Grow Up Great Grant

Overview

The PNC Foundation supports a variety of nonprofit organizations with a special emphasis on those that work to achieve sustainability and touch a diverse population, in particular, those that support early childhood education and/or economic development.

Education --The PNC Foundation supports educational programs for children and youth, particularly early childhood education initiatives that meet the criteria established through PNC Grow Up Great. Specifically, PNC Grow Up Great grants must:

• Support early education initiatives that benefit children from birth to age five; and
• Serve a majority of children (>51%) from low- to moderate-income families; and
• Include one or a combination of the following:
  • direct services/programs for children in their classroom or community;
  • professional development/workforce development for early childhood educators;
  • family and/or community engagement in children’s early learning

Additional considerations:

• The grant focus should include math, science, reading, vocabulary development, the arts, financial education, or social/emotional development.  
• The grant recipient, or collaborative partner, should have early childhood education as an area of focus. If the organization’s focus is beyond birth to age five, the specific grant must be earmarked for birth to age five.
• Incorporate opportunities for PNC volunteers in classroom or non-classroom-based activities.

(PDF)Download the full reference document for PNC Grow Up Great grants.

Examples of What Meets PNC Grow Up Great Grant Eligibility Standards 

• Classroom educational lesson(s) followed by a visit to a museum, science center, etc. 
• Early childhood education outreach, program development and implementation (includes reasonable administrative expenses related to a program) 
• Professional development for existing early childhood education teachers, assistants, etc.   
• Parent/community engagement activity including the Grow Up Great primary focuses referenced above 
• Development of outdoor early learning environment (e.g., classroom, play space) with educational or arts-based component     

Eligible Counties in Arizona: Cochise, Coconino, Gila, Maricopa, Mohave, Navajo, Pima, Pinal, Yavapai

Award amounts: In 2024, along with smaller awards, multiple grants totaling over $500,000 were awarded; some large-scale grants awarded ranging from $1.4M-$10.2M.