10 Things Philanthropy Can Do to Combat Poverty and Build Prosperity in Connecticut

By Jim Horan, Executive Director, Connecticut Association of Human Services (CAHS)
 

1.     Engage with the Connecticut Child Poverty and Prevention Council.

Connecticut is the first and only state to set a specific statewide goal to reduce child poverty by 50 percent, an effort led by the Child Poverty and Prevention Council. This creates a tremendous opportunity for the state to demonstrate leadership on poverty reduction.  But poverty has actually risen since the goal was enacted in 2004.  More attention by philanthropy could help focus the Council on a plan to achieve a few big goals, rather than diffuse efforts to tackle all problems at once.

2.   Participate in the evolving national discussion on reducing poverty.

Recent activity nationally by philanthropy and academics about how to reduce or even eliminate poverty includes the Council on Foundations May 2007 meeting, “Making Poverty History.”  The Center on American Progress recently released its report on “From Poverty to Prosperity: A National Strategy to Cut Poverty in Half.”  The U.S. Conference of Mayors and others have also recently released reports.  Consensus seems to be emerging on the most effective policies and programs to reduce poverty.  A review will help you figure out where to place your resources.

3.   Build leadership among local residents, low-income people, and people of color.

It is crucial to engage directly the people most affected by poverty to devise and implement effective solutions.  This requires listening to low-income people and developing their skills.  Some philanthropic initiatives do this, including the Hartford Organizing Project and the Graustein Memorial Fund’s Discovery Initiative.  More are needed. 

4.   Learn more about service providers that follow a “Family Economic Success” (FES) model. 

Local agencies, like Bridgeport’s FSW (Family Services Working to Strengthen Out Communities) and the state’s other family service agencies, and Willimantic’s ACCESS Agency and other community action agencies, focus on reducing poverty by supporting families’ transition into the workforce, their employment stability, and their path up the economic ladder. The Annie E. Casey Foundation’s Family Economic Success initiative brings together a wide range of resources to help families build economic stability for themselves and their neighborhoods.

5.   Connect with local and statewide asset-building networks.

Many local and statewide networks of service providers and advocates work to reduce poverty.  They would welcome dialogue with philanthropies. Those following a Family Economic Success (FES) model include the Hartford Asset Building Collaborative, the Connecticut Association for Human Services’ statewide Family Economic Success Network and Greater Bridgeport FES Coalition, the New Haven Economic Security Coalition and New Haven’s New Life Corporation’s Coalition for Working Families.

6.   Support education initiatives that reduce poverty.

Education disparities underlie poverty.  Early childhood initiatives, like the Hartford Foundation’s Brighter Futures, have been proven to reduce long-term poverty.  Funders with scholarship programs will want to look into initiatives that reduce the achievement gap and place more nontraditional students in higher education.  Sources include the Education Trust, Lumina Foundation, and the Nellie Mae Foundation.  The Connecticut Center for School Change (CCSC) works to improve student outcomes by creating customized programs for school districts.  ConnCAN (Connecticut Coalition for Achievement Now) works to close the K-12 achievement gap, with a focus on charter schools.  CCJEF (Connecticut Coalition for Justice in Education Funding) seeks to ensure adequate state funding for all school districts. 

7.   Fund workforce education and training programs.

Most poor people work, but often at low wages and with few benefits.  Workforce investment boards, like Career Resources in Bridgeport, help workers gain skills and employment.  Some initiatives train people for specific jobs, like Hartford’s “Jobs Funnel”, supported by the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving.  Others focus on specific populations, like working women at Danbury’s TBICO and the Center for Young Working Families of the Annie E. Casey Foundation’s Making Connections initiative in Hartford.  The Greater Hartford Literacy Council has an initiative to improve the literacy skills of welfare recipients.  All seek to provide the resources workers need to achieve careers that will enable them to become self-sufficient. 

8.   Support youth and family mentoring programs.

Various types of mentoring programs show great promise.  Some mentor youths to stay in school, like Hartford’s Project Choice.  Others, including a new budget coaching program sponsored by the United Way of the Capital Area, and another sponsored by the Norwalk Housing Authority, work with families.  Programs that encourage activism, like New Haven’s Youth Rights Media, also show promise for keeping kids on track through the critical transition into adulthood.

9.   Understand and support nonprofit research and advocacy efforts.

Combating poverty requires not only supporting innovative practices, but systems change.  Several organizations, including Connecticut Voices for Children, provide excellent research on poverty and child well-being, which underlie advocacy efforts.  The Alliance for Justice’s  Foundation Advocacy Initiative educates grant makers on their legal rights to support advocacy to influence public policy, including workshops, technical assistance, and a newsletter.  Many philanthropies use their services, including the Perrin Family Foundation and Hartford Foundation for Public Giving.

10.      Speak and work with other philanthropies!