Governor Kevin Stitt and Arnold Ventures on March 26th, announced $10 million in new resources to fuel the Be A Neighbor initiative, hosted within the Department of Human Services (DHS), that will drive additional investment into the state to create more opportunities and better outcomes for Oklahoma’s children and youth.

Governor Kevin Stitt and the state of Oklahoma entered into a partnership with Arnold Ventures, a philanthropy that supports research to understand the root causes of America’s most persistent and pressing problems, as well as evidence-based solutions to address them. As part of the partnership, Arnold Ventures will match government investments dollar-for-dollar, providing up to $10 million in support over the next 4 years for a total potential investment of up to $20 million. The partnership will initially focus on community-driven programs that have a demonstrated record of unlocking student potential.

“Oklahoma is proud to lead the way in supporting effective community programs that deliver results and a brighter future for our young people,” said Governor Stitt. “This partnership highlights our commitment to world-class education, workforce readiness, and ensuring every young Oklahoman has the tools they need to achieve their full potential and thrive.”

“With policymakers facing increasingly complex problems and the need to balance budgets, it’s crucial to support strategies with the greatest potential to drive real, measurable outcomes for children, families, and communities,” said Laura Arnold, founder and co-chair of Arnold Ventures. “We look forward to working with Governor Stitt and his team in Oklahoma on this significant partnership.”

Potential initiatives include:

• Saga Tutoring – This proven educational intervention provides intensive math tutoring services to 9th and 10th graders in low-income high schools. Large, well-conducted randomized controlled trials found that Saga produced a sustained increase in students’ math achievement.
  
  
• Wendy’s Wonderful Kids – This program recruits adoptive families for children in foster care or other out-of-home placements. A large, well-conducted randomized controlled trial found Wendy’s Wonderful Kids increased adoption rates by more than one-third over a period of several years.

The nonprofit, nonpartisan Coalition for Evidence-Based Policy will collaborate with the State of Oklahoma and Arnold Ventures to identify promising program opportunities, scale impactful initiatives, and ensure the sustainability of public funding. The Coalition, a recognized leader in policy reform, will provide guidance and assist state and local agencies in implementing these efforts. In partnership with Arnold Ventures and the Coalition for Evidence-Based Policy, Oklahoma will craft long-term strategies to direct and optimize resources toward evidence-based programs that demonstrably benefit local communities.

“In recent years, we’ve made tremendous progress in identifying programs that produce meaningful, lasting improvements in people’s lives,” said Coalition for Evidence-Based Policy President Jon Baron. “Governor Stitt and Arnold Ventures are now taking the critical next step—implementing and scaling these proven programs to build a better future for the youth and families of Oklahoma.”

Those interested in obtaining matching funds, such as public school districts, are encouraged to contact Brian Bobek of DHS at [email protected].

Arnold Ventures is a philanthropy that supports research to understand the root causes of America’s most persistent and pressing problems, as well as evidence-based solutions to address them. By focusing on systemic change, AV is working to improve the lives of American families, strengthen their communities, and promote their economic opportunity. Since Laura and John Arnold launched their foundation in 2008, the philanthropy has expanded, and Arnold Ventures’ focus areas include education, criminal justice, health, infrastructure, and public finance, advocating for bipartisan policy reforms that will lead to lasting, scalable change. The Arnolds became signatories of the Giving Pledge in 2010.