“If you’re an education funder, the earlier [you step in] the better,” writes Liz Simons, Heising-Simons Foundation’s Chair of the Board, in this opinion piece for the Stanford Center on Philanthropy and Civil Society (Stanford PACS). “The ‘good’ news is that early childhood philanthropy is so underfunded that opportunities abound.”

The article highlights the specific barriers children of color from families with low incomes face to access and to thrive in early education settings, as well as the need to support early childhood educators (predominantly women), and children’s families — especially women, who disproportionally bear the responsibility of childcare.

“Early childhood is fleeting and you can’t give back those years once they’re gone. We owe it to our children, their families, and those who care for them, to have their backs every step of the way.”

We invite you to read the full piece at Stanford PACS’s website.