Sandbox for Literacy Innovations – Aug 29

Posted by Joan Ganz Cooney Center on August 5, 2025

Joan Ganz Cooney Center invites applications for Sandbox for Literacy Innovations

The Joan Ganz Cooney Center at Sesame Workshop invites applications for its Sandbox for Literacy Innovations program. With funding from the Walton Family Foundation, the Sandbox supports the development of cutting-edge educational technology and media, grounded in rigorous research and children’s lived experiences to promote literacy among children.

Launched as part of the Cooney Center’s mission to advance children’s learning, the Sandbox is already showing promising results with its inaugural group of product partners, including LeapFrog, Sago Mini, and LitLab. Participating organizations receive actionable, research-based guidance through consultation with the Cooney Center’s literacy experts, engage directly with children in co-design sessions, and contribute to research that has the potential to shape the future of educational media. In return, they share insights into product development that inform the Cooney Center’s broader research into how evidence and children’s voices can shape more effective literacy tools.

The Sandbox is open to organizations that are developing interactive technology or media supporting English literacy development; targeting children or youth (ages 3 to 17), for use in school or at home; and focused on the United States market. There is no financial cost for partner organizations to participate in these research and co-design activities. Partners must be willing and able to commit to a six-month engagement, including regular virtual meetings and in-person co-design sessions in New York City, followed by periodic reporting and engagement for two additional years.

Applicants may be incorporated in various ways—as a nonprofit, an LLC, a founding group of partners, etc., but must be presently working on a media or tech product for kids or youth (ages 3 to 7), focused on some aspect of English literacy development. The market focus for the product (at least half of end-users) must be children in the United States. JGCC is committed to working with a variety of partners whose literacy products support all populations of learners, including English language learners, neurodiverse, and older students.

For complete program guidelines and application instructions, see the Joan Ganz Cooney Center website.

Deadline: August 29, 2025