$1.4M in expenses

In fy24, the joan ganz cooney center (JGCC) continued to advance its mission by enabling innovators to design with and for children and promoting a "well-being by design" approach to digital spaces for children. The center launched new programs, deepened industry partnerships, and secured significant funding to expand its impact. (see schedule o)major initiatives and programmatic highlights:sandbox initiative the JGCC sandbox is a design and innovation lab that helps digital media innovators develop products that are beneficial for children by using evidence-based research and co-design experiences with kids and families. The sandbox collaborates with industry leaders and product development teams to ensure that digital media products are engaging, appropriate, and have a positive impact on children's learning and development. Projects included collaborations with aerdf's reading reimagined program, MRS. Wordsmith, and the scratch foundation. A significant milestone in the development of the sandbox is a three-year, $4 million investment from the walton family foundation, focused on literacy innovation. This funding will support product developers in co-designing educational technology with children, applying the science of reading to edtech design, and advancing research on co-design methodologies. The center has begun to explore revenue-generation models for research and consultancy efforts while maintaining its commitment to ethical, research-driven innovation. The impact of these initiatives is expected to shape the next generation of digital experiences designed for and with children.ritec and digital thriving initiativesthe JGCC serves as the us-based partner for responsible innovation in technology for children (ritec), a global initiative developed by unicef and the lego group and supported by the lego foundation. Key activities include contributions to a field research report, a design toolbox for companies, and industry awareness and adoption of ritec guidance. The JGCC also supported the development of the digital thriving playbook in partnership with the nonprofit thriving in games group (formerly fair play alliance). The goal of the project is to empower game developers worldwide with accessible tools and resources to cultivate thriving player communities. The playbook project was supported by the riot games social impact fund. Well-being by design (WBXD) fellowshipthe JGCC aims to make children's well-being a priority in the digital world by centering children's voices and providing industry with the tools to prioritize well-being in design. The WBXD fellowship is a collaborative learning experience for mid-career designers of kids' technology and media who wish to incorporate research-based design practices for well-being in early stages of product development and are currently working on a project that can be workshopped throughout a four-month fellowship period. The fellows also receive feedback on their products from a youth design team convened for this initiative. The 2024 fellowship was supported by pinterest and foundry10.joan ganz cooney archivesin collaboration with the peter g. Peterson foundation and the university of maryland library, JGCC is overseeing the transfer of joan ganz cooney's papers. A temporary archivist was hired to catalog materials, ensuring a smooth transition to the umd library planned for fiscal year 2025.communications highlights:the JGCC actively engaged in more than 40 in-person and virtual events throughout the year, including SXSW, asu+GSV, SRCD, GDC, games for change, idc, privo, and an appearance at the white house. The center expanded its public engagement through publications, blogs, and the "into the digital future podcast," while also seeing its fellowship participants become ambassadors for its initiatives. Branding efforts were strengthened, with distinct identities developed for the sandbox initiative and the well-being by design fellowship.