At a time when states are cutting budgets for early childhood education initiatives, the Chicago-based Robert R. McCormick Foundation has announced it will provide nearly $5 million in grants over the next two years to support programs that help at-risk children and prepare principals for their roles.

Throughout the past 20 years, the foundation has been committed to fostering highly educated and engaged citizens, and has demonstrated this by investing $96 million into early childhood education initiatives. 

"We are pleased that McCormick's board has approved almost $5 million of grants over two years at a time when the continued economic crisis and state budget cuts threaten the early education system," said Sara Slaughter, the foundation's education program director. "These grants will help Illinois address critical areas."

Specifically, the grants will support efforts in public policy, teacher training, principal preparation and helping at-risk children and their families.

Education programs that rely on fundraising initiatives might benefits from nonprofit accounting software, which can make it easier to track donations during campaigns and identify significant contributors. With these capabilities, organizations can launch more targeted campaigns in the future.