Save the date! Join 150 peers in philanthropy for a convening to explore different approaches to strategic co-funding hosted by Grantmakers for Effective Organizations, as part of the Scaling What Works initiative, on Oct. 29, 2012, in Washington, D.C.

Save the date! An organization's capacity to navigate the unpredictable scaling process successfully depends largely on its people. Join GEO's Scaling What Works initiative for a free webinar that will explore the importance of supporting nonprofit talent development, the unique talent development needs of nonprofits seeking to grow their impact and how grantmakers can help.

GEO, in partnership with Nonprofit Finance Fund, Innovation Network and regional associations of grantmakers, are continuing our popular, traveling workshop series for grantmakers that want to better support grantees in their efforts to scale social impact. Our first stop is Indianapolis, Ind. on May 15.

Join the Scaling What Works initiative at the Social Impact Exchange's Third Annual Conference on Scaling Impact, June 13 - 14, 2012, in New York, N.Y. Take advantage of this opportunity to network with peers and participate in discussions about scaling strategies and the funders’ role in supporting nonprofits to grow their impact. GEO members receive a 50 percent discount on conference registration.

The U.S. Senate has unanimously confirmed Wendy Spencer as the new CEO of the Corporation for National and Community Service, the federal agency that oversees the Social Innovation Fund, AmeriCorps, Senior Corps and other programs to encourage volunteerism and support nonprofits. + more

All five 2011 Social Innovation Fund intermediary grantmakers (NCB Capital Impact, Corporation for Supportive Housing, U.S. Soccer Foundation, Mile High United Way, and United Way for Southeastern Michigan) recently announced their subgrantee selections. For information on the selected organizations, click on each intermediary's name. And, additional information about the intermediaries and subgrantees selected in the 2010 and 2011 Social Innovation Fund competitions is available here.

The New York City Center for Economic Opportunity, a GEO member and Social Innovation Fund intermediary grantmaker, has won the Innovations in American Government Award given by the Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation at the John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University. CEO received the award in recognition of its efforts to combat urban poverty, in partnership with city agencies, the federal government, nonprofits, private funders, etc., and for sharing its best practices. Through its federal Social Innovation Fund grant, CEO is currently expanding some of its anti-poverty programs in New York City as well as replicating them in communities across the U.S. + more

The Corporation for National and Community Service has released the Notice of Funding Availability for the 2012 Social Innovation Fund Competition, and applications are due March 27, 2012. If you are a grantmaker interested in learning more about this opportunity, please join GEO and partners for a series of teleconference briefing for prospective applicants. Please note that these teleconferences and the application deadline have now passed. To listen to recordings of the calls, please visit our Resources section: Past webinars and teleconferences.

The Social Innovation Fund has released the Notice of Federal Funding Availability (NOFA) for its 2012 grant competition. Successful applicants must be experienced grantmakers and will each receive grants of between $1 and $5 million per year for up to five years as well as technical assistance. Selected "intermediary" grantees will host open grant competitions for nonprofits with evidence-based program models, provide on-going support to expand the impact of the subgrantees they select, and implement rigorous evaluations of their funded program models. The deadline for applications is 5:00 p.m. EST on Tuesday, March 27, 2012. For more information or to apply, please visit the Social Innovation Fund website.

The Social Innovation Fund will host a series of technical assistance calls and webinars for applicants beginning on Thursday, February 16. For more details on calls and webinars visit here.

See how four GEO members — AIDS United, New Profit Inc., U.S. Soccer Foundation and Venture Philanthropy Partners — are using awards from the Social Innovation Fund to scale the impact of effective nonprofits and improve outcomes for low-income communities. + more