The Stranahan Foundation aims to increase access to high-quality early care and education for low-income children (birth to five) by focusing on the development and retention of a highly skilled early educator workforce.
The grant program from the Stranahan Foundation for its Early Childhood Education Strategy aims to enhance the quality and accessibility of early childhood education for low-income children through two main avenues: Innovation and Proven Professional Development. With up to $1.1 million available for the spring 2024 funding cycle, it looks to support organizations and projects that develop, pilot, and refine innovative approaches or expand proven professional development models. These projects should aim to improve early childhood professionals' knowledge, skills, and practices, particularly in areas supporting children’s behavioral and social-emotional health, as well as grow the pipeline of quality educators within early childhood settings. Innovation projects must have a clear logic model for evaluating outcomes, show preliminary evidence of effectiveness, and have plans for repetition or scaling if successful. Proven Professional Development projects need substantial evidence of positive impact and a record of successful implementation across multiple settings. Grants can be up to $300,000 over three years, with the expectation of awarding up to five grants in this cycle.