Social Innovation Forum Inc

THE SOCIAL INNOVATION FORUM, INC. BECAME AN INDEPENDENT 501(C)(3) ORGANIZATION IN 2015. ITS MISSION IS TO CREATE POSITIVE SOCIAL CHANGE IN GREATER BOSTON BY ENGAGING AND INFORMING FUNDERS AND INVESTORS SO THAT THEY CAN DIRECT RESOURCES MORE EFFECTIVELY WHILE ALSO EDUCATING AND SUPPORTING LEADERS OF NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS SO THAT THEY CAN DELIVER THE MOST EFFECTIVE SOLUTIONS TO SOCIAL ISSUES. SIF HAS CREATED A "MARKETPLACE" WHERE IT CONNECTS SOCIAL PURPOSE ORGANIZATIONS ("INNOVATORS") WITH A COMMUNITY OF INDIVIDUALS ("INVESTORS AND SUPPORTERS")WHO CAN PROVIDE FINANCIAL, TECHNICAL, AND COACHING SUPPORT, THEREBY LEVERAGING EVERY ROLE IN THE ECOSYSTEM FOR SOCIAL IMPACT.

SOCIAL INNOVATOR ACCELERATOR - SIF'S SIGNATURE TWO-YEAR PROGRAM OFFERS CAPACITY BUILDING SUPPORT TO IMPACTFUL GRASSROOTS NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS THROUGH CONSULTING, COACHING, PRESENTATION TRAINING, OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPAND THEIR NETWORKS AND BUILD NEW RELATIONSHIPS, AND ACCESS TO FINANCIAL SUPPORT AS WELL AS IN-KIND RESOURCES AND SERVICES.

CAPACITY CAMP - SIF LEADS A RANGE OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF CAPACITY CAMP PROGRAMS, WHICH ARE CONDENSED VERSIONS OF ITS SOCIAL INNOVATOR ACCELERATOR. THE MAJORITY OF CAPACITY CAMPS HAVE BEEN SMALL, INTIMATE PROGRAMS OF 6-8 PARTICIPATING NONPROFITS. THE PROGRAMS TYPICALLY INCLUDE COHORT-BASED LEARNING SESSIONS, ACCESS TO EXECUTIVE COACHING AND IN-KIND SERVICES, ALONG WITH VARIOUS OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPAND ORGANIZATIONS' NETWORKS.COWORKING AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT - SIF MANAGES A COLLABORATIVE, COMMUNITY SPACE DEDICATED TO HELPING NONPROFITS WORK PRODUCTIVELY, BUILD THEIR CAPACITY, AND BROADEN THEIR NETWORKS TO ACHIEVE SOCIAL IMPACT. WE STRIVE TO BUILD AN INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY OF DIVERSE PROGRAMS AND LEADERS WHO ENGAGE AND GROW TOGETHER. IN ADDITION TO BASIC OFFICE AMENITIES, MEMBERS HAVE ACCESS TO WORKSHOPS, TRAININGS, PEER-TO-PEER NETWORK BUILDING, AND OTHER EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES TO CONNECT MORE DEEPLY WITH BOSTON'S PHILANTHROPIC AND SOCIAL SECTOR LEADERS.COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS REIMAGINING ECOSYSTEMS (CORE) - IN 2021, SIF LAUNCHED A NEW LEADERSHIP INITIATIVE FOCUSED ON PLACE-BASED WORK AND SOCIAL CHANGE: CORE (COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS REIMAGINING ECOSYSTEMS). THE PROGRAM WAS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE SUPPORT OF A $175,000 TWO-YEAR GRANT FROM THE FIDELITY CHARITABLE TRUSTEES' INITIATIVE. CORE IS A PEER LEARNING COMMUNITY OF EIGHT ORGANIZATIONS FROM AROUND THE UNITED STATES. EACH OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS WORKS AT THE INTERSECTION OF FUNDERS AND NONPROFITS TO GROW SOCIAL IMPACT IN THEIR REGION. THE INITIAL TWO-YEAR CORE PILOT WILL WRAP UP IN 2023 AND THE GROUP WILL SHARE OUT ITS COLLECTIVE LEARNING.

ALUMNI AND NONPROFIT NETWORK PROGRAM - SIF HAS ALWAYS BEEN COMMITTED TO SUPPORTING ITS INNOVATOR ALUMNI, WHO ARE CONSIDERED TO BE PART OF ITS "FOREVER PORTFOLIO." IN 2020, SIF LAUNCHED ITS ALUMNI AND NONPROFIT NETWORK PROGRAM, OFFERING ONGOING LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, SKILL-BUILDING, AND NETWORK-BUILDING TO THESE ORGANIZATIONS. SIF'S NONPROFIT NETWORK ALSO ENCOMPASSES ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE MEMBERS OF ITS CO-WORKING SPACE, THOSE THAT HAVE GRADUATED FROM THE CAPACITY CAMP PROGRAM, AND FINALISTS IN THE ACCELERATOR SELECTION PROCESS.

FUNDER EDUCATION PROGRAM - SIF PROVIDES NUMEROUS OPPORTUNITIES FOR PHILANTHROPISTS, FUNDERS, COMMUNITY LEADERS, AND OTHERS TO COME TOGETHER WITH NONPROFIT LEADERS TO WORK TOWARD POSITIVE SOCIAL CHANGE IN GREATER BOSTON. SIF ENGAGES WITH FUNDERS TO LEARN ABOUT SOCIAL JUSTICE PHILANTHROPY, STRATEGIZE ABOUT AND IMPLEMENT MORE EQUITABLE PRACTICES, AND BUILD MEANINGFUL, LONG-LASTING RELATIONSHIPS WITH NONPROFITS. OUR COMMUNITY OF SUPPORTERS LEARN FROM LEADING PRACTITIONERS, DISCUSS CURRENT AND EMERGENT SOCIAL ISSUES, PARTICIPATE IN DIALOGUES WITH PEERS, AND ENGAGE WITH AND SUPPORT IMPACTFUL ORGANIZATIONS ADDRESSING CHALLENGING SOCIAL ISSUES WITHIN THEIR COMMUNITIES.