The GitLab Foundation takes a robust approach to impact measurement and evaluation. All potential grant investments undergo a strong due diligence process, including impact modeling. This is an important step in holding us accountable to achieving our North Star goal.
Read more about our approach to impact modeling here:
The GitLab Foundation conducts an estimated return on investment (ROI) analysis for each potential investment we make. We call this our North Star ROI. The North Star ROI is an important step in our due diligence and a key input in the grant selection process. After an applicant submits a concept note (See General Grantmaking Process), the Impact Measurement and Analytics team conducts an ROI impact estimation analysis.
Our North Star model estimates how much a grantee’s activities increase the lifetime earnings of its participants. The model helps the Foundation to understand how much additional lifetime earnings the grant may create for the grantee’s participants by generating two cost-effective ratios:
1) North Star ROI: A benefit/cost ratio that is the total estimated increased lifetime earnings divided by the full cost of the Foundation’s grant. We seek to make investments that generate at least $100 in additional lifetime earnings for every $1 spent by the Foundation.
2) Relative Income Change - DIL (Double Income for Life) Methodology: The total cost of the Foundation’s grant divided by the total percentage change in income of grantee’s participants. We seek to make investments that can increase the annual income of their participants by 100% for $1,000 or less per person. We call this cost ratio, the cost to Double Income over Lifetime, or DIL.
Relative Income Change - DIL (Double Income for Life) Methodology
Applicants will need to propose grants that can surpass at least one of the two cost-effective thresholds to be eligible for funding.
As an organization that values iteration, we very much welcome feedback and comments on our impact model and impact approach - Please email us with any feedback, comments, or questions at: [email protected]
Click the link below to get step-by-step instructions on how to complete an ROI model.
Staff Process for Completing an ROI Model
GitLab Foundation is committed to acting in alignment with our core values of Collaboration, Results, Efficiency, Diversity & Inclusion, Iteration, and Transparency. To demonstrate our commitment to those values, we have published our grantee ROI models at the link below:
Publishing Grantee ROI Calculations
Here are resources that anyone can use to calculate their program’s ROI: