Community Finance Ireland delivering local impact in Mayo

Charity and social finance lender, Community Finance Ireland, has announced the results of its latest Social Return on Investment (SROI) analysis, revealing that the organisation delivered a social value of €4.63 for every €1 invested in 2025. This finding underscores the significant and measurable impact of Community Finance Ireland's work at grassroots level with volunteer-led community organisations, clubs, charities and social enterprises in local communities in Mayo.

Community Finance Ireland is a charity and social enterprise that provides loans exclusively to other third-sector organisations such as community groups, charities, sports clubs and social enterprises on an all-island basis, and as a non-profit, it does finance differently. Instead of profit-driven interest, CFI has created a model rooted in community support, where every repayment helps another volunteer-led organisation take their next step in delivering impact for their community.

Community Finance Ireland has a track record of supporting community and volunteer-led initiatives in Mayo through its social finance lending, including East Mayo Athletics Club.

Social value captures the real difference an investment makes to people’s lives and communities, reflecting the wider social, economic and environmental benefits created beyond financial return.

The report, carried out by Rose Regeneration, highlights significant positive social impacts under a variety of metrics including: Helping improve the health and wellbeing of local people and communities; promoting increased social connection engagement among people; supporting economic growth with small businesses and social enterprises; facilitating improved learning and training opportunities for people.

It also highlights how Community Finance Ireland's support at a local level in 2025 has delivered against a number of significant impacts when measured against the UN Sustainable Development Goals. These include good health and wellbeing; industry; innovation and infrastructure; decent work and economic growth; peace, justice and strong institutions; climate action and sustainable cities and communities.

The Rose Regeneration report was developed in close collaboration with Community Finance Ireland, drawing on desk research, stakeholder interviews with supported organisations in 2025, and the Social Value Engine - an established tool used by over 150 organisations across Ireland to measure and quantify social impact.

The Community Finance Ireland's full 2025 Social Value Analysis is available here.

If you would like to learn about how a loan from Community Finance Ireland could help move your next community project, contact your local CFI representative by emailing hello@communityfinanceireland.com