proving it’s possibleP L A C E B Y P L A C E

2 01 9

A n n u a l R e p o r t

COVER PHOTO

StriveTogether’s Cradle to Career Network impacted the lives of more than 12 million youth

last year. This picture features children served by Thrive Chicago’s local partners.

2 StriveTogether 2019 Annual Report | Proving it’s Possible StriveTogether.org

StriveTogether supports community-based partnerships like the Boston Opportunity Agenda to improve outcomes for youth.

at a glancetable of contents

4 definingwhat’spossible

5 networkimpact

7 creatingchangewith community

10 mobilizingcommunity advocates

13 operatinghighlights

14 investorsandpartners

15 boardofdirectors

16 powerofthenetwork

3 StriveTogether 2019 Annual Report | Proving it’s Possible StriveTogether.org

The COVID-19 pandemic is a defining moment foreveryoneasweconsiderwhatisreallyimportantinourlives.Onethingiscrystalclearforbothofus—thevisionandmissionof theStriveTogetherCradletoCareerNetworkismoreimportantthanever.

This crisis creates anopportunity todismantle andrebuild systems thatweredesigned to fail childrenandfamiliesofcolorandthoselivinginpoverty.Wecanhelpcommunitiescreateintegratedsystemsthatserveeverychild,everyfamily—regardlessofrace,ethnicityorzipcode.

Weinviteyoutostandshoulder-to-shoulderwiththeStriveTogether Cradle to CareerNetwork and pushforlastingchange.Together,wecanredefinewhat’spossibleformillionsofyouthacrossthecountry.

Changing systems that developedover centuries isnotforthefaintofheart.Truesystemstransformation

takestime.Wehavemorethanadecadeofexperienceinbringingyouth,parents,educators,businesses,civicleadersandsystemsleaderstogetherto close disparity gaps and improve outcomes for children of color andyouth living inpoverty.Whileour visionmaynotbeachievedduringourlifetime,ittrulyisourlife’sworkandwe’remakingmeasurableprogress.

Lastyear, theNetwork impacted the livesofmore than12millionyouth,closingdisparitygapsandimprovingoutcomes,cradletocareer.Communitychangedidnotoccurinboardrooms.FromOregontoTexastoMaryland,our networkmembers tapped the experience and expertise within theircommunities to solve complex problems together. This includesworkingacrosssectorslikejusticeandhealthtoaddresslanguagebarriersforLatinxyouthinCentralOregon,empoweringyouthtoadvocatefortheirneedsin

SouthTexas,andincludingyouthinthesummergrantreviewsinBaltimore,Maryland.

Youwill also see examples ofmobilizing the community to advocate forequitable policies in Minnesota and Utah. Our Strategic Initiatives Fundsupportedthispolicywork.Oneofthemostnotablepolicywinswas$6.5billionineducationreformsinTexas.Thestatewidecoalitionwillfighthardto protect this funding for 2021, despite declining state revenue due toCOVID-19.Theycannotaffordtogobacktobusinessasusualbecausepriorcutstoeducationplacedtheiryouthatadrasticdisadvantageacademicallycomparedwithpeersacrossthecountry.

Thesearejustahandfulofstoriesfromanetworkofnearly70communitiesspanning29statesandWashington,D.C.Morethanhalfofthesecommunitiesreachednewbenchmarksofprogressacrossourtheoryofaction.

We learn with our Network as they work to improve racial and ethnicequity in their communities. At StriveTogether, we created an equitablecompensationpolicyforourteamandRacialEquity,DiversityandInclusionprinciplesforsuppliers.Wewalkthetalkwithinourorganization.

TheCOVID-19crisisheightensurgencyforourwork.Ourresultsaremadepossible by our talented staff, committed board of directors, relentlessnetworkmembersanddedicatedinvestors.Together,we’readdressingthecurrentcrisiswhileredefiningwhat’spossibleformillionsofyoungpeopleacrossthecountry.

