SDG Impact Returns Calculator

Model your project's financial + impact returns, or define your investment thesis using UN Sustainable Development Goals

SDG Impact Returns Calculator

Model your project's impact returns or investment thesis

Total project investment needed

Profit: 75% ($18,750,000)
SDG 1: No Poverty
Households with long-term property rights
Impact Value
$500,000
SDG 4: Quality Education
Additional children with access to quality education
Impact Value
$6,000,000
SDG 6: Clean Water
% with access to safe and affordable water
Impact Value
$40,000

Your Projected Returns

Financial Return
6.0%
Annual cash IRR
Impact Return
20.9%
$6,540,000 impact value
Total Blended Return
26.9%
Annual combined return
Summary:
  • • Total Investment: $25,000,000 over 5 years
  • • Impact Investment: $6,250,000 creates $6,540,000 in social value
  • • Impact ROI: 105% total (20.9% annually)
  • • This positions you competitively for investors seeking 27%+ blended returns

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About This Calculator

Methodology

This calculator uses SDG valuation data from the RealChange Impact Index, which assigns dollar values to specific impact outcomes based on societal benefit research.

How It Works

  • For Founders: Define your project's investment needs, split between profit-generating and impact-focused activities, then model the social value created through specific SDG outcomes.
  • For Investors: Set your target financial return and minimum impact return requirements. The calculator shows what kind of projects match your thesis.
  • Blended Returns: Combines traditional financial IRR with impact value creation to show total value generated per dollar invested.

Example SDG Valuations

  • • SDG 1 (No Poverty): $500 per household with property tenure
  • • SDG 3 (Good Health): $400 per preventable death avoided
  • • SDG 4 (Quality Education): $2,000 per child with quality education access
  • • SDG 13 (Climate Action): $20,000 per government policy change

Why This Matters

Impact investors increasingly need standardized ways to compare social/environmental returns across different projects. This calculator provides a transparent, SDG-aligned framework that both founders and investors can use to communicate value creation.

💡 Pro Tip: When pitching to impact investors, show them your blended return calculation. A project offering 8% financial + 5% impact returns (13% total) can compete with traditional 12-15% return projects while creating measurable social good.

Ready to Connect with Aligned Investors?

Save your impact projections and get matched with investors seeking your SDG focus areas