Fostering Resilience – Together.
I’ve seen firsthand the difference that Jumpstart makes by giving a voice to children who might not otherwise be heard.
– Jean Franco, Jumpstart Corps Member, New York University
Dear Friends,
This year, in the face of extraordinary challenges, you stood with us. You made sure that children, families, college students, and educators were supported—despite the pandemic, despite the surge of racial injustice, despite the economic instability the country faced. Alongside these challenges, the year was defined by the ways we worked to foster resilience, together.
With your help, Jumpstart leaned deeply into our core competencies to weather the challenges of the past year: empowering college students, developing and nurturing innovative partnerships, and adapting to meet local needs. Together, we made sure that children across the country continued receiving high-quality early learning experiences.
In this time when inequities continue to grow and divide us, our mission has never been more vital. Children, college students, and early educators across the country deserve our strong support more than ever. Thank you for being a part of the Jumpstart community and for your commitment to educational equity.
Onward!
Naila Bolus
CEO, Jumpstart
Our Approach and Our Values
The Jumpstart Solution
Our vision is a world in which every child enters kindergarten prepared to succeed. Yet challenges around access to quality early learning and a lack of investment in early education have created long-term barriers. This year, the intersection of COVID-19, systemic racism, and economic uncertainties deepened existing inequities. Jumpstart’s solution—delivering high-quality programming, preparing early education leaders for teaching careers, and advocating for improvements in the field—leverages the power of caring adults while addressing the need for broader systemic changes so that all children have the opportunity to thrive.
Our Values
This year Jumpstart launched our five updated core values, pillars that guide our individual and collective work.
Learning
Social Justice
Community
Joy
Inclusive Leadership
An Unprecedented Year: Corps Members Serve Children Virtually During the Pandemic
Our Network
Network in Action:
Being able to lead [teams of college student volunteers in providing] a different level of support was really important for me.
— Lisa Gozbekian, Jumpstart Site Manager at Northeastern University
As Jumpstart pivoted and offered new resources in response to the unfolding COVID-19 crisis, Gozbekian adapted to support children and Corps Members. Read more.
Jumpstart Alumni
of Jumpstart alumni identify as people of color
of Jumpstart alumni are first-generation college students
of first-generation alumni said the compensation they received for their Jumpstart service helped them remain in school
of Jumpstart alumni pursue a career serving populations considered to be low-income and over half pursue work in early education
Collaborations
At-Home Learning
The launch of Jumpstart’s at-home learning hub—developed in response to the extended out-of-school-time caused by the pandemic—offers a suite of resources, activities, and readings to support educators and caregivers. Thanks to our partners, Jumpstart families received free access to an additional toolkit of content, apps, and more.
Jumpstart’s 15th Annual Read for the Record Goes Virtual
With the support of The TJX Companies, our exclusive presenting sponsor, millions of readers enjoyed this year’s campaign book, Evelyn Del Rey Is Moving Away by Meg Medina (published by Candlewick Press), on October 29, 2020. Through this year’s exciting virtual event, adults and children around the world came together to increase awareness about the importance of early literacy and access to high-quality children’s books..
Champions for Change
Racial Justice
Jumpstart firmly believes that we cannot make progress towards our vision without understanding, acknowledging, and working to dismantle the structures and systems that hold racism in place. As an organization committed to continuing to learn, grow, and strengthen our ability to upend the forces of structural inequality, this year, we launched employee affinity groups, explored strategies to better support young Black men and boys through our new African American & Black Male Initiative, and continued to voice our stance that Black Lives Matter.
Spotlight: Former National Board Member and Longtime Advocate Joseph I. Castro
A passionate early education and higher education advocate, Joseph I. Castro was named Chancellor of the California State University system this September. This historic appointment makes him the system’s first chancellor of color.
Critical Support for Young Learners
In the face of unprecedented challenges to the early childhood sector, Jumpstart advocated for federal COVID relief to stabilize the industry and address the substantial learning losses facing children in underserved communities nationwide.
I take my responsibility to continue to provide a sense of routine, safety, and learning with my students very seriously.
– Jessica Cisneros, Jumpstart alum 2005, 2006, The George Washington University
A Bold Vision for 2025
Children First — 120,000 Children Impacted
Over the next 5 years, Jumpstart will impact the same number of children we have in the first 25 years.
With the launch of Jumpstart’s new strategic plan, the next five years will focus on maximizing impact and creating lasting change. Key areas of focus include:
Program Innovation
Adapting Jumpstart’s core program to reach even more children
Partnerships
Building bridges across sectors to impact early education systems and structures
People
Preparing Corps Members and alumni to serve as the next generation of early education leaders
Supporters
Spotlight: Bain Capital
For decades, Jumpstart has honed a highly innovative and effective approach toward connecting college students and children with a strong focus on underserved communities. With the gap in educational opportunity widening as a result of COVID, our communities’ youth need more support than ever.
— David Humphrey, Bain Capital Private Equity Managing Director and Jumpstart National Board of Directors member
$500,000+
AmeriCorps
CaliforniaVolunteers
Massachusetts Service Alliance
Chris and Loretta Stadler
The TJX Foundation
U.S. Small Business Administration
Robert and Jennifer Waldron
$250,000 – 499,000
Connecticut Commission on Community Service
Missouri Community Service Commission
New York City Department of Youth and Community Development
Red Nose Day Fund at Comic Relief USA
Serve DC – The Mayor’s Office on Volunteerism and Partnerships
Stranahan Foundation
$100,000 – 249,999
Bain Capital
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Thomas Connolly
CVC Capital Partners
DCU for Kids
Franklin Templeton
David Humphrey and Markella Zanni
LEGO Community Fund U.S.
Lissy Family Fund
MFS Investment Management
The Pinkerton Foundation
Richard W. Goldman Family Foundation
Silver Giving Foundation
Tracy & Greg Johnson Foundation
United Way of Greater Atlanta/Joseph B. Whitehead Foundation
$50,000 – 99,999
Anonymous (2)
Bella Vista Foundation
Caitlin and Ian Blasco
Early Education Funders Collaborative
David Humphrey and Markella Zanni
Jennifer and Andrew Marrus
Mimi and Peter Haas Fund
News Corp
The Rose Hills Foundation
Robert Small and Christine Olsen
The Stocker Foundation
Valley of the Sun United Way
W. Clement and Jessie V. Stone Foundation
Financials*
Expense Ratios
Revenue Breakdown
Revenue & Net Assets
