proving it’s possibleP L A C E B Y P L A C E
2 01 9
A n n u a l R e p o r t
COVER PHOTO
StriveTogether’s Cradle to Career Network impacted the lives of more than 12 million youth
last year. This picture features children served by Thrive Chicago’s local partners.
2 StriveTogether 2019 Annual Report | Proving it’s Possible StriveTogether.org
StriveTogether supports community-based partnerships like the Boston Opportunity Agenda to improve outcomes for youth.
at a glancetable of contents
4 definingwhat’spossible
5 networkimpact
7 creatingchangewith community
10 mobilizingcommunity advocates
13 operatinghighlights
14 investorsandpartners
15 boardofdirectors
16 powerofthenetwork
3 StriveTogether 2019 Annual Report | Proving it’s Possible StriveTogether.org
The COVID-19 pandemic is a defining moment foreveryoneasweconsiderwhatisreallyimportantinourlives.Onethingiscrystalclearforbothofus—thevisionandmissionof theStriveTogetherCradletoCareerNetworkismoreimportantthanever.
This crisis creates anopportunity todismantle andrebuild systems thatweredesigned to fail childrenandfamiliesofcolorandthoselivinginpoverty.Wecanhelpcommunitiescreateintegratedsystemsthatserveeverychild,everyfamily—regardlessofrace,ethnicityorzipcode.
Weinviteyoutostandshoulder-to-shoulderwiththeStriveTogether Cradle to CareerNetwork and pushforlastingchange.Together,wecanredefinewhat’spossibleformillionsofyouthacrossthecountry.
Changing systems that developedover centuries isnotforthefaintofheart.Truesystemstransformation
takestime.Wehavemorethanadecadeofexperienceinbringingyouth,parents,educators,businesses,civicleadersandsystemsleaderstogetherto close disparity gaps and improve outcomes for children of color andyouth living inpoverty.Whileour visionmaynotbeachievedduringourlifetime,ittrulyisourlife’sworkandwe’remakingmeasurableprogress.
Lastyear, theNetwork impacted the livesofmore than12millionyouth,closingdisparitygapsandimprovingoutcomes,cradletocareer.Communitychangedidnotoccurinboardrooms.FromOregontoTexastoMaryland,our networkmembers tapped the experience and expertise within theircommunities to solve complex problems together. This includesworkingacrosssectorslikejusticeandhealthtoaddresslanguagebarriersforLatinxyouthinCentralOregon,empoweringyouthtoadvocatefortheirneedsin
SouthTexas,andincludingyouthinthesummergrantreviewsinBaltimore,Maryland.
Youwill also see examples ofmobilizing the community to advocate forequitable policies in Minnesota and Utah. Our Strategic Initiatives Fundsupportedthispolicywork.Oneofthemostnotablepolicywinswas$6.5billionineducationreformsinTexas.Thestatewidecoalitionwillfighthardto protect this funding for 2021, despite declining state revenue due toCOVID-19.Theycannotaffordtogobacktobusinessasusualbecausepriorcutstoeducationplacedtheiryouthatadrasticdisadvantageacademicallycomparedwithpeersacrossthecountry.
Thesearejustahandfulofstoriesfromanetworkofnearly70communitiesspanning29statesandWashington,D.C.Morethanhalfofthesecommunitiesreachednewbenchmarksofprogressacrossourtheoryofaction.
We learn with our Network as they work to improve racial and ethnicequity in their communities. At StriveTogether, we created an equitablecompensationpolicyforourteamandRacialEquity,DiversityandInclusionprinciplesforsuppliers.Wewalkthetalkwithinourorganization.
TheCOVID-19crisisheightensurgencyforourwork.Ourresultsaremadepossible by our talented staff, committed board of directors, relentlessnetworkmembersanddedicatedinvestors.Together,we’readdressingthecurrentcrisiswhileredefiningwhat’spossibleformillionsofyoungpeopleacrossthecountry.
