Can social entrepreneurship and church innovation deliver real impact?

Villa Gründergeist demonstrates how to place impact at the core of its work by integrating impact measurement into its social innovation and entrepreneurship activities. Through systematic evaluation of its initiatives, Villa Gründergeist not only showcases its own effectiveness but also serves as an example for its parent organization, the Catholic Diocese of Limburg, inspiring more data-driven, impact-oriented decision-making in the Catholic Church.

The customer: Villa Gründergeist

Villa Gründergeist, established in 2019 in Frankfurt’s Westend, serves as a central platform for coworking, innovation, and collaboration. Developed by the Catholic Diocese of Limburg, it fosters a vibrant ecosystem for social entrepreneurs, startups, and nonprofit organizations. Its vision is to improve the world through the promotion of social entrepreneurship and social innovation, supported by a strong, purpose-driven community. Complementing this, Villa Gründergeist provides space for rethinking church practices and community engagement, offering events and innovation workshops. Blending a coworking space for social entrepreneurship with a Catholic Church innovation center creates a unique environment that encourages meaningful connections between these two communities and works against stereotypes.

“We’re proud to have demonstrated how impact can be measured, giving our coworkers and the Catholic Diocese of Limburg a clear example that it’s both possible and necessary. This project also supports the diocese’s strategy to make social impact visible and accountable. A big thanks to the leonardo team for their practical support in bringing this to life.”

- Miriam Penkhues, Leitung Villa Gründergeist | Kirche & Innovation

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The challenge: Measuring and demonstrating multi-faceted impact‍

Villa Gründergeist recognized the need to comprehensively demonstrate the impact of its diverse initiatives. It aimed to quantify the outcomes of its coworking space, which fosters social entrepreneurship and innovation, as well as its programs that promote new thinking and networking within church contexts. Beyond simply capturing numbers (i.e. measuring outputs), the challenge was to effectively showcase the Villa’s role in supporting entrepreneurial ventures, strengthening community networks, and promoting professional development (i.e. measuring outcomes). Additionally, Villa Gründergeist sought to highlight how adopting impact measurement could serve as a catalyst for data-informed decision-making and help foster a culture focused on meaningful, measurable outcomes.

The solution: Structured impact assessment with leonardo

Through its collaboration with leonardo, Villa Gründergeist implemented a science-based, structured framework to measure its impact:

• Applied leonardo’s Five Dimensional Impact Lens (5DIL), incorporating global standards and a mix of qualitative and quantitative data.
• Conducted comprehensive surveys of 124 participants across coworking and innovation programs.
• Analyzed and validated data to provide a robust and actionable understanding of its outcomes.

Key findings from impact reports

Impact on co-workers

• 35% launched new ventures during their time at the Villa.
• 71% feel part of an active movement of social innovators.
• 62% agree that Villa Gründergeist has helped them to see the church from a different perspective.
• Strong satisfaction levels: Net promoter score of 74/100, Coworker satisfaction index of 82/100.

Co-workers were also asked openly to describe what has improved, how it improved, and why they think Villa Gründergeist's coworking space contributed to this improvement. 88% of respondents reported positive impacts. These effects focus on improvements in the working atmosphere, personal development, networking, collaboration, inspiration, community support, and cultural exchange. Here is a selection of quotes:

“The interaction with other co-workers has provided me with valuable inspiration.”

“The conditions are so appealing that people enjoy coming to this building, staying, and working here. This encourages networking and proactivity.”

“The coworking space helps to continue working on your business idea and not give up. It also prevents isolation when working alone on your idea.”

Impact on participants in Villa Gründergeist's church innovation events

• 68% of participants felt motivated to implement innovative ideas within their church contexts.
• 67% recognized social entrepreneurs as valuable partners in advancing community goals.
• 69% felt part of a collaborative community for church innovation.

We also asked event participants openly about their positive impacts experienced. 60% of the respondents reported positive impacts, mainly related to public engagement, collaboration, entrepreneurship, pastoral development, improved mindset, networking and innovation. Here is a selection of quotes:

“A place to think and try new things and meet interesting people.”

“I have the opportunity to learn about new topics and networks that are also useful for church development (innovation).”

“The experiences at Villa Gründergeist strengthen the hope that innovative church activities are possible in Frankfurt.”

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First insights and the way forward

Villa Gründergeist’s experience demonstrates the powerful role a coworking hub dedicated to social innovation can play in driving entrepreneurial success and fostering meaningful community impact. By offering complementary programs designed to inspire new ideas and connections within church contexts, the Villa showcases how spaces can serve multiple innovative purposes. Importantly, the adoption of impact measurement has proven to be a valuable tool for enhancing transparency, demonstrating effectiveness, and informing strategic measures. The findings from Villa Gründergeist’s journey not only validate its approach but also provide a model for the broader Bistum Limburg to embrace impact-driven decision-making and cultivate a culture of meaningful, measurable change.

The collaboration between leonardo and Villa Gründergeist holds particular significance us, as we experienced the coworking space’s impact firsthand.

“Villa Gründergeist was home to our first office during the early days of leonardo. The resources and community the space offered us had an impact on the positive development of our social startup.”

Jasper Klemm, Co-Founder & CDO of leonardo. impact

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Discover how Villa Gründergeist is advancing social entrepreneurship, innovation, and impact thinking. Visit Villa Gründergeist’s website to learn more about their work.