Sponsor a Site
Getting Started
Thank you for your interest in joining the CDF Freedom Schools® family!
The curated resources below are meant to help your organization learn more about the benefits of hosting a program, as well as the application, training, fiduciary, and programmatic requirements that accepted sponsor organizations must uphold. The steps to applying are as follows:

Step 1 – Review CDF Freedom Schools® video
Step 2 – Attend CDF Freedom Schools® Application Informational Session
If you interested in learning more about our program, please submit an interest form CDF Freedom Schools Interest Form. Our application informal session will be on August 27, 2026 at 3pm ET.
Step 3 – Submit a CDF Freedom Schools® Application
The CDF Freedom Schools application cycle is now closed. The 2026-2027 CDF Freedom Schools application will be open in August. If you interested in learning more about our program, please submit an interest form.
Step 4 – Review CDF Freedom Schools® Calendar
Abbreviated 2026 program operating calendar below
January 2026
New Year’s Day- CDF Office Closed
January 1, 2026
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day – CDF Office Closed
January 19, 2026
Ella Baker Child Policy Training Institute: Executive Director and Project Director Orientation & Training (In person at CDF Haley Farm)
January 23-25, 2026
March 2026
Ella Baker Child Policy Training Institute: Site Coordinator Orientation & Training (Virtual Training Session)
March 26-29, 2026
June 2026
CDF Founder’s Day – CDF Office Closed
June 6, 2026
Juneteenth – CDF Office Closed
June 19, 2026
Ella Baker Child Policy Training Institute: National Training for Site Coordinators and Servant Leader Interns (In person at CDF Haley Farm)
June 3-6, 2026
July 2026
Independence Day – CDF Office Closed
July 4, 2026
National Day of Social Action (NDSA)
July 15, 2026
August 2026
2026 Application Release
August 10, 2026
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September 2026
2027 CDF Freedom Schools Sponsor Application Deadline
September 28, 2026
October 2026
2027 CDF Freedom Schools Application Review & Response
Application Interviews & Notification Letters Sent Out
October 5, 2026
This webpage is updated as dates are confirmed.