ENGAGING THE SOCIAL SECTOR: OFFICES AND INITIATIVES OF THE FEDERAL

GOVERNMENT

May 2010Blueprint Research & Design, Inc.

David Koken, Coro Fellow in Public Affairs 2010Rebekah Morreale, Stanford University 2011

About This Document :

Goal: To list all offices, initiatives and programs of the Federal Government related to philanthropy and social innovation.

Methodology: Researchers conducted a thorough examination of websites for all Federal Agencies and Departments listed on USA.gov and whitehouse.gov. Using organizational charts, site maps, program listings and internal site keyword searches, researchers identified and recorded all offices, initiatives and programs related to the project goal.

Results: The following list provides an in-depth look at current approaches by the Federal Government to engage with social sector organizations and individual citizens. Over 50 specific programs were identified, representing billions of dollars in spending from 15 distinct Federal Departments and Agencies.

These findings are wide-ranging, but certainly not exhaustive.

Use: All offices and initiatives listed in blue act as links to more detailed descriptions and program information, including (when available): Current program/office director, year created, mission statement, details of key programs/functions, and external links to more information.

White House, Executive Office of the PresidentOffice/Initiative Description Specific ProgramsOffice of Social Innovation and Civic Participation

Engaging individuals, non-profits, the private sector, and government to foster innovation and work together to make greater and more lasting progress on our Nation’s challenges.

Social Innovation Fund ($50M) Community Solutions Tour Educate to Innovate Promoting Innovation Conference Let's Move Text4Baby United We Serve All for Good Apps for Healthy Kids

Office of Faith Based and Neighborhood Partnerships

Works to build bridges between the federal government and nonprofit organizations. The Office advances this work through 11 Agency Centers across government and a Strategic Advisor at the Corporation for National and Community Service.

President’s Advisory Council on Faith Based and Neighborhood Partnerships

Strengthening Communities Fund ($50M)

National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse

Office of Public Engagement

Ensuring that the issues impacting our nation’s proud and diverse communities have a receptive team dedicated to making their voices heard within the Administration

Corporation for National and Community Service Office/Initiative Description Specific ProgramsEdward M. Kennedy Serve America Act 2009

Sweeping expansion of national service – signed into law April 21, 2009

Competitive Grants AmeriCorps Competitive Grants

($363M) RSVP ($2.7M) Learn and Serve America School–

Based Grants to Indian Tribes and U.S. Territories ($650,070

Learn and Serve America Summer Service ($2M)

Volunteer Generation Fund ($4M) Non-Profit Capacity Building

Program ($1M)

Department of EducationOffice/Initiative Description Specific ProgramOffice of Innovation and

Makes strategic investments in innovative educational practices

Investing in Innovation Fund (i3) ($650M)

Improvement through two dozen discretionary grant programs

Promise Neighborhoods ($10M)

Director of Philanthropic Engagement

Special Assistant to the Secretary, Appointed 2009

Department of StateOffice/Initiative Description Specific ProgramsGlobal Partnerships Initiative

Developing a vital component of smart power: the strategic partnerships with private businesses, philanthropies, universities, faith communities, Diaspora groups, and individuals who today find themselves empowered like never before

Secretary’s Innovation Award Empowering Women and Girls

Pittsburgh Summit on Food Security – G-20: Partnering on Food Security

USAID Global Development Commons

The Global Development Commons promotes innovations for international development through knowledge sharing, partnerships, and collaborative problem-solving

Partnership to Monitor Election Related Violence in Afghanistan

IntraHealth OPEN Council USAID Development 2.0 Challenge Development Experience

Clearinghouse

President’s Emergency Plan for AIDs Relief (PEPFAR)

The largest effort by any nation to combat a single disease. Requires a comprehensive, multisectoral approach

Private-Public Partnerships

Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs

Increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries by means of educational and cultural exchange

Your Culture + My Culture = ? Video Contest

2008 Breast Cancer Global Congress

Edward Murrows Program for Journalists

Program for emerging leaders in the field of journalism that relies on an innovative public-private partnership between the U.S. Department of State, the Aspen Institute, and leading schools of journalism.

Housing and Urban DevelopmentOffice/Initiative Description Specific ProgramsOffice of Deputy Assistant Secretary for International and Philanthropic

Embracing the exchange of ideas and exploring collaboration with international housing and urban innovators, stakeholders and institutions to

Innovation find, generate, and cooperatively implement innovative approaches to pressing problems

Office of Sustainable Housing and Communities

Create strong, sustainable communities by connecting housing to jobs, fostering local innovation, and helping to build a clean energy economy.

Sustainable Communities Initiative ($150M)

Health and Human ServicesOffice/Initiative Description Specific ProgramsHHS.gov/open Open Government is one that

works better – a government that harnesses the principles of transparency, participatory democracy, and collaboration to produce the best possible results for the American people. 

Community Data Initiative CMS Dashboard

Office of Community Services

The mission of the Office of Community Services is to work in partnership with states, communities, and other agencies to provide a range of human and economic development services and activities which ameliorate the causes and characteristics of poverty and otherwise assist persons in need.

Compassion Capital Fund ($47.5M FY 08)

Strengthening Communities Fund

Small Business AdministrationOffice/Initiative Description Specific ProgramsSmall Business Innovation Research

Ensures that the nation's small, high-tech, innovative businesses are a significant part of the federal government's research and development efforts. 11 participating Federal Departments.

