CHILDREN'S DEFENSE FUND

THE CHILDREN'S DEFENSE FUND'S MISSION IS TO BUILD COMMUNITY SO YOUNG PEOPLE GROW UP WITH DIGNITY, HOPE, AND JOY. TO REALIZE THIS VISION, CDF PURSUES A MOVEMENT-BUILDING AND INSTITUTIONAL GROWTH STRATEGY TO BUILD POWER FOR CHILD-CENTERED PUBLIC POLICY INFORMED BY RACIAL EQUITY AND THE LIVED EXPERIENCE OF CHILDREN AND YOUTH. CDF SERVES AND ADVOCATES FOR THE LARGEST, MOST DIVERSE GENERATION IN AMERICA: THE 74 MILLION CHILDREN AND YOUTH UNDER THE AGE OF 18 AND 30 MILLION YOUNG ADULTS UNDER THE AGE OF 25, WITH PARTICULAR ATTENTION TO THOSE LIVING IN POVERTY AND COMMUNITIES OF COLOR. CDF IS THE ONLY NATIONAL, MULTI-ISSUE ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION WORKING AT THE INTERSECTION OF CHILD WELL-BEING AND RACIAL JUSTICE BY WIELDING THE MORAL AUTHORITY OF PROGRAMMATIC PROXIMITY AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZING TO INFORM PUBLIC POLICY.