funder briefing

Higher Education Success for Highly Mobile Students

DATE

November 5, 2026

TIME

4-5pm ET / 1-2pm PT

LOCATION

Virtual

Promising Strategies and Implications for Youth-Focused Philanthropy

Access to higher education offers a pathway to long-term economic stability; yet young people experiencing homelessness and involvement in the child welfare or juvenile justice systems face unique barriers to earning a post-secondary credential.
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The Fund for Education Success for Highly Mobile Students (FES), a collaborative effort emerging from a partnership among Grantmakers for Thriving Youth (GTY) and the Youth Transition Funders Group (YTFG), is supporting efforts to identify and remove these barriers through federal- and state-level policy and innovative practices focused on meeting the needs of highly mobile students.

To learn more, join us on Thursday, November 5, 4:00-5:00 PM ET as we hear from Barbara Duffield (SchoolHouse Connection), Maddy Day (Maddy Day LLC & Associates), and a scholar participating in SchoolHouse Connection’s Youth Leadership and Scholarship Program.

This program is open to funders only.

Join to learn about:

  • New tools and training to increase FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) completion and financial aid access.
  • Federal- and state-level policies and practices improving postsecondary access and success for students experiencing homelessness or foster care.
  • Cross-cutting implications for philanthropies investing in K12 education, postsecondary education, youth development, mental health and throughout the thriving youth ecosystem.

The Fund for Education Success (FES) is a philanthropic collaboration that makes strategic investments aimed at improving educational and life outcomes for highly mobile students, including those experiencing homelessness, child welfare, and juvenile justice. FES is anchored by the Raikes, Stuart, and Walter S. Johnson Foundations, and is a joint workgroup of Grantmakers for Thriving Youth and the Youth Transition Funders Group. This funder briefing is co-sponsored by Funders Together for Housing Justice.

Speakers

Maddy Day

Proprietor and a Senior Consultant with Maddy Day LLC & Associates

Maddy is the Proprietor and a Senior Consultant with Maddy Day LLC & Associates. In 2010, Maddy co-founded the University of Washington Champions Program, from 2012-2018 she directed the Fostering Success Michigan statewide initiative at Western Michigan University, and in 2015 she started what is now the Fostering Academic Achievement Nationwide Network which she continues to Co-Chair. As a child welfare and education expert, Maddy believes that all students have the right to equitable resources and support to help them reach their education goals.

Since 2018, Maddy has served as a consultant, trainer, and leadership coach to nonprofit organizations, philanthropy, and state agencies focused on improving the lives of individuals and communities who have been impacted by foster care, homelessness, and those who are furthest from access and opportunity. Maddy is a Results Count™ Advanced Practitioner, an Associate Diversity Coach, trained through CoachDiversity Institute (now Institute for Coaching Innovation) aligned with the Transformational Coach Pathway™ framework, and authors the I Have Thoughts Substack. Maddy lives in Kalamazoo, MI with her husband and two retired racer greyhounds.

Barbara Duffield

Executive Director, SchoolHouse Connection

Barbara Duffield is Executive Director of SchoolHouse Connection. For more than 30 years, she has bridged policy and practice in early care, education, housing, and homelessness. Barbara began her career as a tutor for children experiencing homelessness in Washington DC in 1990. She was the Director of Education for the National Coalition for the Homeless from 1994-2003, where she collaborated with service providers, educators, federal agencies, and Congressional offices to address children’s issues. She served as the Director of Policy and Programs at the National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth in Washington D.C from 2003-2016, leading national efforts and helping to forge significant legislation to strengthen federal protections and services for children and youth experiencing homelessness, from early childhood through higher education.

Barbara has testified before the U.S. House of Representatives and her insights are regularly sought by major media outlets such as The New York Times, Washington Post, 60 Minutes, and NPR. She also has helped to establish and develop several national scholarship programs for youth who have experienced homelessness and wish to pursue postsecondary education.

Barbara’s academic work can be found in Educational Studies, Early Childhood Research Quarterly, Families in Society: The Journal of Contemporary Social Services, The Urban Review, and The Journal of Children and Poverty. Barbara has served on numerous commissions and advisory groups, including Sesame Street Workshop and the National Commission on Children and Disasters education group. She received her Bachelor’s degree summa cum laude in Political Science from the University of Michigan.

Christina Dukes

Founder and Principal, Pearl Strategies

Pearl Strategies is owned and operated by Christina Dukes. Prior to founding Pearl Strategies, Christina provided federally-funded technical assistance and direct services for 20+ years, specializing in supports for children, youth, and families experiencing homelessness, systems involvement, or migrancy. She served in various roles at the U.S. Department of Education’s National Center for Homeless Education (NCHE) for 20+ years, including as its Director of Partnerships and Policy and Strategic Advisor. In 2015, she received the National Award for Distinguished Service and Leadership from the National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth.

One of the hallmarks of Christina’s career has been working with education, housing and homeless response, child welfare, juvenile justice, philanthropy, youth with lived expertise, and other partners to design and implement coordinated community responses to youth homelessness in 70+ urban, suburban, and rural Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program (YHDP) communities across the country. Christina’s goal is to demonstrate excellence, attention to detail, a service mindset, and a sense of joy in her work. Christina has a B.A. in Spanish from Tulane University and an M.A. in Latin American Studies from Vanderbilt University.

Presented by

Grantmakers for Thriving Youth

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