Small Business Innovation Research Small Business Technology Transfer

NASA Office/Initiative Description Specific ProgramsInnovative Partnerships Program

Online “innovation marketplace” with 180,000 participants to spur solutions to problems such as forecasting solar activity, keeping food fresh in space, and developing a compact aerobic device for astronauts. 

Innovation Incubator

Department of Justice Office/Initiative Description Specific ProgramsCommunity Promote comprehensive Partnerships:

Capacity Development Office (CCDO)

strategies to reduce crime and revitalize communities. CCDO helps communities help themselves, enabling them to reduce violent and drug crime, strengthen community capacity to increase the quality of life, and promote long-term community health and resilience.

Office of Community Services: Assets for Independence IDA Program

Corporation for National Community Service: VISTA

Environmental Protection AgencyOffice/Initiative Description Specific ProgramsCommunity Action for a Renewed Environment (CARE)

Environmental Protection Agency

Cooperative Agreements (grants): Level 1 $90,000 Level 2 $275,000

National Center for Environmental Innovation

From market-based incentives to collaborative partnerships to advanced technologies, this website provides a window into some of the most important changes that are shaping a new generation of environmental policy.

State Innovation Grants

EPA Partnership Programs

Address a wide variety of environmental issues by working collaboratively with companies, organizations, communities, and individuals. There are now more than 13,000 firms and other organizations participating in EPA Partnership Programs.

Federal Emergency Management AgencyOffice/Initiative Description Specific ProgramsFederal Emergency Management Agency

Emergency Food and Shelter Program

Hazard Mitigation Grant Program Public Assistance Grant Program

National Park ServiceOffice/Initiative Description Specific ProgramsAssociate Director, Partnerships, and Visitor Experience

Partnerships and Philanthropic Stewardship

Washington Partnership OfficeNational Park Foundation

For more than 100 years, private philanthropy has been helping to improve, preserve and protect America’s National Parks. For over forty years, and without federal appropriations, the

National Park Foundation, chartered by Congress as the only national charitable partner of America’s National Parks, has sustained this legacy of private philanthropy.

National Telecommunications and Information AdministrationOffice/Initiative Description Specific ProgramsOffice of Telecommunications and Information Applications

assists public and non-profit entities in effectively using telecommunications and information technologies to better provide public services and advance other national goals

Broadband Technology Opportunities Program

Technology Opportunities Program (TOP)

Department of EnergyOffice/Initiative Description Specific ProgramsOffice of Health Safety and Security (HSS) - Outreach and Collaboration program

The HSS Outreach Program is an effort to establish collaboration between HSS and constituent organizations with the mutual goals and objectives of improving the health, safety, environmental and security performance at DOE sites.

Workforce Development for Teachers and Scientists

Program continues the Department’s long-standing role of training young scientists, engineers and technicians in the scientifically and technically advanced environment of our National Laboratories

Mentorship National Science Bowl

Innovations in Nuclear Infrastructure and Education Initiative

encouraged the development of strategic consortia among universities, DOE national laboratories, and industry [in order to] ensure that our country will have an adequate supply of trained nuclear scientists and engineers

Other Office/Initiative Description Specific ProgramsUnited States Institute for Peace

USIP's Centers of Innovation focus on specialized sectors essential to peacebuilding.

Centers of Innovation

Millennium Challenge Corporation

MCC forms partnerships with some of the world’s poorest countries that make a commitment to good governance, economic freedom, and investments in their citizens.

Department of Policy and International Relations

DETAILED PROFILES FOR ALL OFFICES/INITIATIVES

Office of Social Innovation and Civic Participation (SICP)Department: White House, Domestic Policy Council Director: Sonal ShahYear Created: 2009, Edward M Kennedy Serve America ActMission:

The Office will:

Promote Service as a Solution and a Way to Develop Community Leaders Increase Investment for Innovative Solutions that Demonstrate Results Develop New, Innovative Models of Partnership

Key Programs/Functions

1.) The Social Innovation Fund (SIF) - a new public-private investment vehicle administered by the Corporation for National and Community Service. $50 million in federal funds with $150 million or greater in Private Match Funding. SIF awards will be made to 7 to 10 existing grantmaking institutions or eligible partnerships that will act as intermediaries for distributing funds to nonprofit community organizations serving low-income communities.

More information: http://www.nationalservice.gov/pdf/10_0216_sif_nofa_additional_info.pdf

2.) New Partnership Models - President Barack Obama has made it a priority for this administration to find new ways for the government to partner with nonprofits, foundations, philanthropists, private organizations, academia, and all levels of government in solving shared problems.

Progress

Educate to Innovate is a campaign to improve the participation and performance of America's students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) that has announced a number of major public-private partnerships;

Let's Move , championed by the First Lady, is a campaign working in partnership with major foundations, nonprofits, and the private sector through the Partnership for a Healthier America to help end childhood obesity in a generation;

Text4Baby is an innovative public-private partnership to get weekly SMS text messages to provide pregnant women and new moms with information to help them

take care of their health and give their babies the best possible start in life; The Social Innovation Fund is a public-private investment, with a 3:1 private match

for every public dollar invested. The Fund will also work in partnership with foundations and other private partners to support and create a learning community for grantees;

United We Serve , the President and First Lady's call for Americans to serve, benefits from a number of partnerships that are highlighted on the amplify and add capacity   to the call to serve; and,

All for Good is an innovative search tool launched by Our Good Works in partnership with CNCS to help Americans connect to over 250,000 opportunities to serve through Serve.gov.

3.) Community Solutions Tour – In order to ‘highlight bottom up solutions’ and ‘gather and share valuable knowledge,’ the SICP staff will be traveling across the country to find the best community solutions.

