Posted on July 23, 2010

Social Innovation Fund Announces Inaugural Grants

The Corporation for National and Community Service has announced its inaugural Social Innovation Fund grants, which will direct millions of dollars in public and private funds to help develop effective solutions to persistent social challenges across more than twenty states.

SIF grants were awarded to eleven organizations that represent a broad range of nonprofit organizations and private and community foundations working to address urgent needs in three key issue areas: economic opportunity, healthy futures, and youth development and school support. Awards include a two-year, $7.7 million grant to Jobs for the Future to expand its targeted training and technical assistance to at least 23,000 low-income individuals while also addressing the critical skill needs of more than 1,000 employers; a two-year, $2 million grant to the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky to improve access to needed health services, reduce health risks and disparities, and promote health in as many as ten low-income communities in the state; and $10 million to the Edna McConnell Clark Foundation to help increase the scale and impact of up to ten youth development organizations in communities of need.

In addition to the $50 million in federal funds, $74 million was secured in private matching funds. Within six months of receiving the funds, eight of the SIF grantees will select subgrantees through a competitive process; three grantees had applied with competitively pre-selected subgrantees.

"Over the long term, the SIF will contribute to the development of the grantmaking infrastructure that supports the work of high-impact nonprofit organizations and inform other federal, state, and local efforts to address social challenges," said SIF director Paul Carttar. "It offers an avenue for community-driven solutions to grow and demonstrate their value."

For a complete list of SIF grantees, visit the Corporation for National and Community Service Web site.