January 6, 2026
Department
DATE: January 6, 2026
TO: Mayor Martinez and Members of the City Council
FROM:
LaShonda White, Deputy City Manager – Community
Services
Patrick Seals, Administrative Chief
Subject:
Evaluation Report by WestEd on the Richmond Fund for
Children & Youth
FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no financial impact for receiving this report.
PREVIOUS COUNCIL
ACTION:
January 16, 2024
April 15, 2025
STATEMENT OF THE
ISSUE:
As required under the City of Richmond Charter Article
15, Sections 2, 4(d), and (d)(ii)(4–5), the Richmond Fund for Children and Youth must conduct regular program
evaluations. The City, through a contract with WestEd, an independent third-party evaluator, completed evaluations of all grant-funded programs for Fiscal Years 2021–22,
2022–23, and 2023–24. WestEd has prepared an
evaluation report for City Council review to ensure that fund expenditure aligns with the provisions of the
Charter.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
RECEIVE the WestEd evaluation report, a third-party
external evaluator, assessing the impact of the Richmond Fund for Children & Youth grant programs from Fiscal
Years 2021–2024 – Richmond Department of Children &
Youth (Patrick Seals/LaShonda White 510-307-8016).
This item was continued from the December 16, 2025,
meeting.
AGENDA
REPORT
January 6, 2026
DISCUSSION:
In 2018, Richmond voters approved Measures E and K, collectively known as the “Richmond Kids First Initiative,” which amended the City Charter (Article 15) to establish the Richmond Fund for Children and Youth (RFCY) and the Richmond Department of Children and Youth (RDCY). Measure E dedicated a portion of the City’s General Fund to programs supporting children, youth, and their families, reflecting the community’s commitment to promoting healthy development, safety, and long-term success for Richmond’s young residents.
The Department of Children and Youth (DCY) was subsequently created to administer the fund, oversee program investments, and implement the community’s Strategic Investment Plan (SIP), which guides funding priorities over multiple years. The SIP identifies critical areas where strategic investment can reduce inequities and expand opportunities, including early childhood development, education, youth leadership, housing stability, and community safety.
A key feature of the Charter’s RFCY language is the mandate for independent evaluation. According to the Charter and related City policy, the Oversight Board is charged with facilitating an annual evaluation through a third-party, external independent evaluator; this evaluation must identify relevant measures and ensure that programs funded by RFCY produce meaningful outcomes. The evaluation is intended to review not only individual program performance, but also system-wide effects, process fidelity, collaboration, equity in resource distribution, and alignment with the Fund’s goals as laid out in the Charter and Strategic Investment Plans.
The period covered by the evaluation, Fiscal Years (FY) 2021–2024, represents the Fund’s first full investment cycle. During this time, the City allocated $9.1 million in grant funding to 46 community-based organizations (CBOs) serving Richmond and North Richmond. These organizations delivered programs across a range of priority areas and age groups, with an emphasis on children and youth birth–24 and their caregivers.
The evaluation was conducted by WestEd which served as the City’s independent evaluator. Their mandate was to assess the extent to which RFCY-funded programs were implemented as intended, to measure participant outcomes, and to examine early indicators of system-level impact in Richmond’s youth-serving ecosystem. This evaluation represents a significant milestone for the Fund, providing the first comprehensive picture of how public investments have translated into programs and outcomes on the ground.
Additionally, the Richmond Fund for Children & Youth Oversight Board received the evaluation report at their meeting in July 2025
January 6, 2026
Analysis Overview
The Richmond Fund for Children and Youth (RFCY) was established to ensure that all children, youth, and young adults in Richmond have the opportunity to grow, thrive, and succeed in supportive environments. The Fund is guided by six overarching goals that shape its investment strategy and program priorities, including (1) healthy, safe, and successful; (2) to strengthen families and communities; (3) to provide equitable, culturally responsive, and trauma-informed services; (4) to foster collaboration among agencies and organizations; (5) to ensure fair distribution of resources citywide; and (6) to fill service gaps while leveraging additional funding to maximize impact.
Evaluation plays a vital role in telling the story of the RFCY—its programs, the people served, and the impact of these investments on youth, families, and the broader Richmond community. It provides an opportunity to measure progress toward the Fund’s goals, identify challenges, and continuously improve the quality and reach of funded programs.
