Invest Early, Build Together brings philanthropy, North Carolina expertise and long-term policy strategy together to improve outcomes for young children and families
RALEIGH, N.C., Oct. 13, 2026 — Invest Early NC, a statewide philanthropic collaborative bringing North Carolina funders together to engage, invest, and advocate for young children and families, released today the first public overview of Invest Early, Build Together: A 10-Year Plan for North Carolina’s Youngest Children.
This new overview connects a long-term vision for North Carolina’s youngest children with the partner and policy work shaping what comes next. InvestEarlyNC.org gives partners, funders, advocates, policymakers, and other North Carolinians one place to understand Invest Early NC, explore the Plan’s direction, and stay involved as field input and policy work shape what comes next.
Invest Early, Build Together is anchored in a shared vision: more North Carolina children arriving at kindergarten healthy, nurtured, learning, and ready to keep growing. It connects three conditions that shape children’s earliest years:
- Family economic stability
- Healthy, nurturing caregiver-child relationships
- Early learning opportunities that meet families’ needs
The Plan overview introduces the shared direction and emerging approach to policy, investment, advocacy, and implementation. The full 10-Year Plan will continue to be strengthened with partners across the state.
Built through research, listening, and partnership
Since 2025, Invest Early NC has engaged families, providers, advocates, public agencies, researchers, funders, and community leaders to align around a shared vision, develop a draft policy agenda and action strategies, and understand where stronger coordination could help existing work go further. This fall, survey and partner convenings are bringing more voices into the process. These conversations help identify what’s already working across North Carolina, where there are gaps, and what it will take to better coordinate and sustain the work over time.
From long-term direction to policy action
Through the end of 2026, Invest Early NC will continue to refine its policy priorities and determine the best ways to move them forward.. The 2027 legislative session will be an important opportunity to begin advancing the work.
The Plan’s long-term direction is set, while Invest Early NC and its partners continue to work through how the priorities will move forward, who will play what roles, and how efforts across the state can work together.
Explore the new website and Invest Early, Build Together 10 Year Plan overview at InvestEarlyNC.org/10-year-plan.
About Invest Early, Build Together
Invest Early, Build Together: A 10-Year Plan for North Carolina’s Youngest Children is a long-term strategy focused on helping more children arrive at kindergarten healthy, nurtured, learning and ready to keep growing. The plan connects family economic stability, healthy and nurturing caregiver-child relationships and early learning opportunities with the policy, investment, advocacy, data and implementation needed to sustain progress over time.
At InvestEarlyNC.org, visitors can explore the 10-Year Plan overview and learn more about Invest Early NC. Ways get involved? 1, Share perspective through the Partner + Field Survey. 2, Join the email list for future updates, resources, and opportunities to engage. 3, Contact us to join and support.
About Invest Early NC
Invest Early NC is a statewide philanthropic collaborative that brings North Carolina funders together to engage, invest and advocate for young children and families. Its members bring knowledge, investments and relationships spanning communities and issue areas across the state. Invest Early NC helps funders learn from partners, align resources and identify where shared investment, advocacy or capacity can strengthen work already being led across North Carolina.
Learn more about Invest Early, Build Together at InvestEarlyNC.org.
Media Contact:
Suzanne Woodward
Woodward@collaborativecommunications.com