Social Innovation Forum
The 2016 Social Innovator cohort
The Social Innovation Forum (SIF) is excited to announce the selection of eight nonprofits for our 2016 Social Innovator cohort. The group consists of organizations working for social change across eight distinct issue areas, also know as "tracks", in greater Boston and beyond.
Over the next two years, the Social Innovators will receive financial and capacity-building support valued at more than $135,000 to help them gain visibility, expand their networks, and strengthen their impact.
"These organizations represent the most innovative and promising solutions to our community's most challenging social issues," said Social Innovation Forum Executive Director Susan Musinsky. "We are thrilled to welcome them into the Social Innovator Accelerator and look forward to supporting them as they grow their impact."
2016 Social Innovators
Lead Sponsors: The Margaret Stewart Lindsay Foundation & Fiduciary Trust Company
African Community Education Program
Youth Development: Revitalizing Cities Beyond Boston
Track Sponsor: Amelia Peabody Foundation
Budget Buddies
Overcoming Barriers to Education, Employment, and Economic Self-Sufficiency for Women and Girls
Track Sponsor: A Women & Girls Funding Collaborative*
Cambodian Mutual Assistance Association of Greater Lowell
Revitalizing the City of Lowell through Community Leadership, Economic Opportunities, and Cultural Enrichment
Track Sponsor: Theodore Edson Parker Foundation and Greater Lowell Community Foundation
Dorchester Community Food Co-op
Addressing Food Insecurity by Increasing Access to Healthy and Affordable Food
Track Sponsor: Cabot Family Charitable Trust
Hale Reservation
Utilizing Open Spaces and Natural Resources for Public Benefit
Track Sponsor: Highland Street Foundation
Louis D. Brown Peace Institute
Anything Goes: Innovative, Effective, and Sustainable Approaches to Our Region’s Toughest Social Issues
Track Sponsor: Boston Open Impact**
Massachusetts Coalition for Occupational Safety & Health
Engaging, Educating, and Empowering Citizens in the Political Process
Track Sponsor: Bess Family Foundation
SMART Team
Mental Health: Increasing Quality Care through Community-Based and Wraparound Services for Vulnerable Populations
Track Sponsor: The Fish Family Foundation
Evaluation and interview committees made up of more than 90 social issue experts from the business, government, nonprofit, and philanthropic sectors spent six months reviewing over 170 applicants and interviewing finalists to select the 2016 Innovator cohort. We officially welcomed the new organizations into the SIF community at our 12th Annual Winter Reception held on Wednesday, December 9 at the Microsoft NERD Center.
Learn more about the 2016 Social Innovators and the social issues they are addressing during SIF's annual March Social Issue Talk series, which offers attendees the opportunity to learn more about these social issues from the Innovators and expert guest speakers. Also, save the date for SIF’s 13th Annual Social Innovator Showcase on May 18, 2016, where each of our eight Innovators will deliver a five-minute pitch about their organization's work.
*A Women and Girls Funding Collaborative: The Anna B. Stearns Foundation, The Miriam Fund, The Story Exchange, United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley, and Womenade Boston
** Boston Open Impact: Jeffrey and Kim Kushner, Andrew and Suzanne Offit, Robert and Amy Rands, Steven and Ellen Segal, Howard and Candice Wolk