Somewhere, somehow, sometime in the last 30 to 50 years, we’ve let the situation for children erode. While we are facing a war on terrorism globally, we are facing a battle for our children’s future right here in America. We say that children are our most important resource, but we don’t put our minds and our money where our mouths are. If we did, we wouldn’t have statistics like these:

• Almost one in five—or 12.1 million—children nationwide live in poverty.
• More than 9.2 million children under age 19 are without health insurance, with nearly 90 percent of them in working families.
• Nearly 3 million children are reported abused or neglected each year in the US.

Why is this? There are a number of reasons. First, children’s issues are not front and center in the public eye. They are not as obvious as a slow line at a motor vehicle office or a congested highway. Second, there is a lack of sound research or bipartisan education efforts to make the public and our policymakers aware of the critical issues facing America’s children. Third, children don’t have powerful lobbyists representing their interests and telling their stories in Washington and in statehouses across the country; there is no AARP for kids! And finally, because kids don’t vote, they have no political voice.

As a result, when cash-starved governments look for places to cut dollars, children’s programs are often the first to fall under the knife. No one questions that difficult economic and political decisions have to be made, or that many existing programs could be made to be much more effective. However, the answer isn’t to reduce government support for our children. And we can’t assume that the answer lies in private investment and philanthropy.

We must increase our investment in children from both public and private sources, and ensure the effective use of those funds. We must find ways to better distribute funding to organizations doing the best work to help children and families. And we must do more to invest in strengthening our communities and nonprofits and instill greater accountability for results.

In a recent workshop conducted by Venture Philanthropy Partners to focus on the funding crisis facing community-based organizations serving children, one comment in particular struck me. A public official challenged our position, stating that we are tilting at windmills until we realize that the situation for children requires a fundamental reframing of public policy for working poor families and families in poverty in America. The debate about serving the needs of America’s children must be reframed as a national priority that is every bit as important as fighting cancer, reforming healthcare, and protecting the environment.

At Venture Philanthropy Partners, we are privileged to work with some of the most creative and innovative human services organizations helping children here in the National Capital Region. As engaged investors, we’ve gained great appreciation for the leaders of these organizations, who have firsthand knowledge of the needs of the children and families in their communities and have developed workable approaches to address those needs. Yet their efforts are greatly hindered by the lack of helpful information and research to support their actions. And even more telling is the lack of support to encourage these leaders to mobilize the voices of the families and neighborhoods and to have their voices reach policymakers and funders.

America needs a common vision for our children’s future—for all of our children. We have to find ways for those with the knowledge and experience in helping children to collectively raise their voices and ensure that it is heard loudly and clearly in Washington and across the country.

Our country has the will to bring about change. We have seen effective movements take on critical issues such as our environment, debilitating diseases, and smoking. These movements have been successful in capturing the public’s attention and then shaping public policy so as to make fundamental changes

What is needed now is a movement to mobilize public support for shaping new policies that will bring about sweeping change for children. The time is now. Our children, our future, cannot wait.

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VPP Invests in Child and Family Network Centers

In September, VPP entered a two-year investment partnership with the Child and Family Network Centers (CFNC) in Alexandria, VA.

CFNC operates five accredited preschool programs for three- to five-year-olds in Alexandria’s poorest neighborhoods. Since it was founded in 1984 in a public housing apartment, CFNC has prepared more than 1,000 children to enter elementary school. In addition, CFNC provides support services to the families of those children focused on family literacy, social services, child care, and job training.

VPP will provide $300,000 and strategic assistance to CFNC to support components of the organization’s strategic plan. This brings VPP’s total investment in CFNC to $600,000, including funds already provided to help expand and strengthen the organization’s senior management team and to facilitate a strategic planning process.

The key goals that emerged from the plan are to:

• Expand from eight classrooms serving 140 families to 17 classrooms serving 270 families through expansion into the West End of Alexandria and South Arlington;
• Improve the current organizational structure, particularly in the areas of development, communications, outcomes, technology, and human resources; and
• Enhance programmatic initiatives, including converting to full-day preschool education, and expand family support services.
  

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A Change at the Helm of Heads Up

Heads Up, VPP's first investment partner, has a new executive director. Late last month the Heads Up board and the organization's co-founder, Vin Pan, turned the leadership reins over to co-founder Darin McKeever. Vin, who has run the DC-based tutoring and mentoring program since its inception in 1996, has decided to explore new horizons. He has joined the board of directors and will assist Darin in the transition.

Vin and Darin were recent college graduates and Echoing Green fellows when they started Heads Up: A University Neighborhood Partnership to help children in low-income communities improve their academic skills. The program has also provided community service opportunities to the hundreds of area college students trained to work with the children as tutors and mentors. In 2001, Heads Up became VPP's first investment partner. VPP has committed $1.9 million in support to Heads Up through 2006. Vin and Darin have worked hard building their management team and charting a new, aggressive course for the organization, which currently serves 750 children. In addition, they have been vocal advocates for government funding of after-school programs in the city.

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The United Nations Foundation was created in 1998 with a historic $1 billion gift from businessman and philanthropist Ted Turner. Kathy will oversee the foundation’s grantmaking and other activities that address international health, humanitarian, socioeconomic, and environmental challenges.

Kathy brings a wealth of experience in communications and philanthropy to the UN Foundation. She began her tenure at AOL as the company’s chief communications officer in 1997. She ran the media relations practice for Hill and Knowlton USA from 1996 to 1997, and she was the director of editorial administration for U.S. News & World Report from 1985 to 1996. From 1976 to 1984, she served as communications director and co-legislative director for Senator Gary Hart in both his Senate office and his 1984 presidential campaign. A few years ago, Kathy and her husband, Art Bushkin, created the Stargazer Foundation, which provides free technology support to nonprofit organizations.

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On Tuesday, October 14, the Stargazer Foundation joins George Mason University, the Northern Virginia Technology Council, and the Washington Regional Association of Grantmakers in presenting a one-day summit to encourage better collaboration among the local public, private, and nonprofit sectors. The conference will be held at the George Mason University Performing Arts Center and will bring together numerous regional leaders from the three sectors to discuss opportunities to work together on solving social challenges. Speakers include several VPP board members and investors: Stargazer founders Kathy and Art Bushkin, VPP Chairman Mario Morino, America Online, Inc. Vice Chairman Ted Leonsis, and Share Our Strength Executive Director Bill Shore. Conference details and registration are available online.

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An article by VPP Chairman Mario Morino in Family Giving News argues that proposed legislation to repeal the estate tax could reduce charitable giving by as much as $10 billion. Mario believes that the tax is a much-needed revenue stream to charities, both as an incentive for increased charitable giving and through the tax revenues it creates. He notes that charitable giving is already struggling to fill the gaps caused by reduced government funding of social services.

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In his current annual report letter, Edna McConnell Clark Foundation President Michael Bailin describes how his organization’s investment approach to supporting youth development continues to evolve. He shares several examples from organizations that the foundation supports, including Asian American LEAD, where EMCF is a co-investor with VPP. Michael, a helpful friend to VPP, offers several tips about the complexity of high-engagement grantmaking to others who are considering trying this approach.

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