Social Innovation Funds Announces New Grantees

The Social Innovation Fund (SIF) has announced four new grantees that will receive funding to support the development of new and compelling programs that will meet the needs of our nation’s children, families and communities.

SIF was established in 2009 as an initiative of the Corporation for National and Community Service. Focused on “new ways of doing business,” SIF’s model relies on existing grantmakers to select high-impact community organizations with the ability to deliver effective programs that have the potential to transform the lives of children and families. In other words, SIF provides grants to existing grantmakers who then use the funds to expand the capacity and impact of nonprofit organizations. The four new grantees include:

• Green Light Fund will work with local communities to close the achievement and opportunity gap for youth in Boston, Philadelphia and San Francisco. 
• Twin Cities Strive in partnership with Greater Twin Cities United Way will support evidence-based youth programs designed to improve kindergarten readiness, third-grade reading proficiency, high school preparedness, high school graduation rates and college enrollment rates. 
• The John A. Hartford Foundation will expand an evidence-based program for treating depression in rural communities. 
• Capital Area United Way will build community impact initiatives leading to success in early childhood in the Greater Baton Rouge area. 

In addition to these four grantees, $33.9 million in continuation awards have been granted to seven existing grantees.

SIF grants must be matched dollar-for-dollar both by grantmakers and the nonprofit organizations they select for grants. As a result, the four new grants awarded and the $33.9 million granted in continuation awards will generate more than $100 million in private funds to support the development of innovative programs.

A total of 31 applications were received for 2012 SIF funding. To learn more about each of the applicants, click here.