Sincerely,

Jennifer BlatzPresident & CEO StriveTogether

Danae D. DavisBoard Chair

StriveTogether

L E T T E R F R O M C E O A N D B O A R D C H A I R

defining what’s possible

JenniferBlatz DanaeDavis

4 StriveTogether 2019 Annual Report | Proving it’s Possible StriveTogether.org

34%

37%

17%

5%4%

2%1%

<1%

The impact of StriveTogether’s Cradle to Career Network isassessedannually.Lastyear,98%ofpartnershipsprovideddataintheannualassessment.

YOUTH DEMOGRAPHICS

*All data from the Civic Infrastructure Assessment is self-reported. Not all partnerships submitted data for every data point. Therefore, number of observations for each measure may vary.

12+ millionchildren impacted

12+ millionchildren impacted

STATES +Washington, DC29Community Partnerships

building local infrastructure to improve outcomes for every child

68

© 2020 StriveTogether Updated 5/2020

2,521,4690-5yearsold

6,471,780K-12 grade

3,506,519Postsecondary

TOTAL YOUTH SERVED

HispanicorLatinxWhite BlackorAfricanAmericanAsianMulti-racial

Other AmericanIndianorAlaskaNative NativeHawaiianorPacificIslander

N E T W O R K I M P A C T

network at a glance

Network membersbuildinglocal

infrastructuretoimproveoutcomesforeverychild

68

12+ millionchildren impacted

STATES +Washington, DC29Community Partnerships

building local infrastructure to improve outcomes for every child

68

© 2020 StriveTogether Updated 5/2020

5 StriveTogether 2019 Annual Report | Proving it’s Possible StriveTogether.org

Thoughsomemembersarestand-aloneentities,manyofourCradle to Career Networkmembers identify with an anchororganization that commits to acting as the fiscal agent andensuringthepartnership’slong-termsustainability.TherearesevencommonanchortypeswithintheNetwork.

© 2019 StriveTogether

Middle grademath

High schoolgraduation

Postsecondaryenrollment

Postsecondarycompletion

Kindergartenreadiness

Early gradereading

Employment

46% 54% 63% 79% 25% 40%22%

StriveTogetherCradletoCareerNetworkmembershelpyoungpeoplegetbetterresults,cradletocareer.

% OF NETWORK MEMBERS WITH OUTCOMES IMPROVING

GEOGRAPHIC SCOPE OF NETWORK MEMBERS % OF NETWORK MEMBERS WITH DISPARITY GAPS CLOSING

ANCHOR ORGANIZATION

United Way Stand-Alone Foundation Other Higher Education Government

28% 25% 24% 16% 6% 1%

8 average number of years in operation

Staff by race

46%urban

16%rural

38%rural and urban

average operating budget

$1.5M

NETWORK CHARACTERISTICS

WhiteBlackorAfricanAmerican HispanicorLatinxAsianNo data

Multi-racial Other AmericanIndianorAlaskaNative Prefernotto respond

55%

18%14%

5%4%

average staff size

9.7

<1%

<1%<1%

3%

Kindergartenreadiness

15%Early grade

reading

28%Middle grade

math

28%High Schoolgraduation

50%Postsecondary

enrollment

10%Postsecondary

completion

15%Employment

13%

*All data from the Civic Infrastructure Assessment is self-reported. Not all partnerships submitted data for every data point. Therefore, number of observations for each measure may vary.

6 StriveTogether 2019 Annual Report | Proving it’s Possible StriveTogether.org

Lasting community change doesn’t start in a boardroom. It starts where the voices of the community are heard, valued and hold power. StriveTogether helps communities move toward true collaboration with youth and families, coaching teams to strengthen engagement and sharing insights across the Cradle to Career Network.

S T O R Y O F I M P A C T

creating change with community

In Texas, the Youth Voice Summit teaches young people about policy issues and helps them build skills like public speaking and fundraising.

7 StriveTogether 2019 Annual Report | Proving it’s Possible StriveTogether.org

In SanAntonio, Texas, a networkof youngpeople is buildingpower andpolicy to shape their futures. UP Partnership’s Our Tomorrow networkconnects youth-serving organizations and youth leadership councils toelevatethevoicesofyoungpeople.

“Youthhavetobeattheforefront—notjustsittingintheroom,butactuallymakingchange,”saidMelanieHarrell,ahighschoolseniorandthesocialmediainternforOurTomorrow.

