Grants for Daycare

Last updated October 4, 2026

Grantable tracks 127 active grants for daycare in its free grants database, drawn from state and foundation sources and updated daily. 4 of them have a verified open deadline or accept applications on a rolling basis. 60 list an award amount, with a median of $40K.

Grants tracked: 127; from 94 funders
Median award: $40K; middle half $5,000–$100K
Total listed funding: $22.4M; across 60 grants that list an amount
Rolling deadlines: 9; 2 with a published date

On this page: State Foundation · Updated daily

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Grant	Deadline ▲	Amount
Beacon Hill Community Fund Beacon Hill Civic Association Inc · Foundation ~October · $3K – $10K The Community Fund supports projects and programs for residents involving: Beacon Hill, Cambridge Street, and adjacent neighborhoods (Boston, MA area) Established in 2019, the Community Fund was created by the Beacon Hill Civic Association…	~October	$3K – $10K
Camp Shelanu Financial Aid Durham-Chapel Hill Jewish Federation · Foundation ~January · Varies Need-based financial aid for Camp Shelanu summer day camp. Camp Shelanu is committed to serving the entire community.	~January	Varies
Child Care Solutions Fund Iowa Women's Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies The Child Care Solutions Fund supports organizations working to expand child care capacity and address child care barriers for women and families in Iowa.	Not published	Varies
JSDC Daycare Expansion Assistance Program Jamestownstutsman Development Corporation · Foundation Rolling · $10K – $50K	Rolling	$10K – $50K
Herzfeld Foundation: Early Childhood Education Grant Richard and Ethel Herzfeld · Foundation Not published · $15K – $60K The Herzfeld Foundation is currently accepting applications for its Early Childhood Education Grant, aimed at licensed nonprofit childcare providers in Milwaukee.	Not published	$15K – $60K
Thriving by Three Infant and Toddler Child Care Grant 4CS of Passaic County Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies A grant program for infant and toddler child care providers with a Year 2 recertification process.	Not published	Varies
Great Start Compensation Support Payment Program Minnesota Child Care Resource and Referral Network · Foundation Not published · $259.7M – $316.1M Direct payments to child care programs focused on compensation for early educators	Not published	$259.7M – $316.1M
Buncombe County Child Care Relief Fund Buncombe County Partnership for Children Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies To support child care centers in Buncombe County to rebuild and reopen following community crisis/disaster.	Not published	Varies
Employer-Sponsored Child Care Grant Program Zero to Five Montana · Foundation Not published · $10K – $100K The Employer-Sponsored Child Care Grant Program, launched by Zero to Five Montana in partnership with the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services, provides a unique opportunity for employers to develop child care benefits…	Not published	$10K – $100K
Historic Economic Asset Lifeline (HEAL) Program (KS) Grant Kansas Department of Commerce · Foundation Not published · Up to $100K The Historic Economic Asset Lifeline (HEAL) Program, initiated by the Kansas Department of Commerce, aims to revitalize underutilized downtown buildings in rural Kansas.	Not published	Up to $100K
Family Haven Foundation Grant Family Haven Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies The Family Haven Foundation Grant aims to support caregivers of children who have lost their parents due to addiction.	Not published	Varies
NJEDA Child Care Facility Improvement Program Grant 4CS of Passaic County Inc · Foundation Not published · $50K – $200K Provides grants for facility improvements that contribute to high-quality early childhood learning environments	Not published	$50K – $200K
St. Louis County CARES Act Child Care Relief Fund Child Day Care Association of St Louis D/B/a United 4 Children · Foundation Not published · Up to $24K United 4 Children provided assistance to providers applying for these funds, including:	Not published	Up to $24K
Child Care Licensing State Department of Education · State Not published · Varies Protection of children through the regulation of child care centers and family child care homes. County Government, For-Profit, Individuals, Municipalities/Towns, Non-Profit, Regional, State Colleges, State University, Other	Not published	Varies
Business Pathways to Quality Nebraska Early Childhood Collaborative · Foundation Rolling · Varies The Business Pathways to Quality program supports child care programs in Nebraska by offering: For questions, reach out to NECC.	Rolling	Varies
Educational Awards (Quality Enhancement Project) Columbus County Partnership for Children Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies Teachers in licensed child care programs that complete an Educational Facility Plan and participate in the Quality Enhancement Project may be eligible for Educational Awards.	Not published	Varies
Healthy Beginnings, Active Futures Grant Healthy Child Care Colorado · Foundation Rolling · $158K Grant to improve the quality of outdoor learning environments in early childhood settings and encourage active, outdoor play. Researchers show that active, outdoor play boosts children's learning and healthy development.	Rolling	$158K
AWARD$ - Infant-Toddler Educator Randolph County Partnership for Children Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies AWARD$ is a new statewide salary supplement program designed to better compensate and retain well-educated teachers working with infants and toddlers in North Carolina child care centers.	Not published	Varies
Iredell County COVID-19 Education Fund United Way of Iredell County Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies Established in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, this fund supports academic excellence for students and economic success for families during pandemic-related disruptions.	Not published	Varies
FY27 480-20-3706 Child Care Resource and Referral Program - Child Care Assistance Program Early Childhood · State Not published · Varies Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) agencies are hubs for coordination of diverse child care activities in each regional community of Illinois.	Not published	Varies
Child and Adult Care Food Program State Department of Education · State Not published · Varies Funds are used to offset meal and supplement costs to public, private nonprofit or proprietary centers licensed to provide non-residential childcare services for daycare homes, eligible centers and non-residential eligible adult daycare…	Not published	Varies
CFMT: Support and Enhancement Grants - Child Care Certificate Program The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee Inc · Foundation Not published · Up to $5K The CFMT Support and Enhancement Grants provide financial assistance to licensed childcare providers in Tennessee, enabling them to apply for a minimum of $4,000 for equipment, program enhancements, and consultancy services.	Not published	Up to $5K
Economic Freedom: Early Care and Education Grant Colorado Gives Foundation · Foundation Not published · $5K – $25K The Economic Freedom: Early Care and Education Grant from the Colorado Gives Foundation aims to enhance access to quality child care and education for children under 8 in Jefferson County.	Not published	$5K – $25K
Angus and Anne McMillan Family EHHD Scholarship Grant Montana State University · Foundation Not published · Varies The Angus and Anne McMillan Family EHHD Scholarship at Montana State University supports students pursuing degrees in Home Economics-related fields such as Community Health, Early Childhood Education, and Family and Consumer Sciences.	Not published	Varies

