Philanthropy: More than Money. Helping to Create Systems to Prevent and End Homelessness.

1. Philanthropy: More than Money. Helping to Create Systems to Prevent and End Homelessness.

2. Amy Casavina Hall Vice President, Income and Health Initiatives Greater New Haven United Way Nancy von Euler Program Director Fairfield County Community Foundation Anne Miskey Executive Director Funders Together to End Homelessness

3. www.funderstogether.org @funderstogether

4. About Us Funders Together to End Homelessness is a growing network of grantmakers working to end homelessness. “Even the largest foundations in the world can’t go it alone. Funders Together has given us a rich collection of peers that have positively impacted the effectiveness of our grantmaking.” -David Wertheimer, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Funders Together board chair

5. About Us • ~160 members in 30 U.S. states and Canada • 3 regional networks: Los Angeles, Houston, San Diego

6. What We Do • Help members understand their role in catalyzing change • Promote implementation of best practices and lessons learned around systems change to end homelessness • Paint the national picture - and connect local with national – around solutions to homelessness • Represent the voices of funders to the federal government

8. Traditional Roles of Funders Program-driven • Convener • Bring people together, but they only talk about their own work • Investor • Fund the programs they like • Advocate • Doesn’t exist!; don’t see how policies or public opinion affects the program

10. Roles of Funders in Systems Change • Convener • Support the development of a shared vision to end homelessness • Investor • Fund evidence-based programs and real solutions • Advocate • Essential part of their role; funders have a powerful voice in shaping homelessness systems

11. Fairfield County Community Foundation “Stable Families” goal: To improve the success of families living in public housing. Program Approach: Prevent and end homelessness through eviction prevention • Convener – partnership with Bridgeport Public Housing • Developed program model with consultation from Center for Urban and Community Services • Investor – FCCP issued Request for Proposals and awarded grant to New Haven Home Recovery

12. Fairfield County Community Foundation “We didn’t want to just prevent failure. We wanted to ensure success.” Systems Approach: PT Partners support housing stability and stable communities to ensure long-term success for residents • Convener - planning grant from Annie E. Casey Foundation • Working multiple systems • Investor – partners include Housing Authority, Fairfield County Community Foundation, and City Foundation • Advocate-Developed resident advocacy training

13. United Way of Greater New Haven Look inside a funder’s head…How do we make decisions?

14. United Way of Greater New Haven • Turning the Curve on Disparities • Realign organization to address population level results • % households living in poverty% graduating high school% kids entering kindergarten ready to learn • + • Experiment to discover where we add value • Fund evidence-based workforce development services • Operate as a backbone organization for school reform and workforce development • Administer Early Head Start

15. United Way of Greater New Haven Trying to communicate systems work…

16. Getting Better…

17. United Way of Greater New Haven Housing priorities: Systems Investments Mind + Body + Soul Connectivity Tools Processes

18. United Way of Greater New Haven Housing priorities: Systems Investments +

19. United Way of Greater New Haven Housing priorities: Systems Investments Where’s the policy agenda? Back door strategy: Join existing efforts • CT Coalition to End Homelessness • Family Economic Success Coalition • Funders Together to End Homelessness • Partnership for Strong Communities • Opening Doors – Connecticut • Universal Health Care Foundation…

20. United Way of Greater New Haven Housing priorities Direct Services: Invest in Rapid Rehousing Results • $458,000 over 4 years = 327 households housed • Low-risk opportunity for providers to practice coordinated access behaviors and processes Risk Management: not without hard decisions

21. United Way of Greater New Haven Income priorities Result: Increase financial security of households in Greater New Haven • Evidence Based, multi-year investments • Partnership for Economic Opportunity • Leadership and Advocacy (back-door policy work)

22. Working With Your Funders • Look beyond the funding • Show your willingness to work with other providers • Present solutions with a shared voice • Learn their language – how can supporting your work improve their outcomes • Especially for non-homelessness funders! • Talk to them about “real” outcomes • Beds filled vs. number of people housed

23. Working With Your Funders • Get their perspectives on related fields like child welfare, health care, etc. • Ask them to convene on a certain topic and bring new people to the table • Make it easy for them to be advocates • Funders networks

24. Questions? 89 South Street, Suite 803 Boston, MA 02111 617.245.0314 www.funderstogether.org www.facebook.com/funderstogether @funderstogether