Sincerely,
Jennifer BlatzPresident & CEO StriveTogether
Danae D. DavisBoard Chair
StriveTogether
L E T T E R F R O M C E O A N D B O A R D C H A I R
defining what’s possible
JenniferBlatz DanaeDavis
4 StriveTogether 2019 Annual Report | Proving it’s Possible StriveTogether.org
34%
37%
17%
5%4%
2%1%
<1%
The impact of StriveTogether’s Cradle to Career Network isassessedannually.Lastyear,98%ofpartnershipsprovideddataintheannualassessment.
YOUTH DEMOGRAPHICS
*All data from the Civic Infrastructure Assessment is self-reported. Not all partnerships submitted data for every data point. Therefore, number of observations for each measure may vary.
12+ millionchildren impacted
12+ millionchildren impacted
STATES +Washington, DC29Community Partnerships
building local infrastructure to improve outcomes for every child
68
© 2020 StriveTogether Updated 5/2020
2,521,4690-5yearsold
6,471,780K-12 grade
3,506,519Postsecondary
TOTAL YOUTH SERVED
HispanicorLatinxWhite BlackorAfricanAmericanAsianMulti-racial
Other AmericanIndianorAlaskaNative NativeHawaiianorPacificIslander
N E T W O R K I M P A C T
network at a glance
Network membersbuildinglocal
infrastructuretoimproveoutcomesforeverychild
68
12+ millionchildren impacted
STATES +Washington, DC29Community Partnerships
building local infrastructure to improve outcomes for every child
68
© 2020 StriveTogether Updated 5/2020
5 StriveTogether 2019 Annual Report | Proving it’s Possible StriveTogether.org
Thoughsomemembersarestand-aloneentities,manyofourCradle to Career Networkmembers identify with an anchororganization that commits to acting as the fiscal agent andensuringthepartnership’slong-termsustainability.TherearesevencommonanchortypeswithintheNetwork.
© 2019 StriveTogether
Middle grademath
High schoolgraduation
Postsecondaryenrollment
Postsecondarycompletion
Kindergartenreadiness
Early gradereading
Employment
46% 54% 63% 79% 25% 40%22%
StriveTogetherCradletoCareerNetworkmembershelpyoungpeoplegetbetterresults,cradletocareer.
% OF NETWORK MEMBERS WITH OUTCOMES IMPROVING
GEOGRAPHIC SCOPE OF NETWORK MEMBERS % OF NETWORK MEMBERS WITH DISPARITY GAPS CLOSING
ANCHOR ORGANIZATION
United Way Stand-Alone Foundation Other Higher Education Government
28% 25% 24% 16% 6% 1%
8 average number of years in operation
Staff by race
46%urban
16%rural
38%rural and urban
average operating budget
$1.5M
NETWORK CHARACTERISTICS
WhiteBlackorAfricanAmerican HispanicorLatinxAsianNo data
Multi-racial Other AmericanIndianorAlaskaNative Prefernotto respond
55%
18%14%
5%4%
average staff size
9.7
<1%
<1%<1%
3%
Kindergartenreadiness
15%Early grade
reading
28%Middle grade
math
28%High Schoolgraduation
50%Postsecondary
enrollment
10%Postsecondary
completion
15%Employment
13%
*All data from the Civic Infrastructure Assessment is self-reported. Not all partnerships submitted data for every data point. Therefore, number of observations for each measure may vary.
6 StriveTogether 2019 Annual Report | Proving it’s Possible StriveTogether.org
Lasting community change doesn’t start in a boardroom. It starts where the voices of the community are heard, valued and hold power. StriveTogether helps communities move toward true collaboration with youth and families, coaching teams to strengthen engagement and sharing insights across the Cradle to Career Network.
S T O R Y O F I M P A C T
creating change with community
In Texas, the Youth Voice Summit teaches young people about policy issues and helps them build skills like public speaking and fundraising.
7 StriveTogether 2019 Annual Report | Proving it’s Possible StriveTogether.org
In SanAntonio, Texas, a networkof youngpeople is buildingpower andpolicy to shape their futures. UP Partnership’s Our Tomorrow networkconnects youth-serving organizations and youth leadership councils toelevatethevoicesofyoungpeople.
“Youthhavetobeattheforefront—notjustsittingintheroom,butactuallymakingchange,”saidMelanieHarrell,ahighschoolseniorandthesocialmediainternforOurTomorrow.
