Hermanowski Family Foundation Initial Request Form

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Organization Name: 826 National
Legal Name (if Different):
Also Known As:
Mailing Address: 1388 Haight St. #245
City: San Francisco
State: California
Postal Code: 94117
Main Phone: (415) 864-2098
Main Fax:
Organization Website: https://826national.org/
Employer ID Number: 26-3217538
Organization Tax Status: 501(c)(3)

Proposal Information

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Today’s Date: February 24, 2026
Requested Amount: $10,000

Project Title: 826 Digital: Free, Joyful Writing Instruction for Every Classroom in America
Project Description:

Only 25% of 12th graders write at grade-level proficiency, with even lower rates among Black and Latinx students. Writing is not just an academic skill—it is a tool for literacy, critical thinking, self-expression, and future success. For young people from under-resourced communities, this gap is especially stark and the consequences are lasting.
826 Digital is our free, open-access platform that brings high-quality, joy-driven writing instruction to educators and students everywhere. Grounded in 826’s proven, student-centered pedagogy, it offers field-tested lesson plans, writing prompts, and educator resources spanning every grade level and genre—used by educators across all 50 states and more than 60 countries. This includes 575 educators in Florida and 521 in Virginia, many serving Title I schools and reaching 50 or more students each. That organic, community-level reach is a testament to the platform’s quality and accessibility.

With support from the Hermanowski Family Foundation, 826 National will expand this reach over the next 12 months by growing our library of free, culturally responsive writing lessons; developing professional development resources to help teachers use our tools more effectively; and investing in outreach to connect more educators—especially in under-resourced schools—to 826 Digital. Every dollar will reach students ages 6–18 in the year of the grant.
826 Digital brings joy, creativity, equity, and student voice to every classroom that needs it—without requiring anyone to walk through our doors. It is how we ensure that a student in a rural community or a Title I school anywhere in the country has access to the same transformative writing education as anyone else. When teachers are empowered, students write. And when students write, they begin to see their words—and their futures—differently.

Total Project Budget: $2,357,820 (total projected FY26 organizational expenses; 826 Digital is supported through general operating funds with no separate program budget)

Other Funding
Sources For The Project (Committed & Potential): 826 Digital is supported through general operating funds. No donor funding has been restricted specifically to this program since 2022. A grant from the Hermanowski Family Foundation would serve as the primary dedicated investment in 826 Digital this grant year.

Project Duration: 12 Months
Geographical Area Served: National (all 50 states and 60+ countries via 826 Digital); active educator base includes Florida (575 subscribers) and Virginia (521 subscribers)
Age Group To Be Served: Students ages 6–18 (K–12), served through their classroom educators

Contact Information

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Contact Prefix (Mr,Mrs etc.): Mr
Contact First Name: Dennis
Contact Last Name: Guardado
Contact Title: Development & Finance Coordinator
Contact Phone: 415-254-6968
Contact Email: dennis@826national.org