Matching the Greatest Need With the Greatest Opportunity

We facilitate a five-step, community-centered process designed to match the unmet needs local individuals and families identify as barriers to prosperity with proven organizations. In each of our locations, we partner with a Selection Advisory Council (SAC) made up of local leaders, residents and experts. Every year, we prioritize a pressing need and select an organization with a track record of success addressing that need elsewhere in the country. We invite them into the community and provide collaborative support so they quickly take root and deliver change.

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An image of an adult sitting next to children as there are rows of individuals behind them in a classroom.
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A blue illustration of a thought bubble with a map of the United States inside it and a magnifying glass intersecting the bubble, representing our search process.
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An image of a green open hand with leaves above it, representing need.
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  1. 1

    We Discover

    Through hundreds of community conversations, we elevate and prioritize unmet needs often resulting from racial and economic disparities where an innovative program could make a significant difference locally.

  2. 2

    We Scout

    Our local team searches the country and deeply vets evidence-based programs best suited to effectively tackle the identified unmet needs locally.

  3. 3

    We Select

    In partnership with the Selection Advisory Council, we select an innovative program with significant, measurable results and the best local fit.

  4. 4

    We Invest

    We help the selected organization reach and sustain impact locally with multiyear unrestricted funding, on-the-ground support and strategic partnership development.

  5. 5

    We Measure

    With each portfolio organization, we identify and set multiyear programmatic and financial targets and provide support to reach those targets. We report on those measures annually.

  1. 1

    We Discover

    Through hundreds of community conversations, we elevate and prioritize unmet needs often resulting from racial and economic disparities where an innovative program could make a significant difference locally.

  2. 2

    We Scout

    Our local team searches the country and deeply vets evidence-based programs best suited to effectively tackle the identified unmet needs locally.

  3. 3

    We Select

    In partnership with the Selection Advisory Council, we select an innovative program with significant, measurable results and the best local fit.

  4. 4

    We Invest

    We help the selected organization reach and sustain impact locally with multiyear unrestricted funding, on-the-ground support and strategic partnership development.

  5. 5

    We Measure

    With each portfolio organization, we identify and set multiyear programmatic and financial targets and provide support to reach those targets. We report on those measures annually.

A green illustration of three people graphics sitting at a table with a thought bubble overhead.
A blue illustration of a thought bubble with a map of the United States inside it and a magnifying glass intersecting the bubble, representing our search process.
A purple illustration of three people graphics sitting at a table with a thought bubble overhead with a house inside.
An image of a green open hand with leaves above it, representing need.
A blue illustration of increasing in slope blocks stacked next to each other with an increasing line overhead, representing impact.

What Our Community is Saying

“GreenLight Fund delivers a strong social return on our investment while remaining low-risk. Their careful process identifies the most effective organizations with the best local fit, and their ongoing support ensures long-term sustainability and meaningful impacts for individuals and families. We are excited by this milestone and the additional impact it will have on communities across the country”

A headshot of Irfan Alibhai with a nature background.

Irfan Alibhai

President, The Burkehaven Family Foundation & GreenLight Board President

“GreenLight Fund’s approach and social justice values align with the NFL Foundation’s Inspire Change initiative”

Anna Isaacson

NFL Senior Vice President of Social Responsibility

“GreenLight’s unique model of helping communities source proven solutions to issues they face is one of the breakthrough concepts in philanthropy of the past decade. It’s not surprising that GreenLight is now in 15 locations and reached 1.3M children and families in the past year. This significant third national fund puts GreenLight on a trajectory to being one of the most important platforms for fighting poverty in this country.”

Jeff Bradach

Co-founder and former Managing Partner of The Bridgespan Group

“I’m proud to support GreenLight’s unique model. It is deeply local, engaging the community in each of its cities, with the added benefit of GreenLight’s national resources and learning from across the network.”

A headshot of John Connaughton with a blurred city skyline in the background.

John Connaughton

Co-Managing Partner, Bain Capital

“GreenLight’s thoughtful, intentional and sustainable approach, in partnership with local stakeholders, is what so many communities need to shift outcomes toward equitable opportunity.”

A headshot of Randi Tepper with a building in the background.

Randi Tepper

The Tepper Foundation

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