#reading partners

The Social Innovation Fund (SIF) represents an important and bipartisan ideal: that in a time of limited resources, funds should be directed toward the most effective solutions to our communities’ challenges. To do so, the SIF unites leaders in communities, government, philanthropy, and nonprofits for a simple, yet powerful approach—finding what works, and making it work for more people. The 2015 State of the SIF report demonstrates how SIF grantees are using this approach to transform lives and communities.

Since 2009, the SIF, its private sector grantees, and their funding partners have invested $771 million dollars in promising, innovative community solutions that have demonstrated evidence of compelling results. Supporting 311 organizations in 35 states, the SIF and its grantees are focused on three priority areas: economic opportunity, healthy futures, and youth development.

The SIF’s grantees and subgrantees are scaling initiatives such as increasing childhood literacy, promoting healthier lifestyles, and creating job opportunities. And the stories the SIF makes possible show how small changes have catalytic effects on neighborhoods and entire communities.

Stories like the young man on his way to college who said that without the mentoring and support that he received through a SIF-funded program, he would be part of the criminal justice system rather than the higher education system.

Or the single mother of three who has experienced homelessness, getting the job training she desperately needed to build a stable life for her children.  

These are transformational changes. And there are many more.

Expanding Economic Opportunity—REDF

Eric spent 15 years in and out of jail and struggling with substance abuse. He knew he had to make a change. But with his background, Eric was having trouble finding a job.

Then he found Chrysalis, a social enterprise and SIF subgrantee supported by SIF Classic grantee REDF. After participating in their employment training, Eric is now working full time in a social enterprise job.

Social enterprises are driving tangible results for workers and communities alike. An independent evaluator found that workers at REDF-backed social enterprises have seen employment rise from 18 percent to 51 percent and dependence on government support fall from 71 percent to 24 percent.

Improving Youth Development—Reading Partners

Across the United States, nearly 80 percent of all K-5 students from low income families are reading below grade level, putting them at a higher risk of later negative outcomes such as dropping out of high school.  

Through SIF Classic grantee Edna McConnell Clark Foundation, subgrantee Reading Partners works with under-resourced schools and pairs community volunteers with students who are struggling to read. The volunteers work one-on-one with these students, using an established curriculum aligned with state standards.

At one Washington, D.C. site, a rigorous training program and close integration with the school has had transformative results. By spring 2015, 68 percent of students read on grade level, compared with only 37 percent at the start of the school year.

Promoting Healthy Futures—Corporation for Supportive Housing

Lacking stable access to housing and preventative health care services, many individuals experiencing long-term homelessness turn to high-cost emergency and crisis health services.

Carol was one such individual experiencing housing instability that affected her ability to receive stable, adequate care for her medical issues. With the assistance of SIF grantee Corporation for Supportive Housing (CSH) and their subgrantee AIDS CT, Carol was able to obtain an apartment. With a place to call home, Carol now has the stability to focus on other important areas of her life.

By bridging the gap between systems of care, organizations like CSH are changing lives: 91 percent of participants in CSH-funded supportive housing initiatives have located stable housing, and 85 percent are currently connected to a primary health care provider.

It’s worth noting that CSH was awarded a 2014 SIF Pay for Success grant to continue to create and evaluate innovative ways to finance high-quality, effective supportive housing interventions. This will help strengthen the supportive housing creation pipeline for state and local governments and service providers.  

Through the SIF’s unique grant programs, we are helping communities thrive. The full  Using Evidence to Scale What Works: 2015 State of the SIF report, featuring profiles of all grantees, can be found at www.nationalservice.gov/stateofthesif.