SIF Launches Collaborative Track Focused on Supporting Immigrants and Refugees

In our current environment where policy changes are threatening the rights of immigrants and refugees across the United States, the Social Innovation Forum (SIF) seeks to highlight this issue in our 2017-18 portfolio. Responding to a recent call to action by Associated Grant Makers, the Social Innovation Forum is offering the local funding community an opportunity to respond collectively to this issue. Participating in a collective track will leverage the Social Innovator Accelerator to direct resources towards organizations who are working on behalf of immigrants and refugees at this critical time. 

Our hope is that the collaborative social issue track will be supported by four-eight funding partners who are committed to calling attention to and promoting solutions to issues facing immigrants and refugees. Track partners, with support from the SIF team, will collectively explore key issues facing refugees and immigrants in the greater Boston community and identify key areas for impact. 

Working with the SIF team, the track partners will review applications and select one nonprofit organization to join the 2018 Social Innovator cohort. Applicants will receive feedback throughout the process, and finalist organizations will be publicly recognized and eligible for support from some of SIF’s in kind partners. The organization selected to the 2018 cohort will be an innovative, effective local organization that is doing exceptional work in this field.

Through the Social Innovator Accelerator, the Social Innovation Forum will assist the Innovator organization in growth and development and help accelerate its ability to implement effective solutions to current challenges. The organization will receive 24 months of services, including, consulting, executive coaching, network-building, and performance measurement support.

Funding partners will have the opportunity to be involved in all stages of the Social Innovation Forum’s evaluation process, from reviewing first and second stage applications to interviewing finalists and participating in the due diligence process.

This collaborative model will allow funders to leverage their philanthropic investment and their community impact while learning from one another in the process.

Please see the attached flyer for more details about this opportunity. For additional information please contact Carolyn Shaughnessy at cshaughnessy@socialinnovationforum.org.