Alongwithpolicyworkonprioritieslikementalhealth,OurTomorrowhostsan annual Youth Voice Summit. The event teaches young people aboutpolicy issues,helps thembuildskills likepublicspeakingand fundraising,and closes with an intergenerational conversation between youth, localofficials and subjectmatter experts.While Our Tomorrow redesigns thisevent,postponedbecauseofthecoronavirus,they’recreatingnewspaceslikeavirtualtownhall foryouthtosharehowthepandemichasaffectedthemandheartheirsolutions.
ForLeroyAdams,OurTomorrownetworkmanageratUPPartnership,thiswork is a way to share an important message with young people: “Youmattermorethanyou’vebeentoldbefore.”Andthebestwaytoshowyouth
thattheymatter,hesaid,istochangepoliciestoshiftresourcesandfundingtosupportwhatthey’readvocatingfor.
Shiftingdecision-makingaroundresourcesisattheheartoftheBaltimoreSummerFundingCollaborative’syouthengagementwork.TheCollaborativeis coordinated by Baltimore’s Promise, which facilitates a shared reviewprocess for summerprogramminggrants. Since2015, it’s awarded$19.6million to expand learning, recreation, and college and career readinessopportunitiesacrossthecity.
Last year, the Collaborative’s community reviewwas revamped to fit thespecific needs of young people. Baltimore’s Promise led a youth reviewprocessthatconnectedorganizationsseekingfundingwithyouthages14-24, who received training and stipends for their participation alongwithmealsandtransportation.
TheprocesshelpedBaltimore’sPromisebuildrelationshipswithmorethan100youngpeople,includingdisconnectedyouthnotinvolvedinschoolorwork. Baltimore’s Promisewill continue to engage youth in collaborativeprojects,withplanstocreateacommunityadvisoryboardwithtwoseatsforyoungpeople.
In Oregon, Better Together connects the entire community, engaging not just school partners but also the library, police department, health care and more.
8 StriveTogether 2019 Annual Report | Proving it’s Possible StriveTogether.org
|| UP PARTNERSHIP sanantonio,texasPOSTSECONDARY COMPLETION
H I S P A N I C O R L A T I N X S T U D E N T S
29%2017
23%2012
A F R I C A N A M E R I C A N S T U D E N T S
43%2017
28%2012
H I S P A N I C O R L A T I N X S T U D E N T S
78%2019
58%2014
|| BETTER TOGETHER CENTRAL OREGON redmond,oregon
HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION
A F R I C A N A M E R I C A N S T U D E N T S
74%2018
67%2012
|| BALTIMORE’S PROMISE baltimore,maryland
HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION
Youthengagement isn’t justaboxtocheckoff,butacorepartofdevelopingsolutions,saidLarrySimmons,directorofcommunityengagementatBaltimore’sPromise.“Wehavetorespectandunderstandthefactthatyoungpeopleareexpertsintheirownsuccessandcentertheminthedecision-making,”hesaid.
A focus on youngpeople’s success is key to the Latinx Success Initiative in Redmond,Ore.,developedbyBetterTogetherCentralOregon.TheinitiativeisacommunitygroupfocusedonsolutionstargetingLatinxstudents.
Better Together’s work connects the entire community, engaging not just school partnersbutalso the library,policedepartment,healthcareandmore.This cross-sectorworkbuildsmomentumforsharedgoalsandgetstherightpeopleatthetabletohearwherechallengesarearising,likelanguagebarriersorotheraccessissues.
RutilaGalvan-Rodriguez,BetterTogether’sdirectorof familyandyouthpartnerships, sharedthatinformalrelationshipssupportthiswork,likewhenshehasconversationswithcommunitymembers at the grocery store or her coworker visits low-income housing communities toconnectfamilieswithresources.
“Insteadofcreatingwhatwethinkthefamiliesneed,we’recreatingthespaceforthefamiliestosaywhattheywant,”Rutilasaid.“It’scriticallyimportanttoletthisworkbeledbyfamilies.”
In Maryland, Baltimore’s Promise engaged youth in awarding summer programming grants to expand learning, recreation, and college and career readiness opportunities across the city.
