Welcome to CA RISE

The nation’s first statewide investment in employment social enterprises
Launched in 2023, CA RISE (California Regional Initiative for Social Enterprise) marks the nation’s first statewide capital and capacity-building investment in employment social enterprises.
In partnership with the California Office of the Small Business Advocate (CalOSBA), REDF serves as program lead for this $25 million investment and will deliver customized technical assistance to businesses across the state that employ, train, and support talented Californians overcoming barriers to employment.
Together, these capital and capacity investments will grow the sector – and accelerate economic inclusion and mobility across California.
Take a look at this short video introducing the program and program staff.
Updated as of 7/18/24
- June 20th, 2024 at Noon PST: Virtual kick-off
- June – July 2024: Relationship manager onboarding meetings and first grant disbursement
- August 7-8, 2024, in Sacramento, CA: In-person cohort track kick-off
- June 2024 – September 2025: Capacity building support and peer network building
- November 2024: Second grant disbursement
- September 2025: Closing and CA RISE graduation
Jeff Bergquist, Senior Director
Role: I oversee the capacity-building elements of the CA RISE program, manage the large consulting relationships as well as supervise the CA RISE consultant pool, and supervise ESE outreach activities.
Fun Fact: I once butt-dialed the CEO of a Fortune 500 company.
Email: jbergquist@redf.org
Phone: 415-510-6029
Walter Chacon, Senior Associate
Role: My role on the team is to design the set of capacity-building opportunities available for ESE leaders.
Fun Fact: This year I plan to compete in 20+ disc golf tournaments throughout New England. When I’m not out on the course, I’m usually home with my dog, Lacey.
Email: wchacon@redf.org
Phone: 415-799-2103
Karen Chern, Senior Director
Role: I oversee three of REDF’s signature programs: the Accelerator, the Growth Portfolio, and the Community. These programs have all helped inform and connect to CA RISE programming, and I provide advisory on program elements and program alignment.
Fun Fact: I started skiing at age 37.
Email: kchern@redf.org
Phone: 415-510-6034
Stephanie Chiu, Senior Associate
Role: My role is to help coordinate across different teams and to provide administrative support to CA RISE.
Fun Fact: As a missionary, I once tried to put a Haitian orphan in my backpack before climbing up on a rooftop.
Email: schiu@redf.org
Phone: 415-935-2719
Kalen Cornelious, Senior Manager
Role: As the lead project manager for CA RISE I manage REDF’s external partnerships in addition to internal cross team coordination.
Fun Fact: I love to travel! Favorite trip so far was last year with my family where we visited Rwanda, Kenya, and UAE.
Email: kcornelious@redf.org
Phone: 415-510-6064
Greg Ericksen, Director
Role: I oversee REDF’s government partnerships and policy team. Our team helped to create and pass the CA RISE legislation. We hope to sustain and leverage more public sector dollars for CA ESEs.
Fun Fact: In the late 90s, I made my television debut on the Jenny Jones talk show.
Email: gericksen@redf.org
Phone: 415-510-6024
Katie Orovecz, Senior Manager
Role: I design capacity building opportunities for CA RISE participants such as optional workshops, content for cohort learning sessions, and responsive technical assistance.
Fun Fact: I have a beagle named Buddy who may join a virtual meeting from time to time.
Email: korovecz@redf.org
Phone: 415-935-2716
Will Portnof, Manager
Role: My role is to be the primary point of contact for ESEs in the CA RISE program, lending a hand wherever I can.
Fun Fact: After high school, I worked two jobs as a boat captain — a barge cleaning moorings and a water taxi shuttling people to their boats.
Email: wportnof@redf.org
Phone: 415-510-6054
Jamie Stark, Manager
Role: As a Relationship Manager, my job is to be a consistent, trusted point of contact for your organization for all things REDF.
Fun Fact: I lived in El Salvador for two years and speak fluent Spanish! And I co-own the Green Bay Packers.
Email: jstark@redf.org
Phone: 415-799-2128
Justin Van Zerber, Manager
Role: My role is to assist ESEs access and leverage public resources.
