How innovative is the Social Innovation Fund?
Cross-published on JustMeans:
Recently President Obama signed into law the Serve America Act, which, among other things, established a Social Innovation Fund. The aim: to identify innovative & effective nonprofit social ventures and to take them to scale. As set forth in the statute, the Fund will accomplish this by giving money to "eligible entities" (i.e., existing grantmaking institutions or government partnerships) that will then in turn make grants to suitable "community organizations," provided the subgrantee is able to secure the requisite matching funds from government, nonprofit or commercial sources.
The initiative has generated considerable excitement in the social enterprise community. Judging from the language, I can see why: the new law speaks of "national leveraging capital," "investments," "institutional capacity," "measurable outcomes" and a host of other things that pretty much spell "win" for anyone playing social enterprise buzzword bingo.
Yet for the life of me, I don't see how any of this is innovative.
At its core, the program follows a model that's all too familiar from comparative administrative law--a government program that gives money to subgrantees who in turn give money to other subgrantees, managed through the relentless documentation of how stated program goals were met. For example, Russia moved to precisely this model recently, channeling social funds through grantmaking intermediaries, and USAID has been doing it for years.
Yes, I know that on the surface this is different--SIF isn't just making grants to grantmaking subgrantees for nonprofit subgrantees under the rubric of statutorily mandated reporting standards, it's leveraging investment in social entrepreneurs and building capacity for measured outcomes. However, this is not a distinction I could repeat with a straight face. When it comes to interpreting a statute I'm a stone cold pragmatist, and it seems to me that when you cut through all the jargon the two structures are essentially the same.
I don't say this merely to be contrary--studying existing institutions can provide invaluable insight into how SIF could spin out. If you have experience, say, with USAID, you know the culture that tends to grow up around such programs. The reality tends not to match the rhetoric--lift the rock of civil society & social change and you'll find a swarming mass of professional intermediaries, stultifying standardization and the awarding of spoils to the usual suspects with marginal scraps for unorthodox unconnected outsiders.
The potential for this in SIF is quite real--the requirement of matching funds alone will skew the grants to nonprofits that are already established, particularly groups that have substantial support from governments and major funders. Moreover, the statutory requirements for measured effectiveness, evidence-based decision-making and so forth may sound good, but in practice this provides an institutional mandate for centralized regulation and extensive paperwork.
I know the people who promoted SIF had a much more enthralling vision, but that train has left the station--the new law puts us on the cross-country Amtrak. In the immortal words of T.S. Eliot, "this is the way the world ends/not with a bang, but Corporation Monitoring Planning Assessments."
0 TrackBacks
Listed below are links to blogs that reference this entry: How innovative is the Social Innovation Fund?.
TrackBack URL for this entry: http://uncivilsociety.org/mt/mt-tb.cgi/1158
Fall fashion trend 2010 Autumn is coming, let's talk about this fall's fashion trend.Christian Louboutin
Canada Goose Retro style maybe this fall's theme, Back in vogue from the '90s,Canada Goosethe '80s and the'70s ,several famous brands have appear their retro in clothing design,such as Jimmy Choo,manolo blahnikand (3).but on the base,you can have your own style too.for example,Canada Goose
Christian Louboutinyou can choose a moncler new look skirt in a '80s style,christian louboutin weddingyou can also head out in a '70s Christian Louboutin Sale wrap-style dress. even you can mashup. Chilliwack Parka
Canada Goose Womens Parkayou can wear a (5) coat in '90s style , Arc'teryx trousers in '80s style,with a pair of Christian Louboutin shoes designed in '70s style. in short,Chilliwack Parka
christian louboutin wedding
this is a time for personality,you can be your own's designer.
You Louis Vuitton Multicolor bags can choose lv bags louis vuitton lv handbags clutches and lv evening bags and Louis Vuitton Cosmic handbags Louis Vuitton Replica lv handbags online Damierr Azur Canvas Eva lv bags outlet Clutch for gift. lv handbags replica Please choose louis louis vuitton vuitton card louis vuitton bags Holder which you louis vuitton handbags interest in here. louis vuitton outlet Choose our replica buy louis vuitton louis vuitton louis vuitton purses card and louis Louis Vuitton luggage vuitton Holder you will louis vuitton replica not be disappointed.
