UW Taiwan is the first nonprofit in Taiwan to conduct an organizationally based report that measures their social impact from the perspective of stakeholders, which is accredited by Social Value International (SVI). The study proves that we created NT$4.60 in social value for every NT$1 invested in 2017.

Measuring impact and proving value of nonprofit work is not simple. Especially when a large portion of an NPO’s work is involved in strengthening other organizations. Here at UW Taiwan, through this groundbreaking study, we have proven our capacity building work in the nonprofit space is value for money, and, better than that, has shown stakeholders that the social return on their investments (donations) is unprecedented. Back in 2017, PwC Taiwan worked pro-bono with us to conduct a Social Return on Investment (SROI) assessment. We wanted to understand UW Taiwan’s overall social impact in 2017, in order to optimizeour operations management based on analysis results. The SROI is a method for measuring values that are not traditionally reflected in financial statements, including social, economic and environmental factors. The report is certified by Social Value International (SVI), in compliance with their SROI guidelines and criteria, meaning that the study’s reporting methods are genuine and true. Most importantly, this is the first SVI-assured SROI study conducted at this scale at organizational level in Taiwan, paving the way for impact measurement in terms of social value in the future. PwC interviewed 45,938 donors, 20 cooperative enterprises, 381 social welfare organizations and 195 professional volunteers, and calculated that UW Taiwan created a social value of NT$ 4.6 for every NT$1 it received in 2017, which was a huge return on investment. These important findings will help us to optimize our management and fundraising strategies, and thus create greater impact. Read the report here.
UW Taiwan caters for the marginalized population that the public social welfare system cannot reach. Our main services include subsidizing both programs and organization development plans of small and medium-sized social welfare  organizations with limited resources. We convene stakeholders from private, public, social and academic sectors to share knowledge and channel resource to where it is most needed.

We help those NPOs who struggle to find time to complete their basic operational tasks, such as recruiting and developing human resources. We provide subsidies and adequate training for employees so that these social welfare  organizations can put their time and resources into best serving the community. More than 90% of NPOs interviewed said that the grants provided not only increased the stability of their operations, but also improved their quality of service and helped to gain new resources.

It's no secret that human resources is a key factor for the sustainability of NPOs. We provide support through wage subsidies for professional employees and give advice on program design and development, so that the welfare groups can focus on taking care of more people. With our help, 96% of social workers said that they are more enthusiastic about their work and are willing to invest their time and energy. As a team, we strive for the best possible outcomes by constantly reevaluating our practices. And it shows; those people doing the important work on the ground report more confidence in achieving a positive impact in their community.
Individuals account for the vast majority of our donors, contributed more than 90% of the funds raised. They report a motivation to donate because they see value in and understand our work. Our donors invest because they know their donations will go towards enhancing the operations of our diverse range of partners and impact areas. And they’re not wrong. According to calculations, individual donors that invested an average of NT$ 5,530 saw a return on investment of up to 5.61 times.

Corporates also recognize our value, and what benefits we can bring through partnership. Those participating in the study referenced the importance of corporate social responsibility (CSR) in relation to their brand image, often using their technical expertise to assist in the design and creation of different public welfare projects. The concept of CSR has now become deeply ingrained in company culture, and many of their employees have become more actively involved in public welfare activities. Staff were reported to be more engaged through these co-organized activities and this has resulted in a more cohesive working environment.

With an operation cost of NT$ 301 million in 2017, we in turn supported more than 16 different marginalized communities (close to 300 NPOs), benefitting 1.17+ million people. The report highlighted some limitations of the SROI study including language barriers and the fact it was only a one-year study. Taking these limitations into account, the social impact should have, in fact, been higher and wider reaching, far more than the NT$ 4.6 figure.

 Jojo Chu, Secretary General of the organization, said that the purpose of implementing the SROI assessment was to gain insight into improving decision-making, measure the efficiency of current methods, optimize organizational manage-ment, and maximize social value. Eliza Li, Partner of PwC Taiwan, who led this SROI effort appreciates our ability to strike the balance between presenting ourselves as a respected fundraising entity but also a caring organization with our heart deeply rooted in the community. She hopes that the association will continue to carry out its impressive work, benefitting those people who need it most.

Based on interviews and questionnaire surveys, the findings are as follows:
●UW Taiwan created the equivalent of NT$4.60 in social value for stakeholders for every NT$1 invested during 2017.
●Subsidized social welfare organizations achieved better operational stability, improved their service quality, and experienced an increase in external resources.
●Organizations receiving supplies also improved their service quality and saved organization costs on human and material resources.
●Social workers in organizations receiving subsidies reported increased enthusiasm at work.
●Individual donors gained sense of satisfaction and joy, and also increased their understanding of social issues.
●Corporations collaborating with UW Taiwan improved their corporates’ brand image and employees were more engaged through co-organized activities.
●Censoring Committee Members gained a sense of achievement, improved their research abilities, and improved their consulting and teaching skills.
●Audit Committee Members improved their professional skills and had an increased awareness of the importance of social care.