The Kenneth Rainin Foundation awarded over $2.4 million in Education grants in July to support Oakland’s early learning ecosystem. This grantmaking round reflects our updated strategies that aim to strengthen early literacy education and complement existing resources and people power to raise literacy rates. The Foundation remains focused on our goal of every child entering kindergarten ready to learn and reading at grade level by third grade.
At the heart of this grantmaking cycle is Accelerating Literacy Leadership, a new funding program that recognizes schools as sites of change for literacy. It was developed and designed with our Community Advisory Council to bolster school-level literacy support and establish local impact to shape improved public policy and funding. Through the Oakland Public Education Fund, we are partnering with six Oakland Unified District schools to test the Accelerating Literacy Leadership program before its wider rollout in 2026.
This round of funding also supports:
- Literacy coaching and training support for school systems
- Parent-involved literacy programming in the Fruitvale neighborhood
- Sponsorships for Oakland leaders to attend the 2026 Plain Talk About Literacy and Learning conference
Organizations awarded funding include:
- Center for Collaborative Classroom
- Eat. Learn. Play. Foundation
- East Bay Agency for Children
- Families in Action
- Lead Liberated
- Lighthouse Community Schools
- Oakland Public Education Fund
Explore these Education grantees and their funded work.
Want to learn more about our grantees and their partnerships? Contact our Education Team.
About The Kenneth Rainin Foundation
Kenneth Rainin Foundation is a family foundation that collaborates with creative thinkers in the Arts, Education and Health. We believe in taking smart risks to achieve breakthroughs. The Foundation supports visionary artists in the Bay Area, creates opportunities for Oakland’s youngest learners and funds researchers at the forefront of scientific discoveries. Since 2009, the Foundation has awarded over $56 million in funding to support evidence-based practices to help children become confident, capable and joyful learners. Learn more about the Rainin Foundation’s grantmaking.
