Richmond Fund for
Children and Youth
FY 2021–24 Evaluation Findings
Prepared for Richmond City Council
Introduction
Key Achievements
Looking Forward
Agenda
Introduction
RFCY Theory of Change
Evaluation Methods
Evaluation Results
Summary of the RFCY
Over 9 million dollars
went to organizations
serving Richmond
children, youth, and
families.
RFCY at a Glance
Funding Areas
“[RFCY is the] kind of funding that … has been creative in addressing an issue that [is] usually something that is a second thought to all the other services, and it’s specific for youth. It’s been really empowering for our kids to hear that this money is for them and about them.”
—Resource Development Administrator
Funding Areas
Featured photos: Practice Space, Youth Code Now, Scientific Adventures for Girls, Community Education Partnerships, RYSE
Funding Areas
Featured photos: Watershed Project Green Collar
Corps, Things That Creep, Richmond YouthWORKS
Funding Areas
“I’ve had a big
change in how to
handle my emotions
and know that they’re
in my control."
—Desarrollo Familiar
participant, age 16
Funding Areas
Featured photos: Child Abuse Prevention Council of Contra Costa County, Fresh Lifelines for Youth
“R-pal is a great
program for the
community.”
—Richmond Police
Activities League
participant, age 18
Funding Areas
10/14/2025 15
Over FY 2021–24, there were over 120
program sites.
“We work in schools
and with afterschool
programs, but we
also work at housing
sites, clinics,
community centers.
So we’re really
reaching youth in a
lot of different
settings.”
—Program Director
10/14/2025 16
RFCY grantees had over 58,000
encounters with children and youth.
10/14/2025 17
Grantees served a racially and ethnically
diverse population of children and youth.
“We have bilingual (Spanish-
English, some Arabic) Youth Peer
Support staff to support in
authentic youth engagement and
program leadership, especially to
help address the language barriers
present in the community.”
—Grantee report
10/14/2025 18
RFCY is serving communities with the
highest needs.
“It feels a lot
better to know
we’re embedded in
our community,
not just in the kids
and the staff, but
also the funding.”
—Vice President of
Programs
10/14/2025 19
Program sites are accessible because
they are at schools or alongside
transit routes.
Funded programs
took place at 44
K–12 schools and
served over 43,000
children and
youth.
10/14/2025 20
Participants had positive experiences in
RFCY-funded programs.
“This program really
pushes me and
encourages me into doing
my best.”
—East Bay Center for the
Performing Arts participant,
age 16
“I liked this experience
because it helped me with
talking more and being
more comfortable.”
—Rosie’s Service Corps
participant, age 13
10/14/2025 21
• Grants are a catalyst for collaboration.
• RFCY helped emerging programs grow
their organizational infrastructures.
Capacity
• Multiyear RFCY funding supported
grantees’ fiscal planning and growth.
• Grantees pursued additional funding
sources to support sustainability.
Fiscal health
and
sustainability
RFCY supports grantees’ organizational
capacity and sustainability.
$1,581,457
administered to nine
collaborative programs
$559,957
administered to eight
small and emerging
programs
“When we tell people from different companies, ‘Hey, we’ve got the support of the Richmond Fund for Children and Youth,’ that helps us. That’s a big deal because they’re like, ‘Oh, okay, the city is actually supporting this program.’ So that not just legitimizes it, but it makes them feel stronger about supporting us.” —Executive Director
Widespread Reach
Equity-Focused Implementation
Accessible Services
Positive Youth Experience
Support for Organizations
Summary of Key Achievements
Recommendations
Prioritize Flexible Funding
Support Capacity Building for Program Quality
Promote Long-Term Sustainability Planning
Enhance Communication and Responsiveness
Increase Access Supports and Promote Attendance
Strengthen School and Community Partnerships
Deepen Youth and Community Voice
2025
Evaluation
Report
2026
Evaluation
Report
City Council
reauthorization
vote
by December 31, 2027
(Richmond Charter,
Article XV Sec. 11)
2027
Evaluation
Report
FY 2025–28
Evaluation
Report
What’s Next?
36 programs are funded for FY 2025–28
Longitudinal evaluation data will highlight the impact of investing in children and youth over time.
Alexis Grant
[email protected]
Questions?
Nicole Tirado-Strayer
[email protected]