Coalition for Community Foundations for Youth

Outline of Regional/State Meetings on Responsible Fatherhood
(Supported by the Annie E. Casey Foundation and the Ford Foundation)

The Coalition has made grants of $2,500 to the following four groups to convene state/regional meetings. The goal of these activities is to deepen local and regional philanthropic involvement in efforts to engage fathers in the lives of their children.

Orlando, Florida - October 22, 1997 (Southern Region):

The Donors Forum of Florida (a regional association of over 60 foundations and corporate giving programs), Florida Funders (a network of foundations and corporate giving programs currently convened by the Jessie Ball duPont Fund) and the Community Foundation of Central Florida convened a statewide meeting on October 22, 1997 in Orlando. The theme of the conference was Fatherhood: Strategies for Involving Community in Enhancing Responsible Fatherhood and Family Participation.

This meeting was an important continuation of the discussion begun by funders in in early 1997 about welfare reform and was timely because of the work of the Governor's Commission on Responsible Fatherhood. The meeting included a panel composed of Charlie Peters, a Honeywell executive who heads the Florida Commission on Responsible Fatherhood, Ken Canfield from the National Center for Fathering, Shawn Mooring from the Ford Foundation, Brenda Hostetler representing the Annie E. Casey Foundation, and Diane Sandquist from the Community Foundation of Central Florida, with Dr. Sherry Magill from the Jessie Ball DuPont Fund serving as moderator.

Mr. Peters informed the group that the Commission, now more than a year old, began with a modest appropriation of $50,000 and 25 volunteer Commissioners from diverse backgrounds. In 1997 the state legislature apppropriated $650,000 in operating support, enabling the hiring of an executive director. The legislature also provided $10 million in seed money for responsible fatherhood programs.

The results of a statewide survey of funders on their activities on the issue of responsible fatherhood were presented. This survey is the base for statewide networking, identification of funding gaps, and opportunities for collaboration. It was commissioned by the Florida Donors Forum with support from the Coalition of Community Foundations for Youth. Copies of the report summarizing the results, "How Florida Funders are Adapting to Welfare Reform and the Responsible Fatherhood Movement," are available for $10 from The Donor's Forum, Inc., 600 Brickell Avenue, Suite 206K, Miami, FL 33131, (305) 371-7944.

Indiana - Spring 1998 (Mid-Western Region):

The Indiana Donors Alliance will sponsor a statewide meeting of grantmakers in the spring of 1998. A Governor's Conference, Restoring Fatherhood-Renewing Families, was held in 1996 and attracted 275 providers, advocates, youth and civic leaders. In addition to the state's interest in father issues, the mayor of Indianapolis has initiated a number of programs around responsible fatherhood.

Arkansas, Louisana and Mississippi -Spring 1998 (Southern Region):

The Foundation for the Mid-South, a tri-state community foundation, is planning a meeting of funders for the summer of 1998. The foundation has been very effective in convening and supporting the Empowerment Zone and Empowerment Communities network in the three state area. Because father issues overlap with other issues facing these communities, the Foundation is planning the funders meeting to coincide with a EZ/EC Network meeting.

Colorado - April 1998 (Western Region):

Jim Garcia, Director of Governor Romer's Responsible Fatherhood Initiative is working with the Rose Community Foundation to plan a meeting of funders in connection with a Governor's conference on fathers. The date and agenda are in the planning stages.

For further information or questions regarding this web site, please email mailbox@ncoff.gse.upenn.edu

National Center on Fathers and Families
University of Pennsylvania
Graduate School of Education
3700 Walnut Street, Box 58
Philadelphia, PA 19104-6216