L I T E R A C Y F O R A L L 2017 ANNUAL REPORT LEADERSHIP MESSAGE CONTENTS Dear Friends, We also partner with other national nonprofits and often use 2 Leadership Message their networks to initiate and amplify conversations about We are grateful for your support. Your generosity is a testament to our shared belief in something larger than literacy—such as when we released our practice guide on ourselves—that all parents and children deserve the opportunity to improve their lives through literacy. 4 Our Impact incorporating literacy into afterschool programs at this year’s Nearly three decades ago, that same belief inspired then-First Lady Barbara Bush to establish a Foundation National Afterschool Summit. dedicated to achieving literacy for all. Today, we remain committed to Mrs. Bush’s vision to foster the 6 Passing Literacy from Parents, Our social media efforts continue to reach millions, helping us opportunity for every man, woman and child to secure a better life through literacy. to Children, to Families grow our family of literacy supporters. As we work toward that vision, we are guided by a strategic plan focused on four core strategies— Donors Changing Lives Innovation, Leadership, Engagement and Organizational Capacity—through which we are laying the MANAGING OUR RESOURCES RESPONSIBLY 7 Through Literacy foundation for our efforts to greatly expand literacy in the coming years. As a public charity, we rely on the generosity of our donors and take very seriously our responsibility to maximize the value ADVANCING LITERACY FOR ALL THROUGH TECHNOLOGY 8 Celebrating Our Family of of your contributions. We are committed to accountability and Literacy Supporters We know that it’s lack of opportunity—not lack of motivation—that prevents many of our country’s 36 million efficiency in our operations, prioritizing the highest possible low-literate adults from gaining the literacy skills they need to improve their lives. Less than 5% of those in social return on investment. This year, an independent study need currently have access to adult literacy programs. found that every dollar donated in support of our Teen 10 Making a Bold Bet for Literacy for All We believe in the power of technology to help us expand access to the millions of families struggling with Trendsetters™ program generated a return on investment of low literacy. $7.83 in avoided social program costs. 11 Financial Impact The Barbara Bush Foundation Adult Literacy XPRIZE presented by Dollar General Literacy Foundation is our Thanks in part to our transparency and focus on results, we are bold bet to find innovative solutions to reach this underserved population on an unprecedented scale. We’ve among the top 1% of education nonprofits rated as “Platinum” 12 Donors already made enormous strides by engaging teams from around the globe to develop groundbreaking by GuideStar. mobile literacy learning applications for adults. As the competition progresses, we’re excited to see these We are proud to be a public charity that you tools open up new possibilities for adult learners and their families, first in our three test cities and then 14 Board of Directors throughout the nation. support. Every man, woman or child who we can help improve their literacy skills brings us A FAMILY COMMITTED TO LITERACY FOR ALL one step closer to achieving Literacy for All. MISSION & VISION Former First Lady Barbara Bush and her daughter Doro, who serves as our honorary chair, are our leading lights. Their unfailing dedication to literacy for all continues to inspire us, as well as our broader family of OUR MISSION donors, board members, friends and literacy supporters across the nation. This year, we made two very To establish literacy as a value in special additions to that family when Mrs. Bush’s grandson Jeb Bush, Jr., and Governor John Engler joined every home in America. our board. OUR VISION ENGAGING OTHERS IN LITERACY FOR ALL To foster the opportunity for every Liza McFadden We continue to focus on building relationships with other organizations that man, woman and child in America to President & CEO work to increase access to educational opportunities. This year we were secure a better life through literacy. proud to co-host with the U.S. Department of Education a forum on the expansion of adult schools, after which we released a paper outlining the potential of adult charter schools. Tim Gage Board Chairman 2 2017 / 2018 ANNUAL REPORT | BarbaraBush.org 2017 / 2018 ANNUAL REPORT | BarbaraBush.org 3 OUR IMPACT ME WA 2 19 MT ND MN VT OR WI NY 2 NH 1 14 MI MA 5 ID SD 1 CT RI WY 1 PA 8 IA 3 NJ At the inaugural Maine Celebration NE OH of Reading, the Foundation marked NV 2 IL MD 20 years of historical support in Maine, IN 3 1 3 DE UT 2 providing more than $6 million for over 2 DC CO 2 WV VA 300 family literacy programs. CA 1 KS 2 2 1 1 20 MO KY 1 2 NC OK TN 1 1 AZ 3 1 2 NM 2 AR 1 SC MS AL GA 11 TX 1 2 41 4 LA FL 76 Along with the U.S. Department 1 of Education and Carlos Rosario International Public Charter School, the Foundation hosted the Adult Schools Growth Forum in Washington, D.C., gathering individuals and organizations interested in expanding access to high- quality schools for adults. 