An economy that works.

For everyone.

We invest in businesses that reveal and reinforce the talent of people breaking through barriers to employment.

We call these businesses employment social enterprises (or ESEs, for short).

How We Invest:

Chef trainee at employment social enterprise Kitchens for Good holds out a bowl of fresh food

Capital

We fuel the growth of this movement through grants, impact investments, and by unlocking public sector capital, yielding these results:

$2.23 Social Return on Investment (SROI) for every dollar invested

$3.1 billion+ cumulative revenue earned by ESEs since 1997

157K+ people employed

Capacity

We combine that capital with customized capacity-building support that helps these businesses go further, faster.

6x growth in people employed

2x growth in revenue earned for ESEs

83k+ jobs created from 2021-2024

Community

As we build the field, we also build the sense of community that fuels it — connecting leaders more deeply with the work and each other.

94% of leaders feel a sense of support

87% of leaders feel a sense of belonging and inclusion

I am excited to continue advocating for a more inclusive workplace and help others break through corporate barriers with the support of REDF.

REDF is an incredible organization. It has my undying commitment and passion because it is, to me, the secret sauce — the one thing that works for people with high barriers to employment.

REDF's role as a trailblazer in the employment social enterprise sector has created a wealth of opportunities for those excluded from the workforce. The Justice and Mobility Fund, a collaboration launched by The Ford Foundation and Blue Meridian Partners with support from the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies, has been pleased to call REDF an investee in pursuit of our mutual goal of boosting economic mobility for justice-impacted individuals.

Courtney WeltonSVP, General Counsel, Business Law & Compliance, and Chief Ethics and Privacy Officer, Allstate Insurance Company

Susan PortugalSVP, Environmental, Social, and Governance Program Director, Bank of America

Le'Ann DuranSenior Director and Co-Lead, Justice and Mobility Fund Blue Meridian Partners (Funded REDF since 2022)

Explore More

2023 Impact Report

A landmark year: $2.5B in Revenue Earned, 133K People Employed.

Learn More

Gift Guide

Presents that propel change, and help support an economy that works. For everyone.

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Support REDF

Donate today and help create a future where everyone can flourish.

Donate Today

Since 1997, REDF has invested in over 363 employment social enterprises.

We’ve helped hundreds of employment social enterprises balance purpose and profit. Here are just a few:

Latest News

Learning & Evidence

Economic Power 102: Using the Employment Social Enterprise Model to Build Autonomy

ESEs are uniquely positioned to help individuals build economic power. Here's more about how we've tracked this over time.

7.1.25

By Galiana Fajardo

CEO Insights

Belonging and Ingenuity | A Note on DEI from Our CEO

When words are weaponized, we must take steps to be clear, so we are not just heard but most importantly understood.

6.26.25

By Maria Kim

Learning & Evidence

Economic Power 101: What Does It Mean & How Do We Access It?

At REDF, we're striving to build an economy that works. For everyone. Here's the core of our belief in economic power.

6.23.25

By Galiana Fajardo

Do you run a social impact business that hires overlooked talent?

We’d love to learn more about you and your potential fit with our programs.

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