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Applicant Information Session

Agenda

• Overview

• Our Accelerator

• Selection Process

• Our Innovators

• Frequently Asked Questions

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OVERVIEW

The mission of the Social Innovation Forum is to create

positive social change in greater Boston. We engageleaders, strengthen organizations, and buildnetworks.

The Social Innovation Forumbuilds networks that create social change

Our Investor & Supporter Community

2,672Funders, Business Leaders,

Philanthropists

1,845Attendees at

46 Events

120Funders

$360,000Value of

In-Kind Partner Services

238High Level Volunteer

Roles

SIF Programs

• Condensed version of the

Social Innovator Accelerator

• Piloted in 2016

• 6 – 8 participant orgs

• 10 weeks

Social Innovator Accelerator

SIF Capacity Camp

• 82 portfolio organizations

• 14th year

• 135 applicants 7 orgs

• 24 month program

Margaret

Stewart

Lindsay

Foundation

The Fish Family

Foundation

Many Individual Angel and Family Funders

Our Key Funders In-kind Partners

250,000+ lives impacted in 2016

Over $28 Million

Cash and In-kind services to

portfolio groups

2xInnovator

revenue growth in 4 years

82 Nonprofits

24 For-profit

Businesses

Investment in 50%

of our social impact businesses

Our impact

SOCIAL INNOVATOR ACCELERATORBUILDING COMMUNITY AND CAPACITY TO CREATE SOCIAL CHANGE

Program GoalsSIF’s Accelerator is designed to help selected Innovators move their work to the next level.

• Better understand your position in the social impact market

• Better articulate the uniqueness and effectiveness of your social impact models

• Scale up your marketing and communications efforts

• Build a relationship map to focus your networking and development efforts

• Develop and track a set of measureable outcomes, leading to increased program performance and social impact

• Attract new funders, advisors, and other supporters

Process

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Select Engage Showcase Measure Support

Benefits to Social InnovatorsAccess to cash and benefits valued at more than $150,000:• Five months of one-on-one consulting services

– Enhance your ability to articulate the social problem, your innovative approach, and the overall social impact

– Develop a written investment prospectus and five-minute pitch• Five months of executive coaching • Professional presentation coaching • Networking and relationship-building opportunities• Graphic design services• Support from SIF’s in-kind partners (e.g. legal, graphic design, PR,

technology)• Opportunity to present at the Spring Showcase (350+ attendees)• $10,000 cash upon completion of the Showcase• $2,500 capacity building grant in 2019• Access to the SIF community

E.g. philanthropists, foundation staff, business professionals, government officials, etc.

2017-2018 Social Issue Tracks

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Lead Sponsor: Barr Foundation, The Boston Foundation, the Devonshire Foundation, and the Margaret Stewart Lindsay Foundation

Addressing Homelessness in MassachusettsTrack Partner: Highland Street Foundation

Advancing Education in New BedfordTrack Partner: Schrafft Charitable Trust

Anything Goes: Innovative, Effective, and Sustainable Approaches to Our Region’s Toughest IssuesTrack Partner: Boston Open Impact

Breaking the Cycle of Incarceration Track Partner: Stifler Family Foundation

Establishing Financial Education as a Building Block for SuccessTrack Partner: MassMutual Foundation

Improving Access to Healthy Living Track Partner: Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts

Promoting Successful Advancement and Integration for Immigrants, Refugees, and Asylum-SeekersTrack Partner: Immigrant and Refugee Funder Collaborative

Supporting Accessibility and Opportunities for Young People with DisabilitiesTrack Partner: Liberty Mutual Insurance

Eligibility Guidelines

Are at an inflection

point in their growth and

development

Social Need

Defined

501(c)(3) or…

greater Boston

area

At least one cycle

Budget

Staffing

Have a minimum of 1.5 FTEs

Have an annual operating budget of $100,000–$2 million

Are focused on meeting a specific social issue

Are a registered 501(c)(3) or use a fiscal agent

Are working primarily in the greater Boston area

Have been operating for at least one cycle (usually a year) and have a proven concept

Nonprofit Community

Nomination and

Evaluation Committees

Partners and Sponsors

Selection Timeline

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Jun. 9

Launch

Jul. 12

First round applications due

Week of August 7

Second round invitations issued

Aug. 28

Second round applications due

Oct. 9 –November 3

Final round interviews

Early Dec. Innovators notified

Review Process

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• Social Innovation Forum staff and track partners will review first round applications to ensure that applicants meet our basic eligibility requirements and are a good “fit” for at least one of our social issue tracks.

• A 10- to 15-person evaluation committee composed of funding partners and issue experts will read and score second round applications.

• For each social issue track, we will invite four to six organizations to attend a half-day interview session with a small team of evaluators.

• We will then perform due diligence on our top candidates before finalizing our selections and notifying Innovators in early December.

First vs. Second Round ApplicationsFirst Round: Overview and fit with social issue track• Basic contact and organizational

information

• Social impact model and social need

• Program outputs

• Program outcomes

• List of board members

• Proof of 501(c)(3) status or fiscal agent

• Statement of Agreement

Second Round: More detailed understanding• Long-term vision

• Organizational history, including key accomplishments

• Detailed financial information, including recent financial statements

• Resume(s) of leader(s) who will engage in the Social Innovation Forum

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OUR INNOVATORS

Selected Past Social Innovators

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Frequently Asked Questions

• Do organizations have to be nominated by a member of SIF’s nomination committee? No, you are welcome to nominate yourself.

• May we apply as a program or initiative of a larger organization? Yes

If you apply as a program or initiative of a larger organization, please list the program’s staffing and financial information*

• Can organizations apply to multiple tracks? Yes, but you must submit a separate application tailored to each track*

*Except on “Anything Goes”. See track paragraph for unique requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions (Cont’d)• Do we need to submit a 2017-2018

application if we applied before? Yes

• Who should be the Lead Innovator? The Lead Innovator should be the leader of the organization or program. This person will be expected to attend all Social Innovation Forum sessions and will present at the Social Innovator Showcase on May 14, 2018 on behalf of his/her organization.

• What is the time commitment? The time commitment is 6-8 hours per week from January 2018 to May 2018 and a few hours per month from May 2018 to September 2019.

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APPENDIX

Output vs. Outcome• Outputs are the direct, short-term results of an organization’s activities.

Outputs are often helpful indicators of the size and/or scope of an organizations work. For example:

• Number of participants

• Number of volunteers

• Number of programs offered

• Percentage of participants completing the program

• Average number of program hours per participant

• Outcomes are units of measurement that assess an organization's long-term results, or progress toward addressing its target social problem. For example:

• Percentage of participants demonstrating improved conflict resolution skills

• Percentage of participants who graduate from college

• Percentage of participants employed upon program completion