About the Social Innovation Forum

Since 2003, Root Cause’s Social Innovation Forum has been working to create a social impact market that distributes resources to organizations based on performance in order to most efficiently and effectively solve social problems in Greater Boston. Our aspiration is to build a social impact investment community that will invest and re-invest resources in innovative, results-oriented nonprofits, thus advancing innovation in social impact.

The Social Innovation Forum provides a unique opportunity for innovative nonprofit organizations to gain visibility, expand their networks, and build capacity. For the 2011-2012 cycle, we have once again partnered with leading local funders to feature one organization in each of six social issue tracks. Our search and selection process lasts almost six months as we review first- and second-round applications, interview finalists, and perform due diligence on the top ten or so contenders. This process brings a range of stakeholders to the table, including Root Cause staff, our track partners, and an evaluation committee made up of more than 60 funders and social issue experts. Throughout, the Social Innovation Forum stresses performance measurement and results because we are looking to connect members of our social impact investment community to efficient and effective nonprofits. 

To learn more about how the Social Innovation Forum program works, click here.