Cheap UGG Classic Short Boots,,Cheap UGG Roxy Short Boots?Cheap UGG Roxy Tall Boots?Cheap Classic Short Metallic Boots,Cheap UGG Classic Tall Boots?Cheap UGG Classic Tall Metallic Boots?Cheap UGG Classic Cardy Boots?Cheap UGG Bailey Button Boots,UGG Bailey Button Fancy Boots?Cheap UGG Bailey Button Boots Triplet,UGG Nightfall Boots Sale?Cheap UGG Ultra Tall Boots,Cheap UGG Ultimate Bind Boots,Cheap UGG Ultra Short Boots,Tall UGGS,New UGGS,Mini UGGS,ugg for kids,Nightfall UGGS,Tall Roxy UGG,Ultra Short UGGS,Tall UGGS Black,UGG Mini Black,UGG Button boots,Classic Cardy UGGS,Knightsbridge UGGS,UGG knightsbridge black?Bailey button boots,Classic argyle knit,roxy uggs,ugg metallic boots,ugg chestnut sundance
Top China Wholesaler-Buy Wholesale Promotional Gifts Promotional Products from China.
China Wholesale Bottle Opener Wholesale Frisbee Wholesale Carabiner Wholesale Keychain Wholesale Mug Wholesale USB Flash Drive Wholesale Cup Wholesale Cap Wholesale Towel Christmas Gifts Wholesale Gift Bags Wholesale Umbrella Wholesale Vuvuzela Wholesale Socks Wholesale USB Products Wholesale First Aid Kit Wholesale Pom Poms Wholesale Clap Hands Water Bottle Wholesale Halloween Gift Wholesale Waterproof Case Wholesale Calculator Wholesale Bag Wholesale Golf Products Wholesale Stress Ball Wholesale Knife Wholesale Wallet Wholesale Lanyard Wholesale Pen Wholesale Flashlight Wholesale Watch Wholesale Candle Wholesale Apron Wholesale Fan Wholesale Lighter Wholesale AshtrayOur main products are consumer electronics, gifts and souvenirs, health care products, beauty products, automobile parts, household items, plastic products, metal products, kitchen supplies, stationery, sports goods, toys, watches, leather products, etc.
China Wholesale Town - China's most viable wholesale supplier of promotional gifts, you can customize your own logo, no matter anywhere in the world!
Wholesale T-Shirts Wholesale Clocks Wholesale Glasses Wholesale Clothes Rack Wholesale Kitchenware Wholesale Vase Poncho Raincoat Wholesale Shoe Wholesale Furniture Wholesale Camera Wholesale Jewelry Wholesale Toys Wholesale Keyboard Wholesale Mouse Wholesale Mat Wholesale Scarf Wholesale Speakers Eye Mask Wholesale Earphone Wholesale Mp3 Recorder Pen Wholesale Tie Wholesale Clothing Wholesale Scissors Wholesale Bookmark Wholesale Mobile Phone Solar Products Lighting Products Wholesale Glass Computer Accessories Wine Set Safety Suppliers Wholesale Tableware Silicone Products Home Appliances Electrical Gifts Automotive Products Audio Video Equipment Consumer Electronics Digital Photo Frame Electroluminescent Wholesale iPod iPhone Wholesale Memory Card Wholesale Radio Wholesale Scale Wholesale TelePhone Voice Recorder Advertising Material Arts Crafts Wholesale Badge Wholesale Pin Wholesale Banner Wholesale Flag Business Gift Coca Cola Gifts Crystal Gifts Flash Gift Gift Box Giveaway Material Inflatable Products Muslim Products Valentine Gifts Vocal Concert Products Wedding Favors Beauty Equipment Wholesale Bracelet Wholesale Bangle Hair Products Health Care Products Heating Products Wholesale Helmet Lady Beauty Care Manicure Set Wholesale Massager Medicine Instrument Men Beauty Care Wholesale Mirror Patient Care Products Wholesale Pedometer Personal Safety Products Safety Products Wholesale Thermometer Cleaner Products Wholesale Coaster