In an ideal community, resources would flow to support kids. Public and private funders would invest in what’s working to get better and more equitable outcomes. Instead of competing for dollars, organizations could work together to make sure that each has what they need to fulfill their mission and contribute to the community’s shared vision.
Across the country, members of the StriveTogether Cradle to Career Network are building the civic infrastructure needed to make that a reality. Civic infrastructure joins leaders and community members so they work collaboratively, using data, to improve outcomes. It makes it possible to shift resources to where they’re needed most and supports community members to make decisions about how resources are used.
Shifting resources makes it possible to transform systems, and transformed systems mean that kids and families can thrive. But how can communities get past scarcity, inflexibility and competition? The lessons of civic infrastructure are a good place to start.
By learning from Cradle to Career Network communities and through work with Nonprofit Finance Fund, we’ve seen how resources can be allocated and used effectively and equitably through focusing on outcomes, collaborating across sectors and following the lead of the community. Read more on Medium to find out what we’ve learned and what shifting resources looks like across the country.
