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Social Innovation Fund

2014 Notice of Funding Availability

*Outreach Toolkit*
Update-3.10.14

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Table of Contents

What is the Social Innovation Fund (SIF)? 2

Sample Newsletter/ Blog Post 4

Sample Tweets 6

Technical Assistance Webinars Schedule 7

Helpful Links 8

External Reviewer Fact Sheet 9

Fact sheets, Images and Videos 10
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What is the Social Innovation Fund (SIF)?

“Instead of wasting taxpayer money on programs that are obsolete or ineffective, government should be seeking 

out creative, results-oriented programs ... and helping them replicate their efforts across America.” – President 

Obama (June 30, 2009).

The Social Innovation Fund (SIF), a key White House initiative and program of the Corporation for National 

and Community Service (CNCS), combines public and private resources to grow the impact of innovative, 

community-based solutions that have compelling evidence of improving the lives of people in low-income 

communities throughout the United States. The SIF invests in three priority areas: economic opportunity, 

healthy futures, and youth development.

The SIF makes grants to experienced grantmaking “intermediaries” that are well-positioned within 

communities to identify the most promising programs and guide them towards greater impact and stronger 

evidence of success. These grants range from $1-$10 million annually for three to five years. The 

intermediaries then match the federal funds dollar-for-dollar and hold open competitions to identify highperforming nonprofit organizations working in low-income communities that have innovative solutions with 

evidence of compelling results. Once selected, these nonprofits must also match the funds they receive, and 

participate in rigorous evaluations of the impact of their programs. The nonprofits share data, lessons learned 

and results – helping to build the capacity of the social sector and lift-up solutions that can transform lives and 

communities. 

In addition to funding, Social Innovation Fund grantees receive significant technical assistance to support 

implementation of their innovative programs. Participation in the Social Innovation Fund gives grantmakers 

greater visibility and plugs them into a national network of funders and nonprofits that are committed to 

fostering social innovation to improve lives in low-income communities throughout the U.S.

In just three years the Social Innovation Fund (SIF) and our private-sector partners have invested more than a 

half a billion dollars in compelling community solutions. Three years into the program, the SIF portfolio 

represents a $177.6 million investment in 20 intermediary grantees and 221 participating nonprofits working in 

37 states and the District of Columbia. This modest federal investment is expected to leverage more than $423 

million in non-federal match commitments. SIF programs have received funding commitments from at least 168 

non-federal organizations to date, and as models develop and demonstrate results, we anticipate that this set of 

effective solutions will attract a diverse array of funders seeking results.

The Corporation for National and Community Service is a federal agency that engages more than five million 

Americans in service and champions community solutions through its AmeriCorps, Senior Corps, Social 

Innovation Fund, and Volunteer Generation Fund programs, and leads the President's national call to service 

initiative, United We Serve. For more information, visit NationalService.gov.
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Sample Newsletter or Blog Post Text

Subject: $65.8 Million in Grants Available from the Social Innovation Fund

SHORT

The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) just announced a Notice of Funding Availability 

(NOFA) of up to $65.8 million for the Social Innovation Fund’s (SIF) 2014 grant competition. This is the largest 

grant pool in the history of the program, a key White House initiative launched in 2009. SIF accepts applications 

from foundations and other grantmakers seeking to grow innovative, effective solutions in low-income 

communities in the U.S. Successful applicants will receive grants of between $1 and $10 million per year for 3 to 

5 years. Grants will be matched dollar for dollar by the grantmakers, who conduct their own open competitions 

to select innovative, effective nonprofits focused on youth development, healthy futures and economic 

opportunity. Funding prioritiesinclude Opportunity Youth, Vulnerable Populations and Collective Impact. The 

deadline for application submission is 5:00 p.m. EST on Tuesday, April 22, 2014. Learn more and apply at: 

www.nationalservice.gov/sif

DETAILED

The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) just released a Notice of Funding Availability 

(NOFA) of up to $65.8 million for the Social Innovation Fund’s (SIF) 2014 grant competition. This is the largest 

grant pool in the history of the program, a key White House initiative launched in 2009.

