Vermont Early Childhood Fund

Vermont Early Childhood Fund

The Vermont Early Childhood Fund (VECF) is a Building Bright Futures (BBF) program. VECF grants support creative solutions that will improve the well-being of children from the prenatal period to age 8, their families, and the Vermont communities where they live. These grants are open to nonprofits, businesses, municipalities, and schools.

Spring 2025 Applications

The application period for the spring 2025 round of Opportunity Grants ended on Friday, April 11.

Opportunity Grants will provide $10,000–$80,000 in funding to about 25 recipients, with the goal of supporting easy-to-achieve solutions in communities throughout Vermont. This round of funding will distribute $2 million to support Vermont’s early childhood system. Grants are open to nonprofits, businesses, municipalities, and schools.

Grant Timeline

Application Portal Open: Monday, March 17 – Friday, April 11

Award Notification: Late May

Program Period: July 1–December 30, 2025

Spotlight on VECF Grantees

Sawsan smiling, wearing a blue head scarf, and holding a small child who is mostly outside the frame of the image

VECF Spotlight: Lund Grows Child Care Workforce by Hiring from Communities Served

Reminders: Vermont Early Childhood Fund (VECF) grant applications are open through Friday, April 11, 2025. And don’t forget to share your …
A play kitchen, toy vehicles, colorful blocks, and bins of toys on shelves at the Cabot Children's Center

A Model of Collaboration: Community Association Partners with Child Care Provider to Open New Center in Cabot

In the small town of Cabot in Washington County, a shortage of child care spots inspired a community group and an …
Exterior of the Stay & Play Child Care Center in Lyndonville, VT, showing sage-green siding and hanging flower baskets

Child Care Center Rebuilds After a Devastating Fire

May 8, 2023, started out as an ordinary day for the Bickford family. That afternoon, Anneka Bickford was taking one of …
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Background

VECF was established in 2021 thanks to a generous grant from a private donor. Thanks to the Sunflower Fund at the Vermont Community Foundation, VECF was able to continue in 2022, 2023, and 2024. In its first three years, VECF distributed nearly $200,000 to 14 organizations addressing a variety of needs throughout Vermont.

In late 2022, Vermont was awarded a $23 million federal grant to strengthen the state’s early childhood system, support the early childhood workforce, and improve the quality and availability of services for family and children from prenatal to age 8. The Vermont Integration Project: Building Integration in Vermont’s Birth-5 Early Childhood Systems (VIP B-5) will provide a total of $6 million in subgrants over a three-year period to local communities. 

BBF administers the subgrant program through VECF. Awards made through the Fund address the gaps and opportunities outlined in the 2020 Early Childhood Needs Assessment and align with the goals laid out in the Vermont Early Childhood Action Plan (VECAP).

Goal 1:  All children have a healthy start.
Goal 2:  Family and community play a leading role in children’s well-being.
Goal 3:  All children and families have access to high-quality opportunities that meet their needs.
Goal 4:  The early childhood system will be integrated, well-resourced, and data-informed.

Past Vermont Early Childhood Fund Grantees

Questions? Get in Touch:

Michelle Kersey

Vermont Early Childhood Fund Grants Manager

[email protected]

802-281-3709

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