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Building Momentum
June 2007 In This Issue:
 Over the past four months, dozens of people working in the philanthropic, nonprofit, and business communities, and REDF’s Board and staff members have generously shared their insights on how REDF can make the most gains in our efforts to alleviate poverty. I have been impressed with the breadth of your experience, knowledge and deep commitment to the work at hand. Informed by your ideas, we are now refining our existing three year business plan and developing an ambitious action plan for the year ahead. REDF’s aim is to help people with the greatest barriers join the workforce, advance, and move out of poverty. Our role is to support practical, effective approaches, measure impact, and spread the word about what works. We act as a bridge, blending and bringing together for profit private sector business, non profit social enterprises, and philanthropy. Based on data and experience, we know that social enterprise is a powerful approach, and we will continue to support its growth. We also aim to help build relationships with for-profit businesses with two major goals: (1) to expand the partnerships and contractual relationships that fuel the growth of social enterprises and increase the numbers of people employed; and (2) to help open the doors to private sector jobs that are a pathway to advancement and broader opportunities. Measuring impact, and assessing social and financial return are essential to making the business case that will increase private and public investment in the most efficient and effective approaches. We look forward to building this case with you — our partners — over the coming years.  We are pleased to announce San Francisco Conservation Corps (SFCC) as the newest member of our portfolio. SFCC enables at-risk young adults to become economically self-sufficient by providing them with education, work experience and career development assistance. According to REDF Board member Stuart Moldaw, who helped select SFCC for the REDF Portfolio, “My visit to the San Francisco Conservation Corps showed me what wonderful work they do, and how good a fit they will be as a member of REDF’s portfolio. I was especially impressed with the presentations made by the young people from the work crews.” Started 23 years ago, SFCC employs young adults to perform community service activities in recycling and in restoring and building trails in San Francisco’s parks. Seventy percent of the youth served by SFCC have not completed high school. When they aren’t working, the young adults focus on academics tailored by SFCC to their individual ability levels. At any given time, 60 young adults between the ages of 18 and 26 receive assistance from SFCC. They typically join for 18 months, during which many finish their high school education, enroll in college, and secure gainful employment. REDF will work with SFCC to expand their businesses and employ more young people.  When REDF first became acquainted with Richard Rosenberg, his business acumen combined with his community leadership experience resonated with our board and staff. In response to REDF’s invitation to join our board, he noted the same characteristics attracted him to REDF: “I am pleased to join the Board of REDF, an organization that has demonstrated extraordinary effectiveness in assisting individuals in need to establish an important start in achieving business success.” Richard Rosenberg is the retired chairman and CEO of BankAmerica Corporation. Prior to joining Bank of America in 1987, he worked at Wells Fargo Bank for 22 years, his last years serving as vice chairman and director. Among many of his esteemed associations, Richard is a member of the boards of directors of the Buck Institute for Age Research, the San Francisco Symphony, and the Naval War College Foundation and is chairman of the executive council of the University of California Medical Center. A more complete bio is available on REDF’s website. We are delighted to welcome Richard Rosenberg to our Board. REDF’s generous funders and partners make it possible for us to help create the jobs that bring more people into the workforce. The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation recently awarded REDF a $1,000,000, three-year grant. Half of the funds are for general operating support and half for a 1:2 ratio matching grant for gifts and pledges of $100,000 or more. For details on how to leverage Hewlett’s matching grant to increase your donation, please contact Carla Javits at cjavits@redf.org or 415-561-6681. The Aspen Institute joined our list of supporters with underwriting for REDF’s Stepping Out of the Maze: Aligning to Improve the Nonprofit Capital Market. This three-publication series will explore the adaptability of private sector venture financing practices to solve nonprofit capital market inefficiencies. The Woodcock Foundation recently chose REDF to participate in Round II of BeHeard!, a communications and messaging initiative. The support will help us hone our message, leverage new communication technologies, and identify the best vehicles for providing meaningful information to REDF constituents and target audiences. 
Each summer, REDF hosts a competitive MBA internship program known as the Farber Program. Conceived by REDF Board member Stuart Davidson, this program was launched 10 years ago by REDF and the Phalarope Foundation. The Farber Program provides meaningful opportunities — both internships and fellowships — for MBAs to apply their business and management skills to advance social enterprises and provides leadership training to the next generation of nonprofit leaders. To date, the Farber Program has engaged 81 MBAs from 24 business schools who have completed 114 projects for REDF and our portfolio organizations. Farber Alumni are employed at a wide variety of businesses and nonprofits, including Bank of America Community Development Banking, The Bridgespan Group, Harlem Children’s Zone, and KIPP. A recent survey revealed that 42% of Farber Alumni are working in the nonprofit sector and 82% credit their REDF Farber experience as having meaningful impact on their career. In 2007, REDF reviewed 95 applications to choose four stellar Farber Interns:
 Since January 2007, REDF has contributed to the advancement of social enterprise across the globe. According to a recent NYU study of 54 business schools, REDF case studies were found to be two of the top 20 most often taught on social enterprise. In addition, REDF participated in a number of events to date this year, including NYU Stern’s Fourth Annual Conference of Social Entrepreneurs, the Skoll World Forum in Oxford, a briefing with the Japan Broadcasting Corporation, the 8th Gathering of the Social Enterprise Alliance, San Francisco’s Department of Children, Youth and their Families (DCYF) training for community members, and the East Bay Small Business Development Center.  REDF is delighted to introduce the newest member of our team, Development Director Jason Trimiew. Jason’s experience as the Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations at Catholic Charities CYO and as a board member of A Home Away From Homelessness will greatly benefit REDF’s ability to build a comprehensive fundraising program and expand and strengthen relationships with individual and institutional partners. Jason earned a B.A. in business administration from Covenant College and an M.A. in International and Development Economics from the University of San Francisco. Welcome to REDF, Jason!  Recently, the Berkeley-based Resources for Community Development recognized Carla Javits for her many years dedicated to improving the lives of homeless and very low-income people. REDF board members Stuart Davidson and Julia Lopez along with San Francisco Foundation Program Officer Carol Lamont and Walter and Elise Haas Sr. Fund’s Pamela David attended the award ceremony to help Carla and her family celebrate this noteworthy honor. We are grateful for the support we receive from our generous donors. Individuals Foundations and Corporations Corporate Matching Gifts If our list is incomplete or your name is listed inaccurately, please accept our sincere apologies and contact Vanessa Collins at 415-561-6679. If you wish to join our list of generous supporters, please click here or contact the REDF development office at 415-561-6679 or jtrimiew@redf.org. |
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