Child Care Grants

Last updated September 28, 2026

There are currently 493 open child care grants in Grantable's free grants database, drawn from foundation sources and updated daily. 194 list an award amount, with a median of $25K.

Open grants: 493; from 349 funders
Median award: $25K; middle half $6,000–$100K
Total listed funding: $79.2M; across 194 grants that list an amount
Rolling deadlines: 39; 22 with a published date

On this page: Foundation · Updated daily

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Grant	Deadline ▲	Amount
Therapeutic Child Care Grant (Building Blocks for Success Pilot) Preschool Promise Inc · Foundation Rolling · Varies A pilot program focused on implementing trauma-informed care practices and therapeutic approaches in early childhood settings. The initiative combines professional development in trauma-informed practices with ongoing coaching and support.	Rolling	Varies
Michele Ferris Family Scholarship for Adaptive Equipment & Devices Pocono Mountains United Way · Foundation Rolling · Varies The Michele Ferris Family Scholarship honors Michele Ferris, a former physical therapist for U.S. Healthcare Services.	Rolling	Varies
Women United Grants United Way of Greater Charlottesville · Foundation Rolling · Up to $60K Women United is a philanthropic committee of United Way that supports local women and children through collective giving of membership.	Rolling	Up to $60K
NJ ARP Stabilization Grant 4CS of Passaic County Inc · Foundation Rolling · Varies To help pay for operating expenses for child care centers and family child care	Rolling	Varies
Community Grant Essentia Health Foundation · Foundation Rolling · Varies	Rolling	Varies
Quality Maintenance Bonus Incentive Grant (4-5 Star Facilities) Smart Start of Pender County · Foundation Rolling · Varies Assists eligible 4-5 Star child care facilities in maintaining high quality of care they provide to young children.	Rolling	Varies
Women United in Philanthropy Grant Womens Foundation of New Jersey a NJ Nonprofit Corporation · Foundation Rolling · Varies Women United in Philanthropy (WUIP) is New Jersey’s first women’s giving circle. Since 2004, we have awarded $1,220,000 in grant funds to programs that address chronic problems impacting women and families in Bergen County, NJ.	Rolling	Varies
King County PSTAA General Child Care Facilities Fund (GCCFF) Enterprise Community Partners Inc · Foundation Rolling · $10K A Request for Proposal (RFP) utilizing King County PSTAA General Child Care Facilities Funds to expand and strengthen the early learning system in King County.	Rolling	$10K
Early Learning Scholarships Mahube-Otwa Community Action · Foundation Rolling · Varies Scholarships available to support early learning opportunities for children. Applications are available in multiple languages.	Rolling	Varies
ND Working Parents Relief Program (WPCCR Pilot) Greater Fargo Moorhead Economic · Foundation Rolling · Varies A pilot program offered by the North Dakota Department of Health & Human Services designed to help employers attract and retain employees who are parents needing childcare assistance.	Rolling	Varies
Chesapeake Human Services Grant City of Chesapeake · Foundation Rolling · Varies The Chesapeake Human Services Grant aims to support non-profit organizations serving Chesapeake citizens.	Rolling	Varies
Humboldt Child Care Stabilization Fund - Parent Subsidy Program Arcata Economic Development Corporation · Foundation Rolling · $1K	Rolling	$1K
Community Grant Program St Mary's Regional Health Center · Foundation Rolling · Varies Essentia Health has a more than 20-year history of investing in communities across their service area. In FY23, Essentia Health contributed more than $1.7 million dollars to 140 non-profit organizations.	Rolling	Varies
Dubuque County Child Care Solutions Fund Grant: Wage Support Supplement Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque · Foundation Rolling · Up to $1K The Dubuque County Child Care Solutions Fund Grant provides vital wage support for childcare providers in Dubuque County.	Rolling	Up to $1K
EQUIP (Early Education Quality Improvement Program) First up · Foundation Rolling · Varies A no-cost initiative that partners with early childhood programs to build on their strengths, celebrate successes, and support quality growth.	Rolling	Varies
Innovation Grant to Start-Up a New Child Care Program (MO) Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education · Foundation Rolling · Varies Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) is the administrative arm of the State Board of Education.	Rolling	Varies
Tuition Aid Program Grant McInerny Foundation · Foundation Rolling · Varies The Tuition Aid Program offers grants to educational institutions in Hawaii serving children from preschool to 12th grade, excluding church schools.	Rolling	Varies
Waterman Foundation Grant Kern Community Foundation · Foundation Rolling · Up to $50K The Waterman Foundation Grant, established by the Bakersfield Downtown Rotary Club, offers up to $50,000 in funding for local nonprofits addressing community needs.	Rolling	Up to $50K
Fall Grant Opportunities: Health & Human Services- Campbell Endowment Grand Traverse Regional Community · Foundation Rolling · $2K – $4K The Campbell Endowment offers various fall grant opportunities aimed at supporting programs that enhance self-sufficiency in Antrim, Benzie, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, and Leelanau counties.	Rolling	$2K – $4K
Father Arthur J. Dubé-Emma J. Rossignol Child Care Endowment Educare Central Maine · Foundation Rolling · Varies Provide child care funding to alleviate the burden of child care costs for Maine families, particularly those who are working or pursuing education but do not qualify for general assistance.	Rolling	Varies
Quality Improvement Grant Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services · Foundation Rolling · Up to $500 The Quality Improvement Grant, offered by the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, provides up to $500 to licensed Child Care Homes and Centers to enhance their programs.	Rolling	Up to $500
Kindergarten Readiness Collaborative (KRC) - Early Child Care Programs Future Ready Five · Foundation Rolling · Varies A comprehensive program designed to help early childcare centers and family child care homes support children's kindergarten readiness through coaching, training, and financial incentives. Training Locations & Schedule (2025-2026):	Rolling	Varies
Student-Parent Success Model (Community College Partnership) Women's Foundation of Alabama · Foundation Rolling · Varies This is one of Women's Foundation of Alabama's well-known ongoing grantmaking initiatives, representing a mainstay of the foundation's workforce development strategy.	Rolling	Varies
Edward H. Daveis Benevolent Fund Grant Maine Community Foundation Inc · Foundation Rolling · Up to $10K The Edward H. Daveis Benevolent Fund Grant supports early childhood and youth leadership initiatives in Greater Portland.	Rolling	Up to $10K

