Author Archives: Patrick Lester

White House Finds Common Ground With House Republicans on Evidence Agenda

A team of White House representatives met with staff of the House Budget Committee in late August to discuss possible areas of agreement on evidence and evaluation, according to a report from Government Executive. The meeting came after the White … Continue reading

Posted in Government Performance, Politics

Social Innovation Fund Announces Pay-for-Success Grants

The Social Innovation Fund (SIF)  today announced $12 million in awards to eight grantees to fund pay-for-success strategies. The eight grantees have been awarded between $200,000 and $1,800,000 each year for three years.  Each of the grantees is expected to … Continue reading

Posted in Social Impact Bonds / Pay for Success, Social Innovation Fund

GAO: Performance Management in Federal Agencies May Be Stalled

Overall use of performance information by federal agencies has not changed significantly since Congress enacted legislation governing federal performance management in 2011, according to a report released September 26 by the Government Accountability Office (GAO). The report suggests that its … Continue reading

Posted in Government Performance

Workforce Innovation Fund Grants Announced

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has made 11 new grants totaling $50.7 million under the Workforce Innovation Fund (WIF). The new grants, announced September 24, come on top of $171 million in previous grants made over the past two … Continue reading

Posted in Workforce Issues

Promise Zones: Round Two

On September 19, the Obama administration announced a second opportunity for low-income communities to be designated as Promise Zones. Winning communities will receive preferential treatment in subsequent federal grant competitions, as well as technical assistance to “help local leaders in … Continue reading

Posted in Collective Impact

Universal Login for Federal Agencies Nears Rollout, State and Local Data Systems May Follow

A universal login for individuals accessing federal agency information, called Connect.gov, is currently “production ready” and is being tested by a variety of federal agencies, according to a report from NextGov.  The service may also affect — and possibly contribute … Continue reading

Posted in Data

Social Innovation Fund Announces 7 New Grantees

The Social Innovation Fund (SIF) has announced seven new grant awards, according to a report from The Chronicle of Philanthropy. (See also this press release.) According to the Chronicle, they are: Silicon Valley Community Foundation: $7.5-million to increase third-grade reading-proficiency … Continue reading

Posted in Social Innovation Fund

G8 Report Offers Recommendations to Spur Social Impact Investing

The Social Impact Investment Taskforce of the G8 group of industrialized nations today released a new report containing several recommendation to harness and grow so-called “double bottom line” investing, a term that encompasses investments with both a financial and social … Continue reading

Posted in Social Impact Bonds / Pay for Success, Social Impact Investing

British Fund Raises £25 million for Social Impact Bonds, Expects 5 Percent Annual Return

A British investment firm, Bridges Ventures, has successfully raised £25 million for investments in social impact bonds, according a report from the UK office of Third Sector (also here). According to the story: Antony Ross, partner and head of social … Continue reading

Posted in Social Impact Bonds / Pay for Success