ANNAPOLIS, MD—Maryland Gov. Wes Moore has announced the formation of the ENOUGH Alliance and a $100 million philanthropic investment dedicated to ending child poverty in the state.

The alliance, which comprises local and national philanthropic and private sector organizations, aims to invest in children and families to eradicate poverty in the state. The multi-million dollar investment from the philanthropic community will supplement other private and state resources directed to communities with the highest rates of generational poverty.

Moore emphasized the importance of collaboration, stating, “Partnership produces progress, and nothing else does. Marylanders are coming together across all levels of society to end child poverty in our state.” He continued, “By joining forces across the public sector, private sector, philanthropic sector, nonprofit sector, and beyond, we can marshal the broad support necessary to elevate our communities and leave no one behind. Today marks an important step forward in our continued work to ensure every child, regardless of background or zip code, thrives.”

The ENOUGH Alliance aligns with the state’s ENOUGH Initiative, authorized by the ENOUGH Act signed into law in 2024. The act aims to address historic inequities in the state and tackle the root causes of poverty. The initiative directs resources to communities, working with community organizations, non-profit organizations, and anchor institutions to improve the quality of life for Marylanders experiencing multi-generational poverty.

The significance of cross-sector collaboration was highlighted by Geoff Canada, Founder and President of Harlem Children’s Zone and Founder of William Julius Wilson Institute at HCZ. He stated, “Philanthropy works best when it is done in partnership, and investing in the future of our children and our communities requires collaborative efforts across sectors.” Canada continued, “Maryland’s ENOUGH Act is a powerful step towards addressing systemic and historic challenges, providing the tools needed for young people to thrive. Through philanthropic support of this initiative, we are investing in a generation of families and children who will transform their futures and provide boundless opportunity for those too often left behind.”

Members of the ENOUGH Alliance will either provide funding to nonprofit organizations in ENOUGH-eligible jurisdictions or contribute to the ENOUGH Community Support Fund. The Governor’s Office for Children assists potential funders by providing information about where their contributions can have the most impact and works to align investment with the State’s existing efforts to uplift ENOUGH-eligible jurisdictions.

Blue Meridian Partners has pledged significant investments to support nonprofit organizations in Maryland, provide technical assistance to communities designated as ENOUGH-eligible, and back the Moore-Miller Administration’s comprehensive approach to tackling child poverty. The Bainum Family Foundation and the Sherman Family Foundation are supporting the creation of the ENOUGH Community Support Fund.

Blue Meridian Partners President and Chief Investment and Impact Officer Jim Shelton stated, “Blue Meridian Partners is proud to invest in Governor Moore’s vision of ending child poverty by building family wealth, championing education equity, and creating pathways to opportunity.”

The need to invest in people was highlighted by David Daniels, Chief Executive Officer and President of the Bainum Family Foundation. He stated, “The ENOUGH Act recognizes that addressing systemic challenges requires investing in people — families, children, and the dedicated professionals who support them.” Daniels continued, “At the Bainum Family Foundation, we know that when we invest in young children, their families, and educators, we invest in the future success of our communities. We’re proud to stand with Governor Moore and our fellow philanthropic partners in creating the ENOUGH Community Support Fund to drive real, lasting change for Maryland’s children and families.”

Betsy Sherman, Founder and Chair of the Sherman Family Foundation, expressed her organization’s commitment to the initiative. She stated, “We are delighted to support Governor Moore’s vision of ending childhood poverty, along with the Maryland legislature through the ENOUGH Act and philanthropy through the ENOUGH Alliance.” Sherman continued, “Today, with inspiring leadership, community-based solutions, and children-centered professionals and caring adults, the Sherman Family Foundation is honored to be part of the solution to recognize the promise of each child by investing in their future, from gestation through young adulthood. We are proud to join local funders in responding to Governor Moore’s call to lift Maryland children out of poverty.”

The ENOUGH Alliance will continue the groundbreaking work of the ENOUGH Act, building on philanthropic commitments from the Maryland Partnership for Proven Programs, Arnold Ventures, and Bloomberg Philanthropies’ first-ever state Innovation Team. The act utilizes place-based interventions in communities with a high concentration of children living in poverty, including rural, suburban, and urban areas.

In 2024, the ENOUGH Initiative program awarded $20 million in grants and technical assistance to communities designated as ENOUGH-eligible and their Local Management Boards. These funds support place-based efforts to reduce child poverty and promote economic mobility in Maryland.

For additional information, visit the ENOUGH Alliance website at https://www.enoughalliance.org.

This article was written with the assistance of AI and reviewed by a human editor.