Focus Area Priorities

In 2017, we announced two broad focus areas—Building an Inclusive Economy and Advancing Equity in Education. We arrived at the decision to focus much of our programmatic work in these two areas after extensive discussion with our partners and reviewing data showing significant racial, economic, and residential disparities among communities of color.

PRIORITY AREAS DEFINED

In 2017–18, Foundation staff conducted extensive listening and strategy sessions with grantees, partners, and directly impacted community members, and we identified six priorities within our two new focus areas. These priorities reflect areas where significant levels of inequity persist, where the community says our resources are most needed, and where we believe we can make the greatest impact now and for the foreseeable future.

ACCESS TO EFFICIENT AND AFFORDABLE TRANSPORTATION

Transportation is often a barrier to individuals and families moving out of poverty. A lack of transportation makes it difficult to obtain and maintain employment, receive healthcare, attend preferred schools, and more. By improving access to efficient and affordable transportation we seek to reduce underemployment, increase job retention and family sufficiency, and increase the ability for individuals and families to easily, safely, and affordably get where they need to go. Transit can play an important role in providing efficient and affordable transportation, but other interventions may also be helpful.

Staff Contact

Charlie Gardner
cgardner@wsfoundation.org

ACCESS TO EFFICIENT AND AFFORDABLE TRANSPORTATION

Transportation is often a barrier to individuals and families moving out of poverty. A lack of transportation makes it difficult to obtain and maintain employment, receive healthcare, attend preferred schools, and more. By improving access to efficient and affordable transportation we seek to reduce underemployment, increase job retention and family sufficiency, and increase the ability for individuals and families to easily, safely, and affordably get where they need to go. Transit can play an important role in providing efficient and affordable transportation, but other interventions may also be helpful.

Staff Contact

Charlie Gardner
cgardner@wsfoundation.org

ACCESS TO EFFICIENT AND AFFORDABLE TRANSPORTATION

Transportation is often a barrier to individuals and families moving out of poverty. A lack of transportation makes it difficult to obtain and maintain employment, receive healthcare, attend preferred schools, and more. By improving access to efficient and affordable transportation we seek to reduce underemployment, increase job retention and family sufficiency, and increase the ability for individuals and families to easily, safely, and affordably get where they need to go. Transit can play an important role in providing efficient and affordable transportation, but other interventions may also be helpful.

Staff Contact

Charlie Gardner
cgardner@wsfoundation.org

Building an Inclusive Economy

Advancing Equity in Education

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GRANTMAKING

Through our community partnerships, the Foundation makes proactive financial investments to help move important work forward. If you have questions or a proposal to discuss, please reach out to us!

For more information
Sandra Fishel-Booth
Program Director, Focus Area Investments
sfishelbooth@wsfoundation.org(336) 607-5125
Charlie Gardner
Program Officer, Inclusive Economy
cgardner@wsfoundation.org(336) 607-5118
Layla Garms
Program Officer, Equity in Education
lgarms@wsfoundation.org(336) 607-5123