Alongwithpolicyworkonprioritieslikementalhealth,OurTomorrowhostsan annual Youth Voice Summit. The event teaches young people aboutpolicy issues,helps thembuildskills likepublicspeakingand fundraising,and closes with an intergenerational conversation between youth, localofficials and subjectmatter experts.While Our Tomorrow redesigns thisevent,postponedbecauseofthecoronavirus,they’recreatingnewspaceslikeavirtualtownhall foryouthtosharehowthepandemichasaffectedthemandheartheirsolutions.

ForLeroyAdams,OurTomorrownetworkmanageratUPPartnership,thiswork is a way to share an important message with young people: “Youmattermorethanyou’vebeentoldbefore.”Andthebestwaytoshowyouth

thattheymatter,hesaid,istochangepoliciestoshiftresourcesandfundingtosupportwhatthey’readvocatingfor.

Shiftingdecision-makingaroundresourcesisattheheartoftheBaltimoreSummerFundingCollaborative’syouthengagementwork.TheCollaborativeis coordinated by Baltimore’s Promise, which facilitates a shared reviewprocess for summerprogramminggrants. Since2015, it’s awarded$19.6million to expand learning, recreation, and college and career readinessopportunitiesacrossthecity.

Last year, the Collaborative’s community reviewwas revamped to fit thespecific needs of young people. Baltimore’s Promise led a youth reviewprocessthatconnectedorganizationsseekingfundingwithyouthages14-24, who received training and stipends for their participation alongwithmealsandtransportation.

TheprocesshelpedBaltimore’sPromisebuildrelationshipswithmorethan100youngpeople,includingdisconnectedyouthnotinvolvedinschoolorwork. Baltimore’s Promisewill continue to engage youth in collaborativeprojects,withplanstocreateacommunityadvisoryboardwithtwoseatsforyoungpeople.

In Oregon, Better Together connects the entire community, engaging not just school partners but also the library, police department, health care and more.

8 StriveTogether 2019 Annual Report | Proving it’s Possible StriveTogether.org

|| UP PARTNERSHIP sanantonio,texasPOSTSECONDARY COMPLETION

H I S P A N I C O R L A T I N X S T U D E N T S

29%2017

23%2012

A F R I C A N A M E R I C A N S T U D E N T S

43%2017

28%2012

H I S P A N I C O R L A T I N X S T U D E N T S

78%2019

58%2014

|| BETTER TOGETHER CENTRAL OREGON redmond,oregon

HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION

A F R I C A N A M E R I C A N S T U D E N T S

74%2018

67%2012

|| BALTIMORE’S PROMISE baltimore,maryland

HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION

Youthengagement isn’t justaboxtocheckoff,butacorepartofdevelopingsolutions,saidLarrySimmons,directorofcommunityengagementatBaltimore’sPromise.“Wehavetorespectandunderstandthefactthatyoungpeopleareexpertsintheirownsuccessandcentertheminthedecision-making,”hesaid.

A focus on youngpeople’s success is key to the Latinx Success Initiative in Redmond,Ore.,developedbyBetterTogetherCentralOregon.TheinitiativeisacommunitygroupfocusedonsolutionstargetingLatinxstudents.

Better Together’s work connects the entire community, engaging not just school partnersbutalso the library,policedepartment,healthcareandmore.This cross-sectorworkbuildsmomentumforsharedgoalsandgetstherightpeopleatthetabletohearwherechallengesarearising,likelanguagebarriersorotheraccessissues.

RutilaGalvan-Rodriguez,BetterTogether’sdirectorof familyandyouthpartnerships, sharedthatinformalrelationshipssupportthiswork,likewhenshehasconversationswithcommunitymembers at the grocery store or her coworker visits low-income housing communities toconnectfamilieswithresources.

“Insteadofcreatingwhatwethinkthefamiliesneed,we’recreatingthespaceforthefamiliestosaywhattheywant,”Rutilasaid.“It’scriticallyimportanttoletthisworkbeledbyfamilies.”

In Maryland, Baltimore’s Promise engaged youth in awarding summer programming grants to expand learning, recreation, and college and career readiness opportunities across the city.