Following are the stops Administration officials have made as part of this Tour:

March 1, 2010, Dorchester, MA, Peer Health Exchange and Codman Academy January 27, 2010, Los Angeles, CA, Mercado La Paloma December 11, 2009, Concord, NH, New Hampshire Community Loan Fund November 6, 2009, Albuquerque, NM, Roundtable with Native American Tribes October 15, 2009, New Orleans LA, Café Reconcile October 1, 2009, Pittsburgh, PA, Pittsburgh Community Solutions July 22, 2009, Des Moines, IA, EverybodyWins! July 5, 2009, Milwaukee, WI, Growing Power June 19, 2009, Washington, DC, Year Up

4.) Prizes and Challenges – ‘Bring new ideas to the Table from unlikely sources’ and ‘Help address Social in addition to Science and Technology Challenges’

Progress The Office of Management & Budget Guidance on the Use of Challenges and

Prizes to Promote Open Government on March 8, 2010. Health & Human Services created a PSA contest on flu prevention to inform

people about H1N1 and motivate them to take that help prevent the spread of flu First Lady Michelle Obama launched the Apps for Healthy Kids competition as part

of her Let’s Move campaign to challenge software developers, game designers, students, and other innovators to develop fun and engaging software tools and games that drive children to eat better and be more physically active

Promoting Innovation : Prizes Challenges and Open Grant-Making Conference held on April 30th , 2009 with the Case Foundation.

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Office of Faith Based and Neighborhood Partnerships

Department: Exec. Office of the President, 11 Centers in Federal Agencies, 30+ State Office partners

Director: Joshua DuBois (video), Contacts for Federal Centers | State Offices

Year Created: 2009 (Spun off from Bush administration - Office of Faith Based and Community Initiatives)

Mission: Form partnerships between government at all levels and non-profit organizations, both secular and faith-based, to more effectively serve Americans in need.

The Office advances this work through 11 Agency Centers (HHS and HUD are the two oldest/largest) across government and a Strategic Advisor at the Corporation for National and Community Service.

Key Programs/Functions

1.) President’s Advisory Council on Faith Based and Neighborhood Partnerships: brings together 25 leaders and experts from faith-based and neighborhood organizations in order to make recommendations to government on how to improve partnerships.

2.) Four goals of office: 1. Strengthening the Role of Community Organizations in the Economic Recovery

Strengthening Communities Fund – Administered by Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families - $50 million in Recovery Act funding available to help communities severely affected by the economic downturn. Partnering with private and public organizations, HHS will provide one-time, two year grants

Nonprofit Capacity Building Program:  The SCF Nonprofit Capacity Building program will make one-time awards up to $1 million to experienced lead organizations to provide nonprofit organizations -- or project partners -- with capacity building training, technical assistance, and competitive financial assistance. 

2. Reducing Unintended Pregnancies, Supporting Maternal and Child Health, and Reducing the Need for Abortion

3. Promoting Responsible Fatherhood and Strong Communities

- National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse – provides resources for families and professionals, including links/map to all

grantees receiving government funding

4. Promoting Interfaith Dialogue and Cooperation

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Office of Public EngagementDepartment: Executive Office of the President Director: Christina TchenYear Created: 2009, Obama AdministrationMission:

The Office of Public Engagement helps open the two-way dialogue, ensuring that the issues impacting our nation’s proud and diverse communities have a receptive team dedicated to making their voices heard within the Administration, and even more importantly helping their concerns be translated into action by the appropriate bodies of the Federal Government

Key Programs/Functions

1.) The White House Office of Public Engagement events/programs: March 10th, hosted over 100 constituent groups at the White House for an hour

and a half meeting to discuss the need for improved financial capability.  August 4th, brought over eighty interns from various organizations around

Washington DC to the White House for a briefing on AAPIs (Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders) in public service.

More examples here

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Office of Innovation and ImprovementDepartment: EducationDirector: James H. Shelton III, Assistant Deputy Secretary for Innovation and ImprovementYear Created: Bush AdministrationMission: Makes strategic investments in innovative educational practices through two dozen discretionary grant programs and coordinates the public school choice and supplemental educational services provisions of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act as amended by No Child Left Behind.

Key Programs/Functions

1.) Investing in Innovation Fund (i3) – Part of 2009 ARRA The purpose of this program is to provide competitive grants to applicants with

a record of improving student achievement and attainment in order to expand the implementation of, and investment in, innovative practices that are demonstrated to have an impact on improving student achievement or student growth, closing achievement gaps, decreasing dropout rates, increasing high school graduation rates, or increasing college enrollment and completion rates.

$650 million grant fund which requires organizations to secure minimum 20% private match

Online foundation registry available here to assist orgs with private match requirements

List of participating Foundations

2.) Promise Neighborhoods -

Provides funding to support eligible entities, including (1) nonprofit organizations, which may include faith-based nonprofit organizations, and (2) institutions of higher education.

The program is intended to significantly improve the educational and developmental outcomes of all children in our most distressed communities, including rural and tribal communities

$10 million available funding

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Director of Philanthropic EngagementDepartment: EducationDirector: Suzanne Immerman, Special Assistant to the SecretaryYear Created: 2009Mission: For full article: http://www2.ed.gov/news/newsletters/innovator/2009/1029.html

The Department has truly embraced the foundation community by creating a position within the Office of the Secretary for the Director of Philanthropic Engagement. This dedicated role within the Secretary’s Office signals to the philanthropic world that the Department is “open for business.”

