SEED Grants

The SEED Grants, provided by the Robins Foundation, aim to enhance early childhood care and education (ECCE) for children aged prenatal to five. With flexible funding of up to $25,000, these grants support small nonprofit providers in Richmond City and surrounding areas to address urgent needs. Eligible organizations can use the funds for playground equipment, teacher development, and updated teaching materials. This initiative strengthens families and fosters long-term community impact through quality early learning experiences.

Our focus on early childhood care and education (ECCE)
Children thrive when they have the support of responsive, nurturing families and access to high-quality early learning experiences. These early influences contribute significantly to brain development, school readiness, and long-term wellbeing.
Robins Foundation has long prioritized early childhood care and education (ECCE) because it has the power to change lives, a child’s developmental trajectory, strengthen families, and generate lasting impact across our community.
Strengthening Early Education Delivery. SEED Grants help to grow and strengthen high-quality early care and education settings.
Funding examples include, but are not limited to:

• New playground equipmentProfessional development for teachersUpdated curriculum and/or teaching materials
• SEED Grant amount:
• Flexible grants of up to $25,000

Eligibility

Small nonprofit early childhood care and education providers that serve children 0 to 5 and have a specific, time-sensitive need.Primarily support children and their families during prenatal stages through age 5 .Serve community members in Richmond City, Chesterfield, Henrico, and/or Petersburg.Qualify as 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations.Organizations are eligible for SEED grants once every calendar year.

Ineligibility

We do not fund projects that focus solely on:Travel to conferences, meetings, or other eventsAddressing budget shortfalls or cash flow needsCapital investments or major building projectsReligious-based activitiesOrganizations with a religious affiliation remain eligible if their programs, curriculum, and admissions are secular.Providing basic needs such as food, housing, or clothingA note about the ineligibility of proposals that focus on basic needs: Robins Foundation recognizes that housing insecurity, limited access to nutritious food, and a lack of other basic necessities pose serious challenges to a child’s healthy development and school readiness.