Fun Fact: If I am not outside exploring, I can be found cooking and eating all the wonderful foods the Bay Area has to offer.
Email: jvanzerber@redf.org
Phone: 415-935-2723
Maura Welch, Associate Director
Role: I support the capacity-building elements of the CA RISE program.
Fun Fact: I once won an ice cream eating contest by eating three pints of ice cream in one sitting.
Email: mwelch@redf.org
Phone: 415-510-6067
Mandatory Monthly Cohort Sessions
Attendance from ESE leaders is crucial to the success of CA RISE. Each ESE is expected to have one primary contact who has decision-making authority and time to participate in all mandatory sessions. If your point of contact must change, you are responsible for informing program staff in advance of any sessions.
In addition, we recommend that each leader brings one or more additional leaders from their ESE to each session. This is optional, but doing so facilitates shared learning and provides professional development opportunities for additional staff.
The table below summarizes mandatory sessions. All sessions are virtual unless otherwise indicated. Program staff will provide final dates, times, and calendar invites at least three weeks in advance of each session.
Date | Session |
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June 20th, 2024, 12pm PST | Introduction to CA RISE |
August 2024, in-person in Sacramento, CA | Track Session 1 |
October 2024 | Track Session 2 |
December 2024 | Track Session 3 |
February 2025 | Track Session 4 |
April 2025 | Track Session 5 |
June 2025 | Track Session 6 |
August/September 2025 | Program Closing |
During CA RISE sessions, we expect that you are fully engaged on camera, engaging in chat, discussing in breakout rooms, completing the work & workshop activities (90-minute sessions).
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- Participants are expected to schedule and attend initial kickoff, midpoint, and closing conversations with your Relationship Manager (RM).
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- If you miss more than 30 minutes of a session, you are considered not to have attended.
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- If you miss a session, you are expected to make up the work, either with a peer ESE, facilitator, and/or Relationship Manager.
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- Participants who miss more than 1 required session without make up work before the midpoint and more than 1 required session without make up work after the midpoint may be asked to leave the program.
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- If you are going to be late to a session, contact program staff in advance.
In addition to attendance at these sessions, participants are expected to complete experiments, homework, and/or pre-work in between sessions which we expect to take 1-2 hours total per session. We also understand that there may be extenuating circumstances that would prevent you from being fully present. We will work with leaders on a case-by-case basis to address force majeure events as they come up.
Optional Responsive Technical Assistance
Participants will have the opportunity to work with program staff to identify priority areas for responsive technical assistance projects based on a pre-defined menu of options.
After the technical assistance scope of work has been signed, we expect participants to follow through with the project and engage with the provider. Participants failing to do so may forfeit the opportunity for further technical assistance support.
Responsive technical assistance projects will last approximately three to eight months depending on the type of support provided.
Should participants choose technical assistance opportunities outside of the pre-defined menu, participants will be responsible for scoping and communicating with external consultants. Upon completion of a technical assistance project, participants must submit a copy of the project’s deliverables to REDF. Participants are permitted to scrub deliverables of any client-protected or otherwise highly sensitive information before doing so.
Optional Workshops
Throughout the CA RISE program we will offer optional workshops focused on specific topics of general interest. These workshops are not required and are meant to supplement topics covered in the CA RISE program for participant organizations.
Anyone from your organization can attend these workshops. Most workshops will also be open to ESEs across California and serve as an additional opportunity to meet other California ESEs. Potential workshop topics include direct deposit, fundraising strategy, and employer relations. While optional, we encourage ESEs to take advantage of the workshops of most interest and to extend the invitation to others in your organization.
Mandatory Data Submission Policy
CA RISE participants are expected to provide information that will support each organization’s engagement in the program to help set goals, identify and participate in technical assistance, and monitor progress against business and program goals. The information gathered will be used to help the Program Lead provide optimal support for each participant, adjust programming and content as appropriate, and contribute to overall program evaluation. As such, ESEs will be asked to provide information on the following items:
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- Self-assessment of ESE’s business and programs (Baseline assessment and initial data collection survey)
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- Feedback on, satisfaction on, and knowledge gained from programmatic components such as cohort sessions, TA and advisory support, and optional workshops (through surveys, cadence will vary)
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- Feedback on changes in knowledge or practices based on CA RISE engagement (midpoint survey)
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- Feedback on changes in knowledge or practices based on CA RISE engagement, and current status of ESE business and program components (final survey)
CA RISE reserves the right to request additional data beyond the requests listed here as needed. As CA RISE engages in program evaluation activities, ESEs may receive requests to participate in focus groups or interviews regarding the program.
Media and Publicity Policy
Participants acknowledge and agree that CA RISE program staff, including CalOSBA, Lendistry, and REDF may (1) include information about the participant and participant’s accomplishments in communications including but not limited to social media, websites, collateral, newsletters, e-mail announcements, and reports; (2) include information about the participant and participant’s accomplishments in other publications or in press releases or other media communications; and (3) discuss the participant and participant’s activities with funders, partners, Boards of Directors, Advisory Councils, or other persons.
Participants are encouraged to identify their program in accordance with the guidance below.
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- If participant website(s) can incorporate a reference that Participant is a member of the CA RISE program and display the CA RISE logo, we encourage that reference. The CA RISE name and logo are insignia owned by CalOSBA. Participant may not alter the CA RISE logo.
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- CA RISE logos, along with guidelines on the proper use, can be found here starting April 1st, 2024.
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- Written permission from CalOSBA is required before Participant can use the CA RISE name on materials that will be sold, or before permitting donors to use the CA RISE name or logo in promotional materials.
COVID Policies for In-Person Events
CA RISE programming will primarily take place virtually. However, there will be opportunities for in-person events throughout the duration of the program. During in-person events, the following policies apply to all participants.
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- While not required, we encourage attendees to wear masks, both during travel and when not eating and drinking during CA RISE in-person events.
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- While not required, we encourage all attendees to test prior to travel to CA RISE in-person events.
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- All CA RISE participants will be required to comply with employment social enterprise location COVID-19 policies and health and safety practices during site visits.
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- If COVID context changes or if the structure of CA RISE programming changes, CA RISE reserves the right to update these policies.
If upon reviewing our policy you need additional support or resources to accommodate your participation based on your comfortability with the policy, your own personal health needs, OR you are immunocompromised – individuals with a weak immune system – please let us know by contacting CARISE@redf.org so we can make arrangements.
Positive COVID Test or Symptoms
In case you are feeling unwell OR test positive for COVID-19 in advance of an in-person event, we ask that you not attend.
In case you are feeling unwell OR test positive for COVID-19 in advance of a mandatory session, please reach out to your Relationship Manager to share your absence and plan next steps for once you are well.
Dismissal from the Program
Failure to abide by the program agreements may lead to dismissal from the program.
If you are dismissed, leave, and/or do not successfully graduate from CA RISE:
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- You may not be eligible to receive the second disbursement of your funding for this program.
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- You may not be eligible to join the REDF Community program designated for program alumni.
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- You may be required to repay portions of any funding that you’ve received for this program.
CA RISE reserves the right to make dismissal decisions on a case-by-case basis.
1. What data reporting is required to meet participation expectations?
We are currently planning three data reporting milestones. First in September 2024, second near the midpoint of the program in February 2025, and third near the closing of the program in September 2025. For each milestone, we will request information related to:
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- Business lines
- Number of people employed at your ESE, broken down by demographics
- Additional programmatic supports offered to participants (e.g. total wages paid, upskilling opportunities)
- Existing partnerships with employers and government entities
- Current access to public funding or interest in accessing public funding
- Sense of optimism over ESE prospects and connection to ESE peer leaders
Note that we are partnering with an evaluation firm to help assess the impact of CA RISE. The evaluation firm will support the development of our data requests and we plan to begin our first data reporting milestone at the end of the Summer 2024.
2. What are the allowable grant uses under this program?
Allowable grant uses include:
- Providing jobs, training, and support to employees
- Creating new jobs
- Employee-related costs, including salary
- Developing data and learning systems
- Replicating services to new California communities
- Expanding services within existing communities
- Specific-use equipment for your social enterprise
Please refer to the CA RISE Grant Use Memo for grant use guidance.