Challenges

Worker Issues

Location

Nationwide

Stakeholders

Businesses, Nonprofits

Beneficiaries

Childcare Providers, Employees, Parents, Children

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Overview

A diverse group of funders mobilized $50 million to invest in a childcare infrastructure, improve policy implementation, and shift the culture of the care industry.

Key Impact Metrics

  • 16
    philanthropy and nonprofit foundations partnering with The CARE Fund
  • $2.5M
    in rapid response grants given upon the start of The CARE Fund in 2021
  • $29.6M
    in grants given

Problem

The care infrastructure in the United States does not just serve children, but also older Americans. Many of the same policies and issues that impact childcare also impact elderly care. Caregivers in childcare and elderly care routinely face physical, mental, and financial challenges, leading to burnout and workforce shortages. The United States remains one of the few wealthy nations without a federal paid family and medical leave policy—with federal funding and state funding inconsistent, philanthropy and private sector efforts are needed to fill the gap and support the critical infrastructure that cares for our young and old. The CARE Fund was founded in 2021 to tackle this issue.

Solution

In 2021, the Care for All with Respect and Equity (CARE) Fund was established by eight leading philanthropic organizations. The initiative committed $50 million to strengthening childcare infrastructure, marking one of the largest philanthropic efforts focused on caregivers, care workers, and childcare recipients. The fund began its work with rapid-response grants, supported by investments from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation and Ford Foundation, aimed at amplifying the voices of caregivers and those they support. These early efforts prioritized advocacy for policy change, living wages, and community-level investments. In addition to its initial grants, the CARE Fund provides multiyear funding to support leadership development, movement-building, polling, messaging, and research on societal trends. It also offers politically focused grants designed to drive policy change.

Results

  • Beneficiary Impact
    Funded 68 initiatives and organizations, targeting everything from cultural change and movement building to political messaging and policy implementation
  • Financial Results
    $30 million in grants given, with a projected $20 million more to be given over the course of the program

Replication Tips

  • Start by identifying and reaching out to leading philanthropies, either locally or nationally, that would be willing to invest and pool together funds.
  • Define a clear, shared mission focused on movement building, policy advocacy, and narrative change across the lifespan of your organization.
  • Commit to a multi-year pooled fund to ensure sustained impact and flexibility.
  • Prioritize grantmaking that supports both grassroots organizing and large-scale policy initiatives. Invest in rapid response grants to address urgent needs and catalyze momentum.
  • Track and share impact metrics to demonstrate progress and attract additional funders.

Suggested Implementation Timeline

~24-36 months

Sources