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Help Build Brighter Futures with Head Start California
We need your help to ensure brighter futures for children and families across California.
For more than 60 years, Head Start has been a cornerstone of early childhood education, serving children and families with comprehensive, high-quality support when it matters most. In California alone, Head Start programs reach more than 70,000 children and their families each year, providing access to early learning, health services, and family supports that strengthen communities statewide. Help us ensure that Head Start continues to empower families, uplift communities, and create opportunities for generations to come.
Join us and donate now! Donate Now
Why Support Head Start California?
Your donation to Head Start California is an investment in a stronger, more equitable future for children and families across the state. Here’s how your contribution makes a difference:
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Promote Quality Education: Help Head Start programs provide the best early childhood education possible.
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Advocate for Children and Families: Strengthen our voice in advocating for the resources and policies that benefit low-income families.
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Build Stronger Communities: Empower families and communities through comprehensive support services and educational opportunities.
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Foster Innovation: Support the development and sharing of best practices in early childhood education, ensuring that every child has the opportunity to thrive.
Your support ensures that we can continue our work to create brighter futures for children and families across California.
Thank you for standing with us!
GivingTuesday
GivingTuesday is a global generosity movement unleashing the power of radical generosity. GivingTuesday was created in 2012 as a simple idea: a day that encourages people to do good. Since then, it has grown into a year-round global movement that inspires hundreds of millions of people to give, collaborate, and celebrate generosity.
This year, GivingTuesday is on Tuesday, December 1, 2026.
Join Head Start California this GivingTuesday through these three ways to make an impact:
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Give Time: Support Head Start by volunteering locally, spreading awareness on social media, or organizing a community donation drive for educational supplies or winter clothing. Help make a difference in early childhood education and Head Start’s mission in California.
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Give Gratitude: Show appreciation for Head Start teachers, parents, and caregivers by sending messages or sharing stories of their positive impact. Raise awareness by highlighting how Head Start has benefited your family or community.
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Give Support: Support Head Start California by donating to fund the vital work we do. Encourage corporate matching to multiply the impact of contributions.
The Power of 2 ($2 per child)
We Need Your Help to Secure the Future of Head Start
Every child deserves a strong start, and every parent deserves to be heard. But right now, Head Start programs across California face the challenge of flat funding for the third year in a row — even as costs continue to rise. Without increased investment, programs struggle to meet growing needs and provide the high-quality support that families rely on.
Your donation helps Head Start California advocate for the resources our programs need to thrive. Together, we can ensure families have the support they need — now and for generations to come.
Join our Power of 2 Campaign, where your small contribution can make a big impact. For every $2 donated:
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$1 goes to Head Start California, supporting our state and federal advocacy efforts.
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$1 goes to the National Head Start Association (NHSA)’s Dollar per Child campaign, strengthening national advocacy for Head Start programs.
These contributions help us:
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Advocate for policies that benefit families from low-income backgrounds.
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Educate lawmakers and the public on the successes of Head Start.
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Build coalitions that champion the needs of children from low-income backgrounds.
Who we are
Head Start California is the premier advocacy organization for Head Start agencies throughout California. We advocate for our members at the federal, state and local level to secure more funding, achieve beneficial policy changes and better serve California’s eligible children aged 0-5. Learn about Head Start California’s vision, mission and values here.
The National Head Start Association’s (NHSA) vision is to lead – to be the untiring voice that will not be quiet until every vulnerable child is served with the Head Start model of support for the whole child, the family and the community – and to advocate – to work diligently for policy and institutional changes that ensure all vulnerable children and families have what they need to succeed. Learn more about NHSA here.
