White House Outlines Office of Social Innovation Goals

The White House has for the first time publicly outlined the mission of its new Office of Social Innovation and Civic Participation.

In a press release to announce President Obama’s plan to propose $50-million for a Social Innovation Fund in fiscal year 2010, it said the office will:

• Promote partnerships between the government and nonprofit groups, businesses, and philanthropists to make progress on the president’s policy agenda.

• Identify and support the rigorous evaluation and expansion of innovative, promising ideas that are transforming communities — like, for example, Harlem Children’s Zone, YouthVillages, Nurse-Family Partnership, and Citizen Schools.

• Support greater civic participation through new-media tools.

• Promote national service.

The office is headed by Sonal Shah, former head of global development at Google.org, who discussed its plans at a recent Global Philanthropy Forum.