LET EVERY CHILD EXPERIENCE GOD’S UNFAILING LOVE 2 0 2 1 C H A M P I O N PA RT N E R S H I P P R O S P E C T U S
“The field of orphan care, foster care and adoption enjoys a rare unity and strategic leadership – led by the Christian Alliance for Orphans (CAFO). CAFO facilitates shared initiatives involving many of the best organizations in the field, all working together to inspire and equip Christians for effective response for vulnerable children. Unified efforts like that bring far greater impact than when organizations work in isolation or competition.” FROM ARTICLE OF THE EVANGELICAL COUNCIL FOR FINANCIAL ACCOUNTABILITY, TITLED “CHRISTIAN INVESTMENT IN ORPHAN CARE AND ADOPTION CONTINUES TO CLIMB DRAMATICALLY.”
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I N TR O D U C TI O N
It is beautiful to see what happens when God’s people join in a vision larger than any one organization could achieve alone. The Christian Alliance for Orphans unites the expansive field of Christian commitment to the most vulnerable children for collective impact that will last. Through CAFO, more than 200 respected Christian organizations and 790+ churches join in this coordinated action. We seek to “leave logos and egos at the door” to accomplish far more together than any of us could alone. Our shared initiatives inspire, equip and connect Christians for effective adoption, foster care, and global ministry. Ultimately, we work to see every child experience God’s unfailing love through His people.
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2020 RECAP
2020 HAS OVERFLOWED WITH THE UNEXPECTED. Unexpected twists. Unexpected limitations. Unexpected loss. But what the enemy intends for unexpected ill, God can use for unexpected good. That was true of Joseph’s bondage … Mary’s unplanned pregnancy … and the shackles that bound Paul to a Roman guard. And it’s true for His people today! Amidst all the struggle COVID has brought, God has surprised His people with countless unexpected gifts, as well. His work in and through CAFO continues to flourish. To be sure, we’ve mourned unexpected losses – including not being able to hold an in-person Summit for the first time in 15 years. But we’ve seen much unexpected growth this year, too -- including: • The “More than Enough” campaign to see every foster child in a loving home by 2025 • Micro-grants from CAFO to help orphan-serving ministries overseas rebuild from COVID • Orphan Sunday & Stand Sunday reaching Christians in more than 120 countries • CAFO’s Global Network now building local movements in 42 countries • The new CAFO “Development & Discipleship Initiative” … and much more! Because of you, children continue to experience God’s love … the church continues to show up … and the light of the Gospel continues to shine before a watching world. 5
As God’s people reflect His heart in action, no one is left the same.
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A N I N V ITATI O N
We invite you to participate in some of the most strategic initiatives coordinated by the Christian Alliance for Orphans. Each investment will be highly leveraged with significant support committed by foundations, sponsors, and other funders. The critical support that helps unlock it all comes from people like you!
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C A F O I N ITI ATI V E S
A B O U T T H E I N I T I AT I V E The More Than Enough collaborative campaign unites Christian organizations, churches and advocates nationwide in a powerful shared vision: to see the church across America ensure every child in U.S. foster care is welcomed into a loving home.
MORE THAN ENOUGH 2 0 2 1 S T R AT E G I C G O A L S
2020 HIGHLIGHTS CAFO released the book “Until There is More Than Enough,” casting a transformative vision for the future of foster in the U.S. Meanwhile, the building of local networks began in earnest.
