Turrell Fund Grant

The Turrell Fund Grant focuses on supporting organizations that serve children and families, particularly in Vermont and New Jersey. Emphasizing early childhood development, K-12 education, and access to arts and social services, the fund aims to address systemic barriers and promote equity. Priority is given to initiatives that foster systemic change and advocate for policy improvements, ensuring every child has access to quality education and resources necessary for a strong start in life.

Our Funding Focus
The Turrell Fund supports:

• Increasingly strong focus on early childhood, prenatal-3.
• Within prenatal-3, we have increased our funding to policy and advocacy initiatives.
• Additional focus areas include:Arts and music education
• K-12 education
• Direct social services for children and families
• Early Childhood (0-3)
• Early investments open up a lifetime of potential and opportunity

Healthy development for children ages 0-3 provides the building blocks for strong communities, lifelong health, and educational and career success. This period represents a time of incredible growth and potential for young children and families. Early relationships with caregivers can promote healthy development and encourage early literacy for infants and toddlers.
K-12 Education
A solid, high-quality K-12 education is essential for long-term college and career success, as well as for general well-being and personal growth.
We know that students succeed when teachers have real-time support; schools are well-resourced; and schools take a compassionate, strengths-based approach to engaging kids. We want all students to gain entry to college or career training programs, and to be treated with dignity and respect throughout their entire educational experience. To create upward mobility for children, we need to improve and align the institutions that serve them.
Music & Arts
At the Turrell Fund, we believe that music and the arts change lives
Learning an instrument, developing artistic skills, and being part of a community of practice instills self-esteem and new pathways for connecting with others. All children, regardless of socioeconomic background or zip code, deserve access to high-quality arts education opportunities.
Social Services
Direct services are essential to providing support to children and families who need them.
From shelters, to food banks, to mental health services, these programs improve the well-being of individuals in their communities and respond to all types of need.
Every family is entitled to nutritious food, high-quality early care, compassionate healthcare, diapers, and every resource necessary to give their children a strong start. Ultimately, these services promote equity and opportunity in communities, providing a safe space for individuals to garner expert support and overcome hardship.

Eligibility

Turrell grants are awarded to organizations serving children – especially the youngest – and their families in Vermont and New Jersey (specifically Essex, Hudson, Passaic, and Union Counties.)The Turrell Fund awards grants to 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organizations with projects and portfolios especially for the youngest in New Jersey and Vermont.Grants are awarded to agencies that exhibit:Evidence of exceptional qualityDistinction through the creation of new benchmarks or best practicesA voice in the chorus of those speaking to educational policy changeInitiatives directed at systems and policy change

Ineligibility

Once an organization has applied, one year must elapse before applying again, regardless of the result.