The Annie E. Casey Foundation The Annie E. Casey Foundation

About Us

The Annie E. Casey Foundation (AECF®) is devoted to developing a brighter future for millions of children and young people with respect to their educational, economic, social and health outcomes.

Our work focuses on strengthening families, building stronger communities and ensuring access to opportunity, because children, youth and young adults need all three to succeed. We advance research and solutions to overcome the barriers to success, help communities demonstrate what works and influence decision makers to invest in strategies based on solid evidence.

Learn more about our grant making

As a private philanthropy based in Baltimore and working across the country, we make grants that help federal agencies, states, counties, cities and neighborhoods create more innovative, cost-effective responses to challenges facing children and young people: poverty, unnecessary disconnection from family and communities with limited access to opportunity.

Since 1948, these efforts have translated into more informed policies and practices and yielded positive results for many kids and families.

Each day, our 200 dedicated staff partner with more than 700 grantees to…

Help children, young people and families meet their basic needs, including housing, food, safety, physical and mental health, transportation and child care.

Ensure children, youth and young adults — especially those with child welfare and justice system involvement — have permanent connections with caring family members and supportive relationships with adults in their community.

Give parents and young people access to employment or entrepreneurship opportunities and customized tools that enable them to achieve financial stability and well-being.

Make sure children, youth and young adults meet developmental milestones, graduate from high school and obtain postsecondary credentials that will position them for economic success.

Support community members and young people advocating for themselves, promote policies that will help them succeed and play leadership roles in making their communities stronger and safer.