Edward Zigler Innovation Award

Honoring Dr. Edward Zigler’s legacy with Head Start by recognizing local programs that build strong partnerships to deliver high-impact services for children and families.


This award honors Dr. Zigler’s memory by celebrating local programs who have partnered to create high impact services for children and families. This award requires a joint application from both the Head Start grant recipient and the community partner.

The nominee must:

  • Be a Head Start or Early Head Start grant recipient and include a community partner in the application. The partnership will demonstrate innovation in program design and/or service delivery.
  • Provide two letters of reference from two organizational leaders who know the impact of the partnership first hand (Note: These two letters must come from leaders outside both the program and the community partner.)
  • Submit a supporting statement to address the following: A description of the primary and partner agency involved in the delivery of services, including demographic information, and history in the local community A brief description of the specific innovation, the approach, and names of all partners A brief description of the outcomes or impact of the effort on vulnerable children and families that are unique and/or go beyond Head Start’s performance standards
  • Comply with all NHSA general rules and regulations as listed on the Scholarships & Awards homepage.

Related:

Past Edward Zigler Innovation Award Recipients

2023-24: Brevard Public Schools Head Start and Florida Department of Health in Brevard, Cocoa, FL

2022-23: Miami-Dade County Board of Commissioners Head Start, Miami, FL

2021-22: Community Action Partnership, Decatur, AL

2020-21: Community Partnership for Child Development, Colorado Springs, CO

2019-20: Orange County Head Start, Orange County, CA

2018-19: Pocono Services for Families and Children, Tobyhanna, PA

2017-18: Skagit/Islands Head Start & ECEAP, Mount Vernon, WA

2016-17: North Idaho College Head Start, Coeur d’Alene, ID

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