9 StriveTogether 2019 Annual Report | Proving it’s Possible StriveTogether.org
StriveTogether strengthened advocacy, policy and mobilization across the Cradle to Career Network last year through direct investment in communities, focused convenings and technical assistance. Network members worked more directly with youth, parents and community partners to shape equitable policies and influence state funding.
MINNESOTAParents are persuasive advocates for change in Minnesota. One parent,Erica Valliant, coaches other parents to tell their stories inways that getleaderstolisten.Valliantdrawsonherexpertiseasamotherofthreewhohas experienced homelessness and job loss. Those hardships led her tobecometheactivistandorganizersheistoday.
“Policychangesshouldbedrivenbythosemostaffectedbyinequity,”Valliantsaid. “Iamcommitted tomakingsureotherparentsseeandexercise theirpowerfromtheirpositionandplace.”
This advocacy is made possible through the Education PartnershipsCoalition, a statewide group of organizations inMinnesota that includesGenerationNextandfiveotherCradletoCareerNetworkmembers.
TheEducationPartnershipsCoalition leverages thepowerofparents likeValliant to improve how systems serve youth and families. With a grantfromtheStrategicInitiativesFund,partofStriveTogether’sCradletoCareerCommunityChallenge,thecoalitionhasstrengtheneditssupportforparentsengaginginadvocacywork,fromprovidingstipendstopayingforchildcare.
S T O R Y O F I M P A C T
mobilizing community advocates
In Minnesota, Generation Next is part of a statewide coalition helping parents to advocate for change.
P O L I C Y W I N : M I NN E S O T A
$1.54 million increaseFROM THE STATE FOR THIS WORK OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS
10 StriveTogether 2019 Annual Report | Proving it’s Possible StriveTogether.org
In 2019, the coalition pushed to addmore rigor and requirements to itsexisting state statute, plus funding for coalition members and planninggrantstoexpandcollectiveimpactinruralandurbancommunitiesacrossMinnesota.Afteracontentiousspeciallegislativesession,thecoalitionwonsupportforboth,includinga$1.54millionincreasefromthestateforthisworkoverthenexttwoyears.
Thecoalitionattributesthisvictorytoparentadvocacy—awinallthemorenotablegiventhestatebeganthelegislativesessionwiththeonlydividedgovernmentinthenation.
“Ensuringchildrenandfamiliescanthriveisnotapartisanissue,”GenerationNext ExecutiveDirectorMichelleWalker said. “Our success is due to ourlegislativechampionsonbothsidesandtheinnovativepowerofparents.”
Throughout the legislative session, the coalition worked with parents tosharetheirexperiencesandadvocatefor their familiesandcommunities.During theHouseandSenatecommitteemeetings, legislatorsheardpar-ents,studentsandschoolofficialsonwhytheStriveTogetherframeworkisakeysolutiontoendingdisparitiesandhelpingyouththrive.
TEXASForyearsinTexas,educationandfiscaladvocatesengagedinatugofwarover public school funding. Advocates for education fought for asmuchunrestricted funding as possible while fiscal advocates sought disruptivechangelinkedtospecificoutcomes.
StriveTogethernetworkmembersusedoutcome-specificdata tomobilizeeducators, business leaders and policymakers to implement one of themostsweepingpiecesofeducationlegislationinthestate’shistory.
TheCommitPartnershiptookthestategoalof60%postsecondarycompletionandlookedallthewaydownthepipeline.Thedatashowedthatthird-gradereadingproficiencyiscrucialtostudentsuccess:childrenwhoarenotreadingbythirdgradearethreetimesmorelikelytodropoutofschool.Andjust40%ofthirdgradersmetstateliteracystandardsinTexasin2018.
Commit Partnership CEO Todd Williams was part of the Governor’sCommissiononPublicSchoolFinanceandledagroupfocusedonoutcomes.Hesaid,“WehammeredhomethefactthatwerankedsecondinthenumberofEnglishLanguageLearnerstudentsand12thinpovertyatthesametimeweranked38thinstatespending.TheethosofTexasisthatweareNumber
Oneinall,sowechosetoappealtothatpride.”
HouseBill 3 (HB3)proposed increasing funding forpublic educationanddistributing it more equitably to improve early childhood education,rewardexceptionalteachers,andputmorehighlyeffectiveteachersintheclassroomsthatneedthemmost.
