MDIF Impact Dashboard 2015

Impact assessment is a critical part of our work. Since 2005, we have published our Impact Dashboard to publicly present the findings of our annual analysis. The Dashboard provides a comprehensive description of impact results from the preceding year as well as longitudinal analysis of outcomes across our portfolio. We focus our impact assessment efforts on two broad areas: first, MDIF’s direct impact on clients; and, second, our clients’ impacts on their societies.

Explore the interactive Impact Dashboard presentation showcasing the key findings, and access the complete PDF of the MDIF Impact Dashboard 2015.

Over the last year, MDIF clients provided news and information to over 68.6 million people in countries where access to free and independent media is under threat, while generating a combined $92.4 million in sales. The Impact Dashboard found that after five years of working with MDIF, client businesses grew their reach by a median of 34% and their sales by 115%.

It also found that clients ranging from local news websites to national broadcasters had a profound impact on their societies through reporting on corruption and government accountability. Across our portfolio, in 2014 85% of clients exposed corruption scandals in their country and 79% held government leaders accountable for their policy promises.

Key findings by impact area include:

Reach

• After five years of working with MDIF, client reach increased by a median of 34% (on average by 188%)
• From 2013 to 2014, clients increased their total reach by a median of 1% (on average by 37%)

Sales

• After five years of working with MDIF, clients increased their sales by a median of 115% (mean of 240%)
• Clients saw a median annual growth rate of 21% (CAGR) during their first five years working with MDIF

Viability

• Median risk rating across the portfolio was 5.29 in 2014, a 1.45% increase from 2013 but still within the moderate risk range
• Low risk clients made up 37% of our portfolio in 2014, down from 42% in 2013

Client Impacts on Society

• In 2014, 85% of our clients reported on corruption scandals in their country
• In 2014, 79% of our clients held their governments accountable for their policy promises