Ripple to SROI: How GiveNOLA Day Turned $6.9M into Measurable Positive Impact for the New Orleans Community
A day well spent meeting investing our time to meet leaders of non-profits in New Orleans having a positive impact across the city.
First and foremost, thank you for reading, liking, sharing and providing the feedback I need to continue exploring on Substack. We’ve almost reached 100 subscribers! I am committed to bringing visibility to more great people and great ideas. I am still looking for two more creative thinkers and strategists to participate in The Curious Five series, don’t be afraid to reach out and raise a hand. Enjoy this week’s post focused on non-profit leadership and fundraising momentum in New Orleans.
What if I told you $100 could generate $300 in value for your local community?
That’s not just the magic of philanthropy—it’s the math behind a Social Return on Investment (SROI).
On this year’s GiveNOLA Day, New Orleans non-profits raised nearly $7 million from more than 40,000 donors. Most of those donations were under $100, probably at the $10-$20 participatory level—yet the collective impact is measurable, lasting, and in many cases, transformational for our communities and those who benefit.
According to The Global Value Exchange and Social Value International, the average SROI in community-based nonprofits ranges from $2.50 to $6.00 per dollar invested, depending on the sector. That means every dollar given on GiveNOLA Day will likely create $17–$40 million in total social value across housing, education, youth development, and mental health. I have pulled studies and research at PosiGen Solar seeing every household $1 saved on utility costs through solar energy equals more than $2.75 that’s spent back in the local community. These SROI results are impressive.
Jennifer and I were invited to join the GiveNOLA Day bus tour, we saw it firsthand:
Son of a Saint investing in structured inspiring mentorship for boys
CrescentCare providing community-centered healthcare and where they just announced a partnership with the New Orleans Musicians Clinic
KID smART integrating arts into education for long-term academic success
Community Sailing using water as a classroom for empowerment
André Cailloux Center nurturing culture and equity through powerful storytelling
These aren’t simple charity cases. They’re investments—ones that meet our current needs with a promise to invest in the future of New Orleans. These efforts reduce strain on public systems, create safer neighborhoods, and keep kids in school and out of courtrooms. These organizations are a point of local pride for everyone who volunteers, participates and donates.
Here’s exactly why I chose to share this powerful experience. Right now, federal grants are drying up. Yet New Orleans’ nonprofits are growing leaner, faster, and smarter—not because they have to, but because they know what’s at stake. We heard these facts acknowledged and how the organizations must shift and respond immediately.
In 2024, Brookings reported that metro-area nonprofits delivering early education, workforce training, and health access yielded a $3.60 return per dollar spent through reduced government burden and improved economic productivity. That's the SROI mindset: short-term giving, long-term outcomes.
The Greater New Orleans Foundation has already funneled well over $64 million through GiveNOLA Day since its inception. What’s more impressive? The flywheel effect:
Local giving → Local impact → Local pride → More giving
It’s working and will continue to grow!Let’s stop thinking of local giving as a feel-good moment.
Start thinking of it as a strategic investment portfolio for your region.
💡 Who’s your nonprofit portfolio pick in your community?
💡 Where are you seeing the strongest community impact ROI?
Drop your thoughts in the comments, or better yet, share a nonprofit you think is delivering results most people overlook.
New Orleans is gaining momentum in 2025. With nearly 1,100 nonprofits stepping up and our community showing up, I’d bet on this city’s social ROI any day. A special shout out and thank you to the GNOF Staff, especially Andy Kopplin, Meg Miles, Kellie Greene, Pamela Otibue and Roy Williams for hosting us across metro New Orleans last week.
