The Kenneth Rainin Foundation awarded $715,000 to eight organizations through our Early Care Spaces Program. Grants support early language and literacy development for Oakland children from birth to five years old. Efforts range from culturally affirming programs for children and caregivers of color to initiatives that combine art, storytelling and movement to support language comprehension. The funded projects share a unifying goal to integrate literacy and language more deeply into early childhood education.
Organizations awarded funding include:
- Afro-Play Oakland
- Mujeres Unidas y Activas
- Parent Voices Oakland
- EDvance College
- BANANAS, Inc
- Destiny Arts
- Lincoln Families
- Museum of Children’s Art (MOCHA)
Of the eight organizations, two are first-time applicants, three are returning Rainin Foundation grantees that are new to the Education Program, and three are returning Education grantees. Seventy-five percent of the awarded organizations are led by BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Color) leaders. All of the awardees are committed to supporting communities most often overlooked, including Black, Latine and Mam children and families, and dedicated to keeping families and providers central in early learning.
Learn more about these Education grantees and their funded work.
The inaugural Early Care Spaces grant commemorated our 15th anniversary of formal grantmaking in 2024 and honors our vision of a world where all Oakland children read at or above grade level by third grade. The Rainin Foundation remains focused on our goal of every child entering kindergarten ready to learn and reading at grade level by third grade. The first five years of life are a critical period of brain development when children are highly receptive to language experiences. Investing in early language and literacy development is essential for building a strong foundation for future reading skills.
Want to learn more about our grantees and their partnerships? Contact our Education Team.
