The Reading Institute (TRI) develops and publishes literacy instruction and professional training materials aligned with the Science of Reading. TRI was launched by the Bentzen Silverman Foundation to distribute Reading Go! at low- or no-cost, and now works with more than 100 schools across the country to help educators build the foundational skills for young children who need help becoming confident readers. TRI also partners with over 20 universities to train student teachers to deliver tutoring in public schools as part of their coursework. In addition to Reading Go!, TRI publishes Reading Ready, a pre-K literacy program, and the Science of Reading Intro Course, a professional development program for working teachers.

CUNY Reading Fellows trains and pays CUNY students to provide high-dosage, structured literacy tutoring in NYC public schools.  It is one of the largest programs in the country for pre-service teachers, training 500 tutors a year, working in 60+ public schools across all five boroughs.  BSF launched CUNY Reading Fellows to address learning loss during the pandemic, and continues to fund its virtual and in-person instruction.

In addition to early childhood literacy, BSF provides support for educational, food security, and social service organizations. Current grantees are noted with an asterisk (*). 

• Chalkbeat*
• CHiPS
• Elijah’s Promise
• Fund for the City of New York
• Horizons National
• Hunts Point Alliance for Children
• It Takes a Village*
• Literacy Trust
• Martha’s Table
• Neighborhood Housing Services
• Regional Food Bank
• Rethink Food NYC
• South Asian Council for Social Services (SACSS)*
• Success for All Foundation
• Teachers College at Columbia University
• The GO Project
• The Riverside Church
• Zone 126*

BSF does not accept unsolicited applications. Grantmaking is by invitation only.