EQUIP Grants Program

Overview

_NOTE: In 2024, Bright Promises will employ our innovative process of convening leaders from across the field of early childhood care and education to help us identify the most urgent, unmet needs of Chicagoland children ages birth to five. Bright Promises will develop a new grant program to respond to these needs that will roll-out in 2025._

Summary

The Early Childhood Education Quality Improvement Program (EQUIP) is a grant funding opportunity of the Bright Promises Foundation (BPF) designed to support quality improvement for licensed, nonprofit early childhood centers (ECCs) in Cook County serving primarily low-income children. With an EQUIP grant, ECCs work with an external consultant to plan, implement, and institutionalize a quality improvement project at the ECC serving all children aged 0-5. Note: there is some flexibility with the age range. For example, if an ECC serves children aged 4-7, the ECC is still eligible to apply.

ECCs may apply for a one-year grant of up to $15,000. The proposed project must promote healthy, age-appropriate growth and development of children. Second-year grants up to $8,000 are available on an application basis. Second-year requests must demonstrate a clear need to refine the project and enhance the sustainability of the program.

Theory of Change

BPF's and EQUIP’s philosophy is that all projects should promote the overall well-being of children by encouraging a love of learning and healthy physical and mental development. The Foundation believes that:

* Young children learn best through experiential learning, activities and play;
* Promoting positive social/emotional skills and resilience is important;
* Learning and development are maximized when parents/caregivers are engaged;
* It is important to acknowledge children’s individual strengths and natural curiosity.

Applicants should demonstrate strategies for ensuring lessons learned and changes in service provision made during the grant period are sustainable and institutionalized. Funded projects should result in the permanent improvement of an ongoing, vital element of the ECC's programs benefiting participants of an ECC for years to come.

EQUIP funds are not singularly designated for professional development; consultants can assist the ECC to create strategies to ensure the project focus becomes part of the ECC's routine functioning. Additional methods of ensuring lasting change include:

* making changes to the center’s guidelines, policies or manuals
* making changes in the written curricula
* including the new approach in new teacher orientation or training
* documenting successful ideas/activities or employing other resources that can be used for future reference

Eligibility

_You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website._

* Must have 501(c)3 IRS designation or fiscal agent

Ineligibility

* Funds cannot be used for general operations
* Agencies cannot operate as a public school or within a public school district
* Programs oriented around a religion will not be considered for funding; and
* Organizations that discriminate based on race, religion, ability, gender or sexual orientation will not be considered