About Foundation for Child Development
The Foundation for Child Development appears to prioritize rigorous research and data-driven policy work on early childhood development, funding institutions that generate population-level evidence. Its grantmaking supports research capacity and evaluation rather than direct service delivery, signaling a focus on informing policy and practice through high-quality studies.
Focus Areas
Early childhood development research and policyPopulation-level survey and evaluation capacity buildingData-driven child well-being measurement and analysis
Who They Fund
early childhood educators and young children/familiesscholars, graduate students, and university-based researcherseducation policy organizations and think tankscommunity-based organizations and field granteesprofessional associations and convening bodies
Giving Approach
About Foundation for Child Development
The Foundation for Child Development’s recent grantmaking centers on research, policy, and community work that support young children, with a clear emphasis on the early care and education workforce. A large part of that activity appears in grants tied to the Young Scholars Program, which funds early-career researchers studying workforce preparation, competency, compensation, well-being, and professional learning. The foundation also backs policy and advocacy organizations that work on early childhood systems and family-facing issues. Among the larger recent awards, NORC at the University of Chicago received $325,000 for NORC 11-2022, and The Pew Charitable Trusts received $200,000 for PEW TEFN 03-2024. Other recent grants show the same research-to-policy orientation: Bank Street College of Education received $225,000 in an installment tied to YSP BSC 04-2023, while New York Academy of Medicine received $155,000 for YSP NYAM 03-2022. The foundation also uses grantmaking to support capacity-building and convening, with grants routed through intermediaries such as Third Sector New England Inc and Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors.
What Foundation for Child Development Funds
Early childhood workforce policy is a recurring theme. The foundation gave $152,000 to Start Early for YSP, and $150,000 to Erikson Institute for DCA GENERAL, both aligned with work on early care and education systems. Research and policy translation are another clear lane. Child Trends received $114,449 for YSP CT 10-2022, and the National Association of State Boards of Education received $200,000 for NASBE 11-2023, reflecting support for analysis that connects evidence to state policy. The foundation also funds advocacy around immigrant families and child policy. The Young Center for Immigrant Children’s Rights received $150,000 for DCA GENERAL, while the National Immigration Law Center received $100,000 for DCA GENERAL. National Women’s Law Center also received $125,000 for DCA GENERAL.
How Foundation for Child Development Gives
Typical grant size sits at $10,000 at the 25th percentile, $43,000 at the median, and $103,000 at the 75th percentile. Recent awards range from smaller research and operating grants to larger strategic commitments, including several six-figure installments and multi-year payments. The presence of repeated labels such as YSP and DCA GENERAL suggests ongoing programmatic support rather than a one-off, transaction-only pattern. The foundation is a regular funder, not a donor-advised fund, and it does not fund individuals or make program-related investments. It generally does not accept unsolicited proposals, except within the Young Scholars Program.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$3.7M
Total Assets
$123.7M
Total Revenue
$5.9M
Total Expenses
$6.7M
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $10K and $103K, with a median of $43K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$43K
75th Percentile
$103K
Geographic Reach
National16 states funded
About 12% of grants go to recipients in DC.
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
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