The U.S. House of Representatives has proposed eliminating all funding in FY12 for the Social Innovation Fund and vital national service programs such as AmeriCorps and Learn & Serve America.  In response to the announcement, America Forward’s Executive Director, Deborah Smolover, issued the following statement:

“The Social Innovation Fund is an example of effective and efficient investment of taxpayer dollars.  By supporting local organizations that have identified effective and innovative solutions to community challenges, the two year old fund has demonstrated an ability to create new partnerships across the private, public and nonprofit sectors, leveraging public funding 3 to 1.  America Forward is extremely disappointed that the House has eliminated funding for this groundbreaking initiative as well as national service programs including AmeriCorps and Learn & Serve America, initiatives which are integral to providing the human capital necessary to implement the innovative methods of effective organizations across the country.  We will work with our diverse coalition members to continue to educate our nation’s policymakers, particularly Republican leadership, on the alignment between the principles embedded in the Social Innovation Fund and those cited as central to the Republican view of the role of government.  Continued support for the Social Innovation Fund and Corporation for National and Community Service as a whole is central to effective local problem solving.”