Maura Welch - REDF

Our Vision
- Our VisionAn economy that works. for everyone.
- Who We BackWe partner with social entrepreneurs to amplify the success of their businesses and the people they employ.
- How We Do ItWe help our enterprises grow further, faster through a combination of capital, capacity building, and community support.
- ImpactOur partnership accelerates the growth and impact of the enterprises we back.
- InsightsWe evaluate what works and share our learnings to spark action for policy and systems change.
Our Work
- Our WorkWe invest in businesses that reveal and reinforce the talent of people breaking through barriers to employment.
- AcceleratorA six-month cohort-based learning experience for leaders of early-stage enterprises to springboard growth.
- Growth PortfolioA multi-year investment in growth-stage employment social enterprises to help them scale sustainably.
- Impact InvestingFlexible loan capital for employment social entrepreneurs whose lived expertise is their collateral.
- Gov. Partnerships & PolicyAdvocacy and public sector partnerships to advance the field.
- CommunityCurated space and resources to help our social enterprise partners connect, grow, and lead.
- WorkshopREDFworkshop is an open, free virtual capacity building toolbox to help you build, grow, and sustain high-impact employment social enterprises.
Investments
About
- AboutWe envision a thriving and inclusive society where all people have the jobs and the support they need to realize their full potential.
- Mission & CultureIt’s not just what we do, it’s how we do it that matters.
- Our PeopleWe’re a motley crew of leaders and learners dedicated to building an economy that works. For everyone.
- CareersKnowing your work is improving lives is not the only benefit of the job. View opportunities to join our team.
- Farber FellowshipGrad students bring cutting-edge skills and passion to help employment social enterprises reach their full potential.
- SupportersOur generous funders and individual donors make this work possible.
- HistorySince 1997, REDF has been using business as a force for good.
- FinancialsREDF achieves the highest levels of accountability and transparency.
News

Maura, director of the Capacity Building team, provides operational and strategic technical assistance to REDF’s national network of employment social enterprise partners. She is passionate about the potential for employment social enterprises to help build an inclusive economy and enjoys working with leaders to scale their operations and impact.

Maura returns to REDF after working as a Farber Fellow in 2017 while completing her MBA. As a Farber, she partnered with REDF program alum Cara Chicago to explore opportunities to grow their two employment social enterprises, Cleanslate and Cara Connects.

Previously, Maura worked in public sector consulting at Deloitte. There, she helped expand the organization’s offerings in strategic and operational support to nonprofits, government agencies, and private sector companies working on criminal justice reform efforts, including improving reentry and developing second chance hiring strategies. While in graduate school, Maura served as a research assistant with the University of Chicago Urban Labs, where she provided design and evaluation support for their Supportive Release Center, which aims to help individuals with mental illness reenter and transition to services in their communities following their release from the Cook County Jail.

Maura holds an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and an MPP from the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy. She completed her B.S. in international culture and politics at Georgetown University. Outside of REDF, you can find Maura exploring Denver, skiing, hiking, playing soccer, and spending time with friends and family.