FUNDING THE NEXT GENERATION

An initiative to promote local dedicated public funding streams for services for

children, youth and their families

ECE Funders GroupOctober 29, 2015

What is a local dedicated public revenue stream?

Public – allocated by governmentLocal – allocated at the county, city or

school district levelDedicated – can only be spent on services

to children, youth and familiesRevenue – more moneyStream – ongoing funding, as opposed to

year-to-yearWhy is a ballot measure necessary?

ONLY TWO WAYS TO GET REVENUE

New Source of Funding• Taxes

• Sales • Parcel • Soda • Business• Hotel• Utility

• Fees • Admission• Abatement, Mitigation

Set aside of

existing funding• “Carve-outs”

• Property taxes• General Funds

• Reallocations

Why now?A Perfect Storm

A Perfrect Opportunity

1. Need The opportunity divide – gap

between rich and poor No new federal or state resources

2. Potential of local level Policy “devolution” to local level Greater support for local measures

3. Favorable political arena Economic Recovery New Allies – economists,

demographers, military

4. State of field/Policy arena Documented benefits of early

intervention, prevention and youth development

First 5, Collective impact partnerships, Coalitions

The San Francisco Story

• Children’s agenda – passed by Board of Supervisors, signed by Mayor

• Children’s budget submitted 3 consecutive years – Children’s Budget Coalition – 100 agencies strong

New role for providersBackbone organizationNew level of collaboration and shared agendas

Birth of the Children’s Amendment

FRUSTRATION

• Inventing a new policy• Institutionalizing funding for kids’

services• Stable revenue stream- % of property tax• Targeted services – prohibited services• Protected existing funding – baseline MOE• Mandated planning and accountability

GOING PUBLIC – 68,000 signatures

Lessons learned

• Elections are powerful –the magic of local campaigns

• Take the initiative – frame the issue• Being political is essential• Propose a solution

“Never doubt that a small group of committed Citizens can change the world. Indeed it is the only thing that ever has.” Margaret Meade

SUCCESS BEGETS SUCCESS

PUBLIC EDUCATION ENRICHMENT FUND

13 years later…….Replication of Children’s Fund revenue policyControversial with elected officials, popular

with public, passed overwhelmingly Funds Preschool-for-all and SLAM (sports,

libraries, arts and music), and a wide range of student support services

BENEFITS OF DEDICATED LOCAL FUNDING FOR CHILDREN’S SERVICES

Expanded services, new populationsFocus on preventionInnovation and flexibilityStrengthening the non-profit sectorAccountability, coordination, capacity-buildingCollaboration with schools Leveraging other resourcesEmpowering a constituencyProven outcomes that improve well-being of

children

FUNDING THE NEXT GENERATION

Founded 2013 - Two decades after successful children’s funds enacted in SF and Oakland

Sponsored initially by First 5 Assoc. of CA; current sponsor SFSU, School of Health and Social Sciences

Education, technical assistance, researchTeam of policy, political, polling, legal, fiscal expertsInvolved 300+ from 40 communitiesCreated first-ever toolkit and guide8 cities/counties working on initiatives for 2016

ballot – service providers are coreTeaching children’s service providers and policy

advocates to become change-makers

Steps to Lay the Foundation for a CampaignNot a linear process

Make the Case Research and Document Needs and Funding gaps Communicate the Case for Investing in Children

Build a Strong Influential Organization Create a Structure with Capacity to Represent Children,

Youth and Families Increase Visibility and Capital on the Civic and Political

Landscape

Develop a Revenue Strategy Determine Priority Funding Needs to be Met through

the New Revenue Measure Engage in the Funding and Budget Process Craft a New Revenue Policy – find the “soft spot”

between needs, legality, and political reality. Creative mix of shrewdness, opportunity and data

Outreach, Communicate, Organize

Make the CaseA necessary step – Not an end product

Document needs of children, youth and families

e.g. Report CardBuild a consensus agenda

e.g. Children’s Bill of RightsDevelop a fiscal map

e.g. Children’s BudgetCommunicate the case for investing in

children e.g. Public education campaign

Build a Strong Influential CoalitionThe Core Work

Become the go-to coalition that can represent children’s funding needs

Gradually broaden the coalition – beyond the usual suspects

Increase political capital and visibility.

Moving Beyond the “Usual Suspects”

At the outset – small group of “dedicated committed citizens” – true belivers with passion

At the end – large coalition of hundreds

• Non-profit service providers• Advocate(s)• Community foundation• Political champion• Public agency director(s)

• Parents and Youth• Elected officials• Grassroots organizing groups• Civic and service organizations• Pediatricians• Business• Labor/unions• Faith community• Senior citizen groups• Foundations• Neighborhood associations• Political clubs• Social justice and identity

groups• Education organizations• Professional associations• League of Women Voters

Elements of a good measure

Sufficient resources – big enough to matter, small enough to win

Addresses priority needClarity of purpose andtarget of fundingAccountability – planning,Transparency, evaluationPrevents supplantation

Learnings, Challenges, Opportunities to Date

High level of interest – 40 communitiesTime frame must be realistic – Marathon, not a sprintStaff support is essential, and biggest barrier to progress – we

have found awesome leadersThere is always a place to start – but starting is a huge bump

to overcome – a lot of approach/avoidanceThere is always a possible strategy.Single biggest criteria for readiness – passion and drive of a

small groupOther readiness criteria – convening organization, history of

coordination, baseline information on needsA political champion can help.No one panacea – Goal is to create a civic culture responsive

to funding kids

Dilemmas Of Grantmakers

Balance between direct services and “backbone” work

Where does policy end and political begin?

How to support sustainability strategies

Grantmakers can fund the groundwork.

• Assessing the resource landscape – creating a Children’s Budget

• Developing community priorities• Building a community coalition• Educating the public about needs and

services• Developing youth and parent leadership• Analyzing policy options for revenue

streams• Polling public opinion

FOUNDATIONS CAN PLAY A KEY ROLE

CONTACT INFORMATION

Margaret BrodkinFounder and Director

Funding the Next GenerationSponsored by SF State University

margaret@fundingthenextgeneration.org www.fundingthenextgeneration.org

www.facebook.com/fundingthenextgeneration415-794-4963