Funding Amount
$600 - $4,000 per year
Deadline
Deadline not published
Grant Type
Foundation
Deadline history & next window
- Cycle
- Twice a year
- Tracked since
- April 2026
Source: the cycle recorded on this listing. Confirm dates with the funder.
Can we apply?
Check your organization against each line. Taken from the listing; confirm with the funder's guidelines.
Other requirements
- Teachers must earn $17 or less per hour
- Must teach children ages 0-5 at least 10 hours per week
- Must remain at the same child care program for 6 months
- Award amount varies by education level
Overview
WAGE$ Salary Supplement Program
Geographic Scope: North Carolina
WAGE$ provides salary supplements twice per year to early childhood educators based on education level.
Award Details
- Amount: $600 - $4,000 per year (distributed twice per year)
- Frequency: Semi-annual payments
Eligibility Requirements
- Teachers must earn $17 or less per hour
- Must teach children ages 0-5 at least 10 hours per week
- Must remain at the same child care program for 6 months
- Award amount varies by education level
Contact Information
- Administrator: Child Care Services Association (CCSA)
- Phone: 1-919-967-3272
- Organization: Smart Start Partnership for Children
- Address: 525 North Justice Street, Hendersonville, NC 28739
- Phone: 828-693-1580
- Fax: 828-693-9659
- Email: info@smartstartpfc.org
- Hours: 8:00 am - 3:00 pm, Monday - Friday
How to Apply
How to Apply
- Contact the WAGE$ Counselor at Child Care Services Association (CCSA)
- Phone: 1-919-967-3272
- Ask to speak with a WAGE$ counselor
- Verify Eligibility
- Confirm hourly wage ($17 or less)
- Confirm teaching hours (minimum 10 hours per week with ages 0-5)
- Confirm employment stability (6-month commitment to same program)
- Verify education level
- Complete Application Process through CCSA (specific details not provided on website)
What Smart Start Partnership for Children Inc actually gave
Source: IRS Form 990, 2025
- Grants in 2025
- 28
- Total given
- $1.18M
- Median grant
- $21K
- Range
- $5,709–$244K
- By dollars: North Carolina 100%. Top recipient cities: Hendersonville, NC; Fletcher, NC; Flat Rock, NC.
- 0% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.
- 43% of recipients were new grantees, not repeat recipients.
Example grants
Children & Family Resource Center · Hendersonville, NC
Service provider
$244K
Nessa's Young'uns Natural Play Cent · Flat Rock, NC
Childcare assistance
$169K
Little Blessings Christian Academy · Hendersonville, NC
Childcare assistance
$153K
Alice's Playground · Hendersonville, NC
Childcare assistance
$73K
Steps to Hope Academy · Hendersonville, NC
Childcare assistance
$60K
Focus Areas & Funding Uses
Fields of Work
- Teachers
- Child care
- Daycare
- Professional development
Categories
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