As a small national foundation with a broad vision of quality early care and education we aim to be strategic and catalytic with our dollars. Our goal is to promote the building of sustainable systems that provide access to high quality early learning experiences for all children.  We attempt to effect system-wide change by encouraging responsive public policies.  We fund the creation and dissemination of curricula, materials or tools that promote quality.  We fund advocacy and strategic communication to inform and build public will.  We fund applied research designed to inform policy and improve practice.  Finally, we support funder collaboratives to expand our learning and broaden our sphere of influence. 

We seek to support children in the context of their families and communities.  Quality care and education embraces the values of family support, cultural competence and sensitivity to the social, emotional, cognitive and physical needs of the child.  We strive to ensure that parents, caregivers, and teachers have the knowledge and support they need and that every child is nurtured by informed, skilled and caring adults.