CAFO has forged a consensus vision and strategy across major Christian foster care organizations, churches, and leaders. We’re working together to see more than enough loving homes for every child in foster care by 2025, including adoptive, foster, and restored biological families – and quality church-based support for all three. In 2021, we’ll complete the infrastructure needed to execute the “More the Enough” vision over the next five years. This will include a world-class leadership team, best-in-class resources from proven regional successes around the country, core technology platform, data localized for every local network, and a national communications campaign. Learn more at morethanenoughtogether.org
Learn more and explore the foster care resources: cafo.org/store
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C A F O I N ITI ATI V E S
A B O U T T H E I N I T I AT I V E Orphan Sunday began in a small church in Zambia as a day to celebrate God’s special love for vulnerable children and how ordinary Christians can make a difference. Today, this simple vision has is a powerful catalyst for awareness and action across the U.S. and around the globe. 2020 HIGHLIGHTS While COVID will limit the inperson expressions of Orphan Sunday and Stand Sunday within churches, advocates have taken the vision into their homes, neighborhoods and social media with the “Be the Light” campaign – calling local believers to foster care, adoption and orphan care in more than 120 countries this year!
ORPHAN SUNDAY + STAND SUNDAY 2 0 2 1 S T R AT E G I C G O A L S
The reach and impact of Orphan Sunday continues to expand year by year. Since its humble beginnings in 2002, the annual observance of Orphan Sunday has evolved into many diverse expressions globally. We will continue to expand the reach of Orphan Sunday and Stand Sunday, both in the U.S. and globally—growing a culture of foster care, orphan care & adoption. O R P H A N S U N D AY:
Your gifts will fund the tech, free resources and volunteer management to support at least 500 international Orphan Sunday events – engaging local churches in local adoption and orphan care. S TA N D S U N D AY:
Your gifts will fund the tech, free resources and volunteer management to support at least 400 US Orphan Sunday events – expanding U.S. church adoption, foster care, global engagement ministries.
Learn more and explore the toolkits: cafo.org/orphansunday/tools 11
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C A F O I N ITI ATI V E S
A B O U T T H E I N I T I AT I V E The CAFO Summit is an unforgettable gathering of leaders passionate for adoption, foster care and effective service to the vulnerable worldwide. It serves to both grow and to guide a true movement of Christians who are leading the church to be God’s answer for children who lack family.
2020 HIGHLIGHTS When COVID prevented the planned 2020 Summit, CAFO pivoted to a virtual format. More than 2,500 joined the two-day event online, while local in-person gatherings took place in 30 locations nationwide.
CAFO2021 SUMMIT 2 0 2 1 S T R AT E G I C G O A L S
Your gifts will help fund the volunteer infrastructure and instructor costs for CAFO2021 that makes it all possible. And provide scholarships for registration, meals and/or lodging for 15 adoptive and foster families, students and/or international leaders to receive all the learning, inspiration and connections that CAFO2021 has to offer!
The CAFO Summit also receives key underwriting from business sponsors. If you know a business that would be interested in supporting CAFO through Summit sponsorship, write to Elizabeth Wiebe at wiebe@cafo.org.
Learn more about the CAFO Summit: cafo.org/summit 13
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A B O U T T H E I N I T I AT I V E The National Church Ministry Initiative (NCMI) helps local churches start and grow effective and sustainable foster care, adoption and orphan care ministries. 2020 HIGHLIGHTS Thus far in 2020, nearly 800 churches and 3,000 leaders have been supported in launching and leading church-based ministries through webinars, resources, workshops, regional network building events, speaking engagements and personal coaching sessions. The new 10-week Church Ministries Essentials training course has proven especially impactful, with more than 100 leaders nationwide participating in this intensive course as part of small cohorts.
NATIONAL CHURCH MINISTRY INITIATIVE 2 0 2 1 S T R AT E G I C G O A L S
In 2021, the NCMI will work in sync with the “More than Enough” campaign so that every foster, adoptive and restored biological family will be wrapped in the support of a loving, gospel-rooted churchbased support ministry. Efforts will specifically focus on empowering local networks, ministries and organizations to serve and mobilize their church partners more effectively. Alongside other objectives, we aim to have more than 1,500 churches take the More Than Enough Church Foster Care Assessment by Q2 2021. This powerful tool helps churches gauge their engagement in foster care across 6 essential areas. Following the survey, the NCMI will aim to help each of these churches take key “next steps” to more effective foster ministry. PA RT I C I PAT E I N O U R 2 0 2 1 G O A L
Learn more about Everyone Can Do Something cafo.org/everyonecandosomething 15
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A B O U T T H E I N I T I AT I V E The CAFO Student Initiative inspires and prepares students for a lifetime of effective service to children in the name of Jesus.
