Social Innovation Forum
Each year the Social Innovation Forum selects a cohort of nonprofit organizations for its Social Innovator Accelerator. The first six months are the most intense of the 24 that groups spend working with SIF. We asked Anita Sharma, Executive Director of PAIR, to share her organization’s experience as a 2018 Social Innovator.
PAIR (the Political Asylum Immigration Representation Project), founded in 1989, provides free legal services to asylum seekers and immigrants detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), assuring justice, hope, and safety to over 1,400 clients a year. The past year has been a remarkable one for PAIR, as we have doubled our staff and budget to meet the surge in clients who turned to us for help. We were also selected by the Social Innovation Forum (SIF) for the 2018 Social Innovator Accelerator and are taking the next steps for organizational growth.
I first learned about SIF in 2015 when I attended an information session about the Accelerator program. It was a time of great change at PAIR. After serving as a staff attorney for 13 years, I became Executive Director in September 2015, stepping into a leadership position with much to learn. I took it to heart when a previous Innovator warned, “Don't do this for the grant money; it's a lot of work. Do it to take your nonprofit to the next level.” I made the difficult decision not to pursue the Accelerator that year, but I promised myself that I would try again when the time was right.
Fast forward to 2017. PAIR applied to Promoting the Successful Advancement and Integration for Immigrants, Refugees, and Asylum Seekers, a Social Issue Track for the 2017-2018 Social Innovator Accelerator, funded by a group of generous donors who are committed to protecting immigrant rights. It was an intense application process; out of a pool of 150 applicants, SIF selected only eight nonprofits for the eight Social Issue Tracks. SIF matched the eight organizations with consultants and provided networking opportunities, strategic support, and leadership development. It was a tremendous opportunity. I was so excited when, in December 2017, SIF announced PAIR as a 2018 Social Innovator.
From the very start of the program, we were assigned a “buddy.” PAIR’s was Veronica Serrato, of Project Citizenship, who was a 2017 Innovator and a generous mentor. A few days after the kick-off, Veronica asked to meet so she could tell me what to expect over the next five months, especially in terms of SIF deliverables. The work to come sounded overwhelming, creating (1) a graphic model that represented PAIR’s mission and client success; (2) a prospectus for potential investors; (3) a 5-minute pitch that described PAIR’s social impact and the need to expand; and (4) and a powerful visual presentation of our story that accompanied the pitch. The culmination of all our work would be the Social Innovator Showcase, where I would deliver our pitch to a room of potential supporters. I was so nervous at the idea of presenting in front of hundreds of investors. Veronica urged me to trust in myself and my history with PAIR, but to put all my energy into the process so that we could reap the maximum benefits for organizational growth.
I am fortunate to have been matched with incredible consultants, Alissa Farber, Julie Pierce, and Liz Callahan, whose job it was to help me develop my pitch and to tell PAIR’s story in a powerful and authentic way so that those outside the legal community could connect. My consultants helped me communicate PAIR’s mission, our client story, impact, and our vision for the future. Together, we created materials designed to engage potential supporters in PAIR’s future. In early April 2018, PAIR held its Social Issue Talk and examined the current challenges immigrants face when navigating the complex immigration system. PAIR was able to highlight ways it assures access to justice for asylum seekers and immigrants detained by ICE. I was amazed by how many kind emails and words of encouragement I received after the event.
In these past five months, I completely embraced the SIF process. Being a Social Innovator has had a profound impact on me. It has helped me build my confidence, given me insight on how to connect on a deeper level with my audience, and taught me how to “lead with presence.” I have reached out to every consultant the SIF team recommended to help me analyze PAIR’s financial strength, impact in the community, and what it would take to scale our work. I have spent hours, almost daily, working and perfecting PAIR’s pitch, prospectus, and PowerPoint deck. By the time of the May 14 Showcase, I felt so proud of PAIR’s presentation. With the guidance of the fabulous SIF staff, especially Tanya Inwald and Sarah Dingee, Susan Musinsky, and my SIF consultants, I had a powerful narrative to describe PAIR’s work and why our programs are vital, especially today. I have learned so much from my SIF mentors.
The SIF experience for me and for all at PAIR has been transformative. It has been an intense year of training, building leadership skills, close mentoring, and connecting with fellow innovators, all with the utmost support of SIF. SIF helped introduce PAIR to new funders and supporters who are eager to learn about our work and the challenges we face to ensure access to justice for immigrants across Massachusetts.
PAIR has always had the potential to expand—but now, more than ever, it is critical that we do. SIF’s Social Innovator Accelerator provided a network to make this growth possible and sustainable. PAIR is fortunate to be a 2018 Social Innovator!