Request for Proposal
Jewish Parenting Centers for Families with Young Children
Overview and Objective:
EarlyJ is seeking proposals from Jewish preschools in the Bay Area 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 that will support the overall goal of this RFP. 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 the Bay Area, CA.
- The preschool must be a non-profit organization.
- The preschool must have the ability to provide high-quality JECE.
- The preschool must have a clear plan and timeline for how the grant funds will be used to achieve the desired outcomes.
Application Overview:
- Organization name and contact person.
- Overview of the project: Provide a brief description of the Parenting Center you wish to establish, including the programs it would offer.
- Goals/impact on the community: Outline the objectives of the center and its projected positive influence on the community you serve. Specify how you intend to measure the success of the center, such as collecting feedback on workshops, monitoring participation in community events, and measuring preschool registration numbers. Please explain how the expected outcomes align with increasing student enrollment.
- Current preschool capacity: Number of students enrolled and number of teachers.
- How many families with children aged 0-2 are you regularly in contact with today?
- How many families do you expect to serve?
- Estimated requested amount: State the anticipated project cost.
Timeline
The LOI form can be submitted any time before December 1, 2024.
Applicants selected to move forward will be invited to submit full proposals by January 20, 2025.
The full proposal deadline is January 31, 2025.
Funding decisions will be made by February 17, 2025.
Grants ranging between $10,000-$60,000 per annum will be considered.
Please contact Maayan Sorek, EarlyJ’s Director of Operations, with any questions: msorek@earlyj.org.
Visit here to learn more about the parenting centers and what differentiates these centers from other programs.
