Child Care Grants in Illinois
Last updated September 27, 2026
There are 14 active child care grants tagged to Illinois, part of 496 active child care grants listed nationwide. Updated daily.
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| ★ | Grant |
|---|---|
| FY27 480-50-3708 Migrant and Seasonal Head Start Early Childhood · State Rolling · Varies Provide a full-day, comprehensive Head Start child development program to children, ages six weeks to six years, from migrant and seasonal farm-worker families. | |
| FY27 480-20-3706 Child Care Resource and Referral Program - Child Care Assistance Program Early Childhood · State Rolling · Varies Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) agencies are hubs for coordination of diverse child care activities in each regional community of Illinois. | |
| FY27 480-20-3968 Smart Start Illinois Early Childhood Apprenticeship – Pilot Early Childhood · State Rolling · Varies The field of early childhood education (ECE) is facing a workforce crisis that can ultimately have a negative impact on child care programs and the children and families they serve. | |
| FY27 480-10-3700 Early Childhood Block Grant: Prevention Initiative 0-3 Early Childhood · State Rolling · Varies To provide funds for intensive, research-based, and comprehensive child development and family support services for expectant parents and families with children from birth to age 3 to help them build a strong foundation for learning and to… | |
| FY27 480-20-3969 Smart Start Quality Support (SSQS) Program - Pilot Early Childhood · State Rolling · Varies The Smart Start Quality Support (SSQS) Program, formerly the ExceleRate Pilot, began in State Fiscal Year 2021 and continues to support licensed child care centers (Grantee) in the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) Cost Area 2 serving… | |
| Communityworks Endowment Fund (Community Foundation Serving West Central Illinois & Northeast Missouