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Douglas J. Besharov

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What’s the Buzz About? In the News

What’s the Buzz About?

Jitinder Kohli, Douglas J. Besharov, and Kristina Costa explain the buzz about Social Impact Bonds.

Independent Sector

Jitinder Kohli, Douglas J. Besharov, Kristina Costa

Inside a Social Impact Bond Agreement Report
The Social Impact Bond agreement itself—the contract signed by the government agency and the  external organization—is critically important to the success or failure  of a Social Impact Bond. (Flickr/<a href=http://www.flickr.com/photos/masshighered/7135676497/masshighered)" data-srcset="https://www.americanprogress.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2012/05/sib_agreement_onpage.jpg?w=450 450w, https://www.americanprogress.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2012/05/sib_agreement_onpage.jpg?w=450 450w, https://www.americanprogress.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2012/05/sib_agreement_onpage.jpg?w=450 450w, https://www.americanprogress.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2012/05/sib_agreement_onpage.jpg?w=450 450w, https://www.americanprogress.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2012/05/sib_agreement_onpage.jpg?w=250 250w" data-sizes="auto" />

Inside a Social Impact Bond Agreement

Jitinder Kohli, Douglas J. Besharov, and Kristina Costa lay out examples of what should—and should not—be included in a SIB agreement.

Jitinder Kohli, Douglas J. Besharov, Kristina Costa

Fact Sheet: Social Impact Bonds Article
Tim Stone, former manager of the Manchester homeless shelter in Manchester, New Hampshire, leans against a wall in the shower stall area of the shelter. Reducing homelessness is one of the areas that governments in the United States are exploring for Social Impact Bonds. (AP/Jack Ainsworth)

Fact Sheet: Social Impact Bonds

Jitinder Kohli, Doug Besharov, and Kristina Costa lay out the facts behind this new way of financing.

Jitinder Kohli, Douglas J. Besharov, Kristina Costa

Social Impact Bonds 101 Article
Homeless people wait in line to pick up hygiene kits in Santa Ana, California. Some specific program areas that governments in the United States are  beginning to explore for Social Impact Bonds include reducing  recidivism, reducing homelessness, preventive health services, workforce  development, and helping unemployed persons re-enter the workforce. (AP/Jae C. Hong)

Social Impact Bonds 101

Social Impact Bonds are an innovative new financing tool for social programs that allow government to focus on approaches that work—without paying a dime for unsuccessful programs, write Jitinder Kohli, Douglas J. Besharov, and Kristina Costa.

Jitinder Kohli, Douglas J. Besharov, Kristina Costa

What Are Social Impact Bonds? Report
Inmates at the Department of Youth Services juvenile boot camp wait to go outside for physical training in Prattville, Alabama. Social Impact Bonds have enormous potential in areas of social policy such as homelessness, juvenile delinquency, preventive health care, and workforce development. (AP/Rob Carr)

What Are Social Impact Bonds?

Jitinder Kohli, Douglas J. Besharov, and Kristina Costa answer basic questions about Social Impact Bonds—what they are, where they can be most useful, and how they differ from traditional government contracts.

Jitinder Kohli, Douglas J. Besharov, Kristina Costa