Results-Based Funding

Our Approach

Social Finance works with impact-focused public sector leaders to reorient contracts, procurements, and funding streams around outcomes. We do this by clarifying metrics that reflect critical community priorities, developing measurement plans and supporting data strategies to enable ongoing progress tracking, and building outcomes-based funding tools that directly link payment to outcomes. These include:

We pioneered the Social Impact Bond ecosystem in the U.S., designing unique public-private partnerships that scale effective social service programs. We continue to build innovative funding models that enable adaptive service delivery, experimentation, and improvement.

Group of Social Finance staff and partners standing together
Social Finance and partners on a Social Impact Bond in Massachusetts, pictured at the State House in Boston.

Example: Outcomes Rate Cards

 

Featured Work

See All Work

Home for Good
A bearded man with a maroon beanie looks into the distance outside.

Home for Good

76%

Reduction in shelter stays in Anchorage, Alaska

Boosting Child Health In Connecticut
Female healthcare worker visiting a young mum and her infant son at home
Female healthcare worker visiting a young mum and her infant son at home

Boosting Childhood Health in Connecticut

3,000

Caregivers in Connecticut receiving improved home visiting services

Outcomes-based contracting brings nonprofit, philanthropy and government together to allocate public funds to achieve long-term results. Thanks to Social Finance, we are using this model to help first-time mothers and children and build a healthier community.

Matt Meyer

County Executive, New Castle County, Delaware

Matt Meyer Headshot
[I was involved in a Social Impact Bond] that’s had astounding success: some $3,500 more in average income for folks who graduated from this program ... evaluated independently so no state funds were disbursed until goals were achieved.

Former Governor Deval Patrick

Professor of Practice and Co-Director, Center for Public Leadership, Harvard Kennedy School on Massachusetts Pathways to Economic Advancement

Headshot of Deval Patrick, wearing a quarter zip in a library.
Working with Social Finance has been a pleasure. Their ability to manage a complex project with multiple partners is second to none. They’ve helped us move our project from concept to implementation seamlessly and strategically.

Kirsten Olson

Chief Executive Officer, Children & Families First

Kirsten Olson headshot
Social Finance is an innovator in creating scaled financing solutions for big impact. Pay for Success helped us engage in systems change in a very significant way … There is no reason why 49 other states couldn't do this.

Jerry Rubin

Former President and CEO, JVS Boston

Jerry Rubin Headshot