Carla Javits

Carla Javits is President and CEO of REDF (The Roberts Enterprise Development Fund), a pioneering venture philanthropy that invests in and advises employment social enterprises—purpose-driven, revenue-generating businesses that help people striving to overcome employment barriers get good jobs, keep those jobs, and build better lives. Through her stewardship, REDF has invested in 191 social enterprises in 26 states that have generated $845 million in revenue and employed over 41,800 people.

Carla focuses on achieving measurable results by leveraging the business community’s knowledge, networks, and resources, and the mission of the nonprofit sector to address some of our country’s most pressing challenges. In fighting to create a more inclusive society, Carla is carrying on the legacy of her father, New York Senator Jacob Javits.

Carla is called on frequently to share her expertise at a variety of domestic and international conferences and speaking engagements, including the Social Enterprise World Forum, the Social Traders Master Conference, and as part of the American Enterprise Institute “Disruptor” Series. She has appeared on Bloomberg TV and been interviewed by the New York Times, Forbes, and Reuters.

Before joining REDF, Carla was President and CEO of the Corporation for Supportive Housing, a Program Analyst with the California Office of the Legislative Analyst, and Director of Policy and Planning for the San Francisco Department of Social Services.

Carla holds a BA and Master’s in Public Policy from UC Berkeley. Carla is involved in board or advisory roles with Third Sector Capital Partners, Inc., the Center for the Advancement of Social Entrepreneurship at Duke University, The Philanthropic Initiative, the Insight Center for Community Economic Development, and the State of California Community College Career Education African American Advisory Panel. She is a member of Fannie Mae’s Expert Advisory Panel in support of the Sustainable Communities Innovation Challenge.