McCall Kulak Family Foundation

OVERVIEW: The McCall Kulak Family Foundation prioritizes innovation and accessibility in early childhood education.

IP TAKE: This early childhood funder seeks to effect “systemic change that recognizes that every child is unequivocally programmed to grow, learn and give back.” Its giving emphasizes organizations that can effect large-scale change and innovation in early childhood education landscapes. While it does not name geographic priorities, funding tends to stay in the Northeast. McCall Kulak does not accept unsolicited proposals, but grantseekers who feel they are a good match for the foundation may wish to reach out via email with a brief introduction.

PROFILE: Established by Marianna Kulak McCall and Mark McCall, the Connecticut-based McCall Kulak Family Foundation’s mission is to
”support the work of organizations and systems that promote the development of the whole child in the formative early years of life.” Mark McCall is the managing director of Lime Rock Partners, a private equity firm, and Marianna previously worked with Save the Children and the Financial Services Volunteer Corps. The foundation’s giving focuses exclusively on “increasing access to the highest quality early childhood education for all children.” While it does not name geographic priorities for its giving, more than half of its grants stay in the Northeast.

Grants for Early Childhood Education

According to its recent tax filings, the McCall Kulak Family Foundation’s specific areas of giving for early childhood education include alternative models of teaching, the holistic development of children, the Montessori method of instruction and increasing access to quality early childhood programs. The foundation is a founding member of Trust for Learning, a collaborative education fund comprised of like-minded organizations including the Harold Simmons Foundation and the McTeague Catalyst Fund.

Past grantees include the Connecticut Coalition for Achievement Now, EdAdvance, the Community Foundation for Greater New Haven and the City Garden Montessori School of St. Louis, Missouri.

Important Grant Details

McCall Kulak grants typically typically range from $5,000 t0 $30,000, but a core of grantees with whom the foundation maintains ongoing relationships receive larger sums. Grantees tend to be large organizations and agencies that support innovative and accessible models of high quality early childhood education. The foundation does not name geographic priorities, but the Northeast appears to receive a significant portion of its funding.

This foundation does not accept unsolicited grant applications or requests for funding. General inquiries may be submitted to the foundation via email at info@mccallkulak.org,

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