April 23, 2009 | Read Time: 2 minutes
While the plans for the White House Office of Social Innovation and Civic Participation are still being worked out by the Obama administration, its newly appointed head, Sonal Shah, gave some details about them during the Global Philanthropy Forum.
Ms. Shah, who formerly led global-development efforts at Google.org, said the office has three goals:
- To use new communications technology, hold meetings, and start discussions to find out “what are the innovations that are taking place, how are people solving problems, what types of problems are they solving, and where are they” working.
- To provide money to innovative nonprofit projects working with state and local governments and grant makers. For example, she said the president is interested in improving math and science education and assisting states like Ohio, Michigan, and Indiana where local industries need to be revitalized.
- To promote national service and volunteerism. Ms. Shah touted the expansion of AmeriCorps, which was signed into law this week, as the “first piece of action” in social innovation.
To the donors and grant makers in the audience, she said that the office wants to work with them in a closer way than previous government efforts.
“Partnerships matter a lot to us. It’s not just that the government does, and everybody else follows,” she said. “It really is about where can we learn and what can we do differently.”
To achieve its goals and form robust partnerships, Ms. Shah said “we’re going to have to change some laws,” but she did not say specifically what they were.
She said also her focus is primarily on domestic issues, but that she is working with the National Security Council to bring a global perspective.
When asked when the office would start operating in earnest, she responded in jest: “I hope soon, or I’ll be out of a job soon.”