While the Department recognizes that government has no business controlling private sector resources, nor telling private foundations how they should invest their philanthropic dollars, the Department does believe that there is a leadership opportunity at hand. At a minimum, the Department can provide transparency around its own decisions and investments, to assist

others in making the most informed choices about how to invest their limited resources.  Even better, the Department can provide leadership to the field, and offer guidance as to where gaps in funding, research, and knowledge exist along the spectrum of an overall strategy for comprehensive change.

The Department hopes to catalyze a portfolio of investor collaboration tools to allow philanthropy and government to operate from shared platforms

Key Programs/Functions

1.) The Department hopes to catalyze a portfolio of investor collaboration tools to allow philanthropy and government to operate from shared platforms

There are two foundational/fundamental tools for this work: A roadmap that outlines the Department’s strategies and goals, and delineates how

government funding supports and invests in those particular goals. A network platform to pool information and expertise, research, data, and evaluation

results within the education sector.

2.) Private funders can support innovation in education. The following are just some of his examples:

Coinvest in intermediaries to complement the i3 awards, providing support for promising, high-risk innovations not funded through the federal program; (see Office of Innovation and Improvement)

Collaborate in the development of college and career-ready standards; Collaborate across states on curriculum, learning tools, technology innovation,

and teacher preparation; Enable states and districts to make the best use of new federal funds from

ARRA by helping states put together great applications for the Race to the Top competition;

Assist local districts with the complex planning process for school turnarounds; and

Support rigorous evaluations of education reform. Without compelling research studies, promising innovations rarely get to scale.

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Global Partnerships InitiativeDepartment: State, Office of the SecretaryDirector: Special Representative for Global Partnerships, Ambassador Elizabeth BagleyYear Created: 2009Mission: Through the Global Partnership Initiative, the Department of State is developing a vital component of smart power: the strategic partnerships with private businesses,

philanthropies, universities, faith communities, Diaspora groups, and individuals who today find themselves empowered like never before

Key Programs/Functions

1.) Secretary’s Innovation Award Empowering Women and Girls Funded by the Rockefeller Foundation, the Innovation Award seeks to find and

bring to scale the most pioneering approaches to the political, economic and social empowerment of women and girls around the globe.

http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2010/04/140981.htm Melanne Verveer – Director, Office of Global Woman’s Issues

2.) Pittsburgh Summit on Food Security – G-20: Partnering on Food SecurityOne of the key elements of the U.S. approach to this initiative is to use development assistance to explore synergies with private philanthropy and private sector actors. As an example, we have been working with several foundations and businesses deeply involved in food security to see how best to coordinate our efforts:

Gates Foundation: The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which has to date committed $1.4 billion as part of a new

effort to boost agricultural development focused on smallholder farmers in the developing world and another half

billion dollars for nutrition-related investments largely for children and their mothers around the globe, has strongly

endorsed the new food security initiative, and agreed to work closely with the G-20 and its partners to better align

their activities and explore areas of collaboration and partnership to maximize impact on the ground.

Rockefeller Foundation: The Rockefeller Foundation will bring over sixty years of experience in food security and

agricultural development to bear, working with us to explore how we can take to scale successful programs on

agricultural inputs and market development, and will share with us its research and field testing on critical issues

including, for example, building climate change resilience into agricultural development programs and facilitating

greater private sector investments in agricultural development.

Hewlett Foundation: We are collaborating with The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation to develop the most

effective ways to integrate small holder farmers into commercial agricultural value chains, especially along Africa’s

regional infrastructure corridors. We will work with the Hewlett Foundation and others to increase market efficiencies

and reduce barriers along these regional development corridors, through improved infrastructure and policies along

these corridors.

http://www.pittsburghsummit.gov/resources/129662.htm

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International and Philanthropic Affairs Office

Department: Housing and Urban DevelopmentDirector: Ana Marie Argilagos, Deputy Assistant Secretary Year Created: Mission:

“embracing the exchange of ideas and exploring collaboration with international housing and urban innovators, stakeholders and institutions to find, generate, and cooperatively implement innovative approaches to pressing problems”

Key Programs/Functions1) “coordinates the Department's international exchanges and contacts

from the Office of Policy Development and Research, including diverse bilateral (e.g. Canada and Mexico) and multilateral (e.g. UN and OECD) programs concerning issues in housing policy, housing finance, urban development, and the environment.”

2) “handles HUD appointments for foreign government officials and delegations -- about 400 foreign officials from 50 countries visit HUD each year for meetings to discuss policy and program operations.”

3) “working with other agencies such as the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Agency in developing policy guidelines and incentives to reduce automobile and energy usage at both the community level and individual office buildings or households.”

4) “embarking on a new engagement with academic institutions, domestic and international think tanks, and philanthropic organizations to increase our collective understanding of how best to deal with our enduring urban and environmental issues”

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Small Business Innovation ResearchDepartment: U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)

Director: Edsel M. Brown, Jr., Esq., Assistant Administrator

Year Created: 1982 (SBIR); 1992 (STTR)

Mission:

“Through these two competitive programs, SBA ensures that the nation's small, high-tech, innovative businesses are a significant part of the federal government's research and development efforts.” (SBIR.gov)

“both programs seek to increase the participation of small businesses in Federal R&D and to increase private sector commercialization of technology developed through Federal R&D” 

Key Programs/FunctionsProvide $2billion to small high-tech businesses

1.)SBIR “protects the small business and enables it to compete on the same level as

larger businesses” “funds the critical startup and development stages and it encourages the

commercialization of the technology, product, or service, which, in turn, stimulates the U.S. economy”

“[help] small businesses to compete for federal research and development awards”

in partnership with 11 federal entities Funding Program

- “Phase I is the startup phase. Awards of up to $100,000 for approximately 6 months support exploration of the technical merit or feasibility of an idea or technology.- Phase II awards of up to $750,000, for as many as 2 years, expand Phase I results. During this time, the R&D work is performed and the developer evaluates commercialization potential. Only Phase I award winners are considered for Phase II.- Phase III is the period during which Phase II innovation moves from the laboratory into the marketplace. No SBIR funds support this phase. The small business must find funding in the private sector or other non-SBIR federal agency funding.”