The deadline for applications is 5:00 p.m. EST on Tuesday, April 22, 2014. Successful applicants will receive 

grants between $1 and $10 million per year for three to five years. Grants will be matched dollar for dollar by 

the grantmakers, who conduct their own open competitions to select innovative, effective nonprofits focused 

on youth development, healthy futures and economic opportunity

The Social Innovation Fund unites public and private resources to evaluate and grow innovative communitybased solutions with evidence of results. In just three years, the SIF and its private-sector partners have 

invested more than a half a billion dollars in compelling community solutions as a result of $177.6 million in 

federal grants and more than $423 million in non-federal match commitments. SIF has invested in 20 

intermediaries and 217 nonprofits working in 37 states and the District of Columbia. To date, the SIF has worked 

with nonprofits and grantees to develop 72 strong, rigorous evaluation models. 

The 2014 competition prioritizes applications with strong plans to support opportunity youth (those ages 14 to 

24 disconnected from school or work), and other particularly vulnerable populations. The competition will also 

prioritize applicants that plan to leverage the collective impact approach where local business, government and 

nonprofits work together to identify common challenges and effective solutions and then take action together. 

Social Innovation Fund grantees receive significant technical assistance from CNCS to support implementation 

and evaluation of their programs. Participation in the Social Innovation Fund gives grantmakers greater access to 
Update-3.10.14

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a national network of funders and nonprofits that are committed to investing in results-oriented solutions that 

improve lives in low-income communities.

We, <insert org name> believe the Social Innovation Fund is important to the sector and to our network 

because <insert personalized statement>. We encourage you to review this opportunity and share it with 

others who you think may be interested. 

Consult the SIF website to read or download a copy of the NOFA, which provides complete information about 

this grant competition and instructions on how to apply. The website also contains information on other 

resources CNCS will make available to potential applicants, including technical assistance calls, webinars and 

access to proposals and application executive summaries from previous competitions.
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Sample Tweets 

Up to $65.8M in grants available from the #SIFund to grow community solutions. Apply by April 22. Please RT. 

http://ow.ly/u1kxO

New $65.8M #SIFund competition prioritizes opportunity youth & collective impact. Apply by 4/22. 

http://ow.ly/u1kxO

The #SIFund $65.8M grant competition seeks Innovation, Opportunity & Impact. Got some to spare? Apply by 4/22. 

http://ow.ly/u1kxO

 

Don’t see your organization on the #SIFund map? http://go.usa.gov/B6qz APPLY TODAY! $65.8M in grants. 

http://ow.ly/u1kxO

#SIFund needs external grant reviewers. Do you have what it takes? Get more info and apply. http://ow.ly/tUJrK 

Please RT

Interested in the #SIFund and its grant competition? Watch these video to learn what it’s about. 

http://go.usa.gov/B6a5

Considering applying for the #SIFund? Check out past successful applications. http://ow.ly/tUJzw
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Social Innovation Fund 2014 Grant Competition

Technical Assistance Webinar Schedule

Please encourage your members to register in advance: 

DATE TOPIC/GROUP CALL & LOG-IN INFO

Monday 

March 3 

3:30 PM ET

Overview of 

NOFA

Call-in Number: 1-877-668-4490

Participant passcode: 629 650 681

Webinar Link: Click here to register

Monday, 

March 10 

3:30 PM ET

Overview of 

NOFA

Call-in Number: 1-877-668-4490

Participant passcode: 628 684 047

Webinar Link: Click here to register

Friday, 

March 14 

2:30 – 3:30 

PM ET

Evidence and 

Evaluation

Call-in Number: 1-877-668-4490

Participant passcode: 622 374 039

Webinar Link: Click here to register

Monday, 

March 24 

3:30 PM ET

Question & 

Answer Session

Call-in Number: 1-877-668-4490

Participant passcode: 621 606 631

Webinar Link: Click here to register

Tuesday, 

March 25 

1:00 PM ET

Overview of 

NOFA hosted by 

GEO and Council 

on Foundations

Call-in Number: 1-877-668-4490

Participant passcode: 621 838 115

Webinar Link: Click here to register
Update-3.10.14

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Helpful Links

The following are useful links that can be used to direct parties to general information about the Social Innovation 

