With the fail rates on third grade reading assessments rising above 50 percent, the Community Foundation was moved to create the Early Literacy Fund. The fund is designed to help those nonprofit organizations focused on improving youth literacy rates in Palm Beach and Martin Counties.
“Experts tell us a child’s ability to read at grade level by third grade is the single greatest predictor of future success, because this is when they transition from learning to read to reading to learn,” said Danita R. DeHaney, President & CEO of the Community Foundation. “Youth in the communities we serve are falling behind in record numbers, with the current third grade literacy rate well below acceptable levels. That is why the Community Foundation was moved to lead a philanthropic response and create the Early Literacy Fund.”
Beginning in 2024, the Early Literacy Fund will be incorporated into the Community Foundation’s annual competitive “Community Impact” grantmaking cycle — specifically in its priority area of Education and Youth. Competitive grants are a hallmark of the Community Foundation and are a lifeline for those nonprofit partners tackling our area’s greatest needs at the grassroots level. Through the grantmaking cycle, donors directly support over 100 community-focused organizations each year.
