President Obama has called on philanthropists, foundations, and others in the private sector to partner with the US government’s Social Innovation Fund.

“Now more than ever, we need to build cross-sector partnerships to transform our schools, improve the health of Americans, and employ more people in clean energy and other emerging industries,” said a statement from the White House. “These community solutions will help build the new foundation for the economy and the nation.”

Congress still needs to approve the $50m (£30m) allocated for the fund in the 2010 budget. Once it does, the Corporation for National and Community Service, the agency managing the fund, will issue a ‘notice of funding opportunity’ next autumn, the White House has said. Applications will be due in the winter, and funds will be awarded in spring.

Matched funding from private sources or local governments will be needed for all grants that are made from the Social Innovation Fund, which was created by the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act, signed in April 2009.

Melody Barnes, director of the White House Domestic Policy Council, will lead a search across the country for the programmes that can most effectively transform communities and change lives. This will be “designed to inform and shape the social-innovation policy agenda,” a White House Official told The Chronicle of Philanthropy. It will not be connected to the funding process.