The Bainum Family Foundation has announced a five-year, $100 million commitment to early childhood education.

The largest investment in the history of the foundation will expand its geographic reach beyond Florida and Washington, D.C. Through initiatives including WeVision EarlyEd, the foundation will use its resources to define ideal child care and make it real for families now and in the future. Moreover, the funding will provide grantees and partners with the stability they need to support young children and their families while advancing transformative ideas and solutions to pave the way toward a more equitable future.

The announcement also serves as a cap on the tenure of Barbara Bainum, who is retiring as board chair. During her tenure, she helped direct more than $258 million in support of early education and families.

“Reimagining a system to support children and families requires giving those closest to the challenges the time and space they need to develop innovative solutions,” said Bainum Family Foundation president and CEO David Daniels. “Our financial commitment reflects our belief in this approach and is fueled directly by the guidance of our partners. We aim to show up in the way that is most meaningful to them. As we continue our journey as an organization, I encourage other philanthropies to explore partner-centric approaches anchored on community feedback and directed by those closest to the work.”

(Photo credit: Bainum Family Foundation)