OPEN PHILANTHROPY
Building Brains: How and Why We're Investing in Quality Care During the Early Years
By Haley Wicker, Program Director
The first 1,000 days of a human being’s life are crucial. Because brain neurons develop so rapidly during this period, what babies and toddlers see, hear, feel, and experience during their first three years shapes who they become in meaningful ways.
This year, I am celebrating my 10th work anniversary at the Mary Black Foundation. Since I joined the team (and even before then), early childhood development has always been part of the focus of our work. This broad focus has included support for moms and babies during pregnancy and postpartum, as well as helping parents learn ways they can engage with their child to maximize their brain development.
In 2024, the Mary Black Foundation narrowed its focus to supporting children during the early years. This decision was guided by data, community feedback, and research that shows the critical importance of the first 1,000 days of life. Moving forward, a key strategy for our work is to improve access to high-quality, affordable childcare and early learning environments. Simply put: we are dedicated to supporting quality early care and education because where and with whom a child spends their time matters.
For decades, care for babies and toddlers has been labeled as “daycare.” This label can imply that the care a child receives is just for feeding, sleeping, and diapering. However, when we think about the rapid brain development of the first 1,000 days, the care that these children receive is shaping their brains in a profound way. This care now is more accurately labeled as “early care and education.”
Not every child spends their time in a formal early care setting. Some children are home with a caregiver or in a more informal care setting with family or neighbors. No matter the setting, quality matters. That’s why our funding strategy doesn’t just support childcare centers, it supports programs that ensure all children have access to enriching opportunities and care with trusted adults who help promote positive brain development.
How We Fund Early Care and Education
Access to high-quality and affordable childcare and early learning environments is a challenge in our community. Care is hard to come by and is very expensive.
Because we understand the importance of the first 1,000 days of life, we have a focus on supporting work that improves this access.
But simply funding more childcare centers isn’t a sustainable solution. We want to partner with early care and education organizations that are:
Innovatively working to improve quality at existing centers,
Working to expand capacity to increase slots available,
Participating in advocacy work to help increase childcare financial supports for families, and
- Supporting policies that will lead to systems-level change that make quality early learning environments more accessible for all families.
Our Funding in Action
One example is our partnership with OneSpartanburg, Inc. In early 2025, Mary Black Foundation provided $100,000 for their Project 100 pilot. This project supports childcare providers participating in PowerUp Spartanburg, a small business initiative, who are in a position to make structural changes that would increase available childcare slots. Through this collaborative effort, the Foundation, OneSpartanburg, Inc., and PowerUp Spartanburg, will create over 100 new quality childcare slots in our community.
Another example is the Middle Tyger Community Center. The Mary Black Foundation has supported their childcare program, This is My Child, for years. Recently, we have supported their work to pilot an inclusion program for children with special needs. Many childcare providers face challenges in serving children with special needs while maintaining high-quality care for other children. Middle Tyger Community Center has developed a model that addresses these challenges and fosters inclusive care.
Looking Ahead
Deciding where to direct our support isn’t always easy, but we do our best to balance data, community voice, and desire for long-term, sustainable impact. We are inspired and excited by the creativity and dedication of the people and organizations working to increase access and support for children and families in our community, and are committed to learning alongside them every step of the way.
Haley Wicker is a Program Director at the Mary Black Foundation, where she supports initiatives that advance health and well-being in Spartanburg County and maintains relationships with the foundation’s partners. With a background in public health and a passion for community engagement, she brings a decade of experience and leadership to her role.
Open Philanthropy is a recurring column in our monthly newsletter dedicated to pulling back the curtain on how we make funding decisions, why we structure things the way we do, and how we’re always working to be a better partner.