160 FAMILY LITERACY At the National Afterschool Summit, the Barbara Bush STATES Foundation presented a newly developed practice PROGRAMS IN guide funded by a grant from the Charles Stewart 12 Mott Foundation. The guide encourages literacy in afterschool programs. LITERACY LEADERSHIP AND INNOVATION National Convenings: Thought leaders; partner organizations; supporters XPRIZE Teams (total number) At the 15th annual Dallas Celebration of Reading, LITERACY PROGRAMS the Foundation announced XPRIZE field test cities: National Convenings: Deploy specialized resources to practitioners; promote awareness Dallas, Philadelphia and Los Angeles. Family Literacy (total number of programs) 4 2017 / 2018 ANNUAL REPORT | BarbaraBush.org 2017 / 2018 ANNUAL REPORT | BarbaraBush.org 5 PASSING LITERACY FROM PARENTS, DONORS CHANGING LIVES TO CHILDREN, TO FAMILIES THROUGH LITERACY Ruben is a father of four with a powerful story about the impact of family literacy. Ruben and his wife, Tania, Highlighting the Dollar General Literacy Foundation came to the United States from Mexico more than 20 years ago in search of a better life. But it wasn’t until they moved to Pierson, Florida, that they found an opportunity that would allow them—and their children—to With an overwhelming 36 million gain the literacy skills they need to work toward their dreams. American adults unable to read above a fifth-grade level, we know Seeking to learn English and earn his GED, Ruben enrolled in that the challenge of achieving the Food Brings Hope family literacy program, which receives literacy for all is larger than any single support from the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy. He organization. We’re proud to work encouraged his wife to join as well, and now the entire family has alongside champions for literacy the opportunity to learn and grow together. The program, which nationwide—individuals, corporations meets three times a week at a local elementary school, provides and nonprofits—who dedicate their tutoring for children and literacy training for parents. time and resources to changing lives Ruben and his family graciously shared their personal experience through education. with the life-changing power of family literacy at the Barbara Bush The Dollar General Literacy Foundation is one of the nation’s strongest and most steadfast voices for literacy. Foundation’s 2017 Florida Celebration of Reading, where they The Foundation, which celebrates its 25th anniversary in 2018, has awarded more than $146 million to literacy received a standing ovation. initiatives that have helped more than 9 million individuals learn to read, receive their high school equivalency, “My family is the reason why I’m in the program,” said Ruben. “I or learn English. want to learn English, to be able to help them with their homework, The Foundation’s story illustrates a powerful truth: by providing educational opportunities for just one person, and to have better communication with them. I want to show my we have the potential to impact millions of lives for generations to come. Dollar General’s co-founder, children that they can dream big dreams and do great things.” J.L. Turner, was a farmer’s son who dropped out of school in the third grade when his father was killed in an accident. With determination and hard work, he created what has become one of the most successful retail Ruben and family, Governor Jeb Bush, and Forough Before Ruben attended the family literacy program, he lacked the organizations in America. In 1993, the Foundation was established in his honor to help adults and children Hosseini and Mamie Oatis of Food Brings Hope at English skills, education and self-confidence he needed to look for the Florida Celebration of Reading better job opportunities. His improved reading and writing skills nationwide gain the literacy and basic education skills they need to pursue their dreams. have already helped him secure a higher paying job that allows “One of the many things that makes the Dollar General Literacy Foundation so unique is their personal him to spend more time with his children. His wife, Tania, has also connection to literacy—particularly adult literacy—as a cause,” says Liza McFadden, President and CEO of the increased her literacy skills and self-confidence, allowing her to Barbara Bush Foundation. “They share our belief that Americans of all ages deserve the opportunity to pursue engage more fully in her children’s education.