On May 1, 2008, it was announced that the Grotto Foundation Board of Directors elected to make a significant change in the focus of the Grotto Foundation. It was determined that the major funding focus for the Grotto Foundation would be Early Childhood Development and Education with a particular interest in parental training, daycare and pre-school education and education to the third grade.
During a four-month period, Grotto staff, in collaboration with its Board of Directors, agreed with research which shows that if greater funding is invested in the healthy growth of a child from birth to six years of age, then less funding is required for remedial programs or punitive institutionalization of those who suffered from a lack of nurturing, caring, and education.
Accordingly, the Grotto Foundation has focused its funding on agencies and institutions dedicated to improving the quality of parenting and the well-being of infants and children (from birth to six years of age). It was also announced that under the new guidelines, the Grotto Foundation will no longer continue its general grantmaking and will no longer accept proposals or requests for funding.
The staff of the Grotto Foundation was authorized to research and investigate the agencies and organizations dedicated to Early Childhood Development. Staff members proceeded to identify and recommend highly regarded agencies and programs meeting the Grotto criteria for funding and as a result of this new strategy, during the first year, Grotto has identified and funded a number of agencies approved by the Board of Directors.
However, with the financial crisis affecting both nonprofits and foundations alike, the Grotto Board authorized a freeze in funding effective October 26, 2009, which will continue through April 2010. This not only impacts the newly created Early Childhood Development focus, but also the long-term Native Language Revitalization Initiative which is now completing its eighth year.
The Management and Board plan to review the financial health of the foundation at its last Board meeting of the fiscal year 2009-2010, in April 2010. At that time, it is hoped that the staff will be given the direction to re-establish the Grotto Foundation grantmaking program for its two major program area: Early Childhood Development and Native Language Revitalization.
Grotto will continue its commitment to its fifteen-year Native American Language Revitalization Initiative (NLRI), and to the support and oversight of the newly established Tiwahe Foundation (the former American Indian Family Empowerment Program, a collaboration of the Marbrook, Westcliff, and Grotto Foundations).
Grotto remains dedicated to “Community, Family, and Understanding” and through our efforts we hope to make a difference.
Ellis F. Bullock
Executive Director