The Community Foundation for the Alleghenies announced today that the Early Childhood Education Fund Grant Round for 2023 will open on February 3 with the deadline for applications set for March 3. The fund provides resources to address specific charitable purposes related to early childhood education efforts, supporting each and every child (ages 0-5) in Cambria and Somerset counties.

This grant opportunity provides direct support to programs and projects that improve young children’s educational, health, and social needs so they are able to thrive, learn, and reach their full potential. Applicants are invited to apply for grants for projects in any of three key areas:

• Projects that will improve facilities, equipment, curriculum, technology, planning needs or assessments, or other resources necessary to expand a program’s Keystone Stars certification
• Projects that will incentivize Early Childhood Education staff and support their professional development needs, including continuing education credits and assistance in paying for credits needed for certification, associate’s degrees, and/or bachelor’s degrees
• Projects that will provide tuition scholarships, transportation, or other types of support services for families who do not qualify for subsidized programs or are otherwise experiencing barriers that prevent enrollment in a program

Applicants must be a state-licensed early childcare provider with a tax-exempt status as a 501(c)(3), a governmental entity, or a church. If an applicant does not have tax-exempt status, they need work with an organization that does, and who will serve as a fiscal sponsor. For more information, please contact Angie Berzonski at aberzonski@cfalleghenies.org.

Projects that include strong components for parent/guardian engagement and/or a focus on building relationships with families will be prioritized.
For more information, please visit cfalleghenies.org/our-grantmaking.