CA RISE

What is the California Regional Initiative for Social Enterprises?

CA RISE is a first-of-its-kind, $42 million state investment in employment social enterprises. Managed by the California Office of the Small Business Advocate (CalOSBA) with Redefine Alliance serving as program lead, the California Regional Initiative for Social Enterprise (CA RISE) delivers capital, community, and 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 are growing the sector — and accelerating economic inclusion and mobility across California.

The application period for the 2026 cohort is open June 3, 2026 until July 3, 2026 at 5:00PM PST.

Visit https://redefinealliance.org/ca-rise/ for more information and to apply for the program.

Please email carise@redefinealliance.org for questions.

What is an employment social enterprise?

An employment social enterprise (ESE) is a for-profit or non-profit organization that earns revenue through the sale of a good or service produced by employees overcoming barriers to work. Each entity should have a stated mission that they exist specifically for the purpose of providing employment, training, and supportive services to people overcoming barriers to work. Program outcomes are just as important as business outcomes to ESEs.

CA RISE provides grant capital paired with technical assistance to support the growth of employment social enterprises in California. The ESEs selected for CA RISE through a competitive grant process received a one-time grant of between $100,000 – $500,000 to support investments related to the sustainable growth of their business or increased economic mobility among their participant employees.

​CalOSBA administers the program with national advocate and leader in the employment social enterprise field, Redefine Alliance​. Redefine Alliance​ provides grantees with:

• Cohort-based and one-to-one customized technical assistance
• Cohort-based training on two learning tracks: Sustainable Growth and Economic Mobility
• A suite of tools and learning modules on Redefine Alliance workshop
• Assistance enrolling in additional government programs (for example, SNAP Employment & Training)
• Relationship management from a Redefine Alliance staff member
• Peer consulting from other local employment social enterprises