Connecting Generosity to the Earliest Opportunities for Impact
In the first thousand days of life—from conception to age three—a child’s future begins taking shape. It’s a brief window with lifelong consequences, where the right care, connection, and support can change everything.
The St. Croix Valley Foundation’s First Thousand Days Grant Program was born from this understanding—and from a shared belief in the power of community generosity to meet one of the region’s most urgent needs: ensuring every child has a strong start.
This unique grant program is made possible through the vision and generosity of Bill and Rita Lawson, who established the First Thousand Days Fund. Today, multiple donors contribute to this endowed fund, which provides annual grants to support early childhood development across the Valley.
As a regional community foundation, we serve as a connector—linking generosity to action, values to vision, and people to the causes that matter most. The result? Needs met. Lives touched. Local communities strengthened.
Through the First Thousand Days Grant Program, that connection becomes clear: when we invest early, we build stronger futures—for children, for families, and for our region.
What We Fund
From parent coaching and mental health support to early learning and bonding programs, First Thousand Days Grants help families build strong foundations during life’s most critical stage.
The grant program offers both general operating support and program support to organizations serving families during pregnancy, infancy, and toddlerhood.
Examples of eligible programs include:
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Home visiting and parent coaching
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Early childhood mental health and trauma-informed care
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Attachment and bonding support
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Maternal health and prenatal education
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Language development and early learning
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Culturally specific family outreach
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Parent-child play and connection programs
Award Amounts:
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$5,000–$25,000 for General Operating Support
(for region-wide organizations with early childhood at the core of their mission)
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$500–$5,000 for Program Support
(for local initiatives within SCVF’s six-county service area)
Grant Cycle: Winter
Who's Eligible
To apply, organizations must:
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Serve families in one or more counties within SCVF’s six-county region:
Chisago, Washington (MN); Burnett, Polk, Pierce, St. Croix (WI).
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Be a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, government, tribal, educational, or religious entity.
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Or formally partner with an eligible fiscal agent.
Eligible programs must focus on the first 1,000 days of life—conception to age three.
Impact in Action: The Science of Snuggles—and the Strength of Support
At Family Resource Center St. Croix Valley, caregivers are learning just how powerful love and touch can be. Thanks to a First Thousand Days Grant, their "Science of Snuggles" program helps new parents understand how simple moments—eye contact, skin-to-skin touch, lullabies—build a child’s brain and emotional resilience.
“Every time a parent responds with love and presence, a baby’s brain builds strong connections,” said one facilitator.
“We’re giving parents the confidence to know they matter. And we’re seeing whole families grow because of it.”
This is one of many projects funded through the First Thousand Days Grant Program—initiatives that uplift children, strengthen families, and ripple across our region.”
The First Thousand Days Fund.
Rooted in Science. Powered by Generosity.
When Bill and Rita Lawson of Somerset, WI, established the First Thousand Days Fund in 2022, they understood the stakes: those earliest days of life—starting even before birth—shape everything that follows.
Inspired by the growing body of brain science and early childhood research, the Lawsons created the fund to support children and families during the first three years (or 1,000 days) of life—when nurturing care has the greatest long-term impact.
Since its founding, the endowed fund has grown into a collaborative effort, with multiple donors contributing to expand its reach. Together, they are helping organizations across the region invest in healthy parent-child relationships, prenatal and postnatal care, early learning, and mental and emotional well-being during life’s most critical stage.
In 2025 alone, the St. Croix Valley Foundation awarded more than $167,000 in First Thousand Days grants. Since the program began, more than $275,000 has been distributed to nonprofits supporting families across the six-county region.
And because the fund is endowed, it will continue awarding grants in perpetuity—ensuring the earliest investments continue shaping lives for generations to come.
Apply
If you're an organization helping children and families during the first thousand days of life, we invite you to apply.
Support
We’re here to help. For questions or guidance on applying, contact:
Angie Pilgrim, Vice President of Community Impact.
Donate
Want to support early childhood programs that build a stronger St. Croix Valley?