United States

The election of President Barack Obama created a set of opportunities for longstanding social issues, including progressive health care reform, restoration of civil liberties and the rule of law post-9/11, and comprehensive immigration reform. Progressive reforms still face considerable challenges, however.

Even before the current economic crisis with spiraling growth in unemployment, more than 13 million children – one in six – lived in poverty. That number is expected to grow. Concerns about rising deficits will eventually heighten the focus on government social insurance programmes that are essential to the health and economic security of older adults, as well as people with disabilities, women and the poor.

Atlantic and our grantees are committed to supporting advocacy by and for people of all ages who are most in need, and to helping build a vibrant, engaged constituency that will work for disadvantaged communities long after the foundation closes its doors. Some progress has been made, but it is increasingly clear that change will require considerable efforts by our grantees and others.

Grantmaking in the United States

The Ageing Programme focuses on ensuring that the needs of vulnerable older adults are met in health care and Social Security reform, and supports efforts to ensure health and economic security for older adults, and to increase opportunities for social action. We also provide for key organisations in the field to build their capacity to succeed long term.

The Children & Youth Programme supports efforts to improve access for children and families to health care and reform zero-tolerance school discipline policies. It also supports the Elev8 initiative, a community-based effort in four sites around the country.

The Reconciliation & Human Rights Programme supports work to restore civil liberties compromised by the “war on terror,” advocate for comprehensive immigration reform, and abolish the death penalty.

The Founding Chairman supports biomedical research and seeks to accelerate the transfer of researchers’ knowledge from the U.S. to countries with less developed biomedical research capabilities, including Australia and Viet Nam.

Atlantic also seeks areas for investment that will amplify the foundation’s impact in and beyond the programme areas, such as the strengthened voice through civic engagement of marginalised groups, and support important campaigns for key policy reforms, such as the Health Care for America Now campaign for progressive health care reform, that will potentially affect many of the disadvantaged populations served by Atlantic’s focus areas, from poor families and children who lack access to quality care, to older adults living with chronic illness.