Events & News

News

Check back often for the latest Social Innovation Forum news and to stay up-to-date on the work of our Innovators and Entrepreneurs. 

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  • Second Interview Pair: Tref Borden (the Fish Family Foundation) and David Cohen (Doc Wayne Youth Services)

    Moving Forward Together interview series

    Our second interview pair for the Moving Forward Together interview blog series features Tref Borden, Executive Director of the Fish Family Foundation, and David Cohen, Executive Director of Doc Wayne Youth Services (2014 Social Innovator). An important part to Tref and David's relationship building was their willingness to be open-minded and trusting of one another from the start. The Foundation is supportive of Doc Wayne's new initiatives, and both parties express interest in engaging in social change work. We hope you enjoy reading more about how Tref and David managed to move beyond power dynamics and create a vastly different model of a nonprofit and funder relationship. 

    tref and david

  • Measure What You Value, and Others Will Value What You Measure

    Julia Gittleman & 2017 Social Innovators explore performance measurement reporting

    On July 24, we convened a panel discussion featuring Julia Gittleman, Principal at Mendelsohn, Gittleman & Associates, LLC and 2017 Social Innovators Veronica Serrato, Executive Director of Project Citizenship and Brian Pastori, Executive Director of Community Economic Development Center (CEDC). In this session, we learned more from Julia and the Innovators about the many opportunities and challenges present in developing performance measurement strategies and implementing program evaluation.  

    panel

  • Introducing Our First Interview Pair: Leah Hong (Letters Foundation) and Tania Shabazz (Compass Working Capital)

    Moving Forward Together interview series

    The first interview pair of the Moving Forward Together interview series, Leah Hong of Letters Foundation and Tania Shabazz of Compass Working Capital, share with us intimate details of their experience in resolving power dynamics. Both Leah and Tania openly share the challenges in forming the relationship and the many changes that preceded in order to maintain an even stronger partnership. 

    pair

  • Announcing SIF's Three Newest Board Members!

    We welcome Julia Satti Cosentino, Nageeb Sumar, and Colby Swettberg to the Social Innovation Forum Board!

    SIF is pleased to announce the addition of three new board members - Julia Satti Cosentino, Trusts and Estates attorney at Nutter; Nageeb Sumar, Vice President, Philanthropic Strategies at Fidelity Charitable, and Colby Swettberg, Chief Executive Officer of Silver Lining Mentoring. 

  • Let's Continue to Address Power Dynamics in the Social Sector

    Introducing the blog series, Moving Forward Together

    Over the last few years, SIF has brought together many stakeholders, including Vu Le, nonprofit leader and blogger, for conversations around decreasing power dynamics in the social sector and opportunities to build stronger relationships among funders and nonprofits.  As the next step in this conversation, we are launching a blog series called Moving Forward Together. The series will feature interviews with local nonprofit/funder pairs who discuss communication processes, prospective challenges, and progress tracking openly! 

  • We are all just people who like donuts...

    Continuing the Nonprofit/Funder Relationship

    On June 21, SIF convened a small group of funders and nonprofits to coffee and donuts to continue the discussion of building a stronger nonprofit sector. Following the conversation, we recognized action is just as necessary as raising awareness of the issue.  Our action is to explore other ways we can continue to have these conversations.

    donuts and discussion

  • SIF Launches 2019-2020 Social Innovator Accelerator

    Seeking nonprofits for our 24-month capacity-building program

    We are excited to welcome seven new Massachusett nonprofits into our 2019-2020 Social Innovator Accelerator cohort. Applications are now open to apply or nominate a nonprofit for our Social Innovator Accelerator. Please note that we are accepting applications through July 15. 

    launch

  • You Can Always Find Me in the Marketplace

    Anna Trieschmann reflects on seven years of growth and change at SIF
    • By Anna Trieschmann
    • Published on June 11, 2019

    Anna Trieschmann left behind a personal memoir of her seven-year experience in the SIF community. We wish you the best of luck on your new venture! 

    anna

  • Social Innovation Forum Awarded $100,000

    SIF one of 100 nonprofits to receive the Cummings Foundation grants

    The Social Innovation Forum (SIF) is one of 100 local nonprofits to receive grants of $100,000 each through Cummings Foundation’s “$100K for 100” program. SIF was chosen from a total of 574 applicants during a competitive review process.

    cummings

  • The Devonshire Foundation Extends a $25,000 Match Challenge to the Social Innovation Forum!

    Please consider making a gift to the Social Innovation Forum today!

    The Social Innovation Forum (SIF) has received a $25,000 match challenge from The Devonshire Foundation to be matched by $25,000 in unrestricted gifts from individual donors to SIF. SIF hopes this match challenge will inspire gifts from first-time donors as well as re-engaged donors. Gifts between $1 and $499 will be matched 1:1, while gifts of $500 or more will be matched 1:2.