250931 Leveraging donor resources to maximize impact

Wednesday, November 2, 2011: 10:30 AM

Tracy A. Fox, MPH, RD , Food, Nutrition & Policy Consultants, LLC, Washington, DC
Marion Standish, JDL , Greater Bay Area Regional Office, The California Endowment, Oakland, CA
Margo G. Wootan, DSc , Center for Science in the Public Interest, Washington, DC
Erin Boltz , Spitfire Strategies, Washington, DC
Throughout 2010, a coalition of nutrition advocates and a newly established campaign called the Child Nutrition Initiative (CNI) worked together to educate policymakers and enact smart policy changes that will improve the health of kids across the country. The unique partnership of funders (coordinated through CNI) combined with the a coalition of leading advocates created a formidable and united front that convinced policymakers to improve child nutrition.

This session will discuss the CNI from a funder's perspective and the decision to pool funds from multiple foundations to create a separate entity that could support a wide number of advocates. This model helped to maximize the strength of both funders and advocates. Standish will also explain how CNI was able to quickly re-direct funding to the most timely opportunities and course correct when legislative targets shifted without compromising lobbying guidelines.

Learning Areas:
Advocacy for health and health education
Communication and informatics
Public health or related laws, regulations, standards, or guidelines
Public health or related public policy

Learning Objectives:
Discuss the Child Nutrition Initiative (CNI) from a funders perspective. Describe the nimbleness and flexibility of the CNI to adjust to the changing political landscape.

Keywords: Nutrition, Advocacy

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am qualified to present because I oversee programs to address healthy foods in schools.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

See more of: School Meals Matter: How Foundations and Advocates can Join Forces for Policy Change
See more of: Food and Nutrition