The 2025-2026 application period is now closed.
Do you have a creative idea for early childhood care and education that you have wanted to put into practice? If you are a member of this organization, and can translate your idea into an application for funding, the New York Association for the Education of Young Children may have a Mini Grant waiting for you. Each year’s grant winners present their project at the NYAEYC State Conference. The awards are also announced in the organization’s print newsletter, the Reporter, and in our digital State Update.
Each year NYAEYC awards five or six small grants, in amounts up to $500, to applicants who have submitted the most effective proposals for mini projects to enhance programs for young children. These proposals must contain developmentally appropriate objectives. Also, other groups should be able to replicate the project easily and at minimum cost. Proposals are judged on rationale, objectives, activities, evaluation measures, budget, and replication. You must be a member of New York AEYC to be eligible to receive the grant.
The Mini Grant program has been in place for over 15 years. Among past winners have been teachers and assistants, family day care providers, school administrators, consultants, and college professors. Funded projects have included, among others, such topics as: parent-child relationships, home-school links, literacy in the home, curriculum development, assessment, staff and pre-service training, and conflict resolution. We encourage you to give it a try!
The 2025-2026 Application period is now closed. Please check back in the Spring for the 2026-2027 application.
Guidelines:
Applications are assessed on the following:
- Project rationale must be clearly stated and align with stated objectives.
- Objectives must be clearly stated and measurable.
- Activities must be clearly described and support the objectives.
- Evaluation measures must be included and aligned with the measurable objectives.
- The budget must be clear and provide all relevant information.
- The project should be easy to replicate.
You can find the rubric here.
Questions? Email contactus@nyaeyc.org or call (518) 867-3517.