Dr. Seuss Foundation announces $700,000 in Arts & Experiential Learning grants to San Diego nonprofits

Dr. Seuss Foundation is excited to announce that 18 San Diego County organizations will receive a combined $700,000 in Arts & Experiential Learning grants to support programs that foster creativity, learning and positive developmental experiences for children. The grants include $625,000 from the Dr. Seuss Foundation and $75,000 from the David C. Copley Foundation.

The funded programs provide children with opportunities to build literacy skills, strengthen grade-level readiness, develop healthy social-emotional skills, and engage in playful, hands-on learning experiences. The grant comes at a time when organizations in the arts, education and youth-serving sectors are navigating a challenging funding environment.  

“Arts and experiential learning programs are fundamental to a well-rounded education. These grants support programs that help kids build confidence, curiosity and connection,” said Katie Rast, CEO of the Dr. Seuss Foundation. “This investment reflects our commitment to responding to emerging community needs and using our grantmaking capabilities to meet the moment.” 

DSF is committed to supporting whole-child development and early learning. With 90 percent of a child’s brain developing before age five, our Foundation prioritizes programs that nurture curiosity and learning from birth through third grade. 

2026 Arts & Experiential Learning Grant Recipients:  

ArtReach: arts education programming serving young children  

ARTS – A Reason To Survive: community-based arts programming that brings creative experiences to children in underserved communities 

ArtsBusXpress: transportation coordination and services that connect children and families to arts education and cultural programming  

CoTA (Collaborations: Teachers and Artists): multi-year teacher development initiative partnering artists with TK-3rd grade teachers to co-design arts-based projects to enhance early literacy skills through multisensory classroom activities 

Elementary Institute of Science: hands-on science education programming serving children in under-resourced communities 

Living Coast Discovery Center: environmental and natural science education programming connecting children and families to the ecosystems of San Diego Bay 

Media Arts Center San Diego: media arts education programming serving youth 

Mingei International Museum: educational programming that connects children and families to folk art, craft, and design 

Mission Trails Regional Park Foundation: outdoor environmental education programming that connects children and families to the natural landscapes of San Diego County 

Institute of Contemporary Art, San Diego: visual arts education and exhibition programming 

San Diego Children’s Choir: choral music education and tuition-free outreach programming 

San Diego Children’s Discovery Museum: hands-on, inquiry-based learning experiences that build curiosity and creativity in young children 

San Diego Junior Theater: accessible theatre arts education programming serving children and youth 

Museum of Us San Diego: educational programming that connects children and families to human history and cultural learning 

San Diego Natural History Museum: taking early childhood education outdoors with monthly guided toddler-friendly trail walks to promote early literacy through experiential learning, outdoor group activities, and hands-on resources  

San Diego Symphony: Symphony Kids, a sensory-friendly concert series for ages 0–5, and Elementary School Music Education Program, a free, standards based 10-week curriculum for 3rd grade classrooms 

The New Children’s Museum: contemporary arts and hands-on creative learning experiences for young children and families  

Villa Musica: music education programming serving children and youth 

We are pleased to award these grants with additional funding support from David C. Copley Foundation, a foundation that supports organizations addressing urgent human service needs, mental health, youth development, and education.  

This funding builds on the Dr. Seuss Foundation’s longstanding commitment to early learning across San Diego County, including our Bright Futures initiative and ongoing partnership with San Diego Foundation through the Ready to Learn initiative.