John & Sally Mielke Early Years Fund
Supports innovative, research-based programs and projects that enhance early childhood development for children prenatal to age five in the Fox Valley region.
Funder: Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region
Due Dates: September 30, 2026 | March 31, 2027 (applications accepted March 1–31 & September 1–30; only one cycle per year per organization)
Funding Amounts: Typical awards range from $1,000–$3,000 per grant cycle.
Summary: Supports innovative programs that promote early childhood development for children prenatal to age five and their families in the Fox Valley region.
Description
This grant supports programs serving children from prenatal to five years old and their families, with a central goal of raising awareness and improving outcomes in early childhood development. The fund honors the legacy of John and Sally Mielke, who were deeply committed to the health, welfare, and education of young children in the Fox Valley. Grants may fund direct services, systems-level work, advocacy, and projects that are collaborative, preventative, innovative, use two-generation approaches, or remove barriers for marginalized children. Both research-focused and practical projects are considered, as long as they contribute to optimal cognitive, social, emotional, and physical development during the early years.
