Funding the Next Generation, founded in 2015, was the nation’s first initiative to promote and fight for local public funding measures for services to children, youth and their families – funds like San Francisco’s Children and Youth Fund and the Oakland Kids First Fund.

ALL our children and youth deserve to be safe, loved, and given ample opportunities to reach for their dreams.  That means communities, like families, must ensure that sufficient resources are spent uplifting their children.  Yet right now, public budgets are way out of balance.  For our most disadvantaged young people particularly, our elected officials have chosen to spend much more money on punishment and repairing problems than on providing opportunity and preventing problems.  Too many children are denied the chance to develop to their potential.

The mission of Funding the Next Generation is to increase public funding that provides opportunities for all our children and youth.  With the belief that action starts at the local level, we help create city and county policies and revenue streams that will fund and sustain services such as childcare, preschool, after school and youth development programs, career preparation and summer jobs, health care, recreation, parent support and community schools.

We know that rhetoric and policies on paper are meaningless unless resources follow. Sadly, getting enough resources for children and youth is often a battle.  Funding the Next Generation helps win those battles – in city and county budgets, and at the ballot box.

The crisis that was created by Covid 19 has revealed the limitations in our services for children and hopefully taught us more about what is important in our lives.   As our country recovers, it is essential that we not only return to what we provided our children prior to the virus, but that we strengthen that safety net of support. As communities re-establish their priorities, we must use this as an opportunity to ensure that children and youth are front of mind.  We must not respond to the fears that could follow, but to our community’s highest aspirations for the next generation.

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This initiative was founded and is directed by Margaret Brodkin, who is nationally recognized for her pioneering work and tough advocacy in building a constituency for children and successfully fighting for hundreds of millions of dollars in public funding for children and youth services in San Francisco.

Funding the Next Generation works with coalitions of advocates, public officials, non-profit agencies, parents and youth throughout California – and has sparked action around the country.

If you want to be part of a movement that helps the children in your community look to the future with excitement and hope, join us!  As an expanding learning network of local coalitions, we look forward to sharing our resources, experience and expertise with you.

“Margaret Brodkin is the Johnny Appleseed of children’s funds.”
– Larry Tramutola, political consultant for dozens of winning campaigns for school funding, progressive policies and the strategist behind the historic soda tax victories in Berkeley, San Francisco and Oakland, California.

LATEST ADDITIONS AND HIGHLIGHTS

Check out our 2022 newsletters with valuable information about our work: 

  • January 2022 – Election updates, ARP funding for kids, City Department New Publication, New Resources
  • April 2022 – Campaign updates, National Institute resources
  • June 2022 – Sacramento response to gun violence, Update on Taxpayer Protection Act
  • October 2022 – Campaign updates, Register for Launch of 2024 Learning Community and Election de-brief
Additional Newsletters

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

You’ll find a lot of info about things you were afraid to ask and things you didn’t even realize you needed to know. This includes everything from our most valuable resources, to examples of local polls, to the basics of local budgets, to communication strategies.

Check them out

TOOLS AND TRAINING created by Funding the Next Generation:

WORKING YOUR BUDGET PROCESS:

GUIDE: OUT OF THE BOX IDEAS FOR A CHILDREN AND YOUTH FUND

If you already have a fund, you may want some ideas about how to use the fund to foster collaboration, promote equity, build community and inspire innovation.
Download the Guide

PUTTING IT ALL IN ONE PLACE

The A to Z guide to placing a measure for kids on the ballot in a few pages.

Download the Guide

UPCOMING EVENTS

Please join us for these upcoming events. Click on the link for more information and to register for the event.

FROM OUR NATIONAL PARTNER AND FISCAL SPONSOR

Children’s Funding Project is our national partner and fiscal sponsor> Learn more

Voter Approved Children’s Funds Throughout the Country

Tools from Children’s Funding Project about resources your city, county and school district might access from the federal government – Info on all cities, counties, school districts

CATCH UP ON PAST WEBINARS

Signature Gathering for Ballot Measures

Political strategists and experienced signature gatherers explain what is involved in gathering signatures to place measures on the ballot

Webinar

Presenters are Nicole Derse and Derek Lee from 50+1 Strategies, Jamileh Ebrahimi from RYSE, and David Kakashiba from EBAYC.

WATCH NOW

Redefining Public Safety to include Youth Development

A first step to changing local budget priorities

Webinar

Moderator: Margaret Brodkin, founder/director Funding the Next Generation; Featuring: Panel of community leaders including elected officials and youth

WATCH NOW

Time to Consider A Ballot Measure for 2024

Presentation why it is important to start NOW (July 2022) to work to place a revenue measure on the ballot for children, youth and their families in California.

Webinar

Presenters are Margaret Brodkin, Founder of Funding the Next Generation; Jesus Sanchez, ED of Gente Organizada; Nicole Derse, Principal, 50+1 Strategies.

WATCH NOW

CHECK OUT OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL FOR ALL OUR WEBINARS AND TRAININGS: They cover everything from digital tools, to reducing juvenile hall populations, to latest national polling, to advocating for kids in local budget processes.

Additional Webinars

LEARN MORE

Feature

Local departments for youth can be an important way to coordinate city services, generate new dollars, strengthen the voices of young people, and provide a forum for city problem-solving. They can also be a first step in developing a dedicated fund for children and youth services. Download here

What’s the law?

All you need to know about California laws related to revenue options for children and youth funds and getting on the ballot.  WebinarChart of options and Legal Memo describing options

Funding The Next Generation

California’s First Children’s fund

Hear Margaret Brodkin tell the inspiring Little Red Wagon Story about the winning campaign to pass the San Francisco Children’s Fund – now over $100 Million each year.