Our Theory of Change

The Edna McConnell Clark Foundation supports organizations that help economically disadvantaged young people, ages 9 to 24, become independent, productive adults. We concentrate on three outcomes:

Improving their educational skills and achievement;
Preparing them for the world of work so they can find and hold jobs and achieve economic self-sufficiency; and
Helping them avoid high-risk behaviors such as teen pregnancy, substance abuse and illegal activities.

The Foundation has developed a theory of change to achieve these outcomes:

The Edna McConnell Clark Foundation finds high-potential youth-serving organizations that meet its due diligence criteria.	A compelling program with evidence that it improves educational skills and attainment, employment prospects, and/or reduces high-risk behaviors Outstanding leadership with a track record of accomplishment and a vision of growth Financial viability Operational viability A commitment to tracking performance and measuring outcomes Compatibility with the Foundation’s investment approach
We structure our investments according to the needs and nature of a grantee’s operations and its stage of organizational development.	Is the grantee a single-service organization, delivering one program in several locales and seeking to expand elsewhere? Is it a multi-service organization, providing an array of services in one community? Is it a national network, providing one or more services through local affiliates in many communities? If the grantee is a single-service organization, is it: - An early stage organization in need of business planning and external evaluation? - A growth ready organization that needs to strengthen its evaluation and its infrastructure? - A sustainable growth organization with a scientifically proven program that requires growth capital to expand?
We help grantees prepare to grow by assisting them with business planning and with improving the quality of their programs, the evidence of their programs’ effectiveness, and their organizational capacity. In some instances we also provide up-front growth capital.	Business planning Unrestricted multi-year investments Performance tracking systems External evaluation Talent and leadership development Up-front growth capital
As our grantees grow, they improve the life prospects of greater numbers of youth with programs that have been proven effective.	Growth in service capacity and numbers served Improved program effectiveness as demonstrated in evaluation Stronger organizations able to sustain growth and quality More youth benefit from improved life prospects

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In the Spotlight

Nine Organizations Selected to Receive Social Innovation Fund Awards

The Edna McConnell Clark Foundation is investing up to $42 million over three years in nine organizations whose evidence-based programs promise to transform the life trajectories of thousands of low-income youth. In support of these grantees, the Foundation is establishing the True North Fund to leverage public money from the SIF and private money from the EMCF and institutional and individual philanthropic partners to effectively capitalize and expand programs that can serve more vulnerable young people.

A Families-First Approach to Foster Care

(Youth Villages) The New York Times, February 21, 2011

Nonprofit Pairs Up Nurses With Struggling First-Time Moms

(Nurse-Family Partnership) Huffington Post, March 14, 2011

Enlisting Professionals as Part-time Educators

(Citizen Schools) NBC Nightly News, October 15, 2010

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