P O L I C Y W I N : T E X A S
$6.5 billion STATE FUNDING FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION
In Texas, StriveTogether network members led a statewide coalition to pass equitable education reforms.
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InCentralTexas,E3AllianceCEOSusanDawsonexplainedthatsharingdatahelpedmovelegislatorstoaction.“Wehadhadthedataforalongtime,butthecommissiondidabetterjobofhighlightingit,andadvertisingit,sothelegislaturecouldnolongerignoreit.Andtheyproducedasubstantialreportthatpeopleactuallyread,usingitastheblueprintforwhatHB3wouldbe.”
Withthelaw’spassage,thestate’sshareofpubliceducationfunding,amongthe lowest in the nation, will jump to $11 billion. The challengemovingforwardistoprotectthisfundingasCOVID-19putsaddedfinancialpressureonthestate.
UTAHUnited Way of Salt Lake’s Promise Partnership of Salt Lake, a Cradle toCareer Networkmember, also received a grant through StriveTogether’sStrategicInitiativesFundforpolicywork,includingcommunityengagement.
Improvingoutcomesforeverychild,especiallythoselivinginpoverty, isapriority forUnitedWayofSalt Lake.Sixoutof10children in low-incomehouseholdsdonotmeetliteracystandardswhentheystartschool.
“High-qualitypreschool iskeytokidsbeingreadyto learnoncetheystartkindergarten,”saidBillCrim,presidentandCEOofUnitedWayofSaltLake.“Research shows it increases their likelihood of upward mobility and iscriticalforclosingthedisparitygap.”
Before the 2019 state legislative session, UnitedWay of Salt Lake gatheredstakeholderstoagreeongoalsandstrategies.Theorganizationalsocreatedacampaigntodrivepublicdemandforpreschool investmentsandengagedbothparentsandcommunityleaderstosupportthiswork.Asaresultoftheseefforts, two bills passed that established common measures around earlyeducationandcreatedacommissionofmultipleagenciestooverseethiswork.
ThecommissionformedthroughHouseBill47willcoordinateandimproveprogramsforUtahfamilieswithyoungchildrenuptoage6.SenateBill166bringstogetherthreestate-fundedpreschoolinitiativestostandardizeandimproveoutcomes.Italsoretains$12millioninstatefundingforpreschoolefforts,withopportunitiesforfutureexpansion.
To authentically connect with communitymembers facing language andtransportationbarriers,theagencyheldearly learningevents inmosquesandhostedsimilarworkshopsforSpanish-speakingparents.
UnitedWayalsooffers apaid fellowshipprogram for youngpeoplewhoarenativespeakersofcriticallanguagesinthecommunity,includingArabic,Somali and Spanish. As trusted individuals within their neighborhoods,thesefellowshavemadetangibleprogress,includingincreasingby30%thenumberofcompleteddevelopmentalscreeningsinatargetzipcode.
Oneofthesestudentleaders,AbdiIftin,spokeonapanelatStriveTogether’sCradletoCareerNetworkConveninglastyear.
“It’simportanttobuildupthecommunityfromwithinandallowvoicestobeheardthatoftenarenot,”Iftinsaid.“WhileattheStriveTogetherconvening,Itrulyfeltthecollective—wearealldoingworkincommunity.”
P O L I C Y W I N : U T A H
$12 million FUNDING FOR PRESCHOOL EFFORTS, WITH OPPORTUNITIES FOR FUTURE EXPANSION
In Utah, United Way of Salt Lake’s Promise Partnership leveraged a grant from StriveTogether to advocate for high-quality preschool for every child.
