Early childhood innovators and community leaders now have a powerful opportunity to secure funding and support to scale their impact. Promise Venture Studio has launched two funding tracks through the Promise Fund designed to support founders working to improve outcomes for children ages 0–5 and the families and communities that support them.

The two awards—the Build Award and the Imagine Award—provide flexible funding, mentorship, and community support for early-stage innovators developing solutions that transform early childhood systems.

These opportunities aim to close a critical funding gap in early childhood innovation while empowering leaders who are deeply connected to the communities they serve.

Why Early Childhood Innovation Matters

Despite the enormous impact that early childhood investments can have on lifelong outcomes, the sector remains chronically underfunded. The Promise Fund was created to address this gap by investing in early-stage innovators and organizations focused on building equitable, community-rooted solutions.

Promise Venture Studio believes that leaders with strong community ties often hold the most powerful insights for transforming systems that serve young children and their families. By providing early capital and capacity-building support, the Promise Fund helps innovators test ideas, refine models, and grow sustainable organizations.

The program focuses specifically on solutions that benefit children ages 0–5, as well as parents, caregivers, and communities that nurture early development.

The Build Award: $200,000 for Early-Stage Early Childhood Organizations

The Build Award is designed for high-potential early-stage organizations that are ready to grow their impact. Selected organizations will receive $200,000 in unrestricted funding along with a 12-month partnership with Promise Venture Studio.

The award supports organizations led by community-connected founders who are working to create equitable outcomes for children and families.

Participants gain not only funding but also access to a comprehensive development program designed to strengthen organizational capacity and long-term sustainability.

What Build Award Recipients Receive

Successful applicants will benefit from a year-long program that combines funding, mentorship, and professional development support.

Key benefits include:

• $200,000 in flexible funding to advance organizational goals

• A 12-month strategic partnership with Promise Venture Studio

• Direct one-on-one support from the Promise team

• Personalized mentoring and expert guidance

• Capacity-building support focused on growth and impact

• In-person convenings for learning, collaboration, and reflection

• Access to an ongoing alumni network and peer community

The program aims to help early-stage organizations strengthen their impact models, build sustainable strategies, and attract additional funding opportunities.

Build Award Deadline

The preliminary application window runs from March 2, 2026, to April 10, 2026.

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Organizations selected from the preliminary round will be invited to submit a full application due on July 2, 2026.

Applicants invited to complete the full application will receive an $800 honorarium for their time and effort.

Finalists will also have access to optional impact workshops designed to help them communicate their impact model and strengthen their funding readiness.

The Imagine Award: $20,000 for Idea-Stage Early Childhood Innovators

The Imagine Award supports early childhood changemakers who are at the idea stage and ready to test transformative concepts through real-world pilots.

The award provides $20,000 in flexible funding along with a six-month learning experience designed to help innovators refine their ideas and test them with real users.

Participants will develop practical skills in piloting solutions, collecting feedback, and refining their approaches to maximize impact.

What Imagine Award Participants Receive

Imagine Award recipients receive a combination of funding and tailored support to help them turn ideas into actionable pilots.

Program benefits include:

• $20,000 in flexible grant funding

• Six-month cohort-based learning program

• One-on-one partnership and coaching from the Promise team

• Mentorship from experienced leaders and experts

• Cohort workshops focused on pilot design and implementation

• A multi-day in-person convening for collaboration and learning

• Continued alumni support and peer networking

Participants will also learn how to build effective feedback loops, test early solutions with users, and communicate their vision to attract future partnerships and funding.

Imagine Award Deadline

Applications for the Imagine Award will open during the week of July 6, 2026, and will close on August 28, 2026.

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Finalists will be notified during the week of September 28, 2026.

Applicants can also participate in free pilot workshops during July and August to design a low-cost or no-cost pilot plan that can be implemented within three to six months.

Investment Criteria

The Promise Fund evaluates applicants based on several key criteria that ensure projects align with its mission of advancing early childhood equity.

Focus on Early Childhood

Funded ideas and ventures must focus on children ages 0–5 and the parents, caregivers, and communities that support them.

Community-Connected Leadership

Priority is given to leaders who have direct connections to the communities they serve and whose lived experience informs their solutions.

Equity-Driven Solutions

Selected ventures must demonstrate a commitment to equitable outcomes for young children and their caregivers.

Long-Term Sustainability

Applicants should demonstrate a clear vision for sustainable impact and organizational growth.

Community-Centered Design

Solutions should be rooted in direct input from families and communities, ensuring programs meet real needs and priorities.

Why This Opportunity Stands Out

The Promise Fund represents a new model for equitable early-stage investment. By combining flexible funding with mentorship, peer learning, and capacity-building support, the program helps innovators move from ideas to scalable solutions.

For founders working to transform early childhood systems, these awards provide a rare opportunity to secure capital, mentorship, and a supportive network designed to accelerate impact.

Early childhood innovators with bold ideas and strong community ties are encouraged to apply and take advantage of this unique funding opportunity.

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