Published in Pensions & Investments

By Caryl Anne Francia

The Ford Foundation and KKR co-founder George Roberts have teamed up to give a major boost to the REDF Impact Investing Fund (RIIF). This special fund is designed to quickly grow social businesses that focus on creating jobs. By mixing charitable donations with sharp private investment skills, this effort tackles the lack of opportunity for millions of Americans who face major obstacles to employment, such as those with criminal records or who have experienced homelessness.

The partnership uses RIIF’s status as a federally recognized Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) to offer flexible loans and hands-on support to help these social businesses grow. This business-focused approach allows them to expand their work, which in turn leads to better economic prospects for people and helps them become integrated into the workforce.

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