About Spotlight

In October 2007 major U.S. foundations launched Spotlight on Poverty and Opportunity to stimulate national discussion and draw greater attention to the issues of poverty and opportunity during the 2008 elections. Starting with the presidential primaries, Spotlight served as a “one-stop shop” for information on what each candidate was saying about poverty and how he or she would address the problem as president.

Focusing on poverty is a natural role for foundations, which have long worked to address economic hardship and its effects through their support of pilot programs, research, policy analysis, direct services and more.  In Spotlight’s first year alone, 15 major national foundations came together to support the initiative.

Today, Spotlight is perhaps the leading non-partisan forum on poverty in the country, known for presenting “big tent” ideas and solutions for reducing poverty and increasing economic opportunity through its comprehensive website, policy events, and original research and surveys.  Spotlight has attracted interest from public figures of all political stripes who write for the website’s exclusive commentary section and who rely on the initiative for the latest information on combating poverty.

With the culmination of the presidential race, Spotlight’s focus will include monitoring efforts by the Obama Administration and Congress to fight poverty, while providing a non-partisan platform for innovative ideas, programs and practices at the federal, state and local levels.  We will also sponsor policy briefings and forums and feature the latest news and commentary on these issues to ensure that combating poverty is at the top of the national agenda.  Finally, Spotlight will maintain its role as the nation’s go-to site for the most up-to-date news, ideas, and action on poverty and opportunity.