$20,000 for Early Childhood Changemakers – Promise Imagine Award 2026

The Promise Imagine Award provides $20,000 in unrestricted funding plus a six-month learning programme for community-rooted leaders with early-stage ideas that could improve outcomes for children aged 0–5 and their families in the United States.

Here’s what you can expect:

• $20,000 in unrestricted funding

• A six-month cohort-based learning programme

• Funding can be used flexibly to develop and test the idea

• Coaching and technical assistance

• Network introductions and connections

• Support to design and launch a real-world pilot

• Recipients are expected to launch their pilot within six months

• Opportunity to test the solution with real users, gather feedback and refine the approach.

Who can apply?

• Early-stage innovators and changemakers

• Leaders with strong connections to the communities they want to support

• Ideas focused on children aged 0–5, parents, caregivers, families or their communities

• Solutions should have potential for transformative impact within the United States

• Applicants should have an early-stage idea suitable for testing rather than an already established, scaled programme

• Promise particularly looks for community-connected leadership, long-term sustainability and innovative approaches to improving early childhood outcomes.

Application deadline: 28 August 2026.