Early Care and Education Grant Program
Funding Amount
Up to US $20,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Grant Type
Foundation
Can we apply?
Check your organization against each line. Taken from the listing; confirm with the funder's guidelines.
Eligible organizations
- SMIF's 20-county region includes:Blue Earth, Brown, Dodge, Faribault, Fillmore, Freeborn, Goodhue, Houston, Le Sueur, Martin, Mower, Nicollet, Olmsted, Rice, Sibley, Steele, Wabasha, Waseca, Watonwan, Winona.
Required status
- 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status
Other requirements
- Funding requests can be up to a maximum of $20,000 for this oneIf you have a current grant, include a status update of your project in order to qualify.
- Projects must be completed within one year of the grant award date.
- Projects are encouraged to support underserved & diverse populations unit/agency of government or a public institution.
Not eligible / not funded
- Not eligible: Ineligible organizations or activities include:Individuals, businesses, or other for-profit organizations.
- Not eligible: Nonprofit organizations other than IRS-designated 501(c)(3) organizations.
- Not eligible: General operating expenses.
- Not eligible: Capital funding, campaigns, or endowments.
- Not eligible: Funds for re-granting or loan pools
Overview
The Early Care and Education Grant Program, initiated by the Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation, aims to provide funding for early care and education services for children from birth to age five in southern Minnesota. Eligible organizations can apply for grants up to $20,000 to support essential services, including health and training for young children. This initiative promotes community collaboration and supports diverse populations, ensuring impactful developmental resources are accessible.
Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation
Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation (SMIF) is a regional development and philanthropic organization that fosters economic and community vitality in the 20 counties of southern Minnesota through a culture of collaboration and partnership. .
The Early Care and Education Grant program will help fund early care and education services for children birth to age five. Organizations that work with these children in SMIF’s 20-county region are eligible to apply.
Grant funds could be used to support social, emotional, physical and mental health, training and development to operate and address the needs of young children, or other activities necessary to maintain the services in early care and education.
Eligibility
SMIF's 20-county region includes:Blue Earth, Brown, Dodge, Faribault, Fillmore, Freeborn, Goodhue, Houston, Le Sueur, Martin, Mower, Nicollet, Olmsted, Rice, Sibley, Steele, Wabasha, Waseca, Watonwan, WinonaFunding requests can be up to a maximum of $20,000 for this oneIf you have a current grant, include a status update of your project in order to qualifyProjects must be completed within one year of the grant award dateProjects are encouraged to support underserved & diverse populations unit/agency of government or a public institution.Proposals must be submitted by an independent 501(c)(3) organization, Only one application per organization will be considered.
Ineligibility
Ineligible organizations or activities include:Individuals, businesses, or other for-profit organizationsNonprofit organizations other than IRS-designated 501(c)(3) organizationsGeneral operating expensesCapital funding, campaigns, or endowmentsFunds for re-granting or loan pools
What Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation actually gave
Source: IRS Form 990, 2025
- Grants in 2025
- 102
- Total given
- $1.89M
- Median grant
- $12K
- Range
- $5,169–$100K
- By dollars: Minnesota 100%. Top recipient cities: Rochester, MN; Northfield, MN; Owatonna, MN.
- 0% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.
- 53% of recipients were new grantees, not repeat recipients.
Example grants
Minnesota Farmers' Market Association · Nerstrand, MN
"grow your green program
$100K
Renewing the Countryside II · Hammond, MN
Expanding impacts in southern minnesota's food systems
$100K
Village Agricultural Cooperative · Rochester, MN
Gaining critical capacity for farming entrepreneurs; food aggregation support
$80K
Families First of Minnesota · Rochester, MN
Childrens books distributed through early childhood program literacy grants
$61K
Region Nine Development Commission · Mankato, MN
Growing the grower's network; support underserved farmers in south central minnesota
$60K
Focus Areas & Funding Uses
Fields of Work
- Child care
- Preschools
- Education
Categories
Browse similar grants by category
Related Grants
Open grants from this funder and similar programs
Essentia Health Community Grant
Bridges Medical Center
Amount
Varies (>$2M to 189 nonprofits last year)
Deadline
Rolling
Community Grant
Bridges Medical Center
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling (quarterly review)
Community Grant
Deer River Healthcare Center Inc
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling (quarterly review)
Community Grant Program
SMDC Medical Center
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling (quarterly review)
Essentia Health Community Grant
Graceville Health Center
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling (quarterly review)
Community Grant
Essentia Health Moose Lake
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling (quarterly review)
Ready to apply for Early Care and Education Grant Program?
Grantable helps you assess fit, draft narratives, and track deadlines — so you can submit stronger applications, faster.
You found Early Care and Education Grant Program. Now let's win it.