Letter from the President 2012

As a family foundation committed to long-term economic opportunity and social justice, our grantmaking has intentionally focused on upstream solutions for more than fifteen years. Supporting systemic change requires a deeper engagement with our nonprofit partners and at times a longer timeframe for implementation. However, we know that investing in policy change or improving a system will not only help people today, but the whole stream of people who will follow. We believe our commitment to supporting upstream solutions makes the most significant impact in vulnerable populations, and it is with great satisfaction that I share some of the upstream solutions we have recently funded in each of our program areas.

Early Care and Education – Building upon our work with the nationally recognized Clayton Early Learning Center, Chambers Family Fund has invested in Tools of the Mind, an innovative preschool and kindergarten curriculum that improves the learning ability of our children and enhances the training of their teachers. Tools of the Mind is a growing and nationally recognized curriculum that focuses on self-regulation and challenges conventional teaching methods while improving test scores, child behavior and classroom engagement. Click here to learn more.

Justice, Equality and Opportunity – Throughout 2012 Colorado citizens will not only learn more about TBD Colorado, a new nonprofit initiative, but they will also have the opportunity to participate in its statewide effort to create informed and constructive conversations among Coloradans. Through local forums, community members will share their visions and priorities for some of the biggest issues facing the state. No public dollars will be spent on TBD Colorado and Chambers Family Fund is proud to be one of the first foundations to support this important and timely civic engagement initiative. To learn more about TBD Colorado, click here.

Women's Economic Self-Sufficiency – Ascend, the Family Economic Security Program at The Aspen Institute, received a four year grant last year from Chambers Family Fund to enhance its efforts to move parents and their children beyond poverty toward educational success and economic security. What makes the work significantly different than other anti-poverty programs is a "two-generation" approach that focuses on both parents and their children. Ascend and Chambers Family Fund will develop and disseminate new ideas for bringing both parents, especially single mothers, and their children out of poverty. Click here to learn more.

In addition to these new initiatives, we continue to provide ongoing support to organizations that align with our program areas and arts and culture institutions. Among them, Kirkland Museum of Fine & Decorative Art remains an important funding priority. The museum has grown from a showcase of longtime Colorado artist Vance Kirkland's art into one of the country's top displays of 20th century decorative arts and a repository of Colorado art from 1875–1980.

It is a privilege to extend our resources to vital nonprofits, those that work day in and day out to effect positive change. We invite you to learn more about these and other upstream solutions by exploring our website.

Sincerely,

Merle C. Chambers

President

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