January 15th Deadline Approaching for Public Comments
The deadline for submitting comments regarding its draft Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for the Social Innovation Fund are due to the Corporation for National and Community Service by January 15th, 2010. Comments should be emailed to SIFinput@cns.gov. Click on these links for further information:
DRAFT SOCIAL INNOVATION FUND NOFA
Commentary
The Council on Foundations is pleased that the Obama Administration’s commitment to partnering with and tapping the expertise of foundations is reflected in this important new federal initiative. The $50 million Social Innovation Fund, authorized in the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act of 2009, represents a unique public-philanthropic partnership that taps the grant-making community to identify promising nonprofits and provide them with capital to expand and replicate their successful social change efforts in communities around the country. While many foundations have played a role in public initiatives, this is the first time that we have seen philanthropy as the designated intermediary.
If you have comments or concerns about the draft NOFA, please take advantage of the opportunity and submit them to the Corporation for National and Community Service by next Friday, January 15th .
From comments already shared with the Council, we know that some have expressed concerns about the match requirements for the minimum grant threshold of $5 million, the burdens of the evaluation requirements, the applicability and complexity of federal grant accounting rules, the limitation on administrative expenses allowed, and the difficulty that small communities may experience in trying to take advantage of this program. Comments have also addressed the NOFA’s request for specific feedback on how to define “low income communities;” how intermediaries should be evaluated and held accountable; and the accountability framework that should be used with respect to sub-grantees.
If your organization submits comments on the NOFA, please share those with the Council so that we may continue to monitor and track the sector’s response to this issue. Please email a copy of any comments you submit to partnership@cof.org.
For more information on the Council’s Public-Philanthropic Partnership activities, visit ppp.cof.org.
