Ryan Erickson

Ryan is a Director of Impact Advisory at Social Finance. His work focuses on driving better outcomes for people with barriers to work through state and local Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) programs and strengthening early childhood education systems. He also develops strategies to improve physical and behavioral healthcare systems by tying healthcare provider payment to outcomes and incentivizing these systems to priortize health-related social needs.

Prior to joining Social Finance, Ryan was the Chief of Staff for the Rhode Island Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities & Hospitals (BHDDH), where he led the Department’s major strategic initiatives and oversaw its policy development and public affairs functions. Ryan transitioned to BHDDH after serving as a Policy Advisor for Rhode Island Governor Gina M. Raimondo, where his portfolio included health and human services, public safety, criminal justice, and government efficiency. Prior to his work for the State of Rhode Island, Ryan directed economic campaigns for the Center for American Progress and coordinated several initiatives to support the advancement of economic security at the federal and state levels. He also led political research for Everytown for Gun Safety and managed the organization’s engagement in elections and campaigns.

Ryan is a graduate of the New York City Urban Fellows Program and the Northwestern University Public Interest Program Fellowship. He graduated from Northwestern with a B.A. in History.