THE CAFO STUDENT INITIATIVE 2 0 2 1 S T R AT E G I C G O A L S
2020 HIGHLIGHTS The Student Initiative’s 10-week “OVC Essentials” course for student interns continues to train a new generation of leaders, with strong participation in both spring and summer semesters. Meanwhile, 10 students joined the CAFO staff for semester- and year-long internships, learning deeply as they’ve served.
In 2021, the CAFO Student Initiative plans to graduate 100+ from the OVC Essentials course – equipping each one for a lifetime of well-informed leadership in the field. In addition, the Student Initiative plans to host at least 12 interns in the CAFO team, and provide training and referrals to expand internships in all CAFO member organizations. The initiative also will provide a new CAFO “Learning Journey” feed for students nationwide – delivering each week a short article, video, or podcast to help students grow into well-informed champions for orphans and foster youth.
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A B O U T T H E I N I T I AT I V E The African American Leadership Council works to inspire and equip African American churches to care for vulnerable children in response to God’s command to “do justice” and care for orphans. 2020 HIGHLIGHTS In a year marked by deep questions, protests and riots, the Council provided godly perspective and wise counsel – helping guide CAFO’s ongoing efforts to strengthen the involvement of black churches in foster care.
AFRICAN AMERICAN LEADERSHIP COUNCIL 2 0 2 1 S T R AT E G I C G O A L S
Today, black children are represented in the foster system at rates roughly double their percentage of the population. Black churches and families can play a powerful role helping change this tragic statistic. In 2021, CAFO desires to significantly expand its work serving the foster/adoption/kinship and family support ministries of black churches – including culturally-relevant training, resources and other support. CAFO believes that it will only be possible to achieve “More than Enough” for children in US foster care if black churches play a central role.
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C A F O I N ITI ATI V E S
A B O U T T H E I N I T I AT I V E CAFO unites its members in a powerful combined voice. From social media to radio to print, CAFO champions children the world often forgets.
ADVOCACY + EDUCATION 2 0 2 1 S T R AT E G I C G O A L S
2020 HIGHLIGHTS Again this year, CAFO’s expertise helped shape news articles in major media outlets...provided counsel to Congressional offices and U.S. officials...and informed key national policy discussions. Meanwhile, CAFO’s united voice also helps believers across the field keep their work rooted deep in the Gospel -including the podcast series, Justice and the Inner Life, with 50,000+ listens to-date across more than 50 countries.
CAFO’s first focus is always the role of the church, not government, in caring for vulnerable children. But we also see every day how government policies carry immense impact on children for good or ill, including the ability of Christians to freely serve. CAFO will continue to advocate for wise, effective policies in US foster care, international adoption, and global care for vulnerable children. We’ll also be a strong voice for the importance of faith-based organizations and the conscience rights of Christians serving in public systems. Meanwhile, CAFO’s broad communications campaigns will aim to grow the reach of CAFO’s pro-adoption, pro-foster, pro-family messaging via traditional and social media by at least 25 percent in 2021. CAFO will
Listen to the Justice + the Inner Life Podcast by visiting:
also execute a major overhaul of its website in 2021, making it even more useful and user-friendly.
cafo.org/podcasts
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C A F O I N ITI ATI V E S
A B O U T T H E I N I T I AT I V E The CAFO Global Network harnesses the strengths of CAFO members and expertise across the field to invest in emerging leaders and networks worldwide. The Global Network serves as a hub for curated knowledge, facilitated community and interconnection among national movements.
