The Molina Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with a mission to reduce disparities in access to education and health. Through our flagship Book Buddies program, since 2004 we have distributed more than 11 million books and resources to children and families across the United States. 

The Foundation has received a generous donation of brand-new science kits from our friends at 4-H and we are pleased to partner with American Camp Association to distribute these kits as well as books, if you can use them, to children and families served by your program. 

Opportunities in This Partnership

Science Kits

  • Galactic Quest 4-H STEM Challenge Kit. This kit was designed by Clemson University Cooperative Extension. The kits are ideal for youth ages 8–14 and include four different activities: Astro Adventure board game, Stellar Optics telescope, Cosmic Claw mechanical arm, and Cyber Satellite decoding activity.  Each kit serves 4–6 youth, and is supported by a host of online guides from 4-H.
  • Explorers of the Deep 4-H STEM Challenge Kit: This kit was designed by Rutgers University and has been endorsed by the UN as a Decade of Ocean Science activity. The kits are ideal for youth ages 8–14 and include three different activities: Ocean Robot Test Tank ballast activity, Ocean Expedition board game, Ocean Communicator design activity. Each kit serves 4–6 youth, and is supported by a host of online guides from 4-H.

Books

Books in this opportunity include brand new pleasure reading fiction and activity books for children from early elementary through high school. Our inventory includes popular titles featuring characters from Disney, Star Wars, Percy Jackson, Heroes of Olympus, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Artemis Fowl, Theodore Boone, and many more.

Grant Details and Information

No to Low Cost

Materials from our programs are always free, but we do ask for help with shipping. Please reach out to us for a shipping estimate if you need this information to decide if the grant works for your program’s budget. For this grant we’ve received funding from a generous donor to pay shipping and handling fees to serve low-income youth, so we are working on a sliding scale to cover shipping costs:

  • If at least 50 percent of the campers you serve are from families who are considered low-income, based on the US Census definition, shipping is free.
  • If between 25-50 percent of the campers you serve are from families who are considered low-income, based on the US Census definition, we will ask you to pay half of the cost of shipping. We will pay the logistics company upfront and bill you for reimbursement after delivery.
  • If fewer than 25 percent of the campers you serve are from families who are considered low-income, based on the US Census definition, we ask that you cover the cost of shipping. We will pay the logistics company upfront and bill you for reimbursement after delivery.
     

Delivery Is a Collaborative Process

  • Timeline: Please let us know in your application if you need us to delay delivery until you’re gearing up for your seasonal programs. We can work with you to schedule a delivery timeline that works for your needs. Please understand that delivery timelines will be somewhat dependent on our warehouse’s ability to fulfill the order and time in transit.
  • Depending on the size of your request, the kits and books may need to be delivered to a warehouse. The cartons of kits and books may be delivered on pallets. We will work with you to determine the best way to ship and help you develop a plan for receiving. If you don’t have a warehouse or loading dock, we will discuss receiving options with you.
     

Sharing Your Grant Impact

We don’t ask for reporting, but we do request that you share your grant on social media, your website, in your newsletters, etc. Because The Molina Foundation plays a supporting role rather than a direct-service program, we rely on our grantees’ media to share our work with our supporters and partners. To protect the privacy of families served by our partners, we only publish materials that are currently publicly available. 

Applying for Grant

If this grant would benefit children served by your program, the best way to get started would be to:

  • Join The Molina Foundation’s growing network of people dedicated to serving children and families in at-risk and vulnerable communities. To sign up, fill out our online membership form. The form will take about 15 minutes, and you will need your Federal Employer ID Number. To avoid having to restart, please remember that the form does not save if you close the window or navigate away from the page.  After you join, your listed contact will receive announcements about book grant opportunities, have access to online resources and activities, and receive information about community projects.
  • Apply for this grant. To avoid having to restart, please remember that the form does not save if you close the window or navigate away from the page.  (Apologies in advance for the repetition of some of the questions you just completed in the registration form. We do this to ensure that our records are up to date for partners who have participated for many years.)
     

Feel free to reach out with any questions you may have. We’re happy to help! Contact Grants and Logistics Coordinator Mark Speicher by email at [email protected], or by phone at 310-375-6813.