mission & brief history

The Civic Innovation Project was rebranded as the Public Finance Initiative (PFI) to reflect its adoption of a singular focus that specializes in developing public finance programs that center the values of equity, sustainability, and inclusive growth in fiscal decision-making. PFI is awarded a $4 million grant to launch a new project centering equity in municipal bond markets together with lead collaborators - Excellence and Equity in Public Finance Program at the Milken Institute, the Urban Institute, the Government Alliance on Race and Equity (GARE) at Race Forward,  Urban American City, LLC, and The Initiative for Responsible Investment at the Harvard Kennedy School’s Center for Public Leadership. Read the case study here.

We launched new in-person public finance focused learning programs for various foundations and stakeholders who work with government officials. Our programs were recognized with a State of Boston Innovation Award, MAHA Corporate Social Responsibility Award, GOV CIO OUTLOOK Award, & others.

The Civic Innovation Project (the precursor to the Public Finance Initiative) was founded by Lourdes German to develop programs that build the capacity of government leaders to use civic sector innovation to improve people’s lives, via a Public Sectors Leaders Forum series in partnership with the Microsoft Innovation &Policy Center.