We provide resources, support, and programs that empower families, advance the well-being of children, and strengthen the early care and education system in our community. The Partnership will be the driving force to engage partners to achieve lasting positive outcomes for all children, beginning at birth.
A single NC Pre-K support grant of $111,963 to Cumberland County Schools stands out in the Partnership for Children of Cumberland County Inc’s recent grantmaking. That award sits within a broader pattern of funding tied to early childhood education, site contracts, and quality improvement for providers serving young children in Cumberland County. The foundation’s work also reaches child care organizations and community partners through project-specific grants and contract-based support rather than individual awards. Recent awards show a clear focus on operating and strengthening early learning infrastructure. Grants went to public schools, child care centers, and community organizations that deliver NC Pre-K classrooms, increase program quality, or support early childhood services. The Partnership also uses funding mechanisms that connect directly to its mission of supporting children and families beginning at birth, including grants for provider capacity and early learning access. Its leadership is listed as Mary Sonnenberg, and the organization’s grantmaking is local in scope, with all recent recipients located in North Carolina.
The Partnership for Children of Cumberland County Inc supports early learning through a mix of program administration and provider support. A $23,165 NC Pre-K GEERS Grant to Cumberland Community Development reflects its role in funding partners that help operate pre-kindergarten services. Another NC Pre-K GEERS Grant, $19,304 to Action Pathways Inc, shows that community-based organizations also participate in this system. Quality improvement is another visible theme. The foundation awarded $10,111 to Arether's Little for Increase Quality, along with $9,998 to Hearts for Children and $9,852 to New Life Center for the same purpose. It also funds early childhood professional development: the Professional Development Financial Assistance / Scholarships program supports training, technical assistance, educational opportunities, and financial assistance for early childhood professionals in regulated child care facilities and public schools.
Typical awards cluster tightly around small, project-specific amounts. The grant-size distribution is p25 $7,722, median $9,639, and p75 $11,582, with a recent outlier of $111,963 for Cumberland County Schools. The pattern suggests many similar-sized awards supporting contracted early learning work. The organization gives through recurring program mechanisms rather than one-off open grants alone. NC Pre-K provider contracts follow a multi-year cycle, with applications every three years, and the grant list includes repeated award types such as NC PRE-K GEERS GRANT and INCREASE QUALITY. It is a local funder, not one that supports individuals or program-related investments.
$61K
$3.1M
$13.9M
$14.3M
Most grants fall between $8K and $12K, with a median of $10K.
25th Percentile
$8K
Median
$10K
75th Percentile
$12K
MARY SONNENBERG
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Grant recipients are concentrated in Fayetteville, with additional awards in Hope Mills and Ft Bragg. The recent list shows all grants in the United States, and all recipients are in North Carolina. The foundation’s geographic scope is local, and its top giving state is NC. Among the named locations, Fayetteville appears most often by far, including Cumberland County Schools, Action Pathways Inc, and multiple child care providers. Hope Mills appears on awards to Arether's Little and First Steps Childcare, while Ft Bragg appears on Margarita Blanche's Day Care. That pattern matches a county-centered funding footprint.
It funds public schools, child care centers, and community organizations connected to early childhood education. Recent recipients include Cumberland County Schools, Cumberland Community Development, Action Pathways Inc, and several child care providers in Fayetteville and Hope Mills.
The foundation uses program-specific grants, contracts, and RFP-based opportunities. Its active programs include NC Pre-K administration, Smart Start direct service provider grants, and public Requests for Proposals for services, partnerships, and funded initiatives.
Typical awards are in the low five figures: p25 is $7,722, median is $9,639, and p75 is $11,582. The recent grant list also includes a larger $111,963 award to Cumberland County Schools.
No. The recent grant data shows 25 grants and all of them went to recipients in the US, with 100% of the grants in North Carolina.
