Voter-Approved Children’s FundsA voter-approved children’s fund refers to local public revenue that is dedicated to children’s services in an election by the voters. These types of funds also are calledlocal dedicated funds,Children’s Services Councils (in Florida),Children’s Services Funds (in Missouri),Strong Start (San Miguel County, CO) or Right Start (Summit County, CO),Best Starts for Kids (King County, WA),Early Childhood Millage (in Kent County, MI), orsimply children’s funds.These funds support a variety of programs and services for children and youth includingprenatal and infant health and development services;child care and early education programs;after-school and summer programs;youth mentorship, leadership, and career supports;mental health, behavioral health, and wellness support; andother programs and services typically provided outside of core school-day hours.Voter-approved children’s funds do not support the general operating budget for K-12 public schools since school districts typically receive funding from other designated local, state, and federal sources.Filed under:Infants and Toddlers, Early Childhood, Middle Childhood, Youth, Young Adults, Advocates/Intermediaries, Funders, Policymakers/Agency Leaders, Collection, Strategic Public Financing, Voter-Approved Children’s FundsResources Video What Are Voter-Approved Children’s Funds? Learn what voter-approved children's funds are, where they exist, and how to create one for your community. Publication Voter-Approved Children’s Funds Learn what voter-approved children's funds are, who creates them, and the purpose they serve. Map Voter-Approved Children’s Funds Across the Country Learn about the more than 50 voter-approved children's funds nationwide. Publication The A-Zs of Creating a Voter-Approved Children’s Fund Checklist for creating a voter-approved children's fund in your community. Strategic Public Financing Glossary of Terms Key terms to help you understand strategic public financing Publication Voters Say “Yes” to Whatcom’s Kids How advocates in Whatcom County, WA, won a ballot measure in 2022 that will provide $10 million annually to fund services for infants, toddlers, and young children. Publication New Orleans, LA’s Early Childhood Education Millage How advocates in New Orleans won a ballot measure that will dedicate approximately $21 million in property tax revenue annually to infant and toddler care. Video Meet the Team Behind New Orleans, LA’s New Children’s Fund Discussion with three of the leaders who were instrumental in the success of the Yes for NOLA Kids campaign. Video Cincinnati Preschool Promise: “Where Every Kid Has Access to a High-Quality Preschool” Interview with Cincinnati, OH, City Council Member Greg Landsman, leader of the city's effort to create a voter-approved children's fund. Video Support from City Leaders, Youth, and Advocates Leads to Ballot Measure Success in Sacramento Interview with former City Council Member Jay Schenirer and his colleague Claudia Jasin about their efforts to help Sacramento become a more youth friendly city. Video Investing Early in Child Well-Being Gives King County Kids the “Best Start” Our interview with Dow Constantine, executive of King County, WA, since 2009. Video Annemarie Valdez: 2022 Children’s Funding Champion Conversation with our 2022 Children's Funding Champion, Annemarie Valdez of First Steps Kent. Publication San Antonio, TX’s Pre-K 4 SA: A November 2020 Ballot Measure Case Study A case study about how campaign organizers in San Antonio, TX, renewed a voter-approved children's fund for pre-K. Publication Multnomah County, OR’s Preschool for All: A November 2020 Ballot Measure Case Study A case study about how campaign organizers in Multnomah County, OR, created a new voter-approved children's fund that will provide universal pre-K. Publication Leon County, FL’s Children’s Services Council: A November 2020 Ballot Measure Case Study A case study about how campaign organizers in Leon County, FL, created a new voter-approved children's fund that will serve children, youth, and families. Publication Escambia County, FL’s Children’s Services Council: A November 2020 Ballot Measure Case Study A case study about how campaign organizers in Escambia County, FL, created a new voter-approved children's fund that will serve children, youth, and families. Publication Funding Our Future: Generating State and Local Tax Revenue for Quality Early Care and Education A guide for early childhood leaders to help increase state and local revenue sources for quality early care and education Publication Creating Local Dedicated Funding Streams: A Guide to Planning a Local Initiative to Fund Services for Children, Youth, and Their Families A guide to planning a local initiative to fund services for children, youth, and their families. Publication Funding the Next Generation: A Children’s Fund Campaign Manual A manual for political campaigns pursuing a voter-approved children's fund. Publication Local Dedicated Children’s Funds and Recessions: How to Create, Reauthorize, and Maintain Your Fund in the Face of economic Adversity A look at how voter-approved children's funds have been created, reauthorized, and maintained during recessions. Video Children’s Funding Institute 2020 Opening Keynote: Now Is the Time Our keynote panel from the 2020 Children's Funding Institute. Publication Prioritizing Our Future: How Cities and States Dedicate Funds for Early Care and Education A report on successful examples of localities and states raising public, dedicated funding for young children. More Resources Publication Tracking the Flow of Federal Funding for Children and Youth An interactive chart that illustrates how federal funds flow through agencies and into communities Database Federal Funding Streams for Children and Youth Services This database catalogs the purposes and key characteristics of more than 320 federal funding streams that support cradle-to-career initiatives. Updates and Events Insights November 11, 2024 After-School Programs Offer an Antidote to Social Media Harms. Big Tech Settlements Should Foot the Bill. News November 6, 2024 Voters in Local Communities Approve Up to $133 Million for Kids in the 2024 Election News October 30, 2024 Multnomah County’s Preschool for All Shows Communities How to Expand Preschool Access and Still Preserve Infant and Toddler Child Care Close Share it! Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Click to copy URL Link Copied!