Fund, as well as NOFA application resources.

About SIF

http://www.nationalservice.gov/programs/social-innovation-fund/about-sif

Blog post announcing the competition:

Social Innovation Fund Launches New Grant Competition: Opportunity. Innovation. Impact.

Sign Up for SIF Updates, including Funding Opportunities

https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/USCNCS/subscriber/new?topic_id=USCNCS_35

2014 Notice of Funding Availability Announcement and Application Instructions

http://www.nationalservice.gov/for_organizations/funding/nofa.asp

Previous Successful Applicants 

http://www.nationalservice.gov/programs/social-innovation-fund/funded-organizations

Call for External Reviewers 

http://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USCNCS/bulletins/a4fb2d

Interactive Map of Current SIF Programs

http://www.nationalservice.gov/programs/social-innovation-fund/social-innovation-fund-map

Technical Assistance and Training Schedule

http://www.nationalservice.gov/for_organizations/funding/nofa.asp

2010-2012 SIF Investment Report

http://www.nationalservice.gov/sites/default/files/documents/sif_investment_report2013_0.pdf
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Call for External Reviewers Fact Sheet

Please feel free to use the following text to advertise for reviewers for our 2014 NOFA application. 

The Corporation for National and Community Service is seeking expert reviewers for 

its 2014 Social Innovation Fund (SIF) grant competition. 

WHAT: The SIF, a key White House initiative, awards grants to and works with grantmaking institutions that in 

turn direct resources to nonprofit organizations to validate and grow innovative, promising approaches to 

challenges facing local communities in three priority issue areas: 

 Youth Development –Preparing America’s youth for success in school, active citizenship, productive 

work, and healthy and safe lives; 

 Economic Opportunity –Increasing economic opportunities for economically disadvantaged individuals; 

and 

 Healthy Futures – Promoting healthy lifestyles and reducing the risk factors that can lead to illness. 

WHO: The SIF seeks program reviewers with expertise in social innovation, philanthropy, evidence -based 

solutions, scaling, collective impact, opportunity youth, healthy futures, economic opportunity or youth 

development; and evaluation reviewers with expertise in the range of research designs from randomized control 

trials to pre/post-test designs 

WHEN: The review will take place Early to Mid-May. Potential Reviewers should indicate their interest in 

reviewing by reading documents found on the SIF webpage listed below. Please respond by March 17, 2014: 

 Reviewer Recruitment Notice describes the reviewer experience and qualifications we are looking for; 

and 

 Notice of Interest provides the instructions for submitting your application to be a reviewer. 

WHY: To apply your experience and expertise to assessing applications for this innovative federal government 

approach to addressing compelling national and community needs. 

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Read the Reviewer Recruitment Notification and send in the materials identified in 

the Notification of Interest form that can be found here: http://www.nationalservice.gov/programs/socialinnovation-fund/get-involved
Update-3.10.14

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Fact Sheets, Images and Videos

 SIF General Overview Fact Sheet

 2014 NOFA Fact Sheet

 Social Innovation Logo (to use with Newsletter/ Blog Post text):

o https://www.dropbox.com/s/ipsmpsw80i2cjih/SIF_Logo_TaglineRGB.png

o https://www.dropbox.com/s/ogaaewqrg2uf3dx/SIF_Logo_TaglineCMYK.png

 SIF Program Photos

 SIF Videos