By Hanh Le, Exponent Philanthropy

Last month, the Social Innovation Fund (SIF) announced $33.7 million in grant investments to seven organizations that address youth development, economic opportunity, and healthy futures through innovative, evidence-based approaches.

What Is SIF? SIF is a White House initiative and program of the Corporation for National and Community Service that aims to demonstrate a “new way that government programs can operate.”

SIF cornerstones include:

• Bringing together public and private resources
• Focusing on solutions
• Requiring evidence of results
• Sharing successful ideas with more people

SIF Director Michael Smith will keynote Exponent Philanthropy’s 2014 National Conference

“Five years ago,” said SIF Director Michael Smith in a press release announcing SIF’s recent grantees, “the Social Innovation Fund was created to find solutions that work, and make them work for more people – signaling a shift in the way the government and philanthropy invest in community solutions. Five years later, we’ve become a national solutions accelerator and amplifier, investing hundreds of millions of dollars, along with our private sector partners to prove, improve and scale solutions that work.”

Who did SIF support in 2014? Two of its seven grantees, The Boston Foundation and Silicon Valley Foundation, are community foundations – a first for SIF. And all seven grantees will be using a collective impact model.

See the full list of grantees

As the opening keynote speaker at Exponent Philanthropy’s 2014 National Conference, Michael Smith will share more about investing in nonprofits with impact, the value of fearlessness, and the need for urgency in philanthropy.

Join us at the 2014 National Conference in Washington, DC, October 30 – November 1 to hear from Michael Smith—as well as many other equally provocative speakers—and equip yourself to tackle some of society’s most pressing issues.

Additional posts about the 2014 National Conference

Learn With Peers at the 2014 National Conference
What Does It Take to Rebuild a Neighborhood? 2014 National Conference Site Sessions
Tackling More Than You Think You Can

Chief Program Officer Hanh Le leads our Programs and Services Team in guiding, connecting, championing, and elevating philanthropy with few or no staff. She has directed training, grant, and technical assistance programs for KaBOOM!, Community Technology Centers’ Network, and Peace Corps. Passionate about collaborative impact and community, Hanh helped launch the DC-area’s first Asian American giving circle, the Cherry Blossom Giving Circle. Follow Hanh on Twitter @HanhLeDC and Exponent Philanthropy @exponentphil.