Early Childhood Grantmaking 

What we Do to Support Early Childhood Education:

LVCF has focused on supporting the Early Childhood sector beginning in 2023. Each year, nearly $200,000 in funding support is distributed to Lehigh Valley organizations that are focused on early childhood. These funds come from several different area-of-interest funds that are focused on supporting Lehigh Valley youth and families, including the Edward & Inez Donley Fund; Walter & Alma Bastian Fund; Frances L. Barnard Fund for Children; Support from Roger & Kathy Yott; Lucille F. Driver Fund; William C. Rybak Fund for Persons with Disabilities; Robert D. & Gwendolyn-Jane Romeril Campership Fund; and Janice & Paul Gross Fund.  

LVCF’s Funding Priorities for the Early Childhood grantmaking cycle focused on supporting the early childcare sector (ages 0-5) through several key initiatives: 

• High-Quality Childcare Centers: Funding centers that demonstrate active efforts to improve the quality of their services, such as improving facilities, retaining staff, increasing salaries, expanding slots, and developing programs.  

• Addressing Behavioral and Mental Health Needs: Supporting programs that equip childcare workers with resources to care for children with challenging behaviors or high mental health needs, as well as providing direct care for such children.  

• Advocacy for Improved Policies: Supporting organizations that advocate for better regulations, funding, and policies for early childcare providers.  

• Additional Considerations: LVCF prioritizes funding for organizations that:  
  • Are guided by the community they serve. 
  • Are learning organizations.  
  • Serve children and families most at risk of exiting the safety net, including immigrant families, LGBTQ+ families, single guardian households, foster care children, very low-income families, children with disabilities, or families involved in the criminal justice system.  

• Evaluation Criteria  
  Applications were evaluated based on:  
  • Alignment with funding focus areas.  
  • Population served, particularly at-risk children and families. 
  • Community guidance in program implementation.
  • Provision of high-quality programs and services. 
  • Efforts towards improving regulations, funding, or policies for early childcare providers.  

The following organizations received grants in the 2023-2024 funding cycle:

Grantee | Amount  

• Community Services for Children | $14,000  
• Fine Feather Foundation Inc. | $2,500 
• Greater Valley YMCA | $14,000  
• Lehigh Valley Children’s Centers, Inc.  $14,000  
• Mindful Child Initiative | $5,000  
• Northampton Community College Foundation | $10,000  
• Pinebrook Family Answers | $14,000  
• ProJeCt of Easton, Inc. | $5,000  
• Red Door Early Learning Center | $5,000  
• Resurrected Community Development Corp | $25,000  
• Saucon Valley Community Center | $10,000  
• The Children’s Center, Volunteers of America | $20,000  
• Third Street Alliance for Women & Children | $25,000 
• Via of the Lehigh Valley | $12,000 
   

Learn more about the community investments/grants opportunities at the Lehigh Valley Community Foundation

Megan Briggs

Vice President of Community Investments
840 West Hamilton Street, Suite 310, Allentown, PA 18101
610 351-5353 Ext. 21, megan@lvcfoundation.org