Social Innovation ForumLearning for Funders in the Accelerator Program
Often, when people think about SIF’s capacity building programs, transformational support for nonprofits comes to mind. However, part of what makes SIF programming so unique is that SIF builds capacity for both nonprofits and funders. In the Accelerator, SIF’s flagship two-year capacity building program, supporters see the Innovators shine at Showcase. Simultaneously, funders have opportunities to learn and refine their philanthropic practices. So what exactly does funder learning in the Accelerator look like?
Funder Learning is woven throughout the Accelerator so that track partners (those who sponsor the issue area track and the selected organization’s participation) have opportunities to reflect and grow along the process.
Some of the key touchpoints for track partners throughout the program are as follows:
- Track Partner Orientation
The track partner and SIF team review our role in disrupting inequitable funding practices. - Application Review
The track partners read and evaluate all the applications from small to mid-sized community-led nonprofits. Many track partners are excited to learn about organizations through the review process that are working in an issue area that they care deeply about. - Evaluation Session
SIF hosts an evaluation session for each track, which brings the track partners, issue area experts (leaders throughout the sector who are proximate to the issue through both learned and lived experience), and SIF team members into one energizing room in which they discuss the applicants in order to collectively decide on the finalists. The evaluation session is part of what makes being a track partner so worthwhile, as former track partners see this learning experience as SIF’s unique value-add. - Site Visits
The track partner and SIF team conduct site visits for the finalist organizations. SIF shares site visit recommendations for the track partners on how to approach the experience. Additionally, SIF strives to embrace best practices such as compensating organizations for their time (each Accelerator finalist receives $2,500 and a membership to SIF’s Alumni & Nonprofit Network Program for ongoing capacity building). - Showcase
Six months after the Innovators are selected, they present their solutions to our region's most challenging social issues with the goal of engaging the funding community to achieve greater impact. The Social Innovator Showcase serves as a point of connection between SIF’s community of supporters and the current cohort of Innovators. Attendees learn about the issue areas of the Innovators, hear about innovative solutions, and leave with actionable next steps to deepen their support. - Additional Events
Track partners build their relationships with the Innovators through additional SIF-hosted events such as Lunch & Learn, where funders learn about the Innovators and their organizations in more depth. Finally, the track partners join the Innovators when they graduate from the two-year capacity building program to celebrate their achievement!
Spotlight on the Evaluation Session
SIF’s evaluation sessions are known for being content-rich learning experiences for funders in their issue area. Funders appreciate the condensed learning opportunity in which issue area experts, funders, and SIF staff ask thoughtful questions as they consider the Accelerator applications for each track. Each evaluation session team evaluates the applicant organizations against the track criteria by sharing their perspectives and listening deeply to one another. Funders are grateful for the issue area experts (academics, government officials, other nonprofit leaders including past Innovators) who can provide their on-the-ground knowledge.
Evaluators determine which organizations will become the finalists, so the key differences and strengths of the organizations feel particularly salient. With a diverse team putting energy and attention to a decision that matters, funders are able to learn the benefits of bringing in many perspectives to inform decision making.
Key Takeaways
The Accelerator program offers a deep funder learning experience to track partners. Through evaluations and conversations with former track partners, three main takeaways emerged about what funders learn in the Accelerator:
- Funders learn about their selected issue area deeply through conversations with the SIF staff, issue area experts, nonprofit leaders, and other stakeholders.
- Funders deepen their familiarity of nonprofits working in a specific issue area through reviewing the market scan (a list SIF provides of community-led nonprofits working in this issue area in Eastern MA), reading applications, and going on site visits, which can result in funding to nonprofits even if they are not selected.
- The evaluation session opens funders’ eyes to new ideas on an issue they care about and encourages them to consider different perspectives.
Explore funding opportunities to support the Accelerator program, so you too can join us in the learning!
About the Author:
Carina Traub is the Funder Learning Manager at Social Innovation Forum, where she plans programming for funders. She has a deep appreciation for equitable partnerships and is eager to shift power dynamics together.