Child Care Grants in Illinois

Last updated July 2, 2026

There are 14 active child care grants tagged to Illinois, part of 490 active child care grants listed nationwide. Updated daily.

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Type	Grant	Funder	Deadline ▲	Amount
State	FY27 480-20-3721 Statewide CCR&R and Provider Supports and Services	Early Childhood	Rolling	Varies
State	FY27 480-20-3722 All Our Kids Early Childhood Networks	Early Childhood	Rolling	Varies
State	FY27 480-20-3718 Leadership Training and Tiered Reimbursement – Quality Discretionary Grantee	Early Childhood	Rolling	Varies
State	FY27 480-20-3956 AOK Networks Evaluation & Systems Support	Early Childhood	Rolling	Varies
State	FY27 480-20-3968 Smart Start Illinois Early Childhood Apprenticeship – Pilot	Early Childhood	Rolling	Varies
State	FY27 480-20-3970 Smart Start Workforce Grants	Early Childhood	Rolling	Varies
State	FY27 480-20-3706 Child Care Resource and Referral Program - Child Care Assistance Program	Early Childhood	Rolling	Varies
State	FY27 480-20-3969 Smart Start Quality Support (SSQS) Program - Pilot	Early Childhood	Rolling	Varies
State	FY27 480-10-3704 Early Childhood Block Grant: Early Childhood-PFA/PFAE Training and Technical Assistance	Early Childhood	Rolling	Varies
State	FY27 480-40-3710 IDEC Home Visiting	Early Childhood	Rolling	Varies
State	FY27 480-40-3713 Maternal Child Home Visiting	Early Childhood	Rolling	Varies
State	FY27 480-20-3714 - Child Care Assistance Program- Early Childhood Mental Health Consultants	Early Childhood	Rolling	Varies
State	FY27 480-10-3702 Early Childhood Block Grant - Early Childhood - Prevention Initiative Training and Technical Assistance: Birth to 3 Years	Early Childhood	Rolling	Varies
State	FY27 480-10-3700 Early Childhood Block Grant: Prevention Initiative 0-3	Early Childhood	Rolling	Varies

Showing 1–14 of 14

About child care grants in Illinois

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.

Child Care Grants in other states

Child Care Grants in Maryland 17 Child Care Grants in Minnesota 4 Child Care Grants in Iowa 2 Child Care Grants in Delaware 1 Child Care Grants in Michigan 1 Child Care Grants in North Carolina 1 Child Care Grants in Wyoming 1

Other grant categories in Illinois

Child Welfare Grants in Illinois 4 Grants for Foster Care in Illinois 1 Child Abuse Prevention Grants in Illinois 1

Frequently Asked Questions

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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