The nation’s first statewide investment in employment social enterprise

An employment social enterprise (ESE) is a for-profit or non-profit organization that earns revenue through the sale of a good or service produced by employees overcoming barriers to work. Each entity should have a stated mission that they exist specifically for the purpose of providing employment, training, and supportive services to people overcoming barriers to work. Program outcomes are just as important as business outcomes to ESEs.

CA RISE provides grant capital paired with technical assistance to support the growth of employment social enterprises in California.

ESEs selected for CA RISE through a competitive grant process will receive a one-time grant of between $100,000 – $500,000 to support investments related to the sustainable growth of their business, increased economic mobility among their participant employees, or, in some cases, both. (Grant award amounts will be determined by the ESE’s operating budget. Ranges and corresponding grant award amounts will be detailed at the time of the application release.)

In addition to grant funding, all CA RISE grantees will receive customized, in-depth capacity building in the areas of sustainable growth and economic mobility. Grantees will have access to:

• cohort-based and one-to-one customized technical assistance;
• cohort-based training on two learning tracks: Sustainable Growth and Economic Mobility;
• a suite of tools and learning modules on REDFworkshop;
• assistance enrolling in additional government programs (for example, SNAP Employment & Training)
• relationship management from a REDF staff member; and
• peer consulting from other local employment social enterprises.

In line with our commitment to advance the employment social enterprise sector at large, REDF will connect grantees with local public partners, training providers, and private sector employers. In partnership, we can significantly expand opportunities for people overcoming barriers to employment – and build an economy that works. For everyone.

Key Program Dates (subject to change):

• September – October 2023: Application Process (See “How to Apply for Funding” for additional detail)
• January 2024: Program Start
• June 2025: Program End

CA RISE Program Fact Sheet

If you have additional questions about the CA RISE program, please contact our team. 

Organizations interested in learning more and applying for CA RISE, must attend the CA RISE Program Webinar on Thursday, September 28, and submit the pre-application for eligibility. If you are unable to attend live, the webinar will be recorded and shared here for later viewing. Please note that attending or viewing the webinar is a required step in the application process.

Additional information about the full application and review process will be released in October.

If you have questions about the CA RISE program, please contact our team.