2.)STTR “at least 40% of the work must be performed by the small business, and

at least 30% of the work must be performed by a non-profit research institution.  Such institutions include Federally-funded research and development centers (for example, DOE national laboratories), universities, non-profit hospitals, and other non-profits”

“expands funding opportunities in the federal innovation research and development arena”

“expansion of the public/private sector partnership to include the joint venture opportunities for small business and the nation's premier nonprofit research institutions… to foster the innovation necessary to meet the nation's scientific and technological challenges in the 21st century.”

in partnership with five federal entities Funding Program

- “Phase I is the startup phase. Awards of up to $100,000 for approximately one year

fund the exploration of the scientific, technical, and commercial feasibility of an idea or technology.- Phase II awards of up to $750,000, for as long as two years, expand Phase I results. During this period, the R&D work is performed and the developer begins to consider commercial potential. Only Phase I award winners are considered for Phase II.- Phase III is the period during which Phase II innovation moves from the laboratory into the marketplace. No STTR funds support this phase. The small business must find funding in the private sector or other non-STTR federal agency funding.”

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Innovations in Nuclear Infrastructure and Education Initiative

Department: EnergyDirector: Year Created: 1998, Clinton Administration

Mission:

“encouraged the development of strategic consortia among universities, DOE national laboratories, and industry [in order to] ensure that our country will have an adequate supply of trained nuclear scientists and engineers”

Key Programs/Functions

1.) Aimed to increase the interest and pursuit of academic study in nuclear sciences after an extreme plummet in interest following a lack of federal funding of this sector as a result of Chernobyl and Three Mile Island incidents

2.) “competitive peer-reviewed program to provide grants allowing nuclear engineering faculty and students to conduct innovative research in nuclear engineering and related areas”

3.) 1-3 year awards to academic areas pertinent to nuclear engineering

4.) “provides tuition, stipends, and practicums to outstanding graduate students studying nuclear engineering and health physics and undergraduate scholarships and practicums to students pursuing a nuclear engineering course of study”

5.) University Partnership Program - pairs minority institutions with institutions offering a nuclear

engineering degree to enable more minorities to enter the field of nuclear engineering- “assists universities in the operation of research reactors and in the performance of other educational activities”

6.) University Nuclear Infrastructure (UNI)- founded 2003- “new Innovations in Nuclear Infrastructure and Education Initiative, supporting the increasingly vital university nuclear engineering infrastructure”

Progress- Highly successful program that achieved target numbers of student involvement in 2007

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Workforce Development for Teachers and ScientistsDepartment: Energy – Office of ScienceDirector: Dr. William F. Brinkman, Director of the Office of ScienceYear Created: Mission: “The Office of Science Workforce Development for Teachers and Scientists program continues the Department’s long-standing role of training young scientists, engineers and technicians in the scientifically and technically advanced environment of our National Laboratories.”

Key Programs/Functions

1.) Mentorship

- Undergraduate Internships: undergraduate students have access to mentorship by leading scientists and advanced learning equipment

- Laboratory Fellowships for K-14 teachers in order to better prepare them in teaching these subjects

- Graduate/Faculty Fellowships

2.) National Science Bowl

- founded 2006, Bush Administration as part of American Competitiveness Initiative (ACI)- infuse middle and high school students with an interest in science- 17,000 student participants

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National Center for Environmental Innovation

Department: Environmental Protection Agency – Office of Policy, Economics, and InnovationDirector: Year Created: Mission:

“promotes new ways to achieve better environmental results. Working in partnership with other EPA programs, States, businesses, communities and other interested parties, NCEI focuses on: promoting environmental stewardship across society, creating a results-oriented regulatory system, building capacity for innovative problem solving”

Key Programs/Functions

1) “NCEI supports the full cycle of innovation - from identification of new ideas to evaluation to scale up:

Innovative Pilots Division  - tests innovative ideas that promise better environmental and public health protection than existing policies;

Evaluation Support Division  - evaluates innovative approaches to determine their effectiveness; and

Policy and Program Change Division  - promotes adoption of successful innovations so their value can be realized on a broader scale.”

2) “Partners with other innovators at EPA, in other government agencies, and in businesses and other enterprises who share our interest in achieving a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable future.”

3) Environmental Innovation Portfolio

“categorizing the types of strategies that environmental agencies can use to reap better results;

highlighting promising projects as examples of approaches that can be adopted or adapted;

promoting networking among people working on similar problems who can benefit from shared experiences.”

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Edward Murrows Program for JournalistDepartment: Department of State Director:

Year Created: 2006Mission: The “Edward R. Murrow Program for Journalists” is a specialized International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) for emerging leaders in the field of journalism that relies on an innovative public-private partnership between the U.S. Department of State, the Aspen Institute, and leading schools of journalism for its support.

Key Programs/Functions

1.) Since its inception in 2006, the U.S. Department of State’s Murrow Program has brought more than 600 journalists from around the world to examine journalistic principles and practices in the United States.

