About Firstspark
To provide leadership that champions a collaborative system to provide high-quality care, education, and health services for children in our region so they are ready for kindergarten and for life.
Focus Areas
early childhood education (birth to five)parent & family supportprofessional development for educatorsprenatal resource programsquality measurement & improvement (VQB5)coordinated enrollment / access programs
Who They Fund
child care providers/centersearly childhood educators and staffyoung children/preschool-aged learners
Funding Style
direct service/subsidiescapacity building (equipment & materials)
About Firstspark
Firstspark Inc’s recent grantmaking is built around mixed-delivery early childhood funding for birth-to-five care, with grants structured to expand access while helping providers meet quality expectations. The largest awards in the current file go to child care centers and preschool providers that serve Hampton, Newport News, Gloucester, and nearby Virginia communities, often through slot payments that support enrolled children and the provider organizations delivering care. The foundation’s pattern shows repeated support for the same providers over multiple years. Peake Child Development Center in Hampton received $590,972 in 2025 and $403,550 in 2024, both tied to child care slot payments and one round that also included outdoor learning and equipment or materials. Grand Kids Child Care Center in Gloucester and Hampton Roads International Montessori School - Jefferson in Newport News also appear with sizable awards across 2024 and 2025. That mix points to a funder focused on sustaining existing early learning capacity rather than one-time project-only grants. Leadership is aimed at a collaborative system that supports children, families, and educators so children are ready for kindergarten and life.
What Firstspark Funds
One clear thread is direct support for child care access. Firstspark Inc awarded $590,972 to Peake Child Development Center for child care slot payment and outdoor learning, and $422,958 to Precious Jewels LLC for child care slot payment. Those awards show that slot funding is a core tool in the foundation’s approach. A second strand is provider capacity and learning environment improvement. The foundation gave $403,550 to Peake Child Development Center for child care slot payment, equipment, and materials, and $259,971 to Hampton Roads International Montessori School - Jefferson for the same combination. A third area is educator and workforce support. In 2023, City of Newport News Parks & Rec received $66,708 for salary bonus, scholarships, and slot payments, while Children of Valour later received $29,143 for the same mix. The grant purposes link staffing support with access for children.
How Firstspark Gives
Firstspark Inc’s typical grant size is $14,978 at the 25th percentile, $87,400 at the median, and $177,753 at the 75th percentile. The recent awards show a wide spread above that median, with several large slot-payment grants and smaller workforce-related awards. Recipients appear across multiple years, including Peake Child Development Center, Grand Kids Child Care Center, Hampton Roads International Montessori School - Jefferson, Rf Wilkinson YMCA Preschool, Tots Around the Clock LLC, Horizons Unlimited Early Learning Center, Children of Valour, and YMCA - Hunnicut. The foundation does fund directly through its local mixed-delivery programs, and both active grant programs listed accept unsolicited applications.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$3.2M
Total Assets
$1M
Total Revenue
$5.2M
Total Expenses
$5.1M
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $15K and $178K, with a median of $87K.
25th Percentile
$15K
Median
$87K
75th Percentile
$178K
Geographic Reach
Local1 state funded
About 100% of grants go to recipients in VA.
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
Leadership
JAMILIA SHIPMAN
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