Merging finance and social impact to make a better world
Healthcare cost per household
Though often overlooked in health systems, public libraries offer enormous potential to advance population health. Philbin et al. (2019) map ten domains—stress, early life, food, addiction, etc.—in which libraries already contribute. With strategic support, they could deliver a 200% annual ROI (3× value per dollar invested) and help bridge health inequities in underserved communities quickly.
Discover how mental health programs deliver an average £5.80 ROI per £1 invested—creating measurable social, economic, and community benefits.
Mental health is one of the most underfunded areas in global public health—and also one of the most cost-effective to invest in. According to a growing body of evidence, every dollar invested in mental health services returns $4 to $7 in economic and social value. That translates into an annual return on investment (ROI) of 15%–23%, depending on the intervention and time horizon.
Access to clean water, decent toilets, and hygiene (WASH) isn’t just a moral imperative—it’s a powerful economic catalyst. WaterAid’s report found that closing the WASH gap in developing countries could unleash trillions in economic benefits by improving productivity, reducing health costs, and promoting gender equality.
Mission Animal Hospital, a nonprofit veterinary clinic in the Twin Cities, demonstrates that investing in pet health yields significant social and economic returns. Their recent SROI study, conducted in partnership with the ASPCA, reveals that every dollar contributed generates a total social return of $4.64.
Community Health Workers serve as vital connectors between underserved communities and healthcare systems. MHP Salud highlights the significant economic and health benefits these programs offer, emphasizing that investments in CHWs not only improve health outcomes but also yield substantial financial returns.
Investing in public education yields substantial social and economic benefits, as detailed in the Education Law Center’s report, “Pennsylvania’s Best Investment: The Social and Economic Benefits of Public Education.” This comprehensive analysis highlights how quality education positively impacts employment rates, crime reduction, public health, and civic participation, ultimately leading to significant economic returns for society.
Prioritizing health is not only beneficial for physical and mental well-being but also offers substantial financial advantages. By investing in a healthier lifestyle, individuals can potentially increase their earnings, reduce healthcare costs, and achieve a favorable return on investment, ultimately leading to greater wealth accumulation over their lifetime.
The Minnesota Catholic Conference’s report, “Fruits of the Vine: The Economic Impact of the Catholic Church in Minnesota,” reveals the Church’s substantial contributions to the state’s economy and social fabric, with an annual economic impact exceeding $5 billion.