Early Care Spaces

The Kenneth Rainin Foundation, a private family foundation based in Oakland, California, is inviting applications for its Early Care Spaces grant program. Established in 2009, the Foundation has awarded more than $46 million across its core areas of arts, education, and health. Through its education portfolio, the Foundation supports Oakland’s youngest learners with initiatives designed to foster early literacy and language skills. The Early Care Spaces initiative was launched in 2024 to commemorate the Foundation’s fifteenth anniversary of grantmaking, with the aim of expanding high-quality early learning opportunities for children from birth through age five. The Early Care Spaces program provides funding to nonprofit organizations and other eligible entities that design and implement innovative, community-based solutions to improve early childhood language and literacy development. Research consistently shows that the most critical window for literacy growth is from birth through the early elementary years, yet access to developmentally rich learning experiences remains uneven across Oakland. This program specifically addresses those inequities by prioritizing underserved families and communities, aiming to ensure more children develop strong language foundations before entering school. Funding may be used to support activities that enhance children’s language skills, strengthen parent and caregiver engagement in literacy development, and build the capacity of early childhood providers. Eligible projects may include community-centered programs that create literacy-rich environments, provide culturally relevant early care strategies, or offer professional development that enables providers to advance their careers while delivering effective, developmentally appropriate care. Grants are available for either a one-year period with awards up to $75,000 or a two-year period with awards up to $100,000. The Foundation has streamlined its 2025 application process into a single stage, reducing the administrative burden for applicants. Instead of requiring a full letter of inquiry, interested organizations may submit a short description of their work when scheduling office hours with the program officer, allowing for early feedback on program alignment. Applicants are encouraged to review the updated eligibility requirements and FAQs, which were refined after the inaugural 2024 cycle to clarify terms and priorities such as “informal care,” “family, friend and neighbor care,” and “literacy and language development.” The Foundation has also committed to greater equity and inclusiveness in decision-making by engaging local leaders, current grantees, and early childhood experts to participate on its grant review panel. The timeline for the 2025 cycle includes office hours between July 7 and August 1, the application submission period from August 4 to August 25, and award notifications issued on November 3. Grant periods will run from January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2026 for one-year grants, or through December 31, 2027 for two-year grants. Applications are assessed using published evaluation criteria that emphasize program alignment, equity considerations, and likely impact on Oakland’s youngest learners. Applicants seeking additional guidance may schedule a 30-minute virtual consultation or a 45-minute in-person meeting with the Foundation’s Education Program Officer, who is available to answer questions and provide support during the pre-application period. The Foundation emphasizes transparency, responsiveness, and collaborative partnership in its approach to philanthropy, reinforcing its broader mission to take smart risks and pursue breakthrough ideas that improve the lives of children and families across Oakland.

Review priorities, eligibility requirements, and FAQs. Schedule office hours to discuss alignment.