California Child Care Justice Network is sponsored by Heising-Simons Foundation. Supports organizations and projects advancing child care justice in California, aiming to uplift children, families, and early childhood educators.

Education - Heising-Simons Foundation Unlocking knowledge, opportunity, and possibilities Sustainable Work Practices The Heising-Simons Foundation focuses its grantmaking in five program areas Initiatives: Youth Housing International Human Rights Day The Foundation seeks to support organizations and institutions at the forefront of their fields Grantmaking By the Numbers For Interested Grantseekers Read the latest updates from the Foundation The goal of the Foundation’s Education program is for all young children to experience joyful, effective, and affirming learning environments that provide the knowledge, skills, and mindsets that set them on a trajectory for success in school and life.

All children deserve access to opportunities that support them to thrive—in school, at home, and in the community. Moreover, high-quality early care and education provide the foundation for strong cognitive, physical, and socio-emotional development—and can ensure that all children are set up to succeed.

The Education program supports policies and practices that empower early educators, childcare providers, and families to nurture and enrich early learning experiences, spanning from birth to Grade 3.

The program’s grantee partners recognize that early learning happens within the formal education system and outside of it—most notably, within families—, and that all children deserve access to high-quality early learning experiences and resources.

To meet its strategic goal, the Education program invests in two key portfolios: The Enabling Conditions portfolio focuses on creating the systemic conditions that best enable high-quality interactions between children and adults, and that best foster positive learning environments, and The Effective Practice portfolio focuses on effective practices within the systems and settings in which children develop and learn.

Several major initiatives are housed within each of these portfolios. Each major initiative is a multi-year effort comprised of several grants. The Education program maintains a national focus, with a strong emphasis on its home state of California.

California Child Care Justice Network The California Child Care Justice Network is a coordinated five-year initiative to advance child care justice in California. Our vision is to enable California’s early learning and care system to uplift children, families, and early childhood educators so that they all can thrive . Learn more about the California Child Care Justice Network.

Apply Now: California Child Care Justice Network Opens New Grant Cycle The Heising-Simons Foundation’s Education program invites eligible organizations and projects to apply to join the California Child Care Justice Network . Applications are due by June 18, 2026, at 11 am PT . For more information on eligibility criteria and how to apply, visit the application guidelines .

Questions? Email [email protected] from May 11 to June 12, 2026. We will respond to all questions by email and update the FAQ document on a rolling basis.