Our Grants

We are a group of national early childhood education focused funders who envision a country in which opportunity and achievement gaps no longer exist so that all students, especially children from families with low incomes and children of color, make significant and sustained gains in cognitive, social, and emotional development. To manifest this vision, we help to ensure that every young child has access to high-quality early childhood education programs led by well-prepared and appropriately compensated teachers. Along with our work to support racial equity, fund intensive research projects, and organize convenings for the field, The Collaborative awards grants centered around early educator competencies, preparation, and compensation. Learn more about our grantmaking strategies here.

Requests for grant funding are submitted to The Collaborative by invitation only.

Grants

2021

Innovation GRANTS: TRANSFORMING EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION LEAD TEACHER PREPARATION PROGRAMS

Preparation

In 2021, The Collaborative awarded seven grants in support of partnerships between institutions of higher education (IHEs) and states/territories/tribal nations to transform their preparation programs for early educators, break down systemic barriers to education for people of color, and increase financial assistance and compensation for students studying to be early educators. The grants, totaling $11.3 million, will strengthen programs that prepare early care and education (ECE) teachers through a competency-based bachelor’s degree.

Learn more about the award recipients and their work.

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