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Root Cause’s Social Innovation Forum is accepting applications for its 2011 cycle now through Thursday, August 5th, 2010. The Social Innovation Forum provides a unique opportunity for innovative nonprofit organizations to gain visibility, expand their networks, and build capacity. This year, the Social Innovation Forum has once again partnered with leading local funders to feature organizations in five social issue tracks. Through this five-track framework, we aim to identify true Social Innovators, nonprofits that are generating effective, enduring solutions to social problems that impact communities in greater Boston.
We will select one Social Innovator for each of our social issue tracks. The chosen Social Innovators will present their social impact models to leaders from Boston’s public, private, and nonprofit sectors at the Social Innovation Forum’s Showcase event on Thursday, May 5th, 2011. In addition, each Social Innovator will receive:
In addition to receiving recognition as leaders in their fields, the Social Innovators will have the opportunity to participate in various networking events and become part of the Social Innovation Forum’s growing circle of nonprofit, business, government and foundation leaders.
Special thanks to this year's lead sponsoring partners: The Margaret S. Lindsay Foundation and Fiduciary Trust Company.
|
Social Issue Track |
Sponsoring Partner |
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Early Childhood Development: Giving Children and Families the Best Possible Start |
Cabot Family Charitable Trust |
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Educational and Employment Opportunities for Vulnerable 14- to 21-Year Olds |
Amelia Peabody Foundation and Anonymous |
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Financial Capability: Enabling Economic Empowerment |
Highland Street Foundation |
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Healthy Aging: Pathways to Lifelong Wellness |
Tufts Health Plan Foundation |
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Youth Academic Success: Supporting At-Risk Students in Grades K-8 |
John W. Alden Trust and Frank Reed & Margaret Jane Peters Memorial Fund I |
To access our first-round application, a program or organization must first nominate itself or have been nominated by a member of the Nominating Committee via our online nomination form. Once nominated, the program or organization leader will receive an email with this Applicant’s Guide and a link to the application. First-round applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until Thursday, August 5th at 5 PM. Early submissions are encouraged.
After reviewing all the first-round applications, we will invite a select number of organizations to submit additional application materials. These invitations will be sent out on in late August. The second-round application materials will be due on Wednesday, September 14th.
Over the past seven years, the Social Innovation Forum has received over 450 applications, and recognized 39 Social Innovators. In addition, our Social Impact Investment Community has grown to over 4,500 members. In total, our seven classes of Social Innovators have received more than $6 million in cash and in-kind services thanks to their involvement with the Social Innovation Forum.
For more information about the Social Innovation Forum and our application process, please see the Frequently Asked Questions (below).
Early Childhood Development: Giving Children and Families the Best Possible Start
Sponsoring Partner: Cabot Family Charitable Trust
A child’s development of cognitive skills, emotional well-being, social competence, and sound physical health from birth to age five is crucial to building a strong foundation for success in adulthood. Yet many young children spend their critical first years struggling to overcome poverty, hunger, homelessness, family stress, and other factors that put them at a disadvantage even before they enter kindergarten. In Massachusetts, nearly 130,000 young children live in poverty or in low-income families, over seven thousand are homeless, 8,700 experience food insecurity, and still more lack dependable and nurturing relationships with the adults in their lives. The challenges these children face put their lifelong health and well-being at risk. For example, research indicates that even mild undernutrition experienced by young children during critical periods of growth impacts their behavior and their overall cognitive development. Despite the factors that can impede the healthy development of young children, a variety of intervention strategies have proven effective in providing children with a better chance for a healthy start. These interventions range from parenting support and skills training to providing access to basic services and health care. For this track, the Social Innovation Forum seeks organizations that have demonstrated innovative approaches to meeting the needs of children, helping to ensure their positive early development and their physical, social, and emotional well-being. Organizations could include advocacy programs or direct service programs that provide services such as housing, food and income security, or parent education and support.