9 StriveTogether 2019 Annual Report | Proving it’s Possible StriveTogether.org

StriveTogether strengthened advocacy, policy and mobilization across the Cradle to Career Network last year through direct investment in communities, focused convenings and technical assistance. Network members worked more directly with youth, parents and community partners to shape equitable policies and influence state funding.

MINNESOTAParents are persuasive advocates for change in Minnesota. One parent,Erica Valliant, coaches other parents to tell their stories inways that getleaderstolisten.Valliantdrawsonherexpertiseasamotherofthreewhohas experienced homelessness and job loss. Those hardships led her tobecometheactivistandorganizersheistoday.

“Policychangesshouldbedrivenbythosemostaffectedbyinequity,”Valliantsaid. “Iamcommitted tomakingsureotherparentsseeandexercise theirpowerfromtheirpositionandplace.”

This advocacy is made possible through the Education PartnershipsCoalition, a statewide group of organizations inMinnesota that includesGenerationNextandfiveotherCradletoCareerNetworkmembers.

TheEducationPartnershipsCoalition leverages thepowerofparents likeValliant to improve how systems serve youth and families. With a grantfromtheStrategicInitiativesFund,partofStriveTogether’sCradletoCareerCommunityChallenge,thecoalitionhasstrengtheneditssupportforparentsengaginginadvocacywork,fromprovidingstipendstopayingforchildcare.

S T O R Y O F I M P A C T

mobilizing community advocates

In Minnesota, Generation Next is part of a statewide coalition helping parents to advocate for change.

P O L I C Y W I N : M I NN E S O T A

$1.54 million increaseFROM THE STATE FOR THIS WORK OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS

10 StriveTogether 2019 Annual Report | Proving it’s Possible StriveTogether.org

In 2019, the coalition pushed to addmore rigor and requirements to itsexisting state statute, plus funding for coalition members and planninggrantstoexpandcollectiveimpactinruralandurbancommunitiesacrossMinnesota.Afteracontentiousspeciallegislativesession,thecoalitionwonsupportforboth,includinga$1.54millionincreasefromthestateforthisworkoverthenexttwoyears.

Thecoalitionattributesthisvictorytoparentadvocacy—awinallthemorenotablegiventhestatebeganthelegislativesessionwiththeonlydividedgovernmentinthenation.

“Ensuringchildrenandfamiliescanthriveisnotapartisanissue,”GenerationNext ExecutiveDirectorMichelleWalker said. “Our success is due to ourlegislativechampionsonbothsidesandtheinnovativepowerofparents.”

Throughout the legislative session, the coalition worked with parents tosharetheirexperiencesandadvocatefor their familiesandcommunities.During theHouseandSenatecommitteemeetings, legislatorsheardpar-ents,studentsandschoolofficialsonwhytheStriveTogetherframeworkisakeysolutiontoendingdisparitiesandhelpingyouththrive.

TEXASForyearsinTexas,educationandfiscaladvocatesengagedinatugofwarover public school funding. Advocates for education fought for asmuchunrestricted funding as possible while fiscal advocates sought disruptivechangelinkedtospecificoutcomes.

StriveTogethernetworkmembersusedoutcome-specificdata tomobilizeeducators, business leaders and policymakers to implement one of themostsweepingpiecesofeducationlegislationinthestate’shistory.

TheCommitPartnershiptookthestategoalof60%postsecondarycompletionandlookedallthewaydownthepipeline.Thedatashowedthatthird-gradereadingproficiencyiscrucialtostudentsuccess:childrenwhoarenotreadingbythirdgradearethreetimesmorelikelytodropoutofschool.Andjust40%ofthirdgradersmetstateliteracystandardsinTexasin2018.

Commit Partnership CEO Todd Williams was part of the Governor’sCommissiononPublicSchoolFinanceandledagroupfocusedonoutcomes.Hesaid,“WehammeredhomethefactthatwerankedsecondinthenumberofEnglishLanguageLearnerstudentsand12thinpovertyatthesametimeweranked38thinstatespending.TheethosofTexasisthatweareNumber

Oneinall,sowechosetoappealtothatpride.”

HouseBill 3 (HB3)proposed increasing funding forpublic educationanddistributing it more equitably to improve early childhood education,rewardexceptionalteachers,andputmorehighlyeffectiveteachersintheclassroomsthatneedthemmost.

