First Up

Southeastern PA
www.firstup.org

Grantee Details

Focus Areas
Advocacy
Education
Leadership Capacity Building

First Up’s mission is to empower and equip early childhood professionals, families, and other adults influential in young children’s lives through training, coaching, and advocating to positively impact educational and developmental outcomes for young children. 

We envision a society in which early childhood professionals are highly skilled and valued; families have the knowledge, capabilities, and resources to guide children’s learning; and every young child has a quality start that lasts a lifetime.

Grant Awarded

Montgomery County ECE Advocacy and Community Organizing Project

Invited Application Process
Fiscal Year:
2025
Amount:
$20,000

This initiative will train and engage Montgomery County residents, particularly ECE providers and families, in sustained advocacy efforts. Activities include fostering relationships with elected officials, conducting storytelling campaigns, organizing community events to highlight the need for childcare investment, and pushing for reforms to improve the ECE sector. A specific goal is to advocate for county funding and evaluate the Tri-Share Child Care Program pilot, a cost-sharing model involving employers, employees, and the county. The project aims to build a strong advocacy voice at a crucial time when county leaders are open to ECE reforms.