W.K. Kellogg Foundation announces family engagement investment to identify and expand promising efforts that support early childhood educational success

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Aug 26, 2013, 08:26 ET

BATTLE CREEK, Mich., Aug. 26, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The W.K. Kellogg Foundation (WKKF) today announced a $5 million investment to identify and cultivate innovations in the growing field of family engagement that support children's educational success from birth to 8 years old. Organizations that have developed effective family engagement models that address obstacles faced by low-income families are encouraged to send initial submissions for possible funding of up to $500,000 for one to three years.

WKKF defines family engagement as a shared responsibility of families, schools and communities for student learning and achievement. It is a continuous process from birth to third grade and beyond that occurs across multiple settings where children learn. The foundation seeks to support and expand on-the-ground family engagement efforts that include program design and implementation, service delivery and/or policy development and implementation.

Qualified organizations may submit one initial submission on which they are the lead applicant. Proposals that outline effective teaching strategies, work to align early childhood systems in their communities and focus on building family economic security as they connect to strong family engagement in education are strongly encouraged.

"Our goal is to shift the paradigm for people to see that families – particularly those that have been marginalized by racial inequities – possess numerous skills that must be recognized and supported to help children succeed," said Carla D. Thompson, vice president – program strategy for WKKF. "We believe that supporting family leadership development and organizational capacity to act as partners between school and family can transform the early childhood education system."

How to Apply

Public entities or nonprofit organizations that are tax-exempt under Section 501(c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code and can demonstrate the fiscal capacity to manage the funds should apply online. Applications are due by Sept. 23, 2013. If selected, applicants will be asked to provide a full proposal in October 2013, and will receive guidelines upon selection. Selected grantees will be notified of their awards in December 2013.

About the W.K. Kellogg Foundation

The W.K. Kellogg Foundation (WKKF), founded in 1930 as an independent, private foundation by breakfast cereal pioneer, Will Keith Kellogg, is among the largest philanthropic foundations in the United States. Guided by the belief that all children should have an equal opportunity to thrive, WKKF works with communities to help break the cycle of poverty by removing barriers based on race or income that hold back children, so they can realize their full potential in school, work and life.

The Kellogg Foundation is based in Battle Creek, Mich., and works throughout the United States and internationally, as well as with sovereign tribes. Special emphasis is paid to priority places where there are high concentrations of poverty and where children face significant barriers to success. WKKF priority places in the U.S. are in Michigan, Mississippi, New Mexico and New Orleans; and internationally, are in Mexico and Haiti.

SOURCE W.K. Kellogg Foundation