September 17, 2025 State Strategies for Sustained Investment in Kids: A Landscape of Dedicated Funding
Publication Leaders and Champions: The Role of Intermediaries in Strategic Public Financing How intermediaries can help communities fund services for children and youth in sustainable and equitable ways through strategic public financing.
Publication Voter-Approved Children’s Fund Profile: Escambia County, FL The Escambia Children’s Trust aims to improve outcomes for children and youth by funding early learning, development services, health care, out-of-school programs, mental health programs, and family support services.
Publication Voter-Approved Children’s Fund Profile: San Miguel County, CO Strong Start was created to ensure that all children from birth to kindergarten have access to high-quality, affordable early childhood care and education in San Miguel County, CO.
Publication Voter-Approved Children’s Fund Profile: Sonoma County, CA The Sonoma County Child Care & Children’s Health Initiative dedicates 60% of its revenue to strengthening the child care system for children from birth through 5 years old.
Publication Voter-Approved Children’s Fund Profile: Pomona, CA The Pomona Kids First Initiative was created by young people as part of a youth-led movement to secure increased and sustained funding for children, youth, and families in the city of Pomona, CA.
Collection Federal Funding Resources Learn more about how federal funding supports programs and services for children and youth.
Video Fund IRL: Turn Social Media Accountability into Youth Opportunity Learn how our national coalition, Fund IRL, is working to ensure that any payouts from social media lawsuits fund the programs that help young people thrive.
Publication Voter-Approved Children’s Funds Nationwide Explore our chart detailing the type, amount, and purpose of more than 50 voter-approved children's funds across the country.
Publication Voter-Approved Children’s Fund Profile: Travis County, TX Raising Travis County supports child care slots for babies and toddlers from households with low income, and after-school and summer school slots for elementary school-age children.
Publication Voter-Approved Children’s Fund Profile: Whatcom County, WA The Healthy Children’s Fund invests about $10 million a year to increase access to quality early education and care, improve kindergarten readiness, and support vulnerable children in Whatcom County, WA.
Publication Voter-Approved Children’s Fund Profile: Jackson, MO In 2024, the Children’s Services Fund of Jackson County, MO, received additional funding to support multiple services that promote mental health and social-emotional well-being for children and youth under age 19.
Publication Voter-Approved Children’s Fund Profile: New Orleans, LA The Early Childhood Education Millage funds the City Seats program in New Orleans and has expanded access to publicly funded care for children ages 0-3 who are from families with low income.
Publication Voter-Approved Children’s Fund Profile: Baltimore, MD The Baltimore Children and Youth Fund invests in community-rooted, youth-centered organizations, particularly those historically excluded from traditional philanthropy, to ensure that all Baltimore youth can live, thrive, and lead.
Video King County, WA, Keeps Community at the Center with Best Starts for Kids Our interview with Sheila Ater Capestany highlights her work implementing Best Starts for Kids, a voter-approved children's fund in King County, WA, that has served more than 500,000 children, youth, young adults, and families since its inception.
Publication Voter-Approved Children’s Fund Profile: King County, WA Best Starts for Kids provides comprehensive support from prenatal development through young adulthood to ensure that every child raised in King County grows up happy, healthy, safe, and thriving.
Publication Voter-Approved Children’s Fund Profile: Denver, CO Denver Preschool Program is available to all Denver 4-year-olds in their last year of preschool before kindergarten and qualifying 3-year-olds, with priority given to families experiencing financial hardships.
Publication Voter-Approved Children’s Fund Profile: Broward County, FL The Children's Services Council of Broward County funds and supports a wide range of programs focused on early childhood education, literacy, health, child abuse prevention, and out-of-school time.
Collection Voter-Approved Children’s Fund Profiles Explore this collection to learn more about the individual voter-approved children's funds across the country.
Publication Voter-Approved Children’s Fund Profile: San Antonio, TX Pre-K 4 SA is a citywide early childhood and family initiative dedicated to expanding access to high-quality, full-day preschool for San Antonio’s 3- and 4-year-olds, with a focus on children from families who have low incomes.
Publication Voter-Approved Children’s Fund Profile: Miami-Dade County, FL The Children’s Trust of Miami-Dade County invests in a wide range of programs focused on early childhood education, health, after-school and summer youth programs, family and parenting support, and continuous learning and quality improvement.