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Global Development CommonsDepartment: USAIDDirector: David FergusonYear Created: Launched by former Administrator Henrietta H. Fore in the fall of 2007Mission: The Global Development Commons promotes innovations for international development through knowledge sharing, partnerships, and collaborative problem-solving. Identifying and fostering innovations through open approaches can improve our ability to deliver on our core mission at the US Agency for International Development. We seek to enable any citizen of this world to co-create solutions to common problems because no single actor can solve today’s global challenges.

We intend to sustain the Global Development Commons (Commons) through partnerships and to enable multiple innovation experiences through the Commons website (including interactive websites that encourage user-driven problem-solving and open development competitions or "challenges").

Key Programs/FunctionsExamples of past/current programs:

1.) New Partnership to Monitor Election Related Violence in AfghanistanThe Global Development Commons at USAID is proud to be partnering with FortiusOne’s GeoCommons, Google, OpenStreetMap, Stamen, Development Seed, the Synergy Strike Force, and many others who map data on election-related violence and trends around the Afghanistan 2009 Elections. This map is available in real time to anyone with an internet connection, creating an unprecedented degree of transparency. Check out the map and the data available so far, or upload your own data to build it out even more.

2.) IntraHealth OPEN Council - Promoting Open Source Platforms to Build Capacity for Health Practitioners and Systems in AfricaIntraHealth has worked through USAID’s Capacity Project to develop the new Human Resource Information Systems (iHRIS) suite of free open source HRIS solutions to supply health sector leaders and managers with a collection of new tools. The software provides the information they need to assess HR problems, plan effective interventions and evaluate those interventions. Building on that knowledge and experience with open source platforms, the Global Development Commons team supports IntraHealth's OPEN initiative and advises the IntraHealth OPEN Council to promote the production and distribution of open source solutions for health.

3.) USAID Development 2.0 Challenge Mobile phone penetration has now topped 50 percent, with almost four billion subscribers, compared to 10 percent for personal computers. The Global Development Commons wants to apply these mobile technologies to exchange key information among people in developing countries. The USAID Development 2.0 Challenge sought to tap non-traditional sources, such as students, budding entrepreneurs, and other innovators to apply an innovative mobile technology solution for maximum development reach and impact in areas such as health, banking, education, agricultural trade, or other pressing development issues.

Read more about the 2.0 Challenge and watch video from the event

4.Development Experience ClearinghouseSubscribe to RSS

A survey of the proposed Nouabale conservation area in northern Congo Strengthening national and local judicial systems and promoting

reconciliation processes (1999-2004) Great Lakes justice initiative : promoting the rule of law in Burundi

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President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR)Department: USAIDDirector: Year Created: 2003, Bush AdministrationMission: PEPFAR holds a place in history as the largest effort by any nation to combat a single disease. In the first five years of the program, PEPFAR focused on establishing and scaling up prevention, care and treatment programs. It achieved success in expanding access to HIV prevention, care and treatment in low-resource settings.

This global epidemic requires a comprehensive, multisectoral approach that expands access to prevention, care and treatment. As PEPFAR works to build upon its successes, it will focus on transitioning from an emergency response to promoting sustainable country programs.

48 billion over the next 5 years to combat global HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria.

Key Programs/Functions

1.) Private Public Partnerships (PPP’s) - PPPs enable the U.S. Government (USG) and private sector entities to maximize their efforts through jointly-defined objectives, program design and implementation. These mutually-beneficial arrangements enhance local and international capacity to deliver high-quality health services and prevention programs, and leverage the core competencies of each sector to multiply their impact.

Potential private sector partners include a wide range of organizations: U.S. and non-U.S. private businesses, multinational corporations, small and medium-sized enterprises, business and trade associations, labor unions, foundations, and

philanthropic leaders, including venture capitalists. PEPFAR engages the private sector in various ways, and many countries are actively and creatively pursuing this objective.

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Bureau of Educational and Cultural AffairsDepartment: StateDirector: Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs Goli AmeriYear Created: 2008Mission:

Key Programs/Functions

1.) The "My Culture + Your Culture = ? Share Your Story" video contest - Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs Goli Ameri, in conjunction with the Adobe Foundation, will launch an online video contest to amplify U.S. public diplomacy using web-based outreach campaigns and social media platforms.

2.) 2008 Breast Cancer Global Congress - The U.S. State Department and the Avon Foundation are pleased to announce a public-private partnership to combat the worldwide burden of breast cancer. The 2008 Breast Cancer Global Congress will be held October 15, 2008 at the Department of State’s George C. Marshall Center in Washington, DC, and will include participants from over 40 countries representing all regions of the world.

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Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act 2009 – Competitive GrantsDepartment: Corporation for National and Community ServiceDirector: Year Created: 2009 Mission: On April 21, 2009, President Obama signed the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act, themost sweeping expansion of national service in a generation. Its swift bipartisan journey through Congress reflected a national consensus that service is a powerful response to the economic and social challenges facing America today. This landmark law is making America stronger by focusing service on key national issues; expanding opportunities to serve; building the capacity of individuals, nonprofits, and communities to succeed; and by encouraging innovative approaches to solving problems.

Key Programs/Functions

COMPETITIVE GRANTS:

1.) AmeriCorps Competitive Grants ($363M) - The largest of the competitions was released in September and grants are expected to be announced in May. The initiative will support new, recompeting, and continuation grants in all of the AmeriCorps State and National grant categories. Priority will be given to applicants that address compelling unmet needs in the areas of education, healthy futures,veterans, economic opportunity, and clean energy and environment.

