Betting Big on Advocacy

Investing in policy is a powerful lever for scale and permanency. The need is huge. For example, if all of the nation’s major foundations spent the entirety of their grant budgets directly funding early childhood programs and services, those funds would run out in a matter of months. But if foundations invest in winning increased funding from local, state, or federal agencies, that investment is amplified exponentially. And it’s usually permanent.

In the past, major foundations and philanthropies focused on children and families have been reluctant to invest in policy advocacy. But facing up to chronic, generation-over-generation poverty, more are looking for high-potential “big bets” – the strategic investments that not only make a difference for families, but also unlock the sustained investment necessary to make big, lasting change.

Every year, the Alliance for Early Success makes investments across the country from a pooled fund created by private investors and foundations. These grants go to highly effective advocacy nonprofits in every state – organizations that know their state, their communities, and the most powerful, viable opportunities to improve early childhood outcomes. Additionally, we’ve found it effective to invest in channels for these state-level nonprofits to interact with – and learn from – each other.

We also fund a technical assistance network made up of the country’s leading experts on early childhood health, education, and family support, equipping these critical voices with the latest research and proven strategies.

Investing in state early childhood policy advocacy has been an immensely powerful strategy for us, one that delivers more resources than we could ever raise or disperse ourselves.