Stephen Goldsmith, former Mayor of Indianapolis and Director of the Innovations in American Government Program at the Harvard Kennedy School, looks at how governments can spark social sector innovation in Governing. As a complement to the White House Office of Social Innovation, he calls on mayors and governors to foster opportunities for social entrepreneurs at the city and state level. He says:

State and local officials must also strike a balance between accountability and flexibility. They should grant not just dollars, but also the authority to take risks and experiment. It may take a dozen new ideas, after all, to find the one innovation that works.

Read more of Goldsmith’s analysis in Governing.