Funding
Funding is available to our community through a variety of grant and partnership opportunities.Funding Opportunities
First 5 Shasta aims to invest in efforts that will have the most effective and positive impact on children and our community. The three goals of our Strategic Plan are used to guide our investment in early childhood. From a healthy pregnancy to a child’s eager entry into kindergarten, we’re making strategic and innovative use of all First 5 Shasta resources to make a lasting difference in the lives of children.
Grant Information
The following grants are available during specific times during the fiscal year. Sign up for our mailing list to be informed when these and other opportunities become available. Sign Up Here
Goal Specific Projects
Good Neighbor Grants (Coming January 2026)
Week of the Young Child (Coming Winter 2025)
If your project does not fit into an existing funding category, we’d love to hear from you. Please send an email to grants@first5shasta.org to connect with our grant coordinator.
First 5 Shasta provides support for local partners with Good Neighbor Grants. These grants supply small amounts of funding that can make a big difference! Our aim is to attract a diverse range of partners, both newcomers and traditional early childhood organizations, by offering grants in the range of $500 - $1500.
Projects may include, but are not limited to:
· Community event support
· Education projects or activities
· Projects that provides goods or services directly to families with young children
· Training for providers working with young children and their families
These grants support project costs for efforts that do not qualify or are not quite a fit for other First 5 Shasta funding categories. All activities must align with First 5 Shasta’s Strategic Plan.
Dates: January 2, 2026 to April 30, 2026 (or until funds are exhausted).
Funding Amount: $500-$1500
Community Advocacy Action Fund
Supports grassroots, provider-led advocacy projects that elevate the voices of early childhood educators and families.
Grant range: $1,000–$2,500 (up to $5,000 for collaborations)
Focus areas include:
Elevating Provider Voices
Family-Provider Partnerships
Community Awareness & Engagement
Policy & Systems Advocacy
Open: January 2, 2025
Closes: April 30, 2026 or until funds are depleted.
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PVCA Leadership & Advocacy Cohort 2.0
An 8-month hybrid training series (April–December 2026) preparing early educators to lead and influence change in local and state systems.
Participants receive up to $800 in stipends
Includes 5 total trainings with hybrid (virtual/in-person) participation
Builds advocacy, leadership, and policy engagement skills
Open: January 2, 2025
Closes: March 15, 2026
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Advocacy Professional Development Grants
Provides up to $2,000 (including travel stipends) for ECE professionals to attend advocacy-related workshops, conferences, or trainings that advance their professional growth and leadership in the field.
Open: January 1, 2025
Closes: April 30, 2026 or until funds are depleted.
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View our RFA Webinar below to learn more about each PVCA grant opportunity, key eligibility details, timelines, and how to apply.
First 5 Shasta provides support to individuals or organizations for Shasta County’s Week of the Young Child by offering small grants for events and activities during the week of April 11-18, 2026.
A local organization, group, or individual may apply for a grant up to $700 to help cover the costs associated for an event during Week of the Young Child. Requests may also include children’s books in addition to or instead of funding.
Total Budget: $10,000
Request Range: $100 to $700
Grant Period: Completed within Fiscal Year ending June 30, 2026
Deadline to apply: January 27, 2026 (5:00 pm) for funding and/or books
Strategic Plan
The Strategic Plan 2019-2024 was developed after examination of local needs and determination of most effective methods for allocating First 5 Shasta resources to achieve desired results.Proposition 10 contains a requirement for county commissions to adopt a strategic plan “for the support and improvement of early childhood development in the county. First 5 Shasta engaged in a process throughout 2018 in partnership with a workgroup that included First 5 Shasta staff, Commission members, and individuals from the community and grantee organizations to develop the 2019-2024 strategic plan. The First 5 Shasta Commission has approved an extension of the strategic plan through 2026.
Funding Policies
Learn about our policies applicable to all First 5 Shasta categories of grant funding.First 5 Shasta follows a set of policies to ensure the effective distribution of funds into our community. Read each of our policies to ensure your application meets our criteria for funding.