Video What Are Voter-Approved Children’s Funds? Learn what voter-approved children's funds are, where they exist, and how to create one for your community.
Publication Voter-Approved Children’s Funds Learn what voter-approved children's funds are, who creates them, and the purpose they serve.
Map Voter-Approved Children’s Funds Across the Country Learn about the more than 50 voter-approved children's funds nationwide.
Publication The A-Zs of Creating a Voter-Approved Children’s Fund Checklist for creating a voter-approved children's fund in your community.
Strategic Public Financing Glossary of Terms Key terms to help you understand strategic public financing
Publication Voters Say “Yes” to Whatcom’s Kids How advocates in Whatcom County, WA, won a ballot measure in 2022 that will provide $10 million annually to fund services for infants, toddlers, and young children.
Publication New Orleans, LA’s Early Childhood Education Millage How advocates in New Orleans won a ballot measure that will dedicate approximately $21 million in property tax revenue annually to infant and toddler care.
Video Meet the Team Behind New Orleans, LA’s New Children’s Fund Discussion with three of the leaders who were instrumental in the success of the Yes for NOLA Kids campaign.
Video Cincinnati Preschool Promise: “Where Every Kid Has Access to a High-Quality Preschool” Interview with Cincinnati, OH, City Council Member Greg Landsman, leader of the city's effort to create a voter-approved children's fund.
Video Support from City Leaders, Youth, and Advocates Leads to Ballot Measure Success in Sacramento Interview with former City Council Member Jay Schenirer and his colleague Claudia Jasin about their efforts to help Sacramento become a more youth friendly city.
Video Investing Early in Child Well-Being Gives King County Kids the “Best Start” Our interview with Dow Constantine, executive of King County, WA, since 2009.
Video Annemarie Valdez: 2022 Children’s Funding Champion Conversation with our 2022 Children's Funding Champion, Annemarie Valdez of First Steps Kent.
Publication San Antonio, TX’s Pre-K 4 SA: A November 2020 Ballot Measure Case Study A case study about how campaign organizers in San Antonio, TX, renewed a voter-approved children's fund for pre-K.
Publication Multnomah County, OR’s Preschool for All: A November 2020 Ballot Measure Case Study A case study about how campaign organizers in Multnomah County, OR, created a new voter-approved children's fund that will provide universal pre-K.
Publication Leon County, FL’s Children’s Services Council: A November 2020 Ballot Measure Case Study A case study about how campaign organizers in Leon County, FL, created a new voter-approved children's fund that will serve children, youth, and families.
Publication Escambia County, FL’s Children’s Services Council: A November 2020 Ballot Measure Case Study A case study about how campaign organizers in Escambia County, FL, created a new voter-approved children's fund that will serve children, youth, and families.
Publication Funding Our Future: Generating State and Local Tax Revenue for Quality Early Care and Education A guide for early childhood leaders to help increase state and local revenue sources for quality early care and education
Publication Creating Local Dedicated Funding Streams: A Guide to Planning a Local Initiative to Fund Services for Children, Youth, and Their Families A guide to planning a local initiative to fund services for children, youth, and their families.
Publication Funding the Next Generation: A Children’s Fund Campaign Manual A manual for political campaigns pursuing a voter-approved children's fund.
Publication Local Dedicated Children’s Funds and Recessions: How to Create, Reauthorize, and Maintain Your Fund in the Face of economic Adversity A look at how voter-approved children's funds have been created, reauthorized, and maintained during recessions.
Video Children’s Funding Institute 2020 Opening Keynote: Now Is the Time Our keynote panel from the 2020 Children's Funding Institute.
Publication Prioritizing Our Future: How Cities and States Dedicate Funds for Early Care and Education A report on successful examples of localities and states raising public, dedicated funding for young children.
Publication Tracking the Flow of Federal Funding for Children and Youth An interactive chart that illustrates how federal funds flow through agencies and into communities
Database Federal Funding Streams for Children and Youth Services This database catalogs the purposes and key characteristics of more than 320 federal funding streams that support cradle-to-career initiatives.
Insights November 11, 2024 After-School Programs Offer an Antidote to Social Media Harms. Big Tech Settlements Should Foot the Bill.
News November 6, 2024 Voters in Local Communities Approve Up to $133 Million for Kids in the 2024 Election
News October 30, 2024 Multnomah County’s Preschool for All Shows Communities How to Expand Preschool Access and Still Preserve Infant and Toddler Child Care