Local nonprofits can apply for two early childhood grant opportunities totaling $2 million, thanks to collaboration between San Diego Foundation and the Dr. Seuss Foundation.
Teaming up makes the application easier and provides “more stable support for early literacy and healthy development as demand grows and funding uncertainty continues,” officials said.
The shared application provides access to two initiatives — Ready to Learn and Bright Futures — intended to support early literacy, school readiness and social-emotional development for children from birth through age 8.
“The continued partnership between the Dr. Seuss Foundation and San Diego Foundation reflects our shared commitment to strengthening early childhood education in our community,” said Katie Rast, CEO of the Dr. Seuss Foundation. “We are pleased to align in support of efforts that help to ensure that children develop a lifelong love of learning.”
By applying for the grants through one application, nonprofits can be considered for both, reducing the administrative and grant-writing burden on organizations.
“Early childhood organizations are doing essential work at a time when funding stability is far from guaranteed,” said Pamela Gray Payton, vice president and chief impact and partnerships officer of the San Diego Foundation. “This common application was intentionally designed to make the process easier, more accessible and more responsive to the realities nonprofits are facing while continuing to invest in long-term solutions that help children build strong foundations for learning and well-being.”
Ready to Learn is administered by San Diego Foundation in partnership with the Dr. Seuss Foundation and supports programs serving children from birth to age 5 and focuses on early literacy, language development, family-centered learning and strengthening provider expertise, the groups wrote in a statement. The initiative is committing $1 million in total funding, with grants of up to $60,000 per organization.
“This collaborative investment in our region supports programs that prepare children to transition from learning to read to reading to learn,” said Brian Schottlaender, board chair and president of the Dr. Seuss Foundation.
The other grant included in the joint application is for Bright Futures, a Dr. Seuss Foundation program supporting organizations serving children up to age 8 that emphasizes early literacy, school readiness, playful and experiential learning, and social-emotional development. This initiative is also committing $1 million in total funding, with grants of up to $60,000 per organization.
Applications will be reviewed jointly by the foundations.
Eligible nonprofits can access the common application through San Diego Foundation’s online grant portal at grantinterface.com/Home/Logon?urlkey=sdf.
Applications are open and must be submitted by 5 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 20.