Educational and Employment Opportunities for Vulnerable 14- to 21-Year Olds
Sponsoring Partners: Amelia Peabody Foundation and Anonymous
Research has shown that a connection to work or school can help prevent negative outcomes during the transition from adolescence to adulthood. In particular, vulnerable youth who experience risk factors such as unstable families, economic insecurity, unsafe neighborhoods, substance abuse, or gang involvement can improve their chances for success by staying in school or staying employed. Yet, in Massachusetts, a significant percentage of young adults have dropped out of school or are not working and face increased risk for social, emotional, and economic instability. In Boston, more than 1,300 students dropped out of school during the 2008-09 academic year, representing over seven percent of all Boston high school students. In addition, the teen employment rate in Massachusetts has fallen continuously and steeply since 2007, hitting a 35-year low of 29 percent in the fall of 2009. Disengagement from school and work has both individual and societal costs. High school dropouts, for example, are much less likely to secure employment than are high school graduates. Those who do find work earn, on average, less than $25,000 per year. The average dropout will impose, over the course of his/her lifetime, a net fiscal burden of nearly $275,000 on taxpayers as compared to the high school graduate's contribution of $181,500. This represents a net fiscal difference of $456,500 between high school graduates and dropouts. Specialized training and educational opportunities can put disengaged young adults on track to further education or productive employment. There is broad consensus that at-risk young adults are less likely to disengage or will re-engage in their schools and workplaces if provided with career exploration opportunities, internships, and mentoring programs that help them grasp the practical relevance of education and work experience to their future success. For this track, the Social Innovation Forum seeks applicants that provide educational and employment opportunities to young people ages 14 to 21 who are struggling in school, who have dropped out of school, or who have graduated from high school but are not working or earning enough to ensure economic security. We seek to support programs and organizations that emphasize academic success and economic independence, providing services such as targeted dropout and violence prevention, alternative education for dropouts, college and career counseling, job skills training, and job placement.
Financial Capability: Enabling Economic Empowerment
Sponsoring Partner: Highland Street Foundation
Over the past three years, financial distress among Americans has risen sharply. In the steep economic downturn, many saw the value of their homes decline by 20 percent and their retirement savings evaporate by 40 percent within a matter of months. Coupled with record-high debt levels and historically low savings rates, the economic downturn has presented Americans with the most challenging financial outlook since the Great Depression. Unlike the era of the Great Depression, however, individuals today are also faced with a plethora of complex financial decisions and increasingly sophisticated products that can be overwhelming to navigate. Surveys show that Americans, especially youth and older adults, demonstrate low levels of financial capability, meaning that they lack the basic skills and knowledge necessary to make wise financial decisions. The Survey of Consumer Finances (SCF), for example, found that few families conduct more than a moderate amount of research before committing to investment and borrowing services. Furthermore, 56 percent of adults do not have a budget and 31 percent of adults do not know their credit score. The widespread lack of financial capability has contributed to some alarming consequences. From 1981-1999, the number of women filing for bankruptcy increased by 662 percent, and currently 50 percent of Americans have less than one month of savings available for emergencies. The lack of financial capability disproportionately affects minorities. For example, in the United States, the gap in accumulated wealth between whites and African-Americans has quadrupled since 1984. Fortunately, studies show that financial training has a significant positive impact on household savings and financial decision-making. For this track, the Social Innovation Forum seeks a program or organization that increases citizens’ access to financial information, enhances their understanding of financial products and services, or builds their financial planning skills, thus enabling them to gain financial sustainability and build wealth.
Healthy Aging: Pathways to Lifelong Wellness
Sponsoring Partner: Tufts Health Plan Foundation
Over the next 30 years, the population of Americans over age 65 is expected to double. By 2025, older adults will represent close to 20 percent of the Massachusetts' population, up from 14 percent in 2008. This oncoming demographic shift necessitates a paradigm shift as well, focused on continued opportunities for older adults to improve their own wellbeing while enriching our communities. With aging comes a host of new challenges to maintain physical, mental, and emotional health, and to remain active in society through social and civic endeavors. An issue brief presented at The Massachusetts Health Policy Forum and Tufts Health Plan Foundation's conference in December 2009 highlighted the essential components to healthy aging. In order to achieve healthy aging, older adults must: be proactive about their health, be socially engaged, be physically active, feel safe and secure, and have a good diet. Furthermore, communities must support older adults to achieve these goals. For this track, the Social Innovation Forum is seeking programs and organizations in Greater Boston that foster healthy aging for older adults, including opportunities for them to maintain and improve their health and wellbeing through physical activity, healthy eating, and other lifestyle choices. In addition, we seek programs and organizations that support older adults remaining active in our communities through civic, social, and community engagement activities. We are particularly interested in applicants who work with low-income populations and culturally-diverse communities.
