Request for Proposal
Jewish Parenting Centers for Families with Young Children
Overview and Objective:
EarlyJ is seeking proposals from Jewish preschools in Los Angeles interested in creating “Jewish Parenting Centers” within their preschool or host organization, aimed at supporting families with children ages 0-2, as well as expectant parents.
The goal of these centers is to provide educational resources, community-building opportunities, and early engagement with Jewish life. These centers introduce families to the preschool staff, setting, and Jewish values, creating a pipeline for preschool registration.
We welcome innovative ideas for these Jewish parenting centers. The centers should include multiple programs and engagement opportunities that support the overall goals of this RFP. Programming is expected to take place on a regular, ongoing basis throughout the week (e.g., weekly programs and activities), rather than as one-time or occasional events. Programs should be designed for different audiences, including expectant parents and families with children ages 0–2, in order to support families at different stages of early parenthood and engagement. The goal is to create consistent touchpoints that build relationships, foster community, and engage families over time.
These programs can include, but are not limited to:
- Parenting Education: Workshops on Jewish parenting and early childhood development (ages 0-2).
- Expectant Parent Programs: Sessions to connect expectant parents with the broader local Jewish community and the preschool community.
- Community Engagement: Community-building events and ongoing classes, such as Shabbat dinners, holiday celebrations, baby playgroups, mommy and me activities, music classes, and grandparents and grandchildren activities to help families connect with each other and with their preschool’s Jewish community.
- Immersive Experiences: Activities like weekend family camps and Jewish traditions (Havdalah, Shabbat rituals, etc.) while creating bonds between families raising Jewish children.
- Preschool Integration: Meet-and-greets with educators, preschool parents ambassadors, and workshops to help parents understand the importance of JECE. These offerings will ensure that young families are aware of the available preschool options as they plan for their children’s educational future, while also establishing the preschool as a key resource for Jewish and family life.
Expected Outcomes:
- Increase preschool registration and retention by building trust between families and preschools.
- Engage parents with children ages 0-2 and expectant parents, fostering long-term engagement in Jewish life.
- Create social bonds among families, preschool staff, and the broader community, building a supportive network.
- Enhance families’ connection to the Jewish community and comfort with incorporating Jewish traditions at home.
- Increase parents’ knowledge of Jewish parenting approaches and local Jewish preschools.
Application Criteria:
- This grant opportunity is exclusively open for existing Jewish preschools in Los Angeles, CA that do not currently have a Parenting Center.
- The preschool must be a non-profit organization.
- Preschools with a demonstrated commitment to high-quality Jewish ECE.
- The preschool must have a clear plan and timeline for how the grant funds will be used to achieve the desired outcomes.
- The parenting center must be situated on-site within the preschool facility to foster early familial familiarity and seamless integration with the preschool environment.
- Grant amount: Grant will range from $10,000-$60,000.
- This is a two-year grant. Awarded funds must be spent within the first year, and reporting will be required annually for two years.
Application Overview:
- Organization name and contact person.
- Overview of the project.
- Goals/impact on the community.
- Preschool enrollment information.
- Estimated requested amount: State the anticipated project cost: $10,000 – $60,000
Timeline:
- May 27 (11:00 AM PT): Zoom informational meeting to introduce the RFP and goals of the parenting centers. Please RSVP here to receive the zoom link
- June 8 (9:00 PM PT): Letters of intent (LOIs) due
- June 11–12: Applicant Zoom interviews
- July 6 (9:00 PM PT): Full proposals due (by invitation)
- August 5: Funding decisions announced
Contact:
Please contact Alisha Sela, EarlyJ’s Los Angeles Director, with any questions:
asela@earlyj.org.
Visit here to learn more about the parenting centers and what differentiates these centers from other programs.