December 11, 2008 — The Social Innovation Forum, a program of Root Cause, a Cambridge nonprofit that supports social innovators and educates social impact investors, today announced that six area nonprofits have been named 2009 Social Innovators.

Each winning nonprofit will receive $100,000 in cash and services.

“We believe that these groups are demonstrating innovative and highly effective solutions to their social issues” said Susan Musinsky, director of the Social Innovation Forum. “We are thrilled to have the chance to help them refine their model and make a lasting impact in the Boston area.”

Through the forum, these organizations will participate in a 12-month support program that provides each nonprofit with consulting services, executive coaching, and introductions to a network of venture philanthropists looking to support innovative nonprofits in greater Boston. Each organization will receive financial support from the Social Innovation Forum’s sponsoring partner in their field.

The 2009 Social Innovators are:

ACCESS, Boston, Making College Graduation a Reality: Preparing & Supporting Low Income Students; Sponsoring Partner: Highland Street Foundation

Bessie Tartt Wilson Children's Foundation, Boston, Getting the Best Possible Start: Supporting Children & Families through Early Childhood, Sponsoring Partner: Eos Foundation

Hearth Outreach Program, Boston, The Promise of Healthy Aging: Fostering High Quality of Life Among Older Adults; Sponsoring Partner: Tufts Health Plan Foundation

Hull Lifesaving Museum, Hull, Marine Apprenticeship Program, School to Work: Creating Pathways for Productive Employment for Older Youth; Sponsoring Partner: United Way of Massachusetts Bay

More Than Words, Waltham, Social Enterprise: Nonprofit Earned Income Ventures; Sponsoring Partner: The Fund for Philanthropy & Education

Raw Art Works, Lynn, Empowering Disadvantaged Youth Through the Arts; Sponsoring Partner: Amelia Peabody Foundation and Hunt Alternatives Fund

Root Cause is a nonprofit organization that advances enduring solutions to social and economic problems by supporting social innovators and educating social impact investors. Root Cause does this work through business planning and implementation, leadership development, research, and the creation of networks that unite the public, private, and nonprofit sectors.

The Social Innovation Forum was launched by Root Cause in 2003. which since has adopted the Social Innovation Forum as a part of its Social Sector Incubator.

Social Innovators are organizations that have annual operating budgets up to $2 million, are focused on solving the core problems of an identified social need, work primarily in the greater Boston area, and are a registered 501(c)(3), use a fiscal agent, or are an initiative within a larger organization with a budget above $2 million.