How has the path to high school and college success changed since you were a student?

What strikes me most is the disintegration of the family and the lack of parental support towards their children’s education. I also see the economic landscape impacting families much more negatively.

What are the biggest obstacles to improving graduation rates in your community?

I see a huge need for family support and encouragement. The number of single parent households, poverty, unsupervised youth and the lack of opportunity for jobs are hurting our children and their futures.

What are your core strategies for supporting students and improving graduation rates from high school and/or college?

We have completely embraced the “Cradle to Career” philosophy. In that regard, the Cheney Foundation has made significant grants to organizations like the Foundation for Tacoma Students and the College Success Foundation. We also support many scholarship efforts in our college and high school scholarship programs. Additionally, we support numerous social service and early learning agencies.

How are demographics changing and affecting your funding priorities and strategies?

In the last several years we have focused more of our grant dollars to educational and youth programs. We’ve been paying attention to the needs within our community and joined in local initiatives to serve our children.

What’s been a big success for your organization related to supporting high school and college students?

Our commitment to the Graduate Tacoma movement with the Foundation for Tacoma Students (FFTS) and multi-year grants to the College Success Foundation. FFTS has seen dramatic increases in high school graduation rates since the organization started in 2010. It has become a model for other communities. Its emphasis upon community-wide collective impact is seeing great results along the continuum of Cradle to Career.

What are the most important public policy issues for you this year, and what are you doing about them?

We don’t get involved in public policy.

What’s one more question we should ask, and how would you answer it?

Q: What has been a key to the good strides Tacoma is making in its schools?
A: I would have to say it has been the many partnerships developed between the school district, social service agencies, youth and family organizations and a caring community. Tacoma is experiencing some remarkable success. I am pleased to support the good work of visionary leaders in our community.

Brad Cheney is executive director of Ben B. Cheney Foundation, a founding member of Philanthropy Northwest, joining us this month for our virtual roundtable with graduation funders.