Investing in Connections

This article presents discussion by executives from three foundations about how they
are "aligning people, organizations, and systems to improve outcomes for
children and youth." Discussion focuses on how providing a continuum of services that address
the different contexts in which children live can produce more effective results.



S. H. Cowell Foundation - Lise Maisano, senior program officer

The S. H. Cowell Foundation, according to Maisano, provides place-based grants, covering four areas: affordable housing, family resource centres, K–12 public education, and youth
development. Grants are provided within one community, with which the
Foundation established a long-term relationship . The foundation believes that as they invest and
share within a community, "the more relationships among those communities will deepen, which, in turn, will
sustain what they have accomplished."

Chicago Community
Trust - Terry Mazany, president and chief executive officer

The Chicago Community Trust, according to Mazany, helps donors manage their charitable giving and make grants in the community. The Trust
focuses on linking organisations to community schools and on "aligning people and organizations
around a common goal or set of strategies."

The Wallace Foundation - Nancy Devine, director of community
programs and Sheila Murphy, senior officer

The Wallace Foundation, according to Devine and Murphy, provides grants in the areas of
communities, arts, and education. They believe that it is important to build better bridges between in-school and out-of-school environments,
and have funded projects to improve arts opportunities and library systems, to enhance out of school learning opportunities.