Yes. NC Pre-K site and provider applications occur on a multi-year cycle, every three years. The foundation also posts RFPs and contract opportunities for community partners and service providers when opportunities are available.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Current and upcoming funding from Partnership for Children of Cumberland County that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Organizations that provide early childhood services or partner to deliver NC Pre-K, Smart Start-funded programs, or other early childhood supports in the Partnership's service area. Specific eligibility, reporting, and contracting requirements are detailed in Smart Start Grant Expectations and DSP materials.
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Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PAMPERS HUGS AND LOVE | HOPE MILLS, NC | $6,999 | 2026 | INCREASE QUALITY |
| FSU EARLY CHILDHOOD LEARNING CENTER | FAYETTEVILLE, NC | $6,997 | 2026 | INCREASE QUALITY |
| ALPHA ACADEMY | FAYETTEVILLE, NC | $6,996 | 2026 | INCREASE QUALITY |
| COZY CORNER CHILD CARE | FAYETTEVILLE, NC | $6,956 | 2026 | INCREASE QUALITY |
| JUST LIKE MOM CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER | SPRING LAKE, NC | $6,825 | 2026 | INCREASE QUALITY |
| BURNS CHILD CARE CENTER | FAYETTEVILLE, NC | $6,714 | 2026 | INCREASE QUALITY |
| 1ST START CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER INC | FAYETTEVILLE, NC | $6,711 | 2026 | INCREASE QUALITY |
| CUMBERLAND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CENTER INC (TRINITY II) | FAYETTEVILLE, NC | $6,695 | 2026 | INCREASE QUALITY |
| KIDS EARLY LEARNING CENTER | FAYETTEVILLE, NC | $6,317 | 2026 | INCREASE QUALITY |
| CUMBERLAND COUNTY SCHOOLS | FAYETTEVILLE, NC | $111,963 | 2025 | NC PRE-K GEERS GRANT |
| CUMBERLAND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT | FAYETTEVILLE, NC | $23,165 | 2025 | NC PRE-K GEERS GRANT |
| ACTION PATHWAYS INC | FAYETTEVILLE, NC | $19,304 | 2025 | NC PRE-K GEERS GRANT |
| HEAVENLY HAVEN CHILD CARE | FAYETTEVILLE, NC | $15,443 | 2025 | NC PRE-K GEERS GRANT |
| WONDER YEARS | FAYETTEVILLE, NC | $11,582 | 2025 | NC PRE-K GEERS GRANT |
| CHILD CARE NETWORK 110 | FAYETTEVILLE, NC | $11,582 | 2025 | NC PRE-K GEERS GRANT |
| PAMPERS HUGS AND LOVE | FAYETTEVILLE, NC | $11,582 | 2025 | NC PRE-K GEERS GRANT |
| CHILDREN'S COURTYARD | FAYETTEVILLE, NC | $11,582 | 2025 | NC PRE-K GEERS GRANT |
| ARETHER'S LITTLE | HOPE MILLS, NC | $10,111 | 2025 | INCREASE QUALITY |
| HEARTS FOR CHILDREN | FAYETTEVILLE, NC | $9,998 | 2025 | INCREASE QUALITY |
| NEW LIFE CENTER | FAYETTEVILLE, NC | $9,852 | 2025 | INCREASE QUALITY |
| CYNTHIA'S CUDDLING CARE | FAYETTEVILLE, NC | $9,756 | 2025 | INCREASE QUALITY |
| LITTLE BEGINNINGS | FAYETTEVILLE, NC | $9,639 | 2025 | INCREASE QUALITY |