12 StriveTogether 2019 Annual Report | Proving it’s Possible StriveTogether.org
GrantRevenues $15,156,728Sponsorship/Convening/Other 604,342ContractServiceFees 296,989MembershipFees 168,751
Total operating revenue $16,226,810
OpportunityFund(60%) $4,897,109StrategicInitiativeFund(27%) 2,246,676AcceleratorFund(13%) 1,025,004
Total Challenge Fund $8,168,789
ChallengeFund/GrantstoSites $8,168,789Personnel 4,597,158Meeting/EventExpenses 1,263,866ConsultingandProfessionalFees 940,101DataandITExpenses 605,374TravelExpenses 440,130DepreciationExpense/Amortization 339,421Communications 248,017Occupancy 239,926GeneralandAdminExpenses 232,871
Total operating expenses $17,075,653
OPERATING REVENUE COMMUNITY CHALLENGE
EXPENDITURES
StriveTogether’sauditorshaveexpressedanunqualifiedopiniononourfinancialstatementsforthefiscalyearendedDecember31,2019.ThosefinancialstatementsareavailableonStriveTogether’swebsite.OurCradle to Career Community Challenge investedmorethan$8million lastyeartosupportinitiativestoimproveequityandeconomicmobilityforyouthandfamilies.ReadmoreabouttheOpportunity Fund here and our Accelerator Fund here.
93%
48%
7%6%
4%
27%
2%
1%2%3%
1%
1%
4%
4%
F I N A N C I A L S
operating highlights
13 StriveTogether 2019 Annual Report | Proving it’s Possible StriveTogether.org
I N V E S T O R S
Annie E. Casey Foundation
AT&T
Ballmer Group
Benson Family Foundation
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Chan Zuckerberg Initiative DAF, Silicon Valley Community Foundation
Communities In Schools
Ford Foundation
The Kresge Foundation
Island Foundation
Pritzker Children’s Initiative
Tableau Foundation
P A R T N E R S
Annie E. Casey Foundation
Brookings Institution
Coalition for Community Schools
Communities In Schools
Enterprise Community Partners
Equal Measure
My Brother’s Keeper Alliance
National Collaborative for Infants and Toddlers
National Institute for Children’s Health Quality
PolicyLink
Save the Children
C R A D L E T O C A R E E R C O N V E N I N G S P O N S O R S
Annie E. Casey Foundation
Bainum Family Foundation
Nellie Mae Education Foundation
Ourworkandresultsaremadepossiblebythefollowingfoundationsandpartners.Weappreciatetheirsupport.Together,we’refuelinganationalmovementtoensurethesuccessofeverychildfromcradletocareer.
B E T T E R T O G E T H E R
investors and partners
14 StriveTogether 2019 Annual Report StriveTogether.org
L E A D E R S H I P
board of directors
BoardmembersprovidestrategicoversightandstrongleadershiptoguideStriveTogetherinsupportingthesuccessofeverychild,cradletocareer.
Danae D. DavisMilwaukee Succeeds
Tom FryPhilanthropic
Advisor
James BellW. Haywood
Burns Institute
Sue LehmannStudent Success
Network
Roberto RodríguezTeach Plus
Connie BallmerBallmer Group
Lisa HamiltonThe Annie E. Casey
Foundation
Dr. Russell Booker
Spartanburg County School District Seven
Tony PipaBrookings Institution
Jennifer BlatzStriveTogether
15 StriveTogether 2019 Annual Report | Proving it’s Possible StriveTogether.org
More than 500 community members shared insights and peer-to-peer learning at the 2019 Cradle to Career Network Convening in Washington, D.C. Keynote speakers included activist, author and civil rights leader Stacey Abrams. Photos by Imagine Photography
TheStriveTogetherCradletoCareerNetworkimpactedthelivesofmorethan12millionchildrenlastyear.Morethanhalfofthoseservedwereyouthofcolor.Together,wearetransformingsystemstoensureeverychildhaseveryopportunitytosucceed.
C R A D L E T O C A R E E R N E T W O R K
the power of the network
16 StriveTogether 2019 Annual Report | Proving it’s Possible StriveTogether.org
125EastNinthStreet SecondFloor Cincinnati,OH45202
513.929.1150 StriveTogether.org
332SouthMichiganAvenue NinthFloor Chicago,IL60604
StriveTogether staff, network and board members created an equity statement, solidifying our commitment to racial and ethnic equity.
Prenatal to Age 3 Impact and Improvement Network brought together communities from across the country to improve kindergarten readiness.
StriveTogether opened a training space at its Cincinnati headquarters last year and hosted a series of learning experiences for network members.
Higher Expectations for Racine County shared learning with peer communities supported by StriveTogether’s Opportunity Fund.