The Social Innovation Initiative seeks to create a generous culture of idea and resource sharing to guide and support social entrepreneurs and enhance the impact and sustainability of their work in communities.

SIIi has established a robust set of opportunities for exchange and resources: the SII Fellows bring experience in social innovation; Peer Critique provides a forum for students to receive feedback, resources, and connections from SII Fellows; the SIIHub provides a place for student leaders to share ideas, resources, grants, etc.; and a weekly newsletter, SII What’s Up, provides a digest of events and grant, fellowship, and internship opportunities.  SII helps students translate their ideas into action through the Starr Fellowship, a 15 month program combining funding, weekly workshops and working meetings, and mentorship and advising. Last year, SII also partnered with the Entrepreneurship Program to provide Seed Grants to innovative, entrepreneurial projects. Grants have supported Runa, Solarcycle, Gardens for Health, Mali Health Organizing Project, Rainwater for Humanity, and the Capital Good Fund.

The Howard R. Swearer Center for Public Service launched the Social Innovation Initiative in 2007 with generous support from the Goldman Sachs Foundation.