Deadline: 10-Jan-2025
Applications are now open for the First Thousand Days grant program to fund organizations and programs that prepare children to succeed when they enter school.
More than ever before, early childhood education is understood as an essential element for the children, families, and communities to thrive. Yet, the United States currently invests about one ninth as much per child per year on care and education in the first five years of life as in each of the next 13. The St. Croix Valley Foundation’s First Thousand Days Fund was established by a generous donor in 2022 to support the physical, mental, emotional, and social development of children during the critical “first thousand days of life” (roughly the first three years).
The program recognizes that “there is considerable overlap across these domains and competencies”4 and therefore intends to fund programs and organizations that foster children’s development and learning in multiple domains. In addition, acknowledging that parental well-being is directly linked to the health and development of their children, the program also aims to fund programs and organizations that support mental health, combat isolation, and foster child-parent attachment. Examples of programs and organizations likely to be a good fit for this grant opportunity include:
- Training, enrichment, workshops and seminars for parents/caregivers, teachers, and other adults working with young children.
- Efforts to increase knowledge of child/brain development and the lasting impact of high-quality early childhood education.
- Programming that supports communication and deepening relationships between caregivers and young children.
Grant Domains
- The grant program acknowledges that there are several domains of early childhood development including:
- Physical: The development of the senses as well as gross and fine motor skills.
- Cognitive: The ability to mentally process information.
- Communicative: The ability to comprehend, utilize, and manipulate language.
- Socioemotional: “The process of developing the self-awareness, self-control, and interpersonal skills that are vital for school, work, and life success.”
- Adaptive: Self-care (eating, drinking, getting dressed, etc.).
Funding Categories
- General Operating Support: Organizations deploying regional programming throughout SCVF’s six-county region and with the First Thousand Days at the core of their mission and programs may apply for General Operating Support (grant range: $5,000-$25,000).
- Program Support: Organizations deploying local programming (one community or county within SCVF’s sixcounty region) focused on the First Thousand Days may apply for Program Support (grant range: $500- $5,000).
What activities are required of grant recipients?
- Grant recipients are asked to accept and comply with the stated terms and conditions of the grant.
- Grant recipients may complete an optional final report to share accomplishments and convey potential gaps and opportunities.
What types of requests are ineligible?
- Requests from individuals (individuals may not apply for funding/scholarships to attend training, etc.).
- Requests for programs/initiatives serving older children (ages three and up).
- Requests from for-profit businesses, including for-profit childcare facilities.
Eligibility Criteria
- Applicant must provide programming/services within the six county SCVF service area (Chisago and Washington counties in MN; Burnett, Polk, St. Croix, and Pierce counties in WI).
- Applicant must be a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization; a governmental entity, tribal entity, educational or religious organization defined as tax exempt; or partner with an eligible fiscal agent.
Assessment Criteria
- Early childhood education is at the core of the mission of the applicant organization.
- The organization demonstrates a long-term commitment to early childhood education.
- The organization is equipped to deliver early childhood programming.
- There is a strong rationale for the proposed programming; the applicant referenced evidence/research that informs and supports the work.
- The scope of the proposed work is appropriate, and the details are thorough.
- The applicant presents a compelling case for how the proposed activities will benefit participants and produce intended outcomes.
For more information, visit St. Croix Valley Foundation.