Blog

Last month, I traveled to San Diego to discuss the future of education at the 2022 ASU+GSV Summit alongside public, private, and nonprofit leaders. Despite the diversity of titles and topics, each session at the Summit focused on one core question: How can we, in this moment of change, redesign our education systems to better advance economic mobility? ...

We’ve all watched Putin’s attack on Ukraine with outrage. Not since World War II has the world witnessed such intentional destruction in Europe—destruction rivaled only by the horrors of natural disasters. When faced with these kinds of tragedies, we band together as global citizens, sacrificing what we can to aid those affected. No less is required of us now. ...

Launched in 2017, this partnership, the Ventura Project to Support Reentry sought to reduce recidivism, improve public safety, and promote family stability for adults on formal probation in Ventura County. At the heart of the partnership was an outcomes-based funding mechanism: impact investors provided upfront capital to fund individualized services for formerly incarcerated individuals like Johnny; the Ventura County Probation Agency referred individuals into services; Interface provided these services; and impact investors were repaid by Ventura County to the extent that measurable reductions in recidivism were achieved. 

Together, we reasoned that we could dramatically improve impact if we blurred the lines between ROI and SROI. That is, we could maximize both a financial return and a social return.

This blog post represents the views of Social Finance and JFF based on their collaboration with six local career and technical education sites around the country. ...

Sandra Salstrom joined Social Finance in October 2021 to lead government engagement efforts. We spoke with Sandra about her new role and the importance of building bonds with government partners.

This blog was originally posted at FJC–A Foundation of Philanthropic Funds....

This article was cross-posted from the Council of State Government’s blog. ...

Launched in 2020, Social Finance’s Career Impact Bond with Alchemy Code Lab aims to serve 300 students over three years. Alchemy’s 25-week, full-time online training program prepares students for mid-level software engineering jobs with employers such as Nike, Kroger, and Cambia Health.

Earlier this month, workforce development, education, and government leaders gathered virtually to discuss workforce challenges and solutions at the 2021 ACT Workforce Virtual Summit. Social Finance Vice President Jake Edwards teamed up with Aaron Picozzi, President of American Diesel Training Centers (ADTC), and Bill Jones, Vice President of Fleet Services at Penn Power Group, to discuss the Career Impact Bond, a financing model for career-based training and wraparound supports to advance economic mobility....