$20,000 for Early Childhood Changemakers

The Imagine Award, delivered by the Promise Fund, provides $20,000 in flexible grant funding alongside a six-month learning programme for community-rooted leaders with transformative ideas for early childhood. It is aimed at people at the idea or early testing stage who are ready to pilot a solution that could improve outcomes for young children, caregivers and families in the United States.

Here’s what you can expect:

• $20,000 in flexible grant funding

• Up to 10 recipients will be selected in 2026

• A six-month cohort-based learning programme

• One-to-one support from the Promise team

• Mentoring and tailored workshops

• An in-person gathering focused on learning, peer connections and pilot design

• Ongoing alumni support and access to a wider community

• Support to design, launch and test a pilot with real users.

Who can apply?

• Leaders based in the United States

• Applicants primarily serving children and families within the U.S.

• Community-rooted leaders with firsthand knowledge or a strong connection to the communities they serve

• Applicants with a clearly defined, early-stage idea ready for initial testing or piloting

• Ideas focused on improving outcomes for children aged 0–5, caregivers and families

• Applicants prepared to launch a pilot within six months

• The proposed idea should generally have raised or earned less than $100,000 so far.

Application deadline: 28 August 2026. Applications are currently open, with awards expected to be announced around 6 November 2026.