How much funding does MERA Award (Merit and/or ERA Award) provide?

Funding amounts vary. Check the grant details for specifics.

When is the deadline for MERA Award (Merit and/or ERA Award)?

This grant has a rolling deadline or the deadline has not been announced.

MERA Award (Merit and/or ERA Award)

Community Services for Children Inc

Foundation Child Care Grants Capacity Building Grants

Funding Amount

Varies

Deadline

Rolling / Open

Grant Type

foundation

Can we apply?

Check your organization against each line. Taken from the listing; confirm with the funder's guidelines.

Other requirements

Family Providers: STAR 2, 3, or 4 family child care providers
Center/Group Providers: STAR 2 center/group providers (Merit Award up to 3 times maximum)
Center/Group Providers: STAR 3 & 4 center/group providers (ERA Award)
Pennsylvania early learning and child care programs

Overview

MERA Award (Merit and/or ERA Award)

Program: Keystone STARS (an initiative of the Office of Child Development and Early Learning - OCDEL)

Purpose: Provide merit and/or expansion-related financial awards to early learning providers at various STAR levels engaged in continuous quality improvement.

Eligible Provider Types

Family Providers: STAR 2, 3, or 4 family child care providers
Center/Group Providers: STAR 2 center/group providers (Merit Award up to 3 times maximum)
Center/Group Providers: STAR 3 & 4 center/group providers (ERA Award)

Geographic Scope

Pennsylvania early learning and child care programs

Award Types

Merit Award: For qualifying STAR 2 center/group providers (maximum 3 awards)
ERA Award: For STAR 3 & 4 center/group providers

Contact Information

Quality Coach: Contact your Quality Coach to determine your eligibility

How to Apply

1. Determine Eligibility: Contact your Quality Coach to confirm you meet eligibility requirements
2. Award Type: Identify whether you qualify for Merit Award or ERA Award based on your STAR level
3. Application Process: Specific application steps to be discussed with Quality Coach

Note: Detailed application procedures should be discussed with your assigned Quality Coach.

Apply with Grantable Learn more

What Community Services for Children Inc actually gave

Source: IRS Form 990, 2025

Grants in 2025: 210
Total given: $1.87M
Median grant: $6,500
Range: $5,500–$95K

By dollars: Pennsylvania 95%, Oregon 4%, Florida 1%. Top recipient cities: Allentown, PA; Reading, PA; Doylestown, PA.
0% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.
8% of recipients were new grantees, not repeat recipients.

Example grants

Lehigh Valley Childrens Centers Inc · Allentown, PA

Continuous quality improvement award

$95K
Kuehg Corp Kindercare Education LLC · Lake Oswego, OR

Continuous quality improvement award

$66K
River Crossing Young Mens Christian Asso · Doylestown, PA

Continuous quality improvement award

$44K
Child Development Council of Nepa Inc · Wilkes Barre, PA

Continuous quality improvement award

$35K
Life Span Day Care Inc · Quakertown, PA

Continuous quality improvement award

$26K