Youth Academic Success: Supporting At-Risk Students in Grades K-8
Sponsoring Partners: John W. Alden Trust and Frank Reed & Margaret Jane Peters Memorial Fund I
In the years between kindergarten and eighth grade, or ages five to fourteen, children build a foundation for lifelong learning, as well as develop their study habits, social skills, and sense of self. During this important time when all children require a great deal of academic and emotional support, vulnerable children– those who come from low-income or single-parent households, who live in foster care or unstable housing situations, or who face learning challenges – often do not receive the support they need to succeed. The general result is poor academic performance, which can lower a child’s self-confidence and increase risk for negative life outcomes such as dropping out of school, drug or alcohol abuse, unemployment, criminal behavior, and poverty. However, there is hope; in-school and out-of-school programs are known to help vulnerable children succeed in school and unlock their full potential. Long-term, intensive support programs have been shown to increase students’ chances of avoiding drugs and alcohol, graduating from high school, and attending college or trade school. Youth involved in out-of-school programs, for instance, are half as likely to repeat a grade and 20 percent more likely to graduate from high school than their non-participating peers. Research shows that support programs are especially beneficial to students from low-income households who, due to their economic circumstances, are often tracked into under-resourced, low-expectation educational settings that reinforce the achievement gap. Unfortunately, students who most need support programs are usually the least able to take advantage of them. For example, students who live in unsafe neighborhoods, demonstrate poor performance on standardized tests, or have learning disabilities are all half as likely to participate in support programs as the general student population. For this track, the Social Innovation Forum seeks an in-school, out-of-school, or integrated program that supports children between kindergarten and eighth grade in building the study skills, social skills, and positive self-esteem they need to succeed now and in the future. The most successful applicants will promote one or more of the following: a holistic approach to meeting children’s various developmental needs, mentoring relationships between children and caring adults, a continuum of support, academic success, and students’ active participation in civic activities.
What are the benefits of participating in the Social Innovation Forum?
The Social Innovation Forum is an incredible learning and growth opportunity for innovative nonprofits in greater Boston. The Forum will make a $10,000 grant to each Social Innovator and an additional $5,000 grant the following year upon completion of our key measures process.
In addition, selected Social Innovators will:
Who is eligible to apply?
The 2011 Social Innovation Forum is open to programs or organizations that:
* Note: Organizations with budgets larger than $2 million are welcome to apply, so long as the specific program/initiative presented in the application has a total budget of less than that amount. In this case, the application and metrics presented must pertain to the program, not the larger organization.
What is the application review process?
The application review process begins in August 2010 upon receipt of the first-rounds applications and ends in the first week of December with the announcement of the new Social Innovators.
August: The Social Innovation Forum staff read first-round applications and check that applicants meet our basic eligibility requirements and are a good “fit” for one or more of our social issue tracks. The last week of August, we will issue invitations for a select number of organizations to submit additional documents.
September: Second-round applications are due Tuesday, September 14th.
September-October: A diverse evaluation committee composed of local experts on the target social issue, funding partners, business and government leaders, and academics will read the full application packets. Social Innovation Forum staff will moderate the evaluation committee meeting, and each committee members will write a written report prior to making his/her final judgments.
October-November: For each social issue track, we will invite four to five organizations to attend a half-day interview session with a panel of evaluators. These sessions will take place between Thursday, October 28th and Thursday, November 4th. The Social Innovation Forum will then perform due diligence on each organization under consideration and conduct site visits as needed.
December: The 2011 Social Innovators are announced Friday, December 3rd.
What are you looking for in a Social Innovator?
The Social Innovation Forum is looking to recognize dynamic nonprofit leaders who:
Does my organization have to be recommended by a member of the nominating committee in order to apply?
No. Organizations are welcome to nominate themselves at this link: http://www.socialinnovationforum.org/nomination.html. Please read through the track paragraphs and eligibility requirements closely before self-nominating. Also, note that the online nomination form is not a first-round application. You will receive an email with a link to the application after your nomination has been received.
Is it possible to apply as a program within an organization?
