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:

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is CDF-FS-application-steps-2-800x450-1.png



Step 1 – Review CDF Freedom Schools® video

CDF Freedom Schools Call to Action from Mrs. Marian Wright Edelman

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.

Register now

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

V

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.