About Us
Our mission is to build community so young people grow up with dignity, hope, and joy.
Our Story
We work at the intersection of well-being and racial justice for children and youth. We work alongside and amplify the power of youth and families through advocacy, community organizing, direct service, and public policy.
For 50 years, our work has expanded beyond serving children to including young people as they mature into adulthood. We’re training the next generation of leaders who will guide us toward a brighter future where every young person has the opportunity to thrive.
Our history is rooted in the Civil Rights and Women’s movements, and we’re carrying the fight for equity forward. Our legacy connects our work to the past. We’re answering the call to respond to this moment, dismantle racist policies, and overcome systemic inequities for our nation’s children and youth.
Our Vision
Children’s Defense Fund envisions a nation where marginalized children flourish, leaders prioritize their well-being, and communities wield the power to ensure they thrive.
Join Our TeamOur Values
Justice
Our roots in the civil rights movement, especially the Mississippi Freedom Struggle and Poor People’s Campaign, inform our work. Transforming root causes of oppression and shifting power are essential for our vision.
Equity
Equity is “just and fair inclusion into a society in which all can participate, prosper, and reach their full potential. Unlocking the promise of the nation by unleashing the promise in us all.”1 1 The Equity Manifesto. Please read the entire statement at The Equity Manifesto | PolicyLink.
Compassion
We serve with humility, kindness, and urgency. By sharing and seeking empathy and understanding, we center people living at the margins.
Trust
We are transparent, accountable, and reliable. We earn and honor relationship by showing up consistently, listening deeply, and partnering to make change together.
Love
“Love is a form of sweet labor: fierce, bloody, imperfect, and life-giving—a choice we make over and over again.”2 We practice, model, and teach it by prioritizing children. 2 See No Stranger: A Memoir and Manifesto of Revolutionary Love by Valerie Kaur, 2021.
Organizational Strategy
Our organizational strategy is grounded in action, impact, and a relentless pursuit of justice. At the heart of our approach is a commitment to well-being and racial justice. We stand at the crossroads of advocacy, community engagement, and policy reform to amplify the power of youth and families.
Movement Building