Yes. Any program, initiative, or organization with an operating budget between $100,000 and $2 million may apply. If a program within an organization, the program director as well as the parent organization’s executive director must be committed to participating in Social Innovation Forum meetings and events. We ask that these applicants provide information that pertains to their specific program, not the parent organization, on their applications (budget numbers, performance metrics, etc.). One notable exception to this rule is that programs within larger organizations should list their parent organization’s board members.
If I am applying to more than one track, must I submit more than one application?
Yes. Each track has its own set of evaluators who are experts on that particular social issue. While basic organizational health and history information may be copied and pasted from one application to the next, we ask that multiple-track applicants tailor their answers to some of the more thoughtful paragraph-response questions to demonstrate their “fit” with each of those tracks. The evaluation committee members like to see that applicants have thought about how their organizations address the target social issues and what makes them innovators in those spaces.
What is the application process for those who applied to a previous Social Innovation Forum and were not selected?
The application itself changes from year to year. So that we have consistent information from all applicants, you must complete a 2011 application.
What is the schedule leading up to the Showcase on Thursday, May 5th, 2011?
The first half of the 2011 Social Innovation Forum calendar is outlined below. Those invited to submit a second-round application, will receive a more detailed calendar in late August.
|
Date |
Activity |
|
Monday, June 28th, 2010 |
Nomination process begins |
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Thursday, July 29th, 2010 |
First Round Information Session |
|
Thursday, August 5th, 2010 |
First applications due |
|
Tuesday, August 24th |
Second round invitations issued |
|
Wednesday, September 8th, 2010 |
Second Round Information Session |
|
Tuesday, September 14, 2010 |
Second round applications are due |
|
Thursday, October 28th – Thursday, November 4th, 2010 |
Interview sessions with finalists |
|
Wednesday, December 1st, 2010 |
2011 Social Innovators are announced |
|
Tuesday December 7th, 2010 |
2011 Social Innovators welcomed at an evening reception (save 5:30 PM- 7:30 PM) |
|
January – May 2011 |
Working sessions with Root Cause consultants, volunteer coaches, Monitor, and Ariel |
|
February – March 2011 |
Social Issue Speaker Series at various locations in downtown Boston |
|
Mid-April, 2011 |
Panel Presentations (A one-hour dry run of the Showcase presentations) |
|
Thursday, May 5th, 2011 |
Showcase Event |
What is the time commitment required of Social Innovators?
In order to take advantage of the consulting, coaching, and relationship-building services that the Social Innovation Forum provides, Social Innovators should expect to commit on average five to six hours per week for five-and-a-half months (December 2010 to mid-May 2011). After the Showcase, Innovators will check in quarterly with Social Innovation Forum staff and a Root Cause consultant to review their progress on key measures and continue to work with their executive coaches. Throughout the year, the Innovators will also receive invitations to attend networking events and work with our in-kind partners. From June to December 2011, we ask that the Innovators set aside four to six hours per month for the following measurement activities: a debrief interview with us, an online feedback form about their experience working with us, and quarterly check-ins on key performance indicators.
Are there any fees for participating organizations?
In choosing Social Innovators, we look for leaders who are committed to partnering with us and who will be active participants in all meetings and events. To this end, we ask organizations selected as Social Innovators to make a $1,000 investment in the partnership the week before the Showcase. However, we do not want this fee to prevent an organization from applying, so please communicate with us if the fee will pose a problem.
What is Root Cause?
Root Cause is a nonprofit research and consulting firm and the parent organization of the Social Innovation Forum. We are dedicated to mobilizing the nonprofit, public, and business sectors to work together in a new social impact market. This new kind of market matches resources to innovative and proven approaches for solving social problems while enabling collaboration that helps to spread the best solutions. Root Cause provides leaders from all three sectors with the information and skills they need to participate in this market and make progress on social issues as efficiently and effectively as possible. For more information, please visit www.rootcause.org or email info@rootcause.org.
Who supports the Social Innovation Forum?
2011 Lead Sponsoring Partners
2011 Social Issue Track Partners
Signature In-Kind Partners
Supporting In-Kind Partners
Lead Angel Investors
Angel Investors
Whom Should I Contact with Questions?
If you have any questions about the application process, please do not hesitate to contact our application coordinators at application@socialinnovationforum.org or at (617) 649-1518.