Showing 1–24 of 127

Grants for daycare by the numbers

How deadlines work

Rolling or ongoing: 9 7%
Upcoming date published: 2 2%
Stated cycle, no date yet: 28 22%
No deadline published: 88 69%

Only 2 of these grants publish a date, too few to show a seasonal pattern.

Funders with the most open grants for daycare

State Department of Education 8 open
The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee Inc 8 open
4CS of Passaic County Inc 4 open
Columbus County Partnership for Children Inc 3 open
Kansas Department of Commerce 3 open
Nebraska Early Childhood Collaborative 3 open

94 funders have at least one open grant in this category.

Source: Grantable's grants database, compiled from funder websites, Grants.gov and state grant portals. Figures cover all 127 active grants for daycare (with a deadline today or later, or none published) as of October 4, 2026, and refresh daily. Award amounts are each grant's listed maximum; 1 listed amounts over $10M are left out, since they're usually program-wide totals rather than single awards.

About grants for daycare

Childcare grants help centers start, expand, and improve their programs. The Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) is the largest federal source, distributed through state agencies. Additional funding comes from Head Start, USDA child nutrition programs, and foundations focused on early childhood development.

Grants for Daycare by state

Browse grants for daycare available to organizations in 6 states.

Grants for Daycare in Maryland 10 Grants for Daycare in Illinois 2 Grants for Daycare in Alaska 1 Grants for Daycare in Iowa 1 Grants for Daycare in Vermont 1 Grants for Daycare in Wyoming 1

Frequently Asked Questions

How much money do grants for daycare award?

Of the 127 grants for daycare Grantable lists as of October 4, 2026, 60 publish an award amount. The median listed award is $40K, and the middle half fall between $5,000 and $100K. The largest is $4.5M. Amounts are each grant's stated maximum, so a typical award can be smaller.

Which funders offer the most grants for daycare?

By number of open listings, the most active funders are State Department of Education (8), The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee Inc (8), 4CS of Passaic County Inc (4), Columbus County Partnership for Children Inc (3), and Kansas Department of Commerce (3). In all, 94 funders have at least one open grant in this category.

When are grants for daycare due?

Of 127 grants listed, 9 accept applications on a rolling basis, 2 have a published upcoming deadline, 28 run on a stated cycle (such as annual or quarterly) without a published date, and 88 don't publish a deadline, so check the funder's site.

How do I get a grant to start a daycare center?

Start with your state's Child Care Resource and Referral agency, which can connect you to local startup grants. The SBA offers small business grants applicable to childcare. Many states have specific childcare business grants. The USDA Child and Adult Care Food Program can offset meal costs. Community development financial institutions (CDFIs) also provide startup funding for childcare businesses.

What is the Child Care and Development Fund?

CCDF is the primary federal funding source for childcare, providing about $12 billion annually to states. States use CCDF to subsidize childcare for low-income families, improve childcare quality, and support the childcare workforce. Providers can access CCDF through their state childcare subsidy program.

Are there grants for childcare facility improvements?

Yes. Many states offer facility grants for childcare centers — including playground equipment, safety improvements, and ADA compliance. The USDA provides grants for rural childcare facilities. Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) can fund childcare infrastructure, and some foundations specifically support early childhood facility projects.

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