Caregiver Supports and Opportunities for Early Learning
If an application has already been started in response to this RFP, please visit the Proposals in Progress section in the Grants Portal to view and/or continue the application process.
Background
Services for young children and their families have significant impacts on short-term and long-term outcomes for child development, family well-being, and society as a whole.
Programs that serve children and their families can help build “protective factors, resiliency, and parental capacity to enhance child and family well-being and prevent child abuse and neglect.” The most successful programs and services meaningfully and authentically engage caregivers, families, and communities in all aspects of programming, planning, and implementation. Through this RFP, WPF is looking to support approaches that serve children and their families through integrated and coordinated programs and services.
Opportunity Overview
WPF seeks to support efforts that increase access to caregiver supports and opportunities for early learning for pregnant and parenting families with young children. Funding will be limited to projects that will positively impact families with young children, ages 0-8.
Proposals must include activities that:
- Develop adults’ ability to support their children’s healthy development (e.g., academic, social-emotional, physical, etc.).
- Offer ongoing, interactive, intergenerational programming and services that promote parent-child interactions.
- Include an early learning component (social-emotional, STEM, math, literacy, etc.) for children ages 0 to 8.
- Provide resources, supports, and referrals for caregivers and families as needed.
Programming can take place in a variety of settings and with varying frequencies. See chart below for examples.
Eligible for Funding | Not Eligible | |
| Location | Homes, health care settings, community-based settings, libraries, recreation centers, etc. | Programming/services that take place solely in a virtual setting. |
| Frequency | Programming/services that take place bi-weekly, weekly, monthly, bi-monthly are all eligible. | Programs/ services that only consist of one-time programs or workshops (e.g., book fair, concert). |
| Dosage | Programs/services proposed for funding should include a minimum of six meetings/sessions. | Programs/services that do not enable ongoing opportunities to connect with families. |
| Age Focus | Expectant parents; Families with children ages 0 to 8 (or a subset in that range). | Programming that primarily serves children ages 9 and above. |
Please note, under this RFP, the Foundation will not consider proposals to support the following:
- Physical health services such as well child and adult exams or treatment
- Early intervention services
- Mental and behavioral health services
- Full-day childcare
An RFP focused exclusively on grandfamilies/kinship care will be released on March 19, 2025. If the population for your project is focused primarily on grandparents raising their grandchildren, you should not respond to this RFP and are encouraged to consider the RFP that will be released in March.
We are requesting proposals for up to three years of funding. After reviewing proposals, WPF will conduct site visits and gather additional information from a limited number of organizations.
Organizations that propose projects in partnership with other applicants will be considered on their individual merits. However, the Foundation recognizes that making significant progress on the objective is difficult and encourages organizations to include partnerships that leverage complementary strengths, resources, and expertise to reach proposed goals.
Furthermore, the Foundation recognizes that there are many different tactics or approaches that could be used to advance the objective stated above. All proposals that meet the review criteria described below are encouraged.
WPF has $8 million available to advance this objective at this time. The maximum amount of funding that organizations may request for direct expenses is $800,000 over three years. (This does not include the overhead amount that will be added to project budgets, based on a formula described on the “How to Apply” section of our website).
At least $1.5 million of the total amount awarded under this RFP will be reserved for grants to organizations that have budgets under $2 million per year and/or are led by individuals who are members of groups with a history of discrimination or exclusion.
Full Request for Proposals (RFP) and Application
Download the full RFP packet for more information about this opportunity including eligibility, review criteria, learning and evaluation, budget, and link to an application template.
All applications must be submitted through the Grants Portal.
Webinar
An informational webinar took place on December 12, 2024: