FY 16 Notice of Funding Availability 

Outreach Toolkit 

Contents 

What is the Social Innovation Fund (SIF)? .......................................................................................................................................... 2

SIF Classic NOFA Outreach Toolkit ..................................................................................................................................................... 2

E-BLASTS ............................................................................................................................................................................................. 3

NEWSLETTERS ................................................................................................................................................................................... 4

TWITTER .............................................................................................................................................................................................. 4

SCHEDULED WEBINAR DATES .................................................................................................................................................... 5
What is the Social Innovation Fund (SIF)? 

The Social Innovation Fund (SIF), a 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 Social Innovation Fund makes grants to experienced grant-making institutions 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 five years. The recipients then match the federal funds dollarfor-dollar and hold open competitions to identify high-performing 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 recipients receive significant technical assistance to support 

implementation of their innovative programs. Participation in SIF gives recipients greater visibility and plugs them into 

a national network of funders and nonprofits that are committed to fostering social innovation to improve lives in lowincome communities throughout the U.S. 

In just five years, the Social Innovation Fund and its private-sector partners have invested more than a half a billion 

dollars in compelling community solutions. The Social Innovation Fund portfolio represents $295 million in federal grants 

and nearly $583 million in non-federal match commitments. To date, the SIF has made 43 grant awards which have 

supported 353 nonprofits working in 40 states and the District of Columbia. 

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. 

SIF Classic NOFA Outreach Toolkit 

The Social Innovation Fund is going into its sixth grant-making year and we need YOUR help spreading the word about 

our upcoming grant competition! The 2016 SIF Classic grant competition opens on March 18, 2016 and closes on May

10, 2016. We hope this outreach toolkit filled with tools and resources will help your organization easily share our grant 

competition with your individual networks. Should you have any questions, comments or concerns, please contact us at 

innovation@cns.gov or tweet us at @SIFund using the #SIFund hashtag! 

Here are some ways to help spread the word about our 2016 grant competition: 
E-BLASTS 

Subject: 2016 SIF Classic Grant Competition Now Open: APPLY NOW! 

The Social Innovation Fund's fifth funding competition is now open! During the 2016 fiscal year, the Social Innovation 

Fund will invest up to $39 million in experienced grant-making organizations 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 five years. The competition targets projects focused on Youth 

Development, Economic Opportunity and Healthy Futures. 

The Notice of Intent deadline is April 15, 2016 and the Application deadline is May, 10, 2016 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. 

In just five years, the Social Innovation Fund and our private-sector partners have invested more than a half a billion 

dollars in compelling community solutions. We, <insert org name> believe the Social Innovation Fund Grant Competition 

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. 

The Social Innovation Fund has provided an Outreach Toolkit for organizations to use that includes the SIF Classic fact 

sheet, sample newsletter text, sample tweets, links to useful websites, and webinar schedules. You can use the kit to... 

 Promote the SIF competition to your affiliates via your organization’s newsletter or e-blast.

 Encourage qualified members of your network to apply.

 Tweet about the competition.

 Consider posting the funding opportunity on your organization’s website during the duration of the competition.

 Encourage your network to participate in the SIF NOFA Webinars.

Please visit our NOFA webpage for additional information about this grant competition and instructions on how to 

apply. 

Sincerely, 

Damian Thorman 

Director, Social Innovation Fund 
NEWSLETTERS 

Subject: Up to $39 Million in Grants Available from the Social Innovation Fund 

The Social Innovation Fund's sixth funding competition is now open! During the 2016 fiscal year, the Social Innovation 

Fund will invest up to $39 million to grow community solutions. 

The Social Innovation Fund (SIF) combines public and private resources to grow the impact of innovative, communitybased solutions that have compelling evidence of improving the lives of people in low-income communities throughout 

the United States. 

The Notice of Intent deadline is April 15, 2016 and the Application deadline is May 10, 2016 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. 

To read or download a copy of the Notice, please visit nationalservice.gov/SIF, which provides additional information 

about this grant competition and instructions on how to apply. Also, be sure to check out the Outreach Toolkit for 

resources and sample messaging on spreading the word about SIF’s grant competition. The toolkit includes the SIF 

Classic fact sheet, sample newsletter text, sample tweets, links to useful websites, and webinar schedules. 

TWITTER 

Here are some sample tweets your organization can use to share our grant competition via Twitter: 

The @SIFund 2016 #grant competition is now live! Learn how to apply here: http://go.usa.gov/c7YUd

NEW: Notice of #Funding Availability from the @SIFund! Learn how to apply here: http://go.usa.gov/c7YUd

Will you help spread the word? @SIFund 2016 grant competition is now live! Learn how to apply here: 

http://go.usa.gov/c7YUd

Looking for info on @SIFund 2016 grant competition? Here are the details: http://go.usa.gov/c7YUd

Calling all #nonprofits #funders #grantmakers! @SIFund 2016 NOFA is now live! Learn how to apply: 

http://go.usa.gov/c7YUd

Learn more about how to apply for @SIFund 2016 grant competition here: http://go.usa.gov/c7YUd

APPLY NOW to @SIFund 2016 #grant competition! Up to $39M available – Deadline: 5/10@ 5pm EST 

Help your organization and community by applying to @SIFund #grant competition! Deadline: XX @ 5pm EST 

Up to $39M in #grants available from the @SIFund to grow community solutions. Apply by May 10! 

The @SIFund supports organizations that use #evidence based interventions to solve communities’ most critical 

problems. 

Together we can help organizations prepare America’s #youth for success in school and work. #SIFund

The @SIFund is looking to #fund organizations that work to promote #healthy lifestyles. Is this you? 

Increasing #econopp, promoting #healthy lifestyles, #youth development, the @SIFund #grant competition covers 
it all. APPLY NOW! 

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/socialinnovation-fund/about-sif

 Social Innovation Fund Logo

http://www.nationalservice.gov/logos 

 Sign Up for SIF Updates, including Funding

Opportunities

 http://www.bit.ly/SIFGrantUpdates

 2016 Notice of Funding Availability Resource

Webpage 

 http://go.usa.gov/c7YUd

 Previous Successful SIF Applicants

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



SCHEDULED WEBINAR DATES 

Please note: Information on how to access webinars can be found on the NOFA webpage at: http://go.usa.gov/c7YUd

Pre-recorded overview webinar- Introduction to the SIF

 NOFA Overview Webinars 

1. Monday, March 28

Time: 1:00 – 2 p.m. EST 

2. Monday, April 4

Time: 1:00 – 2 p.m. EST 

3. Monday, April 11

Time: 1 – 2 p.m. EST 

Evidence and Evaluation Webinars 

1. Monday, April 4

Time: 3 – 4 p.m. EST

2. Monday, April 11

Time: 3 – 4 p.m. EST 

 NOFA Office Hours/Q&A 

Monday, April 18 

Time: 1:00 – 2 p.m. EST