Showing 409–432 of 490

About child care grants

Child care grants fund early childhood programs, preschool, Head Start and Early Head Start, family child care, and child development initiatives. The Child Care and Development Block Grant provides the largest federal funding stream, with additional support from the Department of Education, USDA, and early childhood-focused foundations.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much money do child care grants award?

Of the 493 open child care grants Grantable lists as of September 28, 2026, 194 publish an award amount. The median listed award is $25K, and the middle half fall between $6,000 and $100K. The largest is $10M. Amounts are each grant's stated maximum, so a typical award can be smaller.

Which funders offer the most child care grants?

By number of open listings, the most active funders are Early Childhood (13), State Department of Education (11), Minnesota Child Care Resource and (8), The Community Foundation of Middle (8), and 4CS of Passaic County Inc (5). In all, 349 funders have at least one open grant in this category.

When are child care grants due?

Of 493 open grants, 39 accept applications on a rolling basis, 22 have a published upcoming deadline, 117 run on a stated cycle (such as annual or quarterly) without a published date, and 315 don't publish a deadline, so check the funder's site. Among dated deadlines, 45% fall in January–March.

What is the difference between childcare grants and Head Start?

The Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) provides subsidies for working families to afford childcare and quality improvement funds for providers. Head Start is a separate, comprehensive program providing free preschool, health services, and family support for low-income children. Both are federally funded but operate through different channels and serve different (sometimes overlapping) populations.

Can family child care providers get grants?

Yes. Family child care homes qualify for CCDBG quality improvement funds, USDA Child and Adult Care Food Program reimbursements, state quality rating system incentives, and various foundation grants. Many states have specific startup and improvement grants for family child care providers. T.E.A.C.H. scholarship programs support provider education.

Are there grants for childcare worker wages?

This is a growing focus area. Some states use ARPA funds for childcare workforce stabilization grants. CCDBG allows states to set reimbursement rates that support better wages. Foundations like the Buffett Early Childhood Fund and Pritzker Children's Initiative fund workforce compensation efforts. The T.E.A.C.H. and WAGE$ programs address provider compensation.

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