Request for Proposal
Application By Invite Only:
Extending Jewish ECE Hours in the Bay Area
Overview and Objective:
As part of our ongoing efforts to strengthen Jewish Early Childhood Education (Jewish ECE), we are seeking proposals from Jewish preschools in the Bay Area that are interested in extending their hours to better meet the needs of families and enhance long-term sustainability.
We recognize that many families require early drop-off, aftercare, and/or extended year programming to support their work schedules while ensuring their children have access to consistent, high-quality Jewish early learning experiences. By supporting preschools in expanding their hours and available days of operation, we aim to increase access to Jewish ECE, improve enrollment and retention, and elevate the field.
Purpose of the grant:
This grant is designed to support Jewish preschools in the Bay Area that are interested in expanding their program by extending the day or offering care on Jewish holidays (such as the High Holidays and Passover).
The extension of the day should be a structured and enriching continuation of the program’s curriculum, rather than simply additional supervision.
Grant Goals:
Supporting Jewish families in accessing full-day, year-round care
Attracting and retaining more families by offering greater flexibility
Aligning expanded hours with high-quality Jewish learning and experiences
Building staff capacity to deliver extended programming
Engaging and retaining a high percentage of Jewish families
Increasing financial viability through expanded services
Creating stronger connections between families and Jewish community life
Grant Priorities:
Funding may be used for staffing, curriculum development, licensing support, materials, facilities adjustments, or other operational costs required to offer quality care outside of core program hours.
Application Components:
We invite interested Jewish preschools to complete the form, which will serve as their letter of intent (LOI) and includes the following components:
Organization name and contact information
Overview of your preschool
Vision for extended hours:
- What you plan to offer (e.g., early drop-off, late pick-up, Jewish holiday programming)
- Who will benefit
- Proposed start date
- Current licensing status or plan to obtain licensing
- Why this is important for your community and how it aligns with family needs
- Expected impact – how many children do you expect to serve through this expansion
- Additional funding
- Sustainability plan
- Budget summary
Application Criteria:
Application Criteria:
- Existing and new Jewish nonprofit preschools located in the Bay Area, CA
- Preschools with a demonstrated commitment to high-quality Jewish ECE
- Preschools with a clear plan to increase enrollment and impact through extending the hours of operation
- Funds from EarlyJ are contingent upon the preschool obtaining all necessary licensing and regulatory approvals
- Grant amounts:
- Grants will range from $10,000–$50,000, depending on scope and need.
- Please note that this is a one-year grant. Preschools should demonstrate how they will sustain the extended hours program beyond the grant period.
