• IRIS+
  • Close
  • Sign Up
  • Log In
  • About
  • Standards
  • Frameworks
  • Benchmarks
  • Education
  • Get Involved

Quick Links

  • Global Impact Investing Network
  • Core Characteristics of Impact Investing
  • Impact Toolkit
  • Investors Council IMM Leadership Initiative
  • Frameworks
  • Benchmarks
  • Search
  • Account
    • Log In
    • Sign Up
IRIS+

Legal Structure (OD2999)

Describes the legal structure of the organization. Select one:

  • Benefit Corporation
  • Co-op
  • Corporation
  • Limited Liability Company
  • Nonprofit/Non-Governmental Organization
  • Partnership
  • Sole-proprietorship
  • Other
  • Reporting Format Selection
  • Metric Type Metric
  • Metric Level Organization
  • IRIS Metric Citation IRIS, 2021. Legal Structure (OD2999). v5.2.
Footnote

Organizations should footnote details in cases with related organizations, hybrids, or spinoffs reporting as a single organization.

Usage Guidance

  • This metric is intended to capture the organization’s legal structure. Organizations can refer to the glossary for additional information on these various legal structures.

Impact Categories & Themes

Cross Category

Metrics identified as "cross-category" are those that are relevant to any IRIS+ Impact Category or Impact Theme (i.e., these metrics are not specific to any particular industry/category or theme).

Metric History

  1. June 2025 - IRIS+ v5.3b Released (current version)

    No change.

  2. December 2024 - IRIS+ v5.3a Released

    No change.

  3. June 2022 - IRIS+ v5.3 Released

    Immaterial change. Minor revisions to definition and usage guidance for clarity.

  4. May 2021 - IRIS+ v5.2 Released

    No change.

  5. January 2020 - IRIS+ v5.1 Released

    No change.

  6. May 2019 - IRIS+ v5.0 Released

    No change.

  7. March 2016 - IRIS+ v4.0 Released

    Immaterial change. Minor revision to definition language in order to align consistency of metric with catalog's structure and style.

  8. March 2014 - IRIS+ v3.0 Released

    Immaterial change. Minor revision to definition language for clarity.

  9. November 2011 - IRIS+ v2.2 Released

    No change.

  10. February 2011 - IRIS+ v2.1 Released

    No change.

  11. September 2010 - IRIS+ v2.0 Released

    Immaterial change. IRIS ID changed due to framework upgrade. Minor revision to definition language for clarity.

  12. September 2009 - IRIS+ v1.0 Released

    New metric. Legal Structure (DES3) was developed via the Original IRIS Working Group.

IRIS Metrics Work Better in Sets

To use IRIS metrics—and the resulting data—to understand impact performance, IRIS metrics should be used and analyzed in generally accepted sets and according to well-defined objectives. IRIS+ gives you access to generally accepted Core Metrics Sets aligned to common Impact Themes and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Set up a framework

The GIIN

The GIIN offers IRIS+ as a free and public good to advance impact investing around the world

  • IRIS+
  • Metrics
  • Glossary
  • Help
Subscribe to our newsletter

Stay up to date with our latest developments, from case studies, to practitioners’ perspectives, to guidance materials and templates to put IRIS+ into practice.

  • Terms of Use
  • Terms of Contribution
  • Privacy Policy
  • Press
  • Contact Us

©2025 Global Impact Investing Network (GIIN)