Social Innovation Agenda
America Forward, a nonpartisan initiative, was launched in 2007 and has grown to include more than 90 organizations. The coalition is founded on the belief that by bringing together the expertise and resources of government, philanthropy, business, citizens and social innovators we can efficiently identify and grow the most effective solutions to our nation’s most pressing social problems. The agenda calls for greater investment in innovative nonprofit organizations, the expansion of cross-sector commitment to results and accountability in policy design and implementation, and the creation of partnerships to grow effective programs. The coalition currently includes results-driven, entrepreneurial nonprofit organizations, grant-making intermediaries, and their partners.
The Sheridan Group provided the strategic political counsel to launch America Forward, developed and managed a bipartisan political and communications team to promote a platform of innovation policies in the 2008 election, and advocated for these policy through President-elect Obama’s transition period and into President Obama’s first term. Among the coalition’s successes was the creation of the Social Innovation Fund, requiring a 3:1 private to public funding match and incentivizing greater innovation and performance based investment. The fund was authorized by the Edward M. Kennedy Service America Act and appropriated in the 2010 budget for the Corporation for National and Community Service at $50 million. Over the next two years America Forward will pursue three principle strategies: support the successful implementation of innovative, results-oriented policies and government initiatives; educate and engage key stakeholders—policymakers, philanthropists, private sector leaders and others—on the potential of investing in social innovation to solve entrenched social problems; and include the principles of social innovation in select new federal policies and reauthorizations.
Project Director: Sara Guderyahn
Project Images
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Save The Social Innovation Fund
Across issue areas like education, healthcare and youth development, SIF funds are making possible better outcomes at lower costs.…
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Outreach in the Age of Pullback
A new government fund meant to help innovative, successful nonprofits expand their reach…
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What George Will Got Right About Teach for America—and What He Got Wrong
The flawed way most federal grant programs are designed leave innovative organizations few options but to pursue them…
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The Social Innovation Fund
The Social Innovation Fund (SIF) has created a new role for government as a catalyst for philanthropic partnerships that invest in proven solutions…