$100 Million Philanthropic Coalition Empowers Maryland Families to Combat Child Poverty
In a groundbreaking move, Governor Wes Moore has unveiled the ENOUGH Alliance, a coalition of philanthropic and private sector organizations, with an initial commitment exceeding $100 million to eradicate child poverty in Maryland. This transformative initiative builds upon the foundation laid by the ENOUGH Act, a pioneering legislation enacted in 2024 to address deep-rooted inequities and confront the underlying causes of poverty throughout the state.
Governor Moore emphasized the power of collaboration in his announcement, stating, “Partnership produces progress, and nothing else does. Marylanders are uniting across all sectors to end child poverty in our state. By uniting forces across public, private, philanthropic, and nonprofit domains, we can rally the comprehensive support needed to uplift our communities and ensure no child is left behind. Today signifies a significant stride forward in our ongoing mission to guarantee every child, irrespective of their background or zip code, flourishes.”
The ENOUGH Alliance is dedicated to leveraging philanthropic resources to complement existing public and private investments in communities grappling with intergenerational poverty. Aligned with the ENOUGH Initiative, the coalition aims to enhance the well-being of families in need through strategic partnerships with nonprofits, community groups, and anchor institutions.
Renowned philanthropic leaders have voiced unwavering support for this initiative. Geoff Canada, the visionary founder of Harlem Children’s Zone and the William Julius Wilson Institute, commended the ENOUGH Act for tackling systemic obstacles and equipping families with the tools for success. Canada remarked, “Maryland’s ENOUGH Act represents a significant stride in addressing entrenched systemic challenges and equipping young people with the resources necessary to thrive. Through philanthropic backing of this initiative, we are investing in a cohort of families and children who will reshape their destinies and unlock boundless opportunities for those historically marginalized.”
Members of the alliance have committed to either directly funding nonprofit entities in ENOUGH-eligible regions or contributing to the ENOUGH Community Support Fund. The Governor’s Office for Children will provide guidance to funders on optimizing their impact and aligning their investments with state priorities.
Leading organizations supporting the alliance include Blue Meridian Partners, the Bainum Family Foundation, and the Sherman Family Foundation. Jim Shelton, President of Blue Meridian Partners, underscored the partnership’s emphasis on family wealth, educational equity, and economic empowerment as pivotal elements in eradicating child poverty. David Daniels, CEO and President of the Bainum Family Foundation, highlighted the essential role of investing in individuals—families, children, and the dedicated professionals supporting them—in addressing systemic challenges.
Betsy Sherman, founder and chair of the Sherman Family Foundation, reinforced this notion, stressing the significance of child-centered strategies and community-driven solutions.
The ENOUGH Act, sanctioned in 2024, employs place-based interventions in communities with disproportionately high child poverty rates. In its inaugural year, the ENOUGH Initiative disbursed $20 million in grants and technical support to ENOUGH communities and Local Management Boards to foster economic mobility and diminish poverty.
Building upon past philanthropic endeavors, including contributions from the Maryland Partnership for Proven Programs, Arnold Ventures, and Bloomberg Philanthropies, the ENOUGH Alliance aims to amplify these efforts. These contributions have bolstered innovative programs like the state’s inaugural Innovation Team, which endeavors to develop scalable solutions to poverty.
Governor Moore’s vision encompasses a comprehensive governmental approach to eradicating child poverty, entailing targeted investments in rural, suburban, and urban regions with disproportionately high poverty rates. The alliance seeks to expand these initiatives, ensuring families receive the necessary assistance to break free from cycles of generational poverty.
For additional details on the ENOUGH Alliance and its mission, please visit enoughalliance.org.
