FUNDING PARTNERS
In 2002, the Early Childhood Funders’ Collaborative (ECFC) created the Build Initiative. The ECFC is an affiliation of foundation officials that have substantial grant making portfolios in early childhood. BUILD funders (at the $50,000 funding level or higher) become part of an influential, experienced group that makes early childhood success a priority – the Funders’ Advisory Council. Members provide strategic oversight for BUILD, and identify the policies and strategies needed to help states create high-performing, comprehensive programs and services that get results for young children and their families.
Foundations currently supporting The Build Initiative include:
The Annie E. Casey Foundation 
Established in 1948 by Jim Casey, one of the founders of United Parcel Service, and his siblings, the foundation is named in honor of their mother. The Annie E. Casey Foundation is a private charitable organization whose primary mission is to foster public policies, human-service reforms, and community supports that more effectively meet the needs of today's vulnerable children and families.
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Based in Seattle, WA the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundations is guided by the belief that every life has equal value and works to help all people lead healthy, productive lives. In the United States, the Gates foundation seeks to ensure that all people—especially those with the fewest resources—have access to the opportunities they need to succeed in school and life.
Birth to Five Policy Alliance
The Birth to Five Policy Alliance was established in 2005 to help to shift the odds for very young children and narrow the achievement gap. The goal is to promote innovative and successful policy ideas that support families in their parenting role and ensure positive early childhood development and learning opportunities for at-risk infants, toddlers, preschoolers and their families.
Foundation for Early Learning
The Foundation grew out of the Washington State Governor’s Commission on Early Learning and was started with a generous $10 million grant from The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The mission is to find, fund, foster and promote best practices that support early learning and school readiness for all children, birth through age five.
The George Gund Foundation
Established in 1952 by George Gund, former chairman of the Cleveland Trust Company, the foundation funds programs that enhance our understanding of the physical and social environment in which we live and increase our ability to cope with its changing requirements.
The Irving Harris Foundation
Founded in 1947 by successful businessman, Irving Harris, the Irving Harris Foundation is a private family foundation that takes a strategic approach to funding programs, policies, research and organizations that support and advocate for optimal early childhood development, with an emphasis on the prenatal period through the first three years of life.
The Heinz Endowments
The Heinz Endowments comprise two private foundations, the Howard Heinz Endowment and the Vira I. Heinz Endowment. Their shared mission is to help southwestern Pennsylvania thrive as a whole community -- economically, ecologically, educationally, and culturally.
The Kresge Foundation
Sebastian Spering Kresge established the foundation in 1924 "for the promotion of human progress." The Kresge Foundation is a private foundation that supports communities by building the capacity of nonprofit organizations in six particular fields of interest: health, the environment, arts and culture, education, human services and community development.
The A.L. Mailman Family Foundation
With a mission to enhance the ability of families and communities to nurture their children, the A.L. Mailman Family foundation is a small family foundation with a national grant making focus. It believes that the most effective way to fulfill its mission is by focusing on early childhood with the primary program goal of assuring quality early care and education experiences for all young children.
The McCormick Foundation
For more than 50 years the McCormick Foundation has been serving the needs of our children, communities and country. The foundation strongly believes that creating a strong society requires community involvement whether through donation or volunteering. Their mission is to advance the ideals of a free, democratic society by investing in children, communities and country.
The McKnight Foundation
Founded in 1953 and endowed by William L. McKnight and Maude L. McKnight, the foundation fulfills a dual role as a responsive grant maker that supports grassroots action, and a strategic grant maker that encourages larger systems and policy reform.
The JB and MK Pritzker Family Foundation (No web site available)
A private family foundation based in Chicago, the JB and MK Pritzker Family Foundation is deeply committed to the pursuit of social justice and to shaping innovative and effective strategies for solving society’s most challenging problems.
Rauch Foundation
A Long Island, NY family foundation that supports innovative and effective programs designed to: give disadvantaged children a better start to life; Improve the natural environment on Long Island and Maryland; and Develop leadership in the non-profit sector.
The Schumann Fund for New Jersey
Founded in 1988 by Florence Schumann and her children to carry on the philanthropic tradition of the Florence and John Schumann Foundation. The fund makes policy grants throughout New Jersey, and program grants in Essex County. Its funding priorities are early childhood development, environmental protection, and school innovation.
The William Penn Foundation
Otto and Phoebe Haas created their family's foundation in 1945 in response to social problems following World War II. The William Penn Foundation strives to improve the quality of life in the Greater Philadelphia region through efforts that foster rich cultural expression, strengthen children's futures and deepen connections to nature and community.
