Grant Support

The ECHO Initiative, along with our partners at York College Center for Community Engagement, IMAGO Innovation, and Outdoor Learning and Play consultants with Community Connections for Children want to help set you up for a successful grant application.

Oct 1, 2026

Grant Coaching with Katie McLaughlin

Community Connections for Children has partnered with York College of Pennsylvania’s Center for Community Engagement to offer one-on-one grant coaching for ECHO Innovation Grant applicants.

One-on-One Grant Coaching

One-on-one grant coaching is best for deeper, personalized feedback. You can meet with Katie McLaughlin either in person at the Center for Community Engagement at 59 E Market St, York, PA 17401 or virtually to talk through your grant idea in detail.

Preference is given to applicants who are new to grant writing, and sessions are scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis. Spots are limited.

To register, email Katie McLaughlin at kmclaughlin@ycp.edu with the subject line “ECHO Grant Coaching Session Request” to schedule. Interpretation services are available and must be requested at the time that the meeting is scheduled. 

 

Grant Coaching supports with Katie McLaughlin will be available from October 1st – October 30th.

This optional coaching session offers impartial feedback from a third-party partner to help strengthen your application.

As a reminder, to be eligible for the ECHO Innovation Grant, you must meet the following requirements

  • Have an early childhood education program located in York County, Pennsylvania.
  • Be a full-time childcare program with a regular Department of Human Services (DHS) Certificate of Compliance OR hold an Early Head Start/Head Start, and/or Pre-K Counts OCDEL approved grant. DHS Certified School Age Child Care programs are eligible to apply.
  • If DHS certified, maintain a Keystone STARS rating of STAR 2 or higher and meet all associated Performance Standards. Programs at STAR 1 may be eligible if they are actively working with a CCC STARS Coach to move up to STAR 2. If you are a STAR 1 program, contact your STARS Coach.
  • Maintain or move up your STAR level designation during the approval and payment phase of the award. If a STAR level move-down occurs during this process, the program may no longer be eligible for the award amount. It is expected that the program will make a commitment to maintain their STAR designation.

See the ECHO Innovation Grant Guidelines for full eligibility requirements and program details.

Categories: Grant Support
About ECHO

ECHO is a catalyst for innovation and collaboration in the early childhood education industry, providing a blueprint for addressing the issues that limit opportunities for children, families, early childhood educators, and business owners.

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