Education is a central lever for social participation, equal opportunities, and long-term social as well as economic development. At the same time, education systems face profound challenges: social inequalities in educational outcomes, issues of inclusion and integration, digitalization, skilled labor shortages, and increasing demands for quality, transparency, and impact orientation. Alongside public actors, nonprofit organizations, foundations, and social enterprises play an increasingly important role in shaping, complementing, and innovating educational offerings. Today, all of these actors are increasingly required to systematically analyze and transparently demonstrate the impacts of their educational activities.

The Center for Nonprofit Organizations & Social Impact (NPO&SI) examines education as a key societal field of action at the intersection of social policy, civil society, public governance, and organizational practice. The focus lies on the development of impact models, the evaluation of specific educational programs, the analysis of their societal added value, and the structural conditions under which educational organizations operate.

Key Research Focus Areas
One focus is on measuring the impact of programs and initiatives in both formal and non-formal education sectors. Impact models are often developed as a foundation, followed by measuring and analyzing impacts to make visible the contribution of formal educational initiatives to equal opportunities, skills development, and social integration. At the same time, the NPO&SI Center analyzes the impact of non-formal educational offerings, especially those supported by nonprofit organizations and foundations, investigating the contributions of mentoring programs, extracurricular learning opportunities, and innovative educational initiatives to the individual development and integration of young people as well as to the development of the education system in Austria.

Methodological Approach
Research in the field of education is characterized by a methodologically pluralistic and practice-oriented approach. Common methods include qualitative interviews, standardized surveys, impact models, Social Return on Investment (SROI) analyses, evidence-based approaches, and accompanying evaluations.
A particular feature is the close collaboration with public institutions, foundations, and nonprofit organizations. Impact models are often developed participatively and validated together with key stakeholder groups. The goal is to combine scientifically grounded analyses with concrete benefits for external communication, governance, strategy development, and program adaptation.

Reference Projects

SROI Analysis of the Social Impacts of Hobby Lobby

SROI Analysis of the Mentoring Program "Sindbad"

Impact Model for the Innovation Foundation for Education

Impact Measurement of the IDEAS Community of the Innovation Foundation for Education

Impact Measurement of the Vienna Education Promise

Impact Analysis of the Lighthouse Kindergarten of Kinderfreunde