Child Care Professionals Network

About Child Care Professionals Network

Child Care Professionals Network channels most of its recent grantmaking into child care programs and providers in Delaware County and nearby parts of southeastern Pennsylvania, with large awards reaching centers such as Growing Together Learning Center in Upper Darby and Apple Pie Long Lone in Upper Darby. The foundation’s recent grants show a strong emphasis on the day-to-day operating needs of early care and education providers, alongside support for professional training and credentialing in the child care workforce. That pattern fits the organization’s stated focus on early childhood education, Child Development Associate (CDA) training, professional development for ECE professionals, emergency planning and safety resources, resource referral, and community partnerships. Its grant list includes multiple awards to child care centers, preschools, and related community organizations, including Step by Step Learning Center in Lansdowne and Today’s Child Learning Center in Lansdowne. The foundation also maintains direct support for workforce advancement through CDA-related funding, reflecting an approach that combines provider stability with staff development. Across the file, the grantmaking reads as local and tightly tied to child care access in Pennsylvania, especially for organizations serving young children and the professionals who care for them.

What Child Care Professionals Network Funds

Early care and education is the central thread in the recent grants. The foundation gave $420,880 to Growing Together Learning Center in Upper Darby and $185,640 to Step by Step Learning Center in Lansdowne, both of which align with its child care provider support. Workforce development is another visible theme. In one CDA-related grant, Child Care Professionals Network awarded a $100 completion bonus to candidates who complete a CDA course, earn the credential, and provide proof through the PD Registry. That reinforces a focus on professional credentialing rather than one-time program support. The portfolio also includes emergency and family-facing support. Through DELCO Child Care COVID Support, the organization administered funding for approved early care and education program expenses during COVID-related disruptions. The Child Care Support Letters program likewise tied advocacy activity to gift-card support for parents, early educators, and program directors in Delaware County.

How Child Care Professionals Network Gives