P O L I C Y W I N : T E X A S

$6.5 billion STATE FUNDING FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION

In Texas, StriveTogether network members led a statewide coalition to pass equitable education reforms.

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InCentralTexas,E3AllianceCEOSusanDawsonexplainedthatsharingdatahelpedmovelegislatorstoaction.“Wehadhadthedataforalongtime,butthecommissiondidabetterjobofhighlightingit,andadvertisingit,sothelegislaturecouldnolongerignoreit.Andtheyproducedasubstantialreportthatpeopleactuallyread,usingitastheblueprintforwhatHB3wouldbe.”

Withthelaw’spassage,thestate’sshareofpubliceducationfunding,amongthe lowest in the nation, will jump to $11 billion. The challengemovingforwardistoprotectthisfundingasCOVID-19putsaddedfinancialpressureonthestate.

UTAHUnited Way of Salt Lake’s Promise Partnership of Salt Lake, a Cradle toCareer Networkmember, also received a grant through StriveTogether’sStrategicInitiativesFundforpolicywork,includingcommunityengagement.

Improvingoutcomesforeverychild,especiallythoselivinginpoverty, isapriority forUnitedWayofSalt Lake.Sixoutof10children in low-incomehouseholdsdonotmeetliteracystandardswhentheystartschool.

“High-qualitypreschool iskeytokidsbeingreadyto learnoncetheystartkindergarten,”saidBillCrim,presidentandCEOofUnitedWayofSaltLake.“Research shows it increases their likelihood of upward mobility and iscriticalforclosingthedisparitygap.”

Before the 2019 state legislative session, UnitedWay of Salt Lake gatheredstakeholderstoagreeongoalsandstrategies.Theorganizationalsocreatedacampaigntodrivepublicdemandforpreschool investmentsandengagedbothparentsandcommunityleaderstosupportthiswork.Asaresultoftheseefforts, two bills passed that established common measures around earlyeducationandcreatedacommissionofmultipleagenciestooverseethiswork.

ThecommissionformedthroughHouseBill47willcoordinateandimproveprogramsforUtahfamilieswithyoungchildrenuptoage6.SenateBill166bringstogetherthreestate-fundedpreschoolinitiativestostandardizeandimproveoutcomes.Italsoretains$12millioninstatefundingforpreschoolefforts,withopportunitiesforfutureexpansion.

To authentically connect with communitymembers facing language andtransportationbarriers,theagencyheldearly learningevents inmosquesandhostedsimilarworkshopsforSpanish-speakingparents.

UnitedWayalsooffers apaid fellowshipprogram for youngpeoplewhoarenativespeakersofcriticallanguagesinthecommunity,includingArabic,Somali and Spanish. As trusted individuals within their neighborhoods,thesefellowshavemadetangibleprogress,includingincreasingby30%thenumberofcompleteddevelopmentalscreeningsinatargetzipcode.

Oneofthesestudentleaders,AbdiIftin,spokeonapanelatStriveTogether’sCradletoCareerNetworkConveninglastyear.

“It’simportanttobuildupthecommunityfromwithinandallowvoicestobeheardthatoftenarenot,”Iftinsaid.“WhileattheStriveTogetherconvening,Itrulyfeltthecollective—wearealldoingworkincommunity.”

P O L I C Y W I N : U T A H

$12 million FUNDING FOR PRESCHOOL EFFORTS, WITH OPPORTUNITIES FOR FUTURE EXPANSION

In Utah, United Way of Salt Lake’s Promise Partnership leveraged a grant from StriveTogether to advocate for high-quality preschool for every child.