2.) RSVP ($2.7M) - This competition, announced on January 26, will fund new service projects that recruitvolunteers ages 55 and older in communities not currently served and to expand existing RSVP service programs. Grants are expected to be announced in August.

3.) Learn and Serve America School–Based Grants to Indian Tribes and U.S. Territories ($650,070) - The competition was announced on January 22, and grants are expected this summer. The initiative will involve school-age youth in service-learning projects that simultaneously support student development and meet community needs.

4.) Learn and Serve America Summer of Service - In March, the Corporation announced $2 million in grants to 17 nonprofits, universities, and schools to engage at-risk youth in grades 6 through 9 in innovative service projects that address environmental and disaster preparedness issues.

5.) The Volunteer Generation Fund ($4M), a new program designed to increase the number of people who serve in meaningful roles as volunteers dedicated to addressing important needs in communities across America.

The Fund will support efforts that expand the capacity of volunteer connector organizations to recruit, manage support and retain individuals to serve in high quality volunteer assignmentsIn Fiscal Year 2010, there is $4 million available for the Volunteer Generation Fund. The Corporation expects to award grants of approximately $75,000 or more under this Notice. We anticipate announcing the results of this competition in mid August 2010.

6.) Nonprofit Capacity Building Program - “increase the capacity of a small number of intermediary grantees to work with small and midsize nonprofits in communities facing resource hardship challenges to develop and implement performance management systems”

In Fiscal Year 2010, there is $1 million available for the Nonprofit Capacity Building Program. The Corporation expects to award 1-5 grants ranging from approximately $200,000 to $1,000,000 under this Notice.”

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Office of Sustainable Housing and CommunitiesDepartment: HUDDirector: Shelley PotichaYear Created: Feb. 2010Mission: The mission of the Office of Sustainable Housing and Communities is to create strong, sustainable communities by connecting housing to jobs, fostering local innovation, and helping to build a clean energy economy.

In order to foster and encourage local innovation, we will create an unprecedented partnership across federal agencies and provide resources and tools to help communities realize their own visions for building more livable, walkable, environmentally sustainable regions. HUD will provide funding to a wide variety of multi-jurisdictional and multi-sector partnerships and consortia, from Metropolitan Planning Organizations and State governments, to non-profit and philanthropic organizations

Key Programs/Functions

1.) Sustainable Communities Initiative - $150 millioni. Sustainable Communities Planning Grant Program - $100 million made available for

regional integrated planning initiativesii. To demonstrate HUD’s commitment to listening and learning, Secretary Donovan also

announced today that a description of the future grant program is available for comment, including through an interactive wiki, on HUD’s web site.

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Community Capacity Development Office (CCDO)Department: JusticeDirector: Dennis E. Greenhouse Director 202-616-1152

Year Created: CCDO used to be called the Executive Office of Weed and Seed. In 2004, the office changed its name to better reflect its focused efforts on partnerships, American Indian/Alaska Native issues, and reentry

Mission: CCDO develops, evaluates, and implements policies that serve as models for other national community capacity development efforts and provides counseling for federal, state, and local government agencies and private sector clients on a variety of justice-related community issues.

Key Programs/Functions

PARTNERSHIPS

1.) Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Office of Community Services (OCS) to enhance asset-building strategies in Weed and Seed sites through Individual Development Accounts (IDAs). IDAs combined with financial literacy and Earned Income Tax Credits (EITC) can increase the capacity of low- to moderate-income families to accumulate long-term assets that provide financial security. The Weed and Seed IDA National Demonstration Project, a cooperative effort between OCS and CCDO, will assess the impact of increased home ownership in Weed and Seed neighborhoods.

2.) Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), AmeriCorps*VISTA to develop joint national service projects to support reentry initiatives. CCDO and CNCS plan to engage more than 40 full-time AmeriCorps*VISTA members who will build the capacity of organizations, create

volunteer hubs in partnership with participating cities and faith-based and community groups to mobilize volunteer support for reentry initiatives in these Weed and Seed communities.

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Community Action for a Renewed Environment (CARE)Department: EPADirector: Year Created: 2005Mission: competitive grant program that offers an innovative way for a community to organize and take action to reduce toxic pollution in its local environment.  Through CARE, a community creates a partnership that implements solutions to reduce releases of toxic pollutants and minimize people's exposure to them.  By providing financial and technical assistance, EPA helps CARE communities get on the path to a renewed environment

Key Programs/Functions

1.) CARE offers two different types of Cooperative Agreements: Level 1 and Level 2. These can be thought of as grants and, respectively, amount to approximately $90,000 and $275,000.

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EPA Partnership ProgramDepartment: EPA Director: Year Created: Mission:

EPA Partnership Programs address a wide variety of environmental issues by working collaboratively with companies, organizations, communities, and individuals. There are now more than 13,000 firms and other organizations participating in EPA Partnership Programs. This area of the EPA site provides information on our array of EPA Partnership Programs.

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National Center for Environmental InnovationDepartment: EPADirector: Year Created: Mission: From market-based incentives to collaborative partnerships to advanced technologies, this website provides a window into some of the most important changes that are shaping a new generation of environmental policy.

Key Programs/Functions

1.) State Innovation Grants Program

The Grant Program conducted seven competitions between 2002 and its close in 2009 that were designed to help states build on previous experience and undertake strategic innovation projects to promote larger-scale models for “next generation” environmental protection with promise of better environmental results.

