Safe Spaces | Sunlight Giving

Safe Spaces

Families and children deserve safe and nurturing environments and quality affordable child care is a basic need. High quality services during the first five years of a child's life contribute to their cognitive, emotional, physical, and social development. There are not enough slots for income-eligible subsidized child care, and children of color are disproportionately not enrolled with the majority being cared for by family, friends, and neighbors. Care providers are likely to be immigrants, limited English proficient (LEP), and women of color experiencing poverty. Improving quality (including pay and resources for providers) and access to formal and informal care spaces promotes more equitable outcomes for both children and families and their care providers.

What We Fund

Sunlight Giving helps support children’s healthy development through spaces for:

Play

Programs that help organize and lift community voices to build and revitalize parks and neighborhood spaces where young children play and explore.

Community

Community centers, playgroups, and libraries serving as hubs for families and young children and providing activities, resources, and connection.

Early Care and Education

Care providers that offer federal/state subsidized child care programs and wrap-around services to connect families with other resources.

Systems Change

Policy, advocacy, and systems work to improve access, affordability, and overall quality of care for children 0-5 years.

What We Look For

Organizations that ensure these spaces are available in neighborhoods and communities that currently lack them.

What We Don't Fund

Programs that exclusively promote kindergarten readiness or literacy. Youth development and after-school programs for school-aged children.