Contributed article
PHOENIX — Dozens of grant opportunities for organizations who serve Arizona’s babies, toddlers and preschoolers will be available soon from Arizona’s early childhood agency.
First Things First (FTF), which works across Arizona to give children birth to age 5 the tools they need to arrive at kindergarten prepared to succeed, is hoping to increase the awareness of about 80 grants that will be released in early 2023 to support early childhood strategies. The grants, which will be available across the state, are expected to range from $30,000 to $2 million.
“First Things First is looking for organizations that are passionate about children’s issues and that are embedded in our communities where services are needed,” said K. Vilay, FTF’s chief regional officer. “We know that these type of organizations have gained the trust of families living in those communities and carry a deep understanding of the culture and needs of the families living in those communities.”
Research has shown a child’s early experiences lay the foundation for a lifetime of success in school and beyond. The FTF State Board, with input from the 28 FTF regional councils across Arizona, has spent the past year strategically planning the priorities of early childhood needs in communities across the state.
Approximately four rounds of Request for Grant Applications are scheduled to be released from mid-January through mid-April 2023, with awards announced after the May and June FTF state Board meetings.
Organizations who are interested in receiving notification when grant applications are released are encouraged to sign up for email notifications at FirstThingsFirst.org and click on Grants. FTF has created a website to support potential grant applicants. Resources include: eligibility qualifications for the grants, an overview of the application and award process, a list of open grant opportunities and an explanation of the strategies that FTF supports and the strategy requirements.
