The Tafel Österreich was founded in 1999 under the name "Wiener Tafel" and operates according to the established international cooperative food bank model: it supplies social nonprofit organizations, which in turn distribute the food and goods donations to their clients. The sectors served include social institutions primarily focused on supporting the homeless, displaced individuals, and people with mental health challenges. In 2024, approximately 160 social organizations across Austria were supplied with goods donations from Tafel Österreich, reaching around 75,000 individuals with the free food and hygiene products distributed.

For many years, Tafel Österreich has been examining its own impacts, with ongoing support from the Center for Nonprofit Organizations and Social Impact. Since 2022, a companion and research project has been underway, with initial results presented in a white paper in the form of a short report in 2024: "Impact Analysis and Impact-Oriented Management at Tafel Österreich." A scientific publication on this topic is currently in the review process.

The current follow-up project aims to conduct a Social Return on Investment (SROI) analysis for Tafel Österreich. This will be based on existing data and studies, and where data is insufficient, additional primary surveys will be conducted. The already developed impact model, which includes several stakeholders and their associated impacts, serves as the starting point for this analysis.

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