Using the practices of venture philanthropy, REDF creates job opportunities for those who are most disconnected from the workforce.

Grantee Profile

REDF employs a social venture capital approach to working with a portfolio of nonprofit organizations in the Bay Area that run a number of businesses which in turn employ very low-income, homeless and disabled individuals.These businesses have employed over 3,500 people since 1997. REDF assists its portfolio organizations in a variety of ways, most notably by providing funding for organizational infrastructure, access to additional funds for capital expenses, strategic business assistance, MBA talent, social outcome measurement and technological tools and training.

About Our Grants

The Foundation’s 2009 award of $300,000 is a two-year commitment for REDF’s continued efforts to create workforce opportunities for homeless, low-income and other individuals facing high barriers to employment.  While the funds are for general operating purposes, REDF will focus in this next year on laying the groundwork for delivering on the promise of social enterprise at the state and national levels through a partnership with New York City’s Center for Employment Opportunities.