Evaluation Questions
The evaluation was guided by six key questions designed to assess both program implementation and outcomes:
1. How and to what extent is the Fund successfully building the capacity of grantees?
2. What are the successes and challenges of implementing RFCY-funded activities and services?
3. How and to what extent are grant funds being used to expand program reach and coverage?
4. How and to what extent is the RFCY reducing service gaps across Richmond?
5. How and to what extent is the RFCY facilitating high-quality programming?
6. How and to what extent are RFCY-funded programs promoting positive outcomes for participants?
Evaluators, WestEd employed a mixed-methods evaluation approach, combining quantitative data from grantee reports and participant surveys with qualitative insights gathered through interviews, focus groups, and administrative data reviews. This approach allowed for both a broad view of program reach and outcomes and a more nuanced understanding of participants’ experiences and organizational capacity.
Between FY 2021 and FY 2024, the Richmond Fund for Children and Youth invested a total of $9.12 million to support 56 programs delivered by 46 nonprofit and community- based organizations. These programs operated across 120 sites in Richmond and neighboring communities, including schools, parks, libraries, community centers, and nonprofit offices.
January 6, 2026
Over this three-year period, RFCY-funded programs recorded more than 58,000 youth encounters1—representing more than 215,000 hours of direct programming. Programs served Richmond’s most vulnerable populations, focusing heavily on neighborhoods with the highest poverty rates and lowest scores on the Child Opportunity Index (COI).
Many of these programs were situated within walkable areas or along AC Transit and Richmond Moves routes, ensuring accessibility for participants without reliable transportation.
Funding Distribution and Program Areas
Programs funded through RFCY spanned six (6) priority service areas, established through the City’s 2020 Community Needs Assessment and Strategic Investment Plan.
These areas and their corresponding funding allocations are presented below:
Priority Area Funding (FY21–24) % of Total Youth
Encounters
Out-of-School Time, Sports, and Enrichment $3,007,657 33% 19,876 Education and Employment Support $2,128,957 23% 9,456
Behavioral Health and Wellness $2,026,335 22% 19,475
Youth Violence Prevention $805,300 9% 6,150
Information, Guidance, and Case
Management $620,000 7% 1,077
Access to Basic Needs $536,008 6% 2,227
Total $9,124,257 100% 58,261
RFCY grantees also leveraged volunteer engagement and youth leadership in program delivery—37 percent of funded programs utilized volunteers, while 74 percent engaged youth over multiple quarters or years, demonstrating sustained, long-term involvement.
Participant Demographics and Equity Impact
The programs collectively reached a population reflective of Richmond’s diversity. Of the youth served, 46 percent identified as Hispanic or Latino, 19 percent as Black or African American, 20 percent as White, and 6 percent as Asian, with smaller percentages identifying as mixed race or other ethnicities.
Participants ranged from infants to young adults, with the majority (62%) between ages 6–12, representing the City’s largest youth cohort. Slightly more than half (55%) identified as female, 43 percent as male, and 2 percent as nonbinary or unspecified.
Most participants resided in ZIP codes 94801, 94804, and 94806, which together encompass nearly 90 percent of the youth served.
1 “Encounters” represent the number of youth served per quarter and may include duplicate counts for participants engaged in multiple programs or across multiple quarters. With approximately 46,000 Richmond residents ages 0–24, these figures reflect repeat participation rather than unique individuals served.
January 6, 2026
Crucially, programs were strategically distributed to reach communities with the highest concentrations of low-income families—particularly those below 200 percent of the federal poverty level. Many programs also offered multilingual services, including Spanish, Mandarin, and Arabic, and intentionally incorporated trauma-informed, gender- responsive, and culturally competent approaches.
Key Achievements and Impact
The evaluation demonstrates substantial progress toward the RFCY’s long-term goals and highlights several major accomplishments:
Broad and Inclusive Reach: With over 58,000 youth encounters across 120 sites, RFCY programs have become a City-wide resource for children and families. Positive Youth Outcomes: Participants reported meaningful gains in confidence, connection, and leadership. Specifically:
o 93% said the program helped them learn to get along with others. o 87% said it helped them make new friends.
o 82% said they became stronger leaders.
o 83% said they better understood how to prepare for college. o 77% said the program taught them to handle problems positively. Academic and Career Readiness:
o 67% said their program made learning fun.
o 56% said it motivated them to learn more in school.
o 93% said they now understand how to get the kind of job they want. o 91% learned about new careers or industries.
Organizational Growth and Stability:
o Nine multi-organization collaborations and eight small/emerging programs received targeted funding to expand their capacity.
o 100% of grantees funded in FY 2021 or FY 2022 were renewed in the following fiscal year.
o RFCY grantees leveraged City funding to secure an additional $1.5 million in outside grants and private contributions.
Community Partnerships: Over 44 public schools, including 27 elementary schools, partnered with RFCY-funded programs, resulting in more than 43,000 school-based youth encounters.
Program Quality and Participant Experience
Most RFCY-funded programs met or exceeded key performance benchmarks.
