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

Bikes Not Bombs

Bikes Not Bombs (BNB) uses the bicycle as a vehicle for social change to achieve economic mobility for Black and other marginalized people in Boston and the Global South. Each year BNB collects roughly 5,000 used bicycles from supporters across Greater Boston and New England. They ship many of these bikes overseas to International partners in Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean who use them in service of environmentally sustainable micro-enterprises. BNB uses the remaining bikes to support its growing three-year Youth Pathway program, through which young people hailing from Boston’s most under-resourced neighborhoods discover the joys of cycling and build critical workplace skills while working as paid Youth Apprentices in BNB’s full-service Bike Shop & Vocational Training Center.

Website

Milestones

2021: Accelerator Fellow
2023-2025: Growth Portfolio Member

Entrepreneur

Elijah Evans

Populations Served

Opportunity Youth/Emerging Adult

Industries

Consumer Goods & Services

Location

Massachusetts

Farber Fellows

Beyond ‘That Sounds Expensive’: Uncovering the True Value of Employment Social Enterprises | Leah Budson, MIT Sloan

For Farber Fellow Leah Budson, spending her summer working with Boston-based ESE Bikes Not Bombs was an perspective-shifting...

Growth Portfolio, REDF Programs

Introducing the 13 Growth-Stage Employment Social Enterprises Selected for Our 2023 Growth Portfolio

Today, we’re thrilled to announce $3.9 million in grants to 13 high-impact employment social enterprises through our...

REDF Awards $3.9 Million to 13 Growth-Stage Employment Social Enterprises to Expand Fair-Chance Hiring Opportunities

Growth Portfolio, Press, REDF Programs

REDF Awards $3.9 Million to 13 Growth-Stage Employment Social Enterprises to Expand Fair-Chance Hiring Opportunities