Young people and social exclusion: here’s how to measure the impact of the not-for-profit sector

The survey shows that, of the 629 initiatives assessed, the social impact amounts to 530 million euros, approximately three times the funding provided, which stands at 183 million euros (the figures relate solely to new initiatives funded in 2025). There are two key sectors in the fight against social isolation and precariousness amongst young people: sport and recreation (with 93 active initiatives) and education and training (with 86 active initiatives). In the first case, the amount funded by the bank is €18 million, and 182,000 people took part in sporting and recreational events (of whom over 73,000 were under 25); in the second, the figure is as high as 22 million euros, with over 15,000 young people supported, whilst career guidance and employment integration programmes have been facilitated for a further 10,000 people.

The research focuses on two key sectors. As regards education and training, there are over 15,000 people in need of skills development and over 9,000 who need to be integrated into the labour market. One figure illustrates the importance of the project: 59 per cent of the initiatives considered funding to be crucial.

The SROI – that is, the expected benefit per unit of funding – is 3, with peaks in the career guidance category (3.5) and the university category (3.4). The expected impact is greater economic and psychological well-being, with social benefits estimated at 65 million euros. As regards the sport and recreation sector, 54 per cent of initiatives considered the funding to be crucial. In this case, the SROI is 3.5, with the highest figure relating to sporting activities (3.6), and the estimated social benefits amount to €62 million. The breakdown of the expected impact by type of benefit shows physical wellbeing in the lead, followed by economic wellbeing.

One notable example is undoubtedly the Giada Onlus social co-operative, which has been working since 2010 to provide reception services for asylum seekers and beneficiaries of international protection, as well as support for young people; it operates in the Fortore and Alto Sannio areas, in the province of Benevento. The co-operative has developed the ‘La Pineta’ project, which aims to create and provide pathways to social and labour market inclusion for those in its care, as well as for young people and adults in the local area facing socio-economic vulnerability: ‘La Pineta’ facilitates the entry into employment of 5,000–6,000 beneficiaries through its training and support programmes.

Another example is the ‘Exit’ project run by the social co-operative L’Arco in Piacenza: in this case, 200 young people – aged between 11 and 18 – are at the heart of an educational partnership with local communities and stakeholders aimed at preventing social withdrawal. Also worth mentioning from the same social cooperative is the Iceberg project, which carries out prevention work in schools on the risks associated with gambling by involving communities and families.

“The data,” explained Andrea Lecce, head of the Impact Division at Intesa Sanpaolo’s Banca dei Territori, “confirm that investing in young people means generating value for the whole community. Our impact assessment shows that initiatives supported in the areas of training, employment integration, sport and socialisation generate a social return of more than 3 euros for every euro funded. This evidence helps us to channel lending towards projects with the greatest social impact and to support third-sector organisations in growing their activities and their impact on local communities.”