Social Innovation Forum
2020 Social Innovators, at their Orientation meeting in November 2019
The Social Innovation Forum (SIF) is excited to announce the selection of eight nonprofit organizations for the 2020 Social Innovator cohort. Through the accelerator program, these organizations will receive capacity-building support valued at $150,000 to help them gain visibility, expand their networks, and strengthen their impact.
Each year SIF works with a group of funding partners to define social issue topic areas or "tracks" for that year's nonprofit accelerator program, and after a six-month evaluation process, one Social Innovator is chosen on each track. The selection for 2020 tracks had an interesting outcome. We originally launched with seven tracks. Towards the end of the evaluation process, the JAKET Foundation, the funding partner on the arts track, announced that they would support two organizations: Elevated Thought and OrigiNation Cultural Arts Center. For the JAKET Foundation, seeing these programs in action was enough for them to say, "yes!"
“We are honored to continue this work with another set of amazing local nonprofit organizations,” said SIF Executive Director Susan Musinsky. “These organizations are working hard to address complex social issues in our communities and we are excited to draw on support from many of those the SIF community to help them accelerate their work and grow their impact."
Lead Sponsors: The Barr Foundation, The Boston Foundation, The Charlotte Foundation, and The Devonshire Foundation
Adaptive Sports New England
Supporting and Advancing Health of People with Disabilities, Their Families, and Caregivers
Track Partner: Edith M. Ashley Fund at the Boston Foundation
Boston HERC (Higher Education Resource Center)
Strengthening Financial Health Through Building and Increasing Social Capital
Track Partner: MassMutual Foundation
Elevated Thought
Advancing Arts Engagement
Track Partner: JAKET Foundation
OrigiNation Cultural Arts Center
Advancing Arts Engagement
Track Partner: JAKET Foundation
PAARI (Police Assisted Addiction & Recovery Initiative)
Addressing the Opioid Epidemic
Track Partner: Boston Open Impact
The 1647, Inc.
Promoting Teacher and Educator Training Opportunities for Effective and Innovative Approaches
Track Partner: Wellington Management Foundation
Vital Village Network
Nurturing the Whole Health of Children, Families, and Communities
Track Partner: Inspire Boston Funder Collaborative
WHALE (Waterfront Historic Area League)
Revitalizing New Bedford Through Community-based Efforts
Track Partner: Schrafft Charitable Trust
The 2020 Social Innovators were announced at the Social Innovation Forum's annual Winter Reception event, held on December 6 at the Microsoft NERD Center in Cambridge. The new cohort of Social Innovators will start their work with with SIF next week at an orientaiton, where they will meet their consultants and begin the intensive first six months of the Social Innovator Accelerator program.