The Early Care Spaces grant cycle is paused for 2026. The Rainin Foundation remains steadfast in its belief that every Oakland child should have the literacy skills to communicate, learn and thrive. Current Early Care Spaces grantees will receive continued support as we work with Informing Change to evaluate the program and identify opportunities for improvement.
Research shows that the greatest opportunity to foster literacy growth occurs during early childhood through second grade. However, not all Oakland children have equal access to early learning experiences that maximize this critical window of development.
Early Care Spaces supports organizations that promote language and literacy development for children from birth to five years old. This grantmaking program funds community-driven solutions and local initiatives that intentionally integrate these skills into early childhood programming, creating stronger, more developmentally enriching opportunities for our youngest learners.
Early Care Spaces aims to advance work that focuses on:
- Supporting children in expanding their literacy and language skills.
- Creating opportunities that increase parents’ and caregivers’ capacity to support early literacy.
- Upskilling and career advancement for early care providers to lead language-rich, developmentally appropriate and culturally connected care.
This grant program prioritizes:
- Early care opportunities outside of traditional education systems or center-based care, such as in family resource centers, libraries, community spaces or other community-based organizations.
- Programs that want to build or have deep connections to informal care providers or Family, Friend and Neighbor care. This could include targeting these caregivers in program outreach and delivery or providing professional development opportunities for them.
- Organizations that are deeply rooted in and of the community they intend to serve. If not, there is a plan to authentically engage with and serve that community.
- Work happening in the Oakland flatlands, especially neighborhoods experiencing disinvestment and displacement of low-income children and families.
These focus areas and priorities allow us to fund innovative, community-based solutions that bridge gaps and expand access to high-quality early learning experiences, particularly for families in underserved areas.
