 ©Margot Schulman
By Rose Armour, Training and Technical Assistance Specialist
Each year, the Social Innovation Fund grantees from
around the country gather to discuss innovation and collaboration across various areas
of focus. That’s why SIF grantees and federal partners chose this year’s theme:
Build Evidence. Share Results. Effect Change. For the first time, SIF Classic
and SIF Pay for Success (PFS) grantees all came together to learn from each other’s
experiences. They were excited to hear how fellow grantees are using SIF
evaluation results to help address the future sustainability of their program.
“The Social Innovation Fund reflects the spirit of common
purpose that is at the very core of who we are as a people,” said President
Barack Obama in a letter read by CNCS CEO, Wendy Spencer, during the
Opening Plenary of the Convening. “A distinguishing part of America’s genius has
always been the recognition that our Nation is a work in progress, and that
each generation must build on the efforts of the last to guide our country
forward.”
At the convening, grantees were focused on bringing the
impact of their work forward and rethinking how they can collectively address
challenges facing communities nationwide. SIF Classic and SIF Pay for Success
grantees had the opportunities to attend sessions on communications,
evaluation, sustainability and more.
 ©Margot Schulman
Jonathan Elias, a reporter from ABC 7,
reminded SIF grantees about the importance of framing the narrative of their program.
Grantees are working to bring their programs to life by not only talking about
the data from their evaluation reports, but also matching these compelling results with impactful stories.
See examples of SIF grantees and subgrantees telling
their SIF story:
By Katherine Klem, Pay for Success Fellow
“How can we access wage data to help us evaluate whether our
intervention is working? What money is available after our SIF grant ends? Who
at your agency can talk with me about waivers?”
These questions – among others – present both challenges and
opportunities for SIF grantees and subgrantees. To help answer these questions, the SIF was pleased to convene leaders across the
Administration to meet with SIF grantees and subgrantees at the 2015 SIF Grantee Convening. Representing the US
Departments of Education, Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development,
Justice, and Labor, these leaders talked in small groups with SIF grantees and
subgrantees about issues top of mind for the SIF family as it explores Pay for
Success or implementing interventions in communities across the country.
In response, the agency officials and staff explained and provided connections
to resources in a number of areas, spanning funding streams to administrative
data access, to help grantees and subgrantees evaluate their work and grow
their impact.
The SIF looks forward to continuing
to cultivate connections within different federal government agencies as we
help move government toward evidence-based policy and practice.
 This month, the Social Innovation Fund (SIF)
is putting the Spotlight On three of our 2014 Grantees--one year into their
grant to see what they have accomplished to date. The three grantees span all
three SIF focus areas and are using a collective impact approach to addressing
education and employment opportunities, health outcomes in low-income
communities, and childhood hunger.
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Jobs for the
Future is
partnering with the Aspen Forum for Community Solutions to improve education and career
outcomes for these 6.7 million youth, ages 16 to 24, who are not connected to
school or work. The project,
known as Opportunity Works is leveraging a collective impact approach to
achieve its goals. Learn more about how this collective
impact approach is providing education and job skills primarily among boys and
men of color.
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In 2014, the SIF awarded Methodist
Health Care Ministries of South Texas, Inc., a $10 million grant to support its “Sí Texas: Social
Innovation for a Healthy South Texas Initiative,” which brings together
subgrantees across 12 South Texas counties to identify strategies that improve
health outcomes in communities with high rates of poverty, obesity, diabetes,
and depression. Learn more about this strategy to help improve health outcomes for some
of America’s most vulnerable citizens.
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In 2014, the SIF awarded Share Our Strength $1.5 million grant to bring
its No Kid Hungry model to communities across the country that are poised to
create impact in the fight to end childhood hunger. No Kid Hungry campaign to bring together private citizens, government
officials, business leaders, and other stakeholders to implement solutions that
break down the barriers that keep kids from healthy food. Learn more about how Share Our Strength will begin scaling this project across six
states.
Remember
to be on the lookout for next month’s feature when we will put the spotlight on
programs that are helping kids to stay motivated and healthy throughout the
school year.
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