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Federal Emergency Management AgencyDepartment: FEMADirector: Year Created: Mission:

Key Programs/Functions

1. Emergency Food and Shelter ProgramCreated in 1983 to supplement the work of local social service organizations within the United States, both private and governmental, to help people in need of emergency assistance. This collaborative effort between the private and public sectors has disbursed more than $2.3 billion in Federal funds during its 21-year history

2.) Hazard Mitigation Grant ProgramThe Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) provides grants to States, local governments, and certain nonprofits to implement long-term hazard mitigation measures after a major disaster declaration.

3.) Public Assistance Grant ProgramProvide assistance to State, Tribal and local governments, and certain types of Private Nonprofit organizations so that communities can quickly respond to and recover from major disasters or emergencies declared by the President.

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Office of Telecommunications and Information ApplicationsDepartment: National Information and Technology Administration (NITA)Director: Associate Administrator Dr. Bernadette McGuire-RiveraYear Created: Mission: assists public and non-profit entities in effectively using telecommunications and information technologies to better provide public services and advance other national goals

Key Programs/Functions

1.) Broadband Technology Opportunities Program for awards to eligible entities to develop and expand broadband services to rural and underserved areas and improve access to broadband by public safety agencies. Of these funds, $250 million will be available for innovative programs that encourage sustainable adoption of broadband services; at least $200 million will be available to upgrade technology and capacity at public computing centers, including community colleges and public libraries; $10 million will be a transfer to the Office of Inspector General for the purposes of BTOP audits and oversight. Up to $350 million of the BTOP funding is designated for the development and maintenance of statewide broadband inventory maps.

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Millennium Challenge CorporationDepartment: MCCDirector: Daniel YohannesYear Created: 2004Mission: MCC forms partnerships with some of the world’s poorest countries, but only those committed to:

good governance, economic freedom, and investments in their citizens.

MCC provides these well-performing countries with large-scale grants to fund country-led solutions for reducing poverty through sustainable economic growth. MCC grants complement other U.S. and international development programs.There are two primary types of MCC grants: compacts and threshold programs.

Compacts are large, five-year grants for countries that pass MCC’s eligibility criteria. Threshold programs are smaller grants awarded to countries that come close to passing

these criteria and are firmly committed to improving their policy performance.

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HHS.gov/OPENDepartment: Health and Human ServicesDirector: Year Created: 2010, response to Open Government DirectiveMission:

Key Programs/Functions

FLAGSHIP INITIATIVES

1. The Community Health Data Initiative is a major new public-private effort that aims to help Americans understand health and health care performance in their communities -- and to help spark and facilitate action to improve performance. 

The fundamental approach being taken by the initiative is to catalyze the advent of a network of community health data suppliers (starting with HHS) and “data appliers” who utilize that data to create applications that (1) raise awareness of community health performance, (2) increase pressure on decisionmakers to improve performance, and (3) help facilitate and inform action to improve performance. 

Read more…

2. CMS Dashboard – The Dashboard is an exciting new web application which allows the public to visualize and analyze Medicare spending with unprecedented ease and clarity – beginning with inpatient hospital spending

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Office of Health, Safety and Security – Outreach and Collaboration ProgramDepartment: HHSDirector: Glenn Podonsky, Chief Health, Safety and Security OfficerYear Created: Mission:

To promote dialogue and establish an ongoing collaborative relationship with organizations both internal and external to the DOE community.

To connect the HSS policies and practices to those of its affected constituencies - stakeholders in areas of mutual interest and concern related to health, safety, security and the environment. The stakeholders include industry, labor unions and academia.

To take the approach that outreach is a “two-way street” engagement with our constituents, rather than just solely disseminating information about our policies and programs.

To encourage the direct involvement and participation of representatives of industry, academia, labor unions, subject matter experts, and DOE Senior Level managers. For a list of our stakeholders and partners, click here.

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Office of Community ServicesDepartment: HHSDirector: Yolanda J. Butler, Ph.D.Acting Director,Year Created: Mission: The mission of the Office of Community Services is to work in partnership with states, communities, and other agencies to provide a range of human and economic development services and activities which ameliorate the causes and characteristics of poverty and otherwise assist persons in need.

Key Programs/Functions

Compassion Capital Fund – To expand and strengthen the role of organizations in their ability to provide social services to low-income communities.

Uses: The Compassion Capital Fund (CCF) consists of two grant programs:

1. The CCF Demonstration Program funds intermediary organizations that serve as a bridge between the Federal government and smaller organizations by providing them with training, technical assistance, and capacity-building sub-awards.

2. The CCF Communities Empowering Youth Program funds experienced organizations that build the capacity of their collaborating partners that together are providing alternatives to gang involvement, youth violence, and child abuse and neglect and generally fostering positive youth development.

Strengthening Communities Fund (see above for description – click)

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Innovative Partnerships ProgramDepartment: NASADirector: Douglas A. Comstock

Year Created: 2007Mission: An online “innovation marketplace” with 180,000 participants to spur solutions to problems such as forecasting solar activity, keeping food fresh in space, and developing a compact aerobic device for astronauts. 

New partnerships to:

o Engage private citizens in aerospace technology developmento Bring fresh ideas into NASAo Help emerging technologies reach maturityo Promote the growth of a competitive space industry

Key Programs/Functions

1. Innovation Incubator:

Centennial Challenges: NASA's Prize Program for the "Citizen Inventor" Innovation Transfusion: New links between NASA and creative companies Facilitated Access to the Space Environment for Technology Development and

Training (FAST): Opportunities for reduced-gravity flight testing for emerging technologies

Innovative Technology Initiative: Nurturing revolutionary concepts to benefit NASA missions and other national and global challenges

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