At some point, every one of us will need care or need to provide care. The COVID-19 pandemic put a spotlight on the extraordinary contributions of caregivers and exposed the failings caused by our nation’s lack of care policies, especially for communities of color. Advocates, philanthropy, organizers, and policymakers have an opportunity to build on the heightened awareness in the United States of the central role care plays in families, communities, and the economy. Addressing care as a systemic, societal, and communal responsibility using narrative-change strategies will pave the way for seismic cultural, political, and economic shifts and set the stage for ongoing, sustainable policy progress.

With support from the Care for All with Respect and Equity (CARE) Fund and coming together for the first time across issues and constituencies, Asset Funders Network, Disability & Philanthropy Forum, Early Childhood Funders Collaborative, Economic Opportunity Funders, Grantmakers In Aging, and Grantmakers In Health worked together to develop a national landscape analysis of care economy narrative-change efforts.

Online research, field interviews, a funder survey, and a funder focus group were conducted in January-June 2023. The results reflect a snapshot in time on organizations supporting narrative change strategies and tactics, where the most significant gaps and opportunities are, and how philanthropy can best support this work.