Connecticut Early Childhood Funder Collaborative

The CT Early Childhood Funder Collaborative (Collaborative) is a project of the Connecticut Council for Philanthropy (CCP) for which CCP serves as fiscal sponsor. The Collaborative comprises 21 funders from around the state who bring many years of experience in supporting and operating programs that serve the needs of children and families. American Savings Foundation Children’s Fund of Connecticut The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven Community Foundation of Greater New Britain Connecticut Community Foundation Connecticut Health and Educational Facilities Authority Fairfield County's Community Foundation The Fund for Greater Hartford William Caspar Graustein Memorial Fund The Grossman Family Foundation Hartford Foundation for Public Giving Esther A. and Joseph Klingenstein Fund Liberty Bank Foundation Melville Charitable Trust McCall Kulak Family Foundation* Northwest Connecticut Community Foundation Silverbird Fund Social Venture Partners Connecticut United Way of Connecticut United Way of Western Connecticut Viking Global Foundation *CT ECFC Supporting Partners Founded in 2011, the Collaborative worked toward the creation of an Office of Early Childhood (OEC) at the state level that merges state agencies serving young children and their families to better integrate systems and services. In 2013, the Office of Early Childhood was created via executive order, and in response, the mission of the Collaborative expanded and became more robust: To bring the collective voice and resources of philanthropy to build and sustain a comprehensive early childhood system that works for all children, families, communities and the workforce in Connecticut. Mission To bring the collective voice and resources of philanthropy to build and sustain a comprehensive early childhood system that works for all children, families, communities and the workforce in Connecticut. Vision A comprehensive system that is effective, efficient and high-quality that leads to improved outcomes for all children, families, communities and the workforce in Connecticut. Values Alignment of infrastructure, state to local Community engagement, citizen involvement Cross-sector collaboration Public/private partnership Address equity issues, social and racial, growing gap between rich, not rich Data-informed work and decision-making rooted in fact and in story Diversity and needs of individual members of the collaborative Co-chairs: Executive Director: Kimberley Russo Executive Director The Fund for Greater Hartford Bridget Fox Chief Impact Officer, United Way of Western Connecticut; President, Stamford Cradle to Career Carol O'Donnell Executive Director Early Childhood Funder Collaborative We encourage funders to join our effort. The Collaborative is open to all funders. Funders contributing a minimum of $7,500 per year are CT ECFC Members and authorized to render all decisions of the Collaborative including those related to grant awards, governance and the work plan and budget. Those providing financial support in lesser amounts with a minimum contribution of $1,000 are CT ECFC Supporting Partners entitled to attend annually two funder focused learning opportunities related to early care and education and receive all ECFC written materials For more information, contact Carol P. O’Donnell, Collaborative Executive Director, 203-927-5997. COLLABORATIVE PUBLICATIONS Findings: Priorities and Strategies Related to Early Childhood Advocacy Among Grantmakers in Connecticut Co-Creation: Viewing Partnerships Through A New Lens Taking on New Roles to Address 21st Century Problems Co-Creation: The Public Sector Perspective Full, Equal, and Equitable Partnerships with Families: Connecticut’s Definition and Framework for Family Engagement Framework for Connecticut's Statewide System of Early Childhood State and Local Partnerships The Economic Benefits of High-Quality Early Care Assessing Quality in Connecticut's Childhood System The Changing State of Early Childhood 2016-2017 Impact of the Final FY 18-19 Budget on Children and Families Connecticut Early Childhood Trauma Training Needs Assessment