From Vision to Action: Introducing the 2Gen Collaborative Toolkit

Across the country, communities are increasingly recognizing the need for integrated approaches that support the well-being of both children and the adults in their lives. To build on this momentum, Ascend at the Aspen Institute is proud to release the 2Gen Collaborative Toolkit, a companion resource to The 2Gen Investment Case report.

This Toolkit is designed for mid-level and senior leaders in nonprofit, philanthropic, and public organizations seeking to strengthen a regional or place-based 2Gen approach. It provides tangible guidance for executing 2Gen strategies and mobilizing community-led solutions to improve outcomes for whole families.

The 2Gen Investment Case detailed how over $500 million in philanthropic and public investments have seeded, surfaced, and sustained two-generation (2Gen) strategies that align systems, improve family outcomes, and create lasting change. It made the case for why 2Gen strategies matter. This Toolkit is the next step, a resource for how to put those strategies into action. 

This Toolkit is rooted in lessons from Ascend’s place-based collaborations in Colorado, Los Angeles County, and New Mexico, where community partners, parents, systems leaders, and philanthropic representatives came together to design strategies that support family well-being in a holistic and equitable way. It draws directly from those efforts, including convenings, planning processes, and the development of collaborative frameworks. It also highlights practices and policies aligned with the 2Gen approach, shows the impact of connecting organizations and systems, and offers practical recommendations that can be applied across sectors.

Private philanthropy played a critical role in supporting and sustaining these collaborations, helping to resource innovation, align investments, and fuel the long-term work of systems change. This Toolkit responds to a growing need for tools that help communities create solutions informed by lived experience and designed for lasting change.

The 2Gen Collaborative Toolkit outlines five actionable steps to help local leaders design and implement effective, place-based 2Gen strategies:

Each section includes practical considerations, guiding questions, and sample tools to support community implementation. 

We are deeply grateful to the parents, community leaders, and organizational partners who informed this Toolkit and brought its guidance to life.