Early Childhood Grant

The Early Childhood Grant is offered by The Endowment for Health, a private foundation focused on advancing health equity in New Hampshire. This grant supports projects that invest in the development, education, and overall well-being of infants, toddlers, and young children, recognizing that early life experiences have profound effects on brain development and long-term health and success. The Endowment emphasizes the collective responsibility to build systems that enable children and families to thrive, shaping communities that support strong foundations for lifelong learning and behavior. This funding opportunity is structured around strategic collaborations with field partners in early childhood. Rather than issuing broad open calls, the Endowment works closely with stakeholders to identify funding priorities, ensuring that selected projects align with long-term systems change. Applicants are encouraged to contact Kim Firth at the Endowment to discuss alignment and suitability prior to applying. This pre-engagement ensures that projects are tailored to meet strategic goals and address identified gaps or opportunities within New Hampshire’s early childhood ecosystem. Eligible projects may focus on early childhood development, family support, early education systems, or broader community-level initiatives that influence the social determinants of health for young children. The Endowment prioritizes efforts that center family voice, utilize data and lived experience, and shift power to communities most impacted by inequity. Systems-level strategies such as cross-sector partnerships, workforce development, and policy innovation are of particular interest. Applications for the Early Childhood Grant are submitted through the Endowment’s updated Applicant Portal. Program Grants must include a project narrative, a defined workplan using the Endowment’s Measurement Framework, and a budget with detailed justification. Indirect costs are allowable up to 15% of direct expenses (excluding contractors and equipment), and budget templates are provided to support applicants. While no specific funding floor or ceiling is disclosed, applicants are expected to develop budgets that reflect the scale and impact of their proposed work. There is no publicly posted deadline for this grant, and applications appear to be accepted on a rolling basis, pending discussions with the program contact. No pre-application letters or concept papers are required. However, because of the emphasis on collaborative project development, applicants should engage with the Endowment early in the process. Post-award, recipients are supported with tools such as agreement templates, budget revision forms, and evaluation guidance. Ultimately, the Early Childhood Grant seeks to build a New Hampshire where every child begins life with a healthy start. Through funding efforts that enhance early development and family support, the Endowment aims to create systemic conditions that foster resilience, opportunity, and equity for the state’s youngest residents.