5 & Under Initiative: Access to Opportunity for Children in Poverty

The Community Foundation’s decision to create its special initiative, 5 & Under: Access to Opportunity for Children in Poverty, was the result of a three-year process that analyzed critical issues facing our region highlighted in the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission’s 2003 State of the People Report. After much discussion and debate it was determined that this special initiative would target children in poverty age five years old and younger.

The 10,000 children living in poverty age five years old and younger are one of the most vulnerable groups residing in the Pioneer Valley. The 2000 U.S. Census reported that 22.2% of the children age 5 and under in the Pioneer Valley were living in poverty which is almost twice the percentage statewide.

The impacts of child poverty are numerous and affect the children, their families, and society:

• Disparities in school readiness
• Less success in educational achievement
• Higher rates of hospital admissions, disabilities, and deaths
• Developmental problems involving health, social and emotional functioning, and cognitive skills

This special initiative will be accomplished through grantmaking that supports high impact educational programs that enable impoverished families with children five years of age and younger to improve their lives by addressing the root causes of their poverty. The programs funded may focus directly on the children or on their parents, provided that programs that focus on the parents have a direct impact on the economic circumstances or prospects of the children. Educational programs are targeted because education is a proven strategy for impacting the cycle of poverty.

The Community Foundation plans to devote one third of its competitive grantmaking funds to the 5 & Under Initiative each year for at least three years (2006, 2007, and 2008).

In 2006, 26 Pioneer Valley nonprofit organizations submitted proposals for the 5 & Under Initiative. Eleven grant awards totaling over $600,000 were announced in July to fund the first year of the programming through initiative.

To learn more about 5 & Under Initiative projects click HERE.

To donate to the 5 & Under Initiative: Access to Opportunity Fund click HERE.

Criteria

Process

Application

Deadlines

Technical Assistance

Contact the Grants Staff

If you have questions about the 5 & Under Initiative, please contact Nancy Reiche, Vice President for Programs at 413-732-2858 or grants@communityfoundation.org.