| MARGARITA BLANCHE'S DAY CARE | FT BRAGG, NC | $9,429 | 2025 | INCREASE QUALITY |
| JUMP START UNIVERSITY | FAYETTEVILLE, NC | $9,066 | 2025 | INCREASE QUALITY |
| TINY TREASURES CHILD CARE | FAYETTEVILLE, NC | $7,947 | 2025 | INCREASE QUALITY |
| NEXT STEP CHILDCARE CENTER | FAYETTEVILLE, NC | $7,722 | 2025 | NC PRE-K GEERS GRANT |
| CREATIVE ENHANCEMENTS DAY CARE CTR | FAYETTEVILLE, NC | $7,722 | 2025 | NC PRE-K GEERS GRANT |
| BURNS CHILD CARE CENTER | FAYETTEVILLE, NC | $7,722 | 2025 | NC PRE-K GEERS GRANT |
| KIDZ KASTLE CHILD CARE | FAYETTEVILLE, NC | $7,722 | 2025 | NC PRE-K GEERS GRANT |
| MOMMY'S DAY CARE & LEARNING CENTER | FAYETTEVILLE, NC | $7,722 | 2025 | NC PRE-K GEERS GRANT |
| FIRST STEPS CHILDCARE | HOPE MILLS, NC | $7,722 | 2025 | NC PRE-K GEERS GRANT |
| FSU EARLY CHILDHOOD | FAYETTEVILLE, NC | $7,722 | 2025 | NC PRE-K GEERS GRANT |
| CHILD CARE NETWORK 109 | FAYETTEVILLE, NC | $7,722 | 2025 | NC PRE-K GEERS GRANT |
| PANDA | FAYETTEVILLE, NC | $7,722 | 2025 | NC PRE-K GEERS GRANT |
PAMPERS HUGS AND LOVE
$6,999INCREASE QUALITY
FSU EARLY CHILDHOOD LEARNING CENTER
$6,997INCREASE QUALITY
ALPHA ACADEMY
$6,996INCREASE QUALITY
COZY CORNER CHILD CARE
$6,956INCREASE QUALITY
JUST LIKE MOM CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER
$6,825INCREASE QUALITY
BURNS CHILD CARE CENTER
$6,714INCREASE QUALITY
1ST START CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER INC
$6,711INCREASE QUALITY
CUMBERLAND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CENTER INC (TRINITY II)
$6,695INCREASE QUALITY
KIDS EARLY LEARNING CENTER
$6,317INCREASE QUALITY
CUMBERLAND COUNTY SCHOOLS
$111,963NC PRE-K GEERS GRANT
CUMBERLAND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
$23,165NC PRE-K GEERS GRANT
HEAVENLY HAVEN CHILD CARE
$15,443NC PRE-K GEERS GRANT
WONDER YEARS
$11,582NC PRE-K GEERS GRANT
CHILD CARE NETWORK 110
$11,582NC PRE-K GEERS GRANT
PAMPERS HUGS AND LOVE
$11,582NC PRE-K GEERS GRANT
CHILDREN'S COURTYARD
$11,582NC PRE-K GEERS GRANT
ARETHER'S LITTLE
$10,111INCREASE QUALITY
HEARTS FOR CHILDREN
$9,998INCREASE QUALITY
NEW LIFE CENTER
$9,852INCREASE QUALITY
CYNTHIA'S CUDDLING CARE
$9,756INCREASE QUALITY
LITTLE BEGINNINGS
$9,639INCREASE QUALITY
MARGARITA BLANCHE'S DAY CARE
$9,429INCREASE QUALITY
JUMP START UNIVERSITY
$9,066INCREASE QUALITY
TINY TREASURES CHILD CARE
$7,947INCREASE QUALITY
NEXT STEP CHILDCARE CENTER
$7,722NC PRE-K GEERS GRANT
CREATIVE ENHANCEMENTS DAY CARE CTR
$7,722NC PRE-K GEERS GRANT
BURNS CHILD CARE CENTER
$7,722NC PRE-K GEERS GRANT
KIDZ KASTLE CHILD CARE
$7,722NC PRE-K GEERS GRANT
MOMMY'S DAY CARE & LEARNING CENTER
$7,722NC PRE-K GEERS GRANT
FIRST STEPS CHILDCARE
$7,722NC PRE-K GEERS GRANT
FSU EARLY CHILDHOOD
$7,722NC PRE-K GEERS GRANT
CHILD CARE NETWORK 109
$7,722NC PRE-K GEERS GRANT
PANDA
$7,722NC PRE-K GEERS GRANT