Title Director, Social Innovation Fund; Corporation for National & Community Service Company A White House Initiative Bio Michael is a political appointee in the Obama Administration serving as the director of the Social Innovation Fund (SIF) at the Corporation for National and Community Service. The Social Innovation Fund is a key Administration initiative that mobilizes federal and private investment to support and scale innovative, evidence-based, community-driven solutions focusing on economic opportunity, youth development and healthy futures. To date, the SIF has invested approximately $137 million in more than 200 pioneering community organizations, secured more than $300 million in non-federal commitments and through rigorous evaluation is building a knowledge base of proven models that can be replicated nationwide. Before joining the Obama Administration Michael served as Senior Vice President of Social Innovation at the Case Foundation, where he oversaw the Foundation's giving and program strategy and played a key role in the creation and support of numerous highly regarded campaigns and public-private partnerships. His work to make giving and giving back a seamless part of everyday life has led to groundbreaking crowdsourcing efforts such as America’s Giving Challenge, open innovation summits on prizes and challenges with the White House and the Make It Your Own Awards, which the New York Times called “the first time a major foundation is offering the public a direct role in deciding who should receive some of its money, a process typically shrouded in mystery.” Michael also played a key leadership role in the design and support of several highly regarded public-private partnerships with the Case Foundation’s co-founders and the Bush and Obama Administrations, iconic global corporations and leading philanthropies and nonprofit organizations. These partnerships have included efforts such as the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation, U.S.-Palestinian Partnership, A Billion + Change, and the President’s Council on Jobs and Competitiveness. Most recently, Michael led the Foundation’s effort to create the Startup America Partnership with the Kauffman Foundation and the White House. The Partnership has led to the creation of more than 30 state affiliates, 13,000 member firms and billions of dollars in resources aimed at making it easier for entrepreneurs to scale companies and strengthen communities. Michael was also responsible for Case Foundation sector-building initiatives like the recent Be Fearless campaign, seeking to foster more big bets and risk-taking in the social sector. Before joining the Case Foundation, Michael helped build national initiatives aimed at bridging the “digital divide” as a Program Officer at the Beaumont Foundation of America and a Regional Program Manager at PowerUP, overseeing the launch and development of thousands of impact-oriented technology centers nationwide. Michael has also served as a senior program and communications staff member at a Massachusetts Boys & Girls Club, was an aide to U.S. Congressman Richard E. Neal, managed national youth solutions forums for the National Crime Prevention Council and has a B.A. in Communications from Marymount University. Michael is a sought after contributor to industry publications and gatherings on the subject of social innovation, social media for social good, prizes and challenges, cross-sector partnerships and more. Prior to his appointment, Michael served many years on the boards of Philanthropy for Active Civic Engagement (PACE), Idealist.org and Public Allies.