Creating better connections. Neural and otherwise.
Researchers know more than ever about how children learn and develop, and about how their learning informs their path in life. But too often, those insights don’t make it into the hands of those who can make the most of them.
We champion the science of learning—and support the critical relationships that help learning happen—through a combination of grantmaking and our own programs, using the latest research as our north star. We aim to address systemic inequities by partnering with the people and communities most in need.
We start with the science.
Our work is grounded in the latest research showing how kids learn and what they need to thrive. We help provide experiences, environments, and person-to-person connections that meet those needs and foster the skills and mindsets to thrive in a rapidly changing world.
Fuel
We fuel research in learning, child and youth development, and educational practices, particularly where there are gaps in knowledge.
Connect
We connect learning science to everyday life, promoting evidence-based practices for families, educators, childcare workers, and other adults positioned to help children learn and thrive.
Amplify
We amplify the research, informing educators, systems leaders, policymakers, and the general public, so that the latest, best science can be understood and applied at a transformational, society-wide scale.
A focus on the first 18 years.
Learning is a lifelong journey, but science tells us there are two stages in which we can learn and grow exponentially, in ways that can determine the course of our lives: during our earliest years, and during adolescence. We focus our work on research and experiences that promote positive learning environments from birth through age 18.
Early Learning
During the first few years of life, children’s brains form one million neural connections per second. What happens in those years significantly influences how children will learn, grow, and succeed. We help support children’s development from their earliest days (and even earlier, through support of perinatal programs). Our efforts help caregivers cultivate richer relationships with children. These interactions between children and the adults in their lives help young minds grow strong and flexible, promote skill development, and provide moments of joy, caring, and connection whose impact can last a lifetime.
Adolescent Learning
Adolescence is second only to early childhood as a time of rapid brain development—a period of remarkable opportunity and growth. Young people at this stage are forging their identities and becoming aware of the world beyond their own. They need a sense of belonging, but also increasing autonomy. And they need to develop mastery, through learning that has meaning and purpose. We support the social, emotional, and cognitive development of adolescents, bringing young people together with educators and others who can help them spark their curiosity, act on their passions, practice leadership, and contribute to their communities.
Grants + programs.
We advance learning science and its application and expand equitable opportunities in two ways: through grants to researchers and nonprofit organizations worldwide, and through our own programs. Each of these approaches informs the other, giving us insight into the latest understanding of how learning works, while keeping us firmly anchored “on the ground” in the many contexts where learning happens daily.
Our work is guided and shaped by five core beliefs:
All children are born with an incredible capacity to learn.
Children have an innate love of learning, but they need positive environments, relationships, and enriching educational opportunities to truly thrive.
Every moment can be a learning opportunity.
Learning can happen anywhere; it can take place in classrooms, at home, in early care settings, out-of-school programs, and more.
Positive relationships are essential for children and young people’s learning and development.
Relationships between educators, families and caregivers, mentors, and peers further learning for children and young people at every stage.
Science has the power to transform lives.
Science-based programs and practices can unlock learning at all stages. We ensure the science of learning reaches educators, caregivers, families, policymakers, and youth themselves, who can apply it effectively.
Progress is best made and sustained in partnership with communities.
Those closest to the issues bring firsthand insights and solutions and need to be centered and uplifted.
Proposals to the Bezos Family Foundation are by invitation only. The Foundation has no obligation to review, accept, or return unsolicited materials.