Change in Latin America and Caribbean Strategic Direction for W.K. Kellogg Foundation

Since the early 1940s, the Kellogg Foundation has been part of the fabric of social progress in Latin America and the Caribbean when an interest in public health issues brought Chilean physicians to Michigan. They were motivated by a common interest in sharing information about how communities were dealing with child and adolescent health, education, housing, and nutrition.

More than 60 years later, we remain dedicated to helping communities deal with poverty, local development and local philanthropy, rural development, and the empowering of youth. This commitment – along with our essential partnership with you and your organization – has resulted in hundreds of proud young people and professionals who were supported and encouraged through fellowship programs. They continue to contribute to social progress and are today’s leaders among health innovations such as comprehensive community-based healthcare systems that have touched millions of lives; advances in agriculture and economic development that have spurred prosperity; thousands of young people who have been inspired and mobilized to seek education, job training, and involvement in civil society; racial barriers have been overcome and a vibrant new spirit of philanthropy has spread across the region. These achievements have been possible only through your passion, your energy, and your work.

The strategy we crafted in 2000 has evolved successfully for almost a decade. The various strategies throughout the Foundation’s work in the region for the last 68 years have served many of its intended purposes in fostering sustainable local development within the Latin American and Caribbean social fabric. Now with the Foundation’s new mission to create conditions that propel vulnerable children to success, it is time for us, together, to reflect on what we’ve learned, where we’ve succeeded, and what is needed for the future. Our goal is to make a meaningful difference in the lives of those we serve. We do so within the vision of our founder, W.K. Kellogg, who said, “Use the money as you please so long as it promotes the health, happiness, and well-being of children.”

The Kellogg Foundation honors its commitments. Our focus on reflection and planning for the future will not disrupt current investments. At this time, we cannot predict how we will focus in the future because that depends in part on the information and insight you provide, although we will be tightening our geographic scope as we plan the future with the new mission and strategic focus. We expect the planning process to take about 12 months, with the goal of sharing the new strategic direction by the end of this year. In the meantime, if you would like more information about the ongoing changes taking place at the Kellogg Foundation, visit our website at www.wkkf.org.

James E. McHale
Senior Vice President for Programs

Francisco Tancredi 
Regional Director of Latin America and the Caribbean