In creating the Pathways Fund we were compelled by the aspiration of the Social Innovation Fund (SIF), believing in its power to demonstrate new ways that our country can accelerate problem solving by investing in innovation. We were also inspired by a vision, co-created with our organizations and funding partners, for changing the trajectory of low-income youth across our country. A significant number of young Americans fail to emerge from high school prepared for a successful future, and we believe the Pathways Fund has an opportunity to change this reality.

New Profit applied to the SIF as the lead partner in the Pathways Fund because we've seen the benefits of blending large grants with technical assistance and true partnerships with nonprofit leadership teams in supporting more than 20 nonprofit organizations advance their vision for the communities they serve. The Pathways Fund's approach to selecting subgrantees and supporting their growth is built on the foundation of New Profit's experience, but relies heavily on the best thinking and learning from all of the fund's collaborative partners and selected organizations.

Working together in partnership toward a shared vision as funders and organizations is one of the innovations we are testing in the Pathways Fund. We believe that only by working in partnership can real progress be made for the communities and youth we all care so much about.

An experiment of this nature that brings together the Federal Government, philanthropic funders, and a set of nonprofit organizations is a new endeavor for us all. It takes a healthy dose of courage and a willingness to take big risks, yet if we hesitate to put forth the effort, even with the possibility of failure, we won't have the opportunity to succeed.