2020 HIGHLIGHTS CAFO equipped more than 1,500 local leaders building networks of churches and NGOs in over 40 nations this year. From gathering online to pray in the early months of the pandemic, to mutuallearning through in-depth Virtual Collaborate sessions, to locallyhosted Collaborate+ forums, leaders of 48 local networks are equipping churches and NGOs to better serve vulnerable children and families in their own communities around the world.
GLOBAL NETWORK 2 0 2 1 S T R AT E G I C G O A L S
In 2021, the CAFO Global Network will host quarterly Virtual Collaborate sessions (5 hours of mutual-learning and sharing per quarter), expand our coaching program into Latin America, translate a full set of resources and courses into Spanish, and provide live Spanish interpretation for Virtual Collaborate forums throughout the year.
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C A F O I N ITI ATI V E S
A B O U T T H E I N I T I AT I V E The Center on Applied Research for Vulnerable Children and Families improves the quality of care for orphans around the globe. The Center’s programs help childserving organizations to integrate best practice models and current research into their programs aiding children and families in more than 100 countries.
2020 HIGHLIGHTS In response to the global pandemic, CAFO provided more than $120,000 in small grants to help child-serving ministries in the aftermath of COVID. All grantees are part of a year-long regimen, supported by global experts and a cohort of peers to help grow programs even better than they were before the pandemic. This year, the Center published four research studies in academic journals, all designed to boost understanding of critical issues in the field and faith-based contributions, including COVID response.
THE CENTER ON APPLIED RESEARCH
FOR VULNERABLE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES 2 0 2 1 S T R AT E G I C G O A L S
In 2021, the Center will complete and publish results of a landmark study titled, “Strengths of Adults Separated from Parent Care as Children.” We anticipate the study will expand knowledge of “what makes a difference” in child-serving programs…and how to improve these programs worldwide. CAFO’s “Core Elements” has established first-oftheir-kind standards for organizations in the field. In 2021, CAFO will produce at least four training modules to help organizations rise to meet the standards more fully. CAFO also aims to award at least $50,000 in small grants to help organizations take bold, creative steps toward family-based solutions for children…paired with training and support.
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C A F O I N ITI ATI V E S
A B O U T T H E I N I T I AT I V E The Development & Discipleship Initiative expands Christian adoption, foster and orphan care worldwide by helping childserving ministries build more effective fundraising programs. In partnership with Mission Increase, this high-leverage investment provides world-class development training and resources to CAFO’s 200+ member organizations. Participating ministries learn to shift from “transactional” fundraising to an approach that truly cares for and nurtures Christian givers as disciples of Jesus.
2020 HIGHLIGHTS In the Initiative’s inaugural year, CAFO not only built its core infrastructure, but invested directly in helping expand the development programs of more than 50 organizations.
DEVELOPMENT & DISCIPLESHIP INITIATIVE 2 0 2 1 S T R AT E G I C G O A L S
By the end of 2021, we aim to invest substantive training and coaching in at least 75 child-serving organizations. We seek measured results demonstrating meaningful culture change in these organizations, from a “transactional” to “discipleship” approach to development. Meanwhile, we will work towards at least a 10X ROI on the funds invested in this initiative (>$1.25 million in expanded funding for trained/coached organizations).
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A N I N V ITATI O N
The need of our world can be overwhelming. But a single number matters more than any other...
It only takes one loving person to change the life of a child forever. God’s people are rising for orphaned children and foster youth around the world.
Together, let’s be unexpected. Every dollar given between now and December 31 will be doubled up to $300,000.
D O N AT E O N L I N E
D O N AT E B Y M A I L
donate.cafo.org
Christian Alliance for Orphans 6723 Whittier Avenue, Ste 202 Mclean, VA 22101
100%
All CAFO administration costs are covered by sponsors, so 100% of your donations go to fuel CAFO initiatives that grow and guide effective care for children.
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LEARN MORE:
cafo.org