WestEd’s analysis of youth and parent surveys across 22 programs found strong indicators of program quality and participant satisfaction.
92% of grantees met the benchmark for overall program satisfaction. 77% met targets for youth sense of belonging.
62% met benchmarks for caring adult connections and perceived program safety.
January 6, 2026
84% of grantees reported positive working relationships and responsiveness from RDCY staff.
Youth described programs as “safe,” “fun,” and “transformative.” Parents reported that 94 percent of their children enjoyed participating and would recommend the program to others, emphasizing the programs’ positive effects on their children’s confidence, behavior, and engagement in learning.
Organizational Capacity and Sustainability
RFCY’s multiyear funding structure proved essential to helping local organizations plan, stabilize, and grow. Nearly half of all grantees operated with annual budgets under $1 million, and for several small organizations, RFCY grants represented more than half of their total operating revenue.
Over time, this investment helped organizations:
Hire additional staff and expand professional development. Establish new data systems and reporting mechanisms.
Improve strategic planning and financial management.
Forge lasting partnerships with schools, health agencies, and community centers.
Grantees also reported that City support enhanced their credibility with other funders— serving as a “stamp of approval” that unlocked new funding opportunities and strengthened community trust.
Implementation Challenges and Lessons Learned
Despite measurable success, the first three years also brought important lessons and challenges. Many programs operated during or immediately after the COVID-19 pandemic, navigating school closures, virtual learning transitions, and significant increases in family stress and mental health needs.
Nonetheless, grantees overwhelmingly expressed optimism, noting that RDCY’s responsiveness and partnership approach improved over time, and that new systems implemented in 2024 and 2025—such as the Submittable reporting platform—are already addressing earlier challenges.
Recommendations for Future Implementation
WestEd and RDCY identified several strategies to enhance the Fund’s impact moving forward. These include:
1. Maintaining Flexible Funding to allow grantees to adapt quickly to community needs.
2. Expanding Capacity-Building Support for small and emerging organizations in evaluation, data, and strategic planning.
3. Improving Communication and Efficiency through clearer guidance and faster reimbursement processing.
January 6, 2026
4. Reducing Access Barriers with transportation support, extended program hours, and bilingual outreach.
5. Strengthening School Partnerships by aligning calendars and points of contact to reduce disruptions.
6. Deepening Youth and Community Voice through participatory evaluation and youth co-evaluator programs.
7. Promoting Long-Term Sustainability by helping organizations diversify funding streams and plan for the future.
CONCLUSIONS
The Richmond Fund for Children and Youth Evaluation Report (FY 2021–2024) affirms that Measure E has become a cornerstone of Richmond’s commitment to advancing equity, opportunity, and youth development. Over the past three years, more than $9.1 million has been invested to support 56 community-based programs, facilitating over 58,000 children, youth, and families encounters across the city. These investments have created a strong, responsive infrastructure that promotes learning, leadership, wellness, and healing throughout Richmond’s neighborhoods.
The evaluation paints a compelling picture of progress and promise. In its inaugural funding cycle, the Fund successfully launched and scaled a diverse portfolio of high- quality programs that have produced measurable improvements in academic engagement, social-emotional well-being, safety, and family stability. Beyond individual outcomes, RFCY funding has strengthened the overall ecosystem of youth-serving organizations—building capacity, fostering collaboration, and ensuring that resources reach the communities most in need.
While challenges remain, the City’s investments are delivering meaningful results and lasting impact. As Richmond prepares to implement the FY 2025–2028 Strategic Investment Plan, the findings of this evaluation provide a clear roadmap for continued progress—guided by data, driven by equity, and rooted in community voice. The Department of Children and Youth concurs with WestEd’s recommendations to enhance data systems, expand technical assistance, and deepen capacity-building support, ensuring that future investments build upon today’s successes while addressing areas of growth.
Next Steps
City staff will return to the City Council in early Quarter 1 of the 2026 calendar year with a presentation on the potential renewal of the Richmond Fund for Children and Youth (RFCY), Article 15 of the City Charter (formerly Measures E and K). The presentation will outline available renewal pathways, seek City Council direction, and summarize anticipated timelines and fiscal considerations to support informed decision-making.
SYNERGISTIC POLICIES:
January 6, 2026
City of Richmond Charter Article 15, Sections 2, 4(d), and (d)(ii)(4–5) - The Richmond Fund for Children & Youth shall use independent evaluations to ensure funded programs meet outcomes, with reports shared publicly and with City leadership.
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
Attachment 1 – Fiscal Year 2021-24 RFCY Report Final
Attachment 2 – DRAFT City Council Presentation – WestEd Evaluation RFCY Attachment 3 – DRAFT Evaluation Report Question and Response