make better choices about where to invest public money. This information helps you report to the public about how tax dollars improve communities and plan future programs more effectively.
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Philanthropic Funders & Foundations
YOUR NEEDS
You want to know your donations create lasting positive change in communities. You need to understand which approaches work best and be able to show your trustees and supporters the real impact of your giving.
YOUR BENEFITS
You'll get clear proof of how your funding improves communities over time. This helps you choose the best projects to support and shows everyone involved - from donors to community partners - exactly how your money makes a difference.
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Charities & Social Enterprises
YOUR NEEDS
You must show supporters and funders exactly how you change lives. You want straightforward ways to measure your work and explain why your approach makes a real difference to those you help.
YOUR BENEFITS
You'll receive strong evidence that helps you win grants and donations. You can clearly show how your programs change lives, spot ways to improve your work, and prove to supporters that their money is well spent. This information also helps you grow your most successful programs.
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Corporate Social Investment
YOUR NEEDS
You want to understand and show how your community projects make a real difference. You need to prove to your staff, customers, and shareholders that your social programs are worthwhile and align with your company's values.
YOUR BENEFITS
You'll get clear ways to measure and share how you're helping communities while supporting your business goals. This helps you run better social programs, engage your employees, and show customers and investors how you make a positive difference in society.
FAQ
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No. Many organisations need a strong Social Impact Assessment and reporting pack, without a ratio. We only recommend SROI when it adds clarity and serves the decision.
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Yes. We can focus on outcomes, evidence strength, and measurement planning without valuation.
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We start with what you already have (admin data, monitoring, operational metrics, prior research). Where evidence is thin, we recommend proportionate measurement improvements rather than over-claiming.
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Yes, as an add-on when secondary evidence is not enough. We will scope it clearly and price it separately.
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That is the intent. We document assumptions, sources, boundaries, and sensitivities, and can provide CBAx bridging where useful.
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We work in ways that respect kaupapa and context, and we design outputs that reflect relational and cultural value while remaining transparent and reviewable.
“Over several years, we have had the privilege of engaging Matatihi to deliver external cost-benefit analysis reports that clearly demonstrate the economic and social impact of our Academy’s work… As a kaupapa Māori driven organisation, we recommend the services of Matatihi and Dr Jay Whitehead and his impressive team.”
Make your impact visible
If you want decision-ready impact evidence, with optional valuation where it helps, book a scoping call and we’ll confirm fit, scope, and likely timelines.