After a successful pilot of our incubation curriculum in SCC:RISE, REDF is proud to announce the launch of the LA County Economic Mobility Initiative (EMI) Social Enterprise Training Program Incubator — or more simply, the EMI Incubator.
Twenty-five active Los Angeles-area nonprofits have joined the EMI Incubator’s first cohort. Through this program, REDF aims to help these organizations prepare to launch revenue-generating social enterprises: designing business models, developing financial forecasts, conducting feasibility and customer discovery tests, and drafting funding applications.
A bit more about these EMI Incubator cohort orgs: they’re dynamic, community-leading nonprofits. Roughly three-quarters of cohort organizations have been operating for ten years or more, and almost 80% have a social enterprise concept that they’re ready to experiment with.
The EMI Incubator is a partnership with the Los Angeles County Department of Economic Opportunity, the Center for Nonprofit Management Los Angeles (CNM) and SCC:RISE program collaborators Nearby Consulting. CNM is also running a concurrent sustainability accelerator program, guiding organizations to develop a long-term fund development strategy. REDF team member Kennedy Joseph is the project manager leading this CNM partnership, supporting the cohort, and convening regularly with LA County on behalf of REDF.
Goals for The EMI Incubator
REDF has a long history of supporting and collaborating with early-stage social enterprises through programs like our Accelerator, as well as growth-stage businesses through programs like our Growth Portfolio and REDF Impact Investing Fund. As the field of employment social enterprises grows, we’ve seen that our expertise can also support the creation of new social enterprises.
In true REDF spirit, we’re also improving our curriculum over time! The EMI Incubator builds on what we learned in the SCC:RISE program pilot, so that we can drive maximum impact for nascent employment social enterprises. We are carefully tracking details about timelines, model and industry success rates, and level of support most needed for businesses in these early stages.
Accepted Organizations
We are thrilled to welcome the following organizations into the EMI Incubator:
- Soledad Enrichment Action, Inc.
- Painted Brain
- Dynasty’s United Youth Association
- Eastmont Community Center
- North Valley Caring Services
- House of Ruth, Inc.
- Community Coalition
- Trans Can Work
- Central City Neighborhood Partners
- Consejo de Federaciones Mexicanas (COFEM)
- WORKS, Women Organizing Resources Services and Knowledge
- Tiny’s Village Inc
- Los Angeles Habilitation House, Inc.
- South Los Angeles Bureau of Tourism and Trade
- William H. Douglas Foundation
- Alliance for Young Women and Girls
- On My Grind, Re-entry Services Inc
- TutorD Scholars
- Willowbrook Inclusion Network (WIN)
- Pink Money Inc.
- Peace4Kids
- Eayikes
- Heart Forward LA
- Higher Ground for Humanity
Each of these organizations brings a unique perspective and a shared commitment to build an impactful and sustainable social enterprise in LA County. We look forward to supporting them on their journey!
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This program is made possible by the American Rescue Plan Act and a June 2021Â motion introduced by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors aiming to support BIPOC, women, and other historically disinvested communities in overcoming barriers to small business startup and growth.
