Turrell Fund Grants

The Turrell Fund is a private foundation committed to advancing developmental and educational services for young children and their families. The fund's mission emphasizes supporting high-quality programming for children from birth to age five, especially those in underserved or high-need areas. The Fund focuses its resources primarily on Vermont and the New Jersey counties of Essex, Hudson, Passaic, and Union. These regions are prioritized due to demonstrated needs, such as limited access to quality early childhood services and high concentrations of at-risk children. Organizations seeking Turrell Fund grants must demonstrate exceptional quality and proven results, particularly when serving the birth-to-five age range. Applicants are expected to present evidence-supported outcomes backed by rigorous measurement and analysis. The Fund values programs that serve areas lacking in strong educational and developmental options and prefers to support those organizations that not only deliver services but also engage in policy and advocacy work aimed at systemic change. Grant seekers should clearly articulate their impact and the ways in which their work contributes to broader shifts in early childhood education and care. The Turrell Fund operates two grant cycles annually: a Spring Cycle with an application window from January 1 at 9 a.m. to February 1 at 5 p.m., and a Fall Cycle from July 1 at 9 a.m. to August 1 at 5 p.m. Applicants must use the Fund’s online application system and are strongly advised to review the sample application thoroughly before starting. Applications must be complete and timely; late or incomplete applications will not be considered. A one-year interval is required between applications for any single organization, ensuring that support is distributed broadly. Evaluation criteria include program quality, innovation, leadership strength, evidence of impact, and potential for systems-level change. The Fund favors proposals that demonstrate leadership in their field, establish new benchmarks or best practices, and actively participate in shaping educational policy. Although applicants may share their appreciation in creative ways, the Turrell Fund prefers that organizations conserve resources and instead focus funds on programming rather than public displays of gratitude. Grantees are required to submit a final report no later than one year following the receipt of funds. This report should be concise—no more than two pages—and detail the use and outcomes of the awarded funds. Additional letters of support or endorsements to third-party organizations on behalf of grantees will not be issued by the Fund. For further assistance, applicants can contact the Turrell Fund at 21 Van Vleck St., Montclair, NJ 07042, via phone at 973-783-9358, or via fax at 973-783-9289. While no direct email contact is provided, the organization invites interested applicants to use their website for further information and to access the application portal.