Submitted by Whatcom Center for Early Learning
Whatcom Center for Early Learning has received $2 million as one of the nationally highest-scoring organizations that applied to the MacKenzie Scott Yield Giving Open Call.
Whatcom Center for Early Learning delivers high quality, equitable, and comprehensive early support services to young children, ages birth to three, with disabilities and developmental delays, forming a solid foundation for their long-term well-being.
Yield Giving received 6,353 applications and initially planned for 250 awards of $1 million each. In light of the incredible work of these organizations, as judged by their peers and external panelists, the donor team decided to expand the awardee pool and the award amount.
“WCEL was thrilled for the children and families we serve to be awarded twice the funding we initially applied for,” says Executive Director Sierra James. “This is a game changer and allows us to begin our plans for a new custom-built facility after 50 years of adapting to spaces not built around our unique mission.”
Early support services (previously known as early intervention) are one of the most cost-effective investments because children receive support at the key time when 85% of brain development is taking place. Children and families graduate from our programs with improved holistic well-being, empowering them to have better life-long health, education and economic outcomes.
We know WCEL provides life-changing services when we hear from parents: “[At WCEL] my daughters each developed this special confidence they still carry, lifelong friendships were born, and we found a sense of community… We are forever thankful for all of the ways that they encourage and facilitate a strong community foundation for children and caregivers.”
Cecilia Conrad, CEO of Lever for Change, says ” In a world teeming with potential and talent, the Open Call has given us an opportunity to identify, uplift, and empower transformative organizations that often remain unseen.”
Join Whatcom Center for Early Learning’s annual gala fundraiser on June 1st. More information on how you can support the work of Whatcom Center for Early Learning can be found at www.wcel.net.
Whatcom Center for Early Learning
WCEL has been providing Early Support services in Whatcom County for 50 years through Speech-Language Pathology, Occupational and Physical Therapy, Specialized Instruction, and Family Resources Coordination for families with very young children with developmental disabilities and delays. In addition to in-home therapy services, WCEL provides Early Learning support through classroom and playgroup opportunities. WCEL has seen tremendous growth over the last five years in the children needing our services. To learn more, visit www.wcel.net.
Yield Giving
Established by MacKenzie Scott to share a financial fortune created through the effort of countless people, Yield Giving is named after a belief in adding value by giving up control. To date, Yield’s network of staff and advisors has yielded over $16,500,000,000 to 1,900+ non-profit teams to use as they see fit for the benefit of others. To learn more, visit www.yieldgiving.com.
Lever for Change
Lever for Change connects donors with bold solutions to the world’s biggest problems —including issues like racial inequity, gender inequality, lack of access to economic opportunity, and climate change. Using an inclusive, equitable model and due diligence process, Lever for Change creates customized challenges and other tailored funding opportunities. Top-ranked teams and challenge finalists become members of the Bold Solutions Network—a growing global network that helps secure additional funding, amplify YIELD GIVING OPEN CALL members’ impact, and accelerate social change. Founded in 2019 as a nonprofit affiliate of the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, Lever for Change has influenced over $1.7 billion in grants to date and provided support to more than 145 organizations. To learn more, visit www.leverforchange.org.
