The Foundation supports out-of-school time programs that work with District of Columbia Public School students and early childhood programs that serve children from homeless and low-income families. Out-of-school time programs supported by the Foundation provide homework assistance, educational enrichment, mentoring, recreation, and nutrition after school and during the summer. Funding is limited to programs that measure outcomes in terms of academic achievement, school attendance, grades, and standardized test scores.

Recognizing the important and lasting impact that quality early childhood education can have, the Foundation supports early childhood centers for homeless and low-income infants, toddlers and preschool age children. We also make grants to organizations dedicated to building the capacity and improving the quality of early childhood centers and out-of-school time programs by providing the technical assistance, resources and skills they need to become self-sustaining.

The Foundation supports environmental education programs that give District of Columbia public school children from low-income neighborhoods experiential, outdoor education experiences. These programs give public school students the opportunity for hands-on learning about ecology, biodiversity, environmental protection, and the ecosystems of the Chesapeake Bay and Anacostia River.

The Cohen Foundation has discontinued these grantmaking areas.