Deadline: 6-May-22
The San Diego Foundation and the Dr. Seuss Foundation are inviting applications for the Early Childhood Initiative 2022 Equitable Opportunities Grant to support a resilient region where all have equitable access to opportunity.
Understanding that early childhood care is essential to supporting families and ensuring long-term success for children, the Early Childhood Initiative (ECI) increases access to quality, affordable early childhood education and developmental care in San Diego County through grant making, partnership and advocacy. ECI works collaboratively with regional partners to:
- Strengthen families,
- Increase health equity,
- Bolster the regional workforce,
- Support economic growth.
Strategies
The following are strategies that support the goal of the 2022 ECI Grant. Organizations will be asked to identify the lead strategy they plan to employ in their application. All applicants are encouraged to address service and support for low-to-moderate income families, and communities experiencing negative social determinants of health.
- Early Literacy
- Support evidence-based programs that strengthen language development and early literacy for infants, toddlers and preschoolers, including family literacy, to provide a strong foundation for early grade-level readiness.
- Early Education Service Expansions
- Increase the number of spaces available for children ages 0-5, or make early education services available to more families through expanded access to care.
- Instructional Quality Improvements & Educational Staff Support
- Support professional training, curriculum development, program implementation, materials, and/or mentorship to improve instructional practices and support early childhood staff. Projects should have potential to impact a group or network of early childhood professionals.
- Projects that work to eliminate bias and further the equitable treatment of all children in the early education and care sector, including but not limited to addressing preschool expulsion/suspensions as part of an effort to ensure greater equity within programs and services.
- Healthy, Equitable Starts for Children & New Parents
- Expand services that aim to achieve birth equity and promote safe, healthy pregnancy and birth conditions for mothers and babies, bolstered by access to supportive services and/or care coordination.
- Support parents of children ages 0-5 through evidence-based parenting education programs with a focus on positive parenting skills and knowledge about early childhood development and early learning.
- Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) Prevention & Intervention
- Expand access to ACEs screening for children ages 0-5, and strengthen mental and behavioral health services to prevent and address trauma for young children and their families experiencing crises (including children involved in foster care and child welfare).
Funding Information
- The San Diego Foundation and the Dr. Seuss Foundation have made available $1 million in total funding for the 2022 ECI grant. This total includes $750,000 from The San Diego Foundation and $250,000 from the Dr. Seuss Foundation.
- Maximum awards are expected to range between $75,000 and $100,000.
- For applications that identify multiple Funded Partners, the maximum award total is $100,000 between all funded partners, with the lead organization receiving no more than $75,000.
- For applications that identify a lead organization and Unfunded Supporting Partners, the application maximum is $75,000.
Eligibility Criteria
- Each proposal must be led by a nonprofit with 501(c) (3) public charity status, operating in and serving San Diego County.
- A 501(c) (3) public charity may serve as a fiscal sponsor for another applicant to administer the grant and provide regular financial reporting to The Foundation.
- Organizations may be part of more than one proposal but may only serve as lead applicant for one proposal.
- Projects must be completed within a 12-month timeline.
- Previous applicants or recipients of Early Childhood Initiative funding are eligible to apply.
- The Foundation will not fund endowments, existing obligations/debt, scholarships, or projects that promote religious or political doctrines.
- Projects must expand care for low-to-moderate income communities and/or populations experiencing health disparities or negative social determinants of health.
- Given their focus on long-lasting solutions and building the capacity of this sector, projects must demonstrate having other significant resources or plans in place to ensure program longevity.
For more information, visit https://www.sdfoundation.org/grantseekers/apply-for-a-grant-2/early-childhood-initiative-2022-equitable-opportunities-grant-guidelines/