REDF (formerly the Roberts Enterprise Development Fund)

REDF is a Bay Area 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to creating job opportunities and pathways to employment for people with the greatest barriers to work.

For over a decade, REDF has been a leader in the field of “social enterprise” – establishing nonprofit-operated business ventures that produce valued goods and services while providing employment opportunities to the clients the nonprofit organization desires to serve.

The organization selects a portfolio of nonprofit organizations that are in the early stages of starting or running revenue-generating businesses that intentionally employ those most disconnected from the workforce. It provides funding, designs and helps execute plans for growth, and strengthens operations and measure results. REDF’s efforts build bridges between for-profit businesses, nonprofits, socially focused capital markets, and government agencies to create more durable job opportunities and entry points to the workforce.

The organization supports and documents flagship examples of what can be done around the country and disseminate practical tools to help others replicate these efforts. REDF-supported social enterprises have employed more than 3,300 people since it was founded in 1997.

History

Observing the growing number of people living on the streets of the San Francisco Bay Area, George Roberts and his wife Leanne set out to do something to help those who had fallen on hard times.

Roberts reflected on methods that had worked well at the global leverage buyout firm he co-founded, Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. (KKR). He proposed an alternative to Band-Aid solutions. "I could see how the power and proven practices of the business world could be applied to this problem to bring real solutions."

For over a decade, REDF has taken calculated risks and made significant investments in dozens of nonprofits that started businesses meant to train or employ young people and adults with barriers to work. REDF uses a rigorous self-examination of what works and what does not work.

In 2004 REDF became an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

REDF shares the lessons it learns with others. In so doing, it has helped lay the groundwork for the now growing fields of venture philanthropy and social enterprise.

REDF’s Portfolio

Current Portfolio

Community Housing Partnership (CHP) is a San Francisco nonprofit community development corporation that has provided housing, social services and economic opportunities to formerly homeless persons since 1990. The organization operates 7 properties with 429 units of housing for over 630 people. CHP also runs job training and employment programs that serve over 200 formerly homeless adults each year. The Desk Clerk Training Program is an intensive 12-week program that utilizes classroom and on-the-job training to prepare participants for entry-level jobs in property management and reception. The Maintenance Work Crew Training Program teaches participants maintenance skills including unit turnaround (preparing a vacated apartment for occupancy) and building repair over the course of 12 weeks. Following completion of each program, many graduates find employment in the fields of maintenance or janitorial work.

San Francisco Clean City Coalition (Clean City) is a community-based organization that focuses on cleaning, greening, and beautifying the city. Clean City works to keep San Francisco clean and green by building bridges between resources and the neighborhood groups, merchant associations and residents that need them. It offers transitional employment in sidewalk sweeping, graffiti removal and special event recycling.

San Francisco Conservation Corps (SFCC) enables at-risk young adults to become economically self-sufficient by providing them with education, work experience and career development assistance. Clean City’s training program (Clean City Partnership) and social enterprise (Clean City Services) provide employment opportunities and support services, such as the employment counselors who lead computer-based job search sessions each day. Over 90% of Clean City training graduates find jobs during the four months of the program. Other Clean City programs include Clean City Recyclers and the San Francisco Tool Lending Center.

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul of Alameda County (SVdP) has a strong track record of providing emergency assistance to homeless and low income people — it has been at the forefront of assisting the needy in Alameda County since 1938. The agency assisted 100,000 county residents in 2005, and is now exploring expansion of its services to help clients become more self-sufficient.

Original Portfolio

Community Vocational Enterprises(CVE, Inc.) is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to provide opportunities, training, and support to individuals with mental disabilities, empowering them to fulfill their employment potential. Its businesses include two Cafés, Clerical Services, Industrial Maintenance Engineers (IME) and CVE Driver/Messenger.

Juma Ventures is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting youth from the lowest income neighborhoods in the San Francisco Bay Area in gaining the work experience, exposure to opportunities, and preparation they need to position themselves for advancement into post-secondary education and career-oriented employment. These youth are employed at concessions at Candlestick Park and AT&T Park, where they sell Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream, Tully’s Coffee and Tazo Tea.

New Door Ventures’ mission is to transform the lives of at-risk youth and young adults through jobs, training, housing, and communities of support. There are two social enterprises operated by New Door Ventures in San Francisco — Ashbury Images, and Pedal Revolution.

Rubicon Programs supports the community by building housing, providing employment and mental health services, and creating jobs to assist individuals who have disabilities, are homeless or who are otherwise economically disadvantaged. Rubicon’s mission is to help people and communities build assets to achieve greater independence. The agency operates two social enterprises, Rubicon Bakery and Rubicon Landscape Services.

Measurement

Measurement is a critical element to REDF’s approach. The organization continues to create and refine tools to better understand and improve the impact of its work. They promote the use of social impact data to inform and improve real-time practice for the organizations it supports and for itself. REDF sees measurement as an integral part of its responsibility.

REDF helps nonprofit organizations incorporate social outcomes measurement into their everyday business practices. The information REDF gets from this process helps them — and REDF — improve. From its in-depth data collection and analysis, REDF measurement shows its portfolio of social purpose enterprises is having a lasting, positive impact on the lives of employees.

Over the years REDF has developed a number of tools to gauge the impact and effectiveness of the organizations in which it invests:

Social Impact Reports REDF supports an ongoing assessment process that involves face-to-face interviews with every enterprise employee at the time of hire. Follow-up interviews continue at six-month intervals for up to two years after hire.

The Social Impact Report highlights findings from a range of outcome areas, based on data collected from every individual served by REDF portfolio enterprises.

OASIS

Developed by REDF, OASIS (the Ongoing Assessment of Social ImpactS) is a comprehensive, agency-wide management information system that provides timely, accurate information about the social impacts of an entire organization.

Because it is customized for each agency, OASIS helps REDF portfolio groups make better decisions by giving them immediate access to the impact of their programs.

Social Return on Investment Reports

Social Return on Investment (SROI) measures cost-savings to society and change in individuals’ lives as a result of social enterprise employment.

SROI is an example of how REDF’s pioneering innovations set new standards for the field of social enterprise. Although no longer used by REDF, other organizations have built upon REDF's pioneering work to help quantify the positive impact on their work to society.

Mission Statement

REDF creates jobs and pathways to employment for people facing the greatest barriers to work.