Redefine Alliance

Redefine Alliance Redefining what talent looks like, what good business means, and what's worthy of investment. Join the movement. Together, we’re building an economy that works.

Redefine Alliance invests in businesses that reveal and reinforce the talent of people overcoming barriers to employment. We partner with social entrepreneurs - providing capital, capacity, and community - to amplify the success of their businesses and the people they employ. Our investments have supported 363 employment social enterprises across 41 states and DC - collectively employing 157,000 p

eople and generating over $3 billion in revenue to be reinvested in employees, jobs, and communities. For everyone.

What does it take to help employment social enterprises (ESEs) access the capital they need to grow? That's exactly what...
06/23/2026

What does it take to help employment social enterprises (ESEs) access the capital they need to grow? That's exactly what Folu Ogunyeye will be exploring this summer.

Folu is an MBA student at Harvard Business School who is passionate about building systems that create lasting economic power and community-driven change.

As a Farber Fellow, she'll work across multiple ESEs to help design a blended capital strategy that supports Redefine Alliance's place-based ecosystem work. She's excited to explore how innovative financing approaches can help more employment social enterprises to scale their impact.

Before business school, Folu worked in social impact consulting across the U.S. and U.K. and founded Vamos Careers, an award-winning career navigation platform.

We're so glad to have you with us this summer, Folu. Welcome to the Farber Fellowship!

Meet Lucia Cantillo Villarreal, one of our 2026 Farber Fellows!Lucia is pursuing a dual degree at the University of Penn...
06/23/2026

Meet Lucia Cantillo Villarreal, one of our 2026 Farber Fellows!

Lucia is pursuing a dual degree at the University of Pennsylvania, earning both an MBA from The Wharton School and a master’s in education entrepreneurship. Before graduate school, she worked at Bain & Company, advising clients across a range of strategic business challenges.

This summer, Lucia is partnering with Philadelphia-based ESE, PAR-Recycle Works, which helps people access meaningful employment through electronics recycling, job training, and workforce development. Her passion for inclusion and expanding access to opportunity makes this work a natural fit.

Outside of work, Lucia enjoys traveling, exploring the outdoors, and photographing wildlife.

Thanks for joining us, Lucia — we can't wait to follow your journey this summer.

Mariam Hassoun believes capital can be a force for good — and this summer, she's putting that belief into practice.Maria...
06/22/2026

Mariam Hassoun believes capital can be a force for good — and this summer, she's putting that belief into practice.

Mariam is an MBA student at Yale School of Management who previously advised nonprofits and foundations as a project leader in Boston Consulting Group's social impact practice. She's particularly interested in how strategy and funding can help organizations expand opportunity and strengthen communities.

This summer, Mariam is partnering with Goodwill Central Texas, an organization that helps people build economic power through the power of work.

Originally from Huntsville, Alabama, Mariam now calls New Haven home. Outside of work, she enjoys making pottery, reading, and spending time with her husband, Ali.

Welcome to the Farber community, Mariam!

Say hello to Matt Le, one of our 2026 Farber Fellows!Matt is an MBA student at the University of Chicago Booth School of...
06/22/2026

Say hello to Matt Le, one of our 2026 Farber Fellows!

Matt is an MBA student at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business with a background in strategy consulting at Deloitte, where he advised public sector and nonprofit clients. As a first-generation college student and the child of Vietnamese refugees, he's seen firsthand how barriers to opportunity can affect families and communities.

This summer, Matt is partnering with Chicago’s own New Moms, an employment social enterprise that helps young mothers build economic mobility through workforce development and supportive services. He's excited to apply his strategy experience to help strengthen pathways to employment and economic opportunity.

Outside of work, Matt enjoys trying new restaurants and recipes, playing racquet sports, and running along Lake Michigan.

We're so glad to have you with us this summer, Matt. Welcome to the Farber Fellowship!

Meet the 2026 Farber Fellows!Selected from a record-breaking 390 applicants, these talented graduate students and early-...
06/22/2026

Meet the 2026 Farber Fellows!

Selected from a record-breaking 390 applicants, these talented graduate students and early-career professionals will spend the next 10 weeks tackling some of the most strategic and high-impact projects across our employment social enterprise (ESE) network.

Some will work closely with individual ESEs, while others will support field-wide initiatives focused on ecosystem-building, AI strategy, and strengthening financial health across the sector. Each fellow brings expertise, curiosity, and a commitment to expanding economic opportunity.

Stay tuned as we introduce this incredible group. We're so lucky to have them with us!

Want to learn more about the Farber Fellowship? Visit redefinealliance.org/farber-fellowship.

