Building Pathways to Opportunity for Educators, Children, and Families
Southeast Children's Fund advances economic mobility and strengthens communities by investing in education, workforce development, and family-centered support systems across Washington, DC.
Our Work
Three connected areas of work, each reinforcing the others across the birth through grade 3 continuum.
Degree attainment, economic mobility, and workforce advancement for early childhood educators.
Creating stronger systems of support for children, families, and educators across DC.
A trusted resource center connecting educators, families, and partners with what they need.
Strong Communities Start with Strong Educators and Families
Early childhood educators shape lifelong outcomes, and families need strong support systems to help children thrive. Communities are strongest when opportunity is accessible to everyone within them. Southeast Children's Fund works at the intersection of education, workforce development, and community wellbeing — addressing workforce instability at its root so that classrooms, families, and communities benefit from consistent, effective support across Washington, DC.
More than 30 years of preparing and advancing early educators across Washington, DC's most critical learning years.
Practice-based learning that links credentialing and degree pathways to workforce readiness and instructional continuity.
Serving hundreds of educators and their classrooms citywide, with deep roots in the communities we serve.
Why we've spent 30 years showing up
Southeast Children's Fund fosters community development by empowering children and families through education, career development, and holistic support services, rooted deeply in the communities we serve.
A DC where educators are prepared, supported, and connected — and where children, families, and communities thrive because the system around them is coherent, equitable, and built to last.
Workforce instability in early childhood is not inevitable — it's addressable. We exist to strengthen educator preparation, retention, and advancement across birth through grade 3, and to align those pathways with the systems that depend on them.
30 Years of Sustained Impact
Across credentialing and degree pathways
Educators advanced to a college degree
Supported with credentials and professional growth
Providers, centers, and institutions citywide
Serving DC's early childhood workforce
Growing workforce stability and instructional quality across the birth through grade 3 continuum.
Reports & PublicationsOur Core Programs
Two workforce programs, two community programs — one connected system.
Degree attainment, economic mobility, and workforce advancement for early childhood educators.
CDA and professional learning pathways that build credentialed, confident educators.
Supporting the social-emotional wellbeing, creativity, and engagement of educators, children, and families through community-centered arts and wellness experiences.
Connecting educators and emerging leaders with guidance, professional support, and meaningful relationships that foster personal and career growth.
How SCF Creates Change
One connected pathway — from what we invest, to what changes for educators, families, and communities across DC.
Funding, staff, partnerships, and infrastructure that make the work possible.
DC LEAD, the Professional Development Institute, Arts & Wellness, and Mentorship & Leadership Development.
Credentialed, confident educators who advance in their careers and stay in the field.
Stronger, better-supported families with consistent access to quality early learning.
A more stable, equitable early learning system across Washington, DC.
Experienced Leadership Driving Workforce Impact
Southeast Children's Fund is led by an experienced executive and program leadership team with deep expertise in early childhood education, workforce development, and fiscal stewardship. Our leadership ensures that investments translate into strong implementation, accountability, and long-term system impact across Washington, DC.
- Strategic Executive Leadership guiding citywide workforce alignment from birth through grade 3
- Dedicated Program Oversight for DC LEAD and CDA educator pathways
- Strong Financial & Operational Stewardship supporting compliance, transparency, and scale
Built for DC's Early Childhood Community
Two robust, searchable tools designed to help educators, families, advocates, and funders find what they need and understand the landscape shaping early childhood in DC.
Find Resources Built for You
24 verified resources across childcare, food, housing, health, workforce development, and advocacy, searchable by ward, cost, language, and audience.
The State of Early Childhood in Washington, DC
An interactive ward-by-ward data dashboard tracking child poverty, care access, reading proficiency, and household income across all 8 DC wards, sourced from ACS 2020-2024 and OSSE.
Building the Future Together
The priorities shaping where SCF invests next.
Expanding credential-to-degree pathways for educators across DC.
Supports both workforce and community goals at once.
Citywide resource and data tools for educators and families.
Leadership development for early-career educators.
Invest in Opportunity
Investment can take many forms. Whichever path fits you best, every one of them strengthens the same pipeline — educators, classrooms, families, and communities across DC.
- One-time gift
- Monthly giving
- Legacy giving
- Volunteer
- Mentor
- Committee service
- Introduce a funder
- Connect a partner
- Share expertise
- Meeting space
- Food
- Supplies
- Technology
- Professional services
Sign Up to Get Involved
Tell us where your time and interests fit best — we'll follow up with the right opportunity.
Become a PartnerPartner With SCF
SCF partners with organizations across every sector to expand what's possible for DC's early childhood workforce.
Get Updates on Impact & Opportunities
Receive news on impact, funding opportunities, and community initiatives from SCF.
Ready to Invest in Community?
From workforce pathways to family support, SCF is building what DC's early childhood ecosystem needs to thrive. There's a place for you in this work.