Childcare Grant

The Childcare Grant from the Patterson Family Foundation supports organizations in Kansas and western Missouri that enhance childcare services. Eligible applicants include nonprofits, school districts, and government entities focused on expanding childcare capacity, improving facilities, and making services more affordable for working families. The foundation emphasizes collaboration and sustainability in childcare initiatives.

Note: The Patterson Family Foundation reviews grant applications in two cycles, allowing us to disburse funds as efficiently as possible. LOIs submitted by February 18th will be considered part of round one and the deadline for these applications will be April 3rd. LOIs submitted after February 18th will be considered part of round two, and the deadline for these applications will be June 29th.
Registration is required before applying. This is represented by the pre-proposal deadline above. All registration requests are reviewed for eligibility before access to the Letter of Inquiry (LOI) application is granted.
Rooted in rural.
Committed to your community.
The Patterson Family Foundation, based in Kansas City, Missouri, is a family-led foundation that extends the legacy of Neal and Jeanne Patterson. The Foundation’s mission, “Working together to help rural communities thrive,” is carried forward through strategic grantmaking and other collaborative initiatives that serve rural counties across Kansas and western Missouri.
Strategies for Thriving Rural Communities
A strong and engaged community is built on essentials like access to good jobs, quality healthcare, educational opportunities, and a sense of belonging. That’s why we focus on working with local leaders, businesses, and organizations to invest in the areas that matter most, ensuring that rural places don’t just get by but thrive for generations to come.
Supports new and existing childcare providers to expand capacity, improve facilities, and increase affordability for working families.

Eligibility

Location: Organizations located in or serving a county or community within the Patterson Family Foundation’s Kansas or western Missouri catchment are eligible to apply. Read more about the Patterson Family Foundation’s philanthropic catchment.The Foundation will fund organizations outside of our catchment if the proposed project directly works in or serves communities within the PFF catchment. Nonprofit Status: Applicants need to be a 501(c)(3) organization, school district, or government entity.Other Parameters:School district-based centers need to provide pre-approval from their board if establishing a net-new center.Ages served include birth to 5 years.Home-based providers apply through a community foundation or other non-profit organization.Applicants are restricted to one LOI in this cycle as we expect a high volume of applications.We recognize that projects may have multiple components that touch on more than one grant activity.This is allowed, but applicants should evaluate their organizational priorities and submit their strongest proposal. Applicants are restricted to a single LOI per cycle.Active grantees are eligible to apply. PFF will expect you to explain how the proposed project will not compromise any ongoing work for your current grant.Consideration for multi-year funding is based on the complexity of the project.We anticipate funding projects for up to three years through our 2025 programming; however, we will make determinations based on the scope of the requested project.Capital requests must have secured funding for at least 60% of the total project cost.Additionally, the Patterson Family Foundation will fund up to 20% of the total project cost, or up to $2,000,000.Organizations can request funding for up to 15% of the total budget for indirect costs.Please note that salary and costs related to a specific programmatic activity will be considered direct program costs.Organizations that received funding in the past can apply again. Community foundations participating in the Match or Capacity Building programs can also apply for other open grant opportunities. In addition to applying for an open grant, community foundations can act as the fiscal sponsor for multiple organizations, if necessary.Organizations conducting programming aligning with our available grants that do not meet our tax-exempt eligibility requirements, such as a 501(c)(4) or 501(c)(6) organization, can apply using a fiscal sponsor.

Ineligibility

Projects that will not be considered for funding include:Pre-K and Kindergarten ClassroomsAfter School programsSummer programsThe Patterson Family Foundation can only provide funding for charitable activities, therefore, we do not plan to fund for-profit entities through our active grant programs. Projects working in or serving communities outside our catchment will not be eligible for grant funding