12 StriveTogether 2019 Annual Report | Proving it’s Possible StriveTogether.org

GrantRevenues $15,156,728Sponsorship/Convening/Other 604,342ContractServiceFees 296,989MembershipFees 168,751

Total operating revenue $16,226,810

OpportunityFund(60%) $4,897,109StrategicInitiativeFund(27%) 2,246,676AcceleratorFund(13%) 1,025,004

Total Challenge Fund $8,168,789

ChallengeFund/GrantstoSites $8,168,789Personnel 4,597,158Meeting/EventExpenses 1,263,866ConsultingandProfessionalFees 940,101DataandITExpenses 605,374TravelExpenses 440,130DepreciationExpense/Amortization 339,421Communications 248,017Occupancy 239,926GeneralandAdminExpenses 232,871

Total operating expenses $17,075,653

OPERATING REVENUE COMMUNITY CHALLENGE

EXPENDITURES

StriveTogether’sauditorshaveexpressedanunqualifiedopiniononourfinancialstatementsforthefiscalyearendedDecember31,2019.ThosefinancialstatementsareavailableonStriveTogether’swebsite.OurCradle to Career Community Challenge investedmorethan$8million lastyeartosupportinitiativestoimproveequityandeconomicmobilityforyouthandfamilies.ReadmoreabouttheOpportunity Fund here and our Accelerator Fund here.

93%

48%

7%6%

4%

27%

2%

1%2%3%

1%

1%

4%

4%

F I N A N C I A L S

operating highlights

13 StriveTogether 2019 Annual Report | Proving it’s Possible StriveTogether.org

I N V E S T O R S

Annie E. Casey Foundation

AT&T

Ballmer Group

Benson Family Foundation

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Chan Zuckerberg Initiative DAF, Silicon Valley Community Foundation

Communities In Schools

Ford Foundation

The Kresge Foundation

Island Foundation

Pritzker Children’s Initiative

Tableau Foundation

P A R T N E R S

Annie E. Casey Foundation

Brookings Institution

Coalition for Community Schools

Communities In Schools

Enterprise Community Partners

Equal Measure

My Brother’s Keeper Alliance

National Collaborative for Infants and Toddlers

National Institute for Children’s Health Quality

PolicyLink

Save the Children

C R A D L E T O C A R E E R C O N V E N I N G S P O N S O R S

Annie E. Casey Foundation

Bainum Family Foundation

Nellie Mae Education Foundation

Ourworkandresultsaremadepossiblebythefollowingfoundationsandpartners.Weappreciatetheirsupport.Together,we’refuelinganationalmovementtoensurethesuccessofeverychildfromcradletocareer.

B E T T E R T O G E T H E R

investors and partners

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L E A D E R S H I P

board of directors

BoardmembersprovidestrategicoversightandstrongleadershiptoguideStriveTogetherinsupportingthesuccessofeverychild,cradletocareer.

Danae D. DavisMilwaukee Succeeds

Tom FryPhilanthropic

Advisor

James BellW. Haywood

Burns Institute

Sue LehmannStudent Success

Network

Roberto RodríguezTeach Plus

Connie BallmerBallmer Group

Lisa HamiltonThe Annie E. Casey

Foundation

Dr. Russell Booker

Spartanburg County School District Seven

Tony PipaBrookings Institution

Jennifer BlatzStriveTogether

15 StriveTogether 2019 Annual Report | Proving it’s Possible StriveTogether.org

More than 500 community members shared insights and peer-to-peer learning at the 2019 Cradle to Career Network Convening in Washington, D.C. Keynote speakers included activist, author and civil rights leader Stacey Abrams. Photos by Imagine Photography

TheStriveTogetherCradletoCareerNetworkimpactedthelivesofmorethan12millionchildrenlastyear.Morethanhalfofthoseservedwereyouthofcolor.Together,wearetransformingsystemstoensureeverychildhaseveryopportunitytosucceed.

C R A D L E T O C A R E E R N E T W O R K

the power of the network

16 StriveTogether 2019 Annual Report | Proving it’s Possible StriveTogether.org

125EastNinthStreet SecondFloor Cincinnati,OH45202

513.929.1150 StriveTogether.org

332SouthMichiganAvenue NinthFloor Chicago,IL60604

StriveTogether staff, network and board members created an equity statement, solidifying our commitment to racial and ethnic equity.

Prenatal to Age 3 Impact and Improvement Network brought together communities from across the country to improve kindergarten readiness.

StriveTogether opened a training space at its Cincinnati headquarters last year and hosted a series of learning experiences for network members.

Higher Expectations for Racine County shared learning with peer communities supported by StriveTogether’s Opportunity Fund.