How We Do It - 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 five-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

Capital, Capacity Building, Community: A combo that works.

We believe in using the power of business to create jobs, and ultimately career pathways, for people striving for a better life. Our programs combine capital that propels sustainable growth, capacity building that strengthens leadership and operational excellence, and community that deepens learning and connection.

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Capital

We make equity-focused investments in leaders and enterprises

Our blended capital approach — in the form of grants, loans, and public funding — helps ESEs to grow further, faster.

Capacity

We back those investments with targeted technical assistance

Our capital investments are paired with tailored capacity building designed to meet the unique needs of each enterprise and drive sustainable growth.

Community

We create traction through the power of our community and their collective action

Our 200+ member-strong Community creates space and provides resources for members to connect, grow, and lead.

Our capital, capacity, and community stack is good for business.

Our programs are designed to meet our enterprises at key inflection points in their growth.

Community: to build the field

Continuing education, communities of practice, and affinity groups for active and alumni enterprises

Government Partnerships: to build scale

Advocacy for and access to public revenue for contract-ready enterprises

Impact Investing: to build investability

Flexible loan capital for entrepreneurs whose lived experiences are their collateral

Growth Portfolio: to build capacity

Grant investments paired with customized capacity building for growth-minded enterprises

Accelerator: to build innovation

Five-month supportive, cohort-based, curated learning experience for leaders of early-stage enterprises