Today, we honor Juneteenth — a celebration of freedom, resilience, and the ongoing pursuit of equity.Juneteenth commemor...
06/19/2026

Today, we honor Juneteenth — a celebration of freedom, resilience, and the ongoing pursuit of equity.

Juneteenth commemorates the day the last enslaved people in the United States were informed of their freedom, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was issued.

Juneteenth reminds us that freedom is about more than a moment in history: it's about having the opportunity to build the future you want.

At Redefine Alliance, we believe meaningful work and economic opportunity are essential parts of that future. Access to employment, financial stability, and growth pathways help people build the lives they want for themselves, their families, and their communities.

That's why we support employment social enterprises (ESEs) — businesses that create jobs, invest in talent, and open doors for people who have been excluded from economic opportunity.

Today, we celebrate freedom and recommit ourselves to building an economy that works. For everyone.

Learn more about ESEs: www.redefinealliance.org/news/what-is-an-employment-social-enterprise/

$575M in projected revenue. $155M in revenue growth. 14 organizations that more than doubled their revenue.That's just p...
06/18/2026

$575M in projected revenue. $155M in revenue growth. 14 organizations that more than doubled their revenue.

That's just part of the impact that came out of the first cohort of CA RISE (California Regional Initiative for Social Enterprise).

Now, applications are open to join the next cohort of CA RISE! If you're building pathways to economic power in California, this opportunity is for you.

CA RISE is a $42 million statewide investment in employment social enterprises (ESEs).* In partnership with the California Office of the Small Business Advocate, CA RISE provides capital, community, and customized technical assistance to organizations creating employment opportunities for Californians overcoming barriers to work.

The 2026-2027 cohort is a 15-month program, offering three pathways:
➡️ Incubator – For 501(c)(3) nonprofits ready to launch an ESE
➡️ Core – For ESEs new to CA RISE
➡️ Growth – For CA RISE alumni with plans to scale their impact

Apply by July 6: redefinealliance.org/ca-rise/

* 𝘌𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘰𝘺𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘴𝘰𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘦𝘴 (𝘌𝘚𝘌𝘴) 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘶𝘦-𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘫𝘰𝘣𝘴, 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘦𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘰𝘺𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 (𝘴𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘢𝘴 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘩𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘰𝘳 𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘤𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯).

Roberts Impact Investing Fund (RIIF) and Autzu are helping to drive economic opportunity across California.Autzu helps m...
06/16/2026

Roberts Impact Investing Fund (RIIF) and Autzu are helping to drive economic opportunity across California.

Autzu helps more people participate in rideshare work by giving drivers an affordable way to access vehicles without the costs and commitments of ownership.

A $500,000 RIIF loan, in partnership with Mission Driven Finance, is helping support Autzu's expansion of fleet operations in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Diego.

We're proud to support innovative companies like Autzu, that are leading the way with technology and infrastructure to help communities thrive.

IL HB3751 Passes the Legislature in Illinois!On May 28, HB3751 passed out of the Illinois General Assembly and now advan...
05/29/2026

IL HB3751 Passes the Legislature in Illinois!

On May 28, HB3751 passed out of the Illinois General Assembly and now advances to Governor JB Pritzker’s desk! This important bill would recognize employment social enterprises (ESEs) in Illinois state law — affirming the value of this business model as a pathway to support inclusive employment, and unlocking opportunities to support scale and sustainability for ESEs across the state.

A huge thank you to thank you to Rep. Jawaharial Omar Williams, State Representative Kam Buckner, and State Senator Celina Villanueva, the lead bill sponsors, for fighting for a more inclusive economy in Illinois. And we could not have done this without the support of the bill supporters: https://bit.ly/49xbTHj

Big news: CA RISE is coming back for Round 2 🎉In partnership with the California Office of the Small Business Advocate (...
05/27/2026

Big news: CA RISE is coming back for Round 2 🎉

In partnership with the California Office of the Small Business Advocate (CalOSBA), we’re excited to kick off the next phase of CA RISE — a statewide initiative helping California small businesses and social enterprise leaders access the support, resources, and guidance they need to grow and thrive.

Join us for a live webinar on May 28 at 12pm PT to hear what’s ahead.

We’ll be sharing:
➡️ What’s new in this next round of programming
➡️ When applications will open
➡️ How to prepare for launch

Whether you joined us last time or are hearing about CA RISE for the first time, this is a great chance to connect with our team and get the latest updates firsthand.

🔗 Register here: https://bit.ly/4dQmxKG

Can’t make it live? We’ve got you covered. A recording will be available on our site at: redefinealliance.org/ca-rise

Address

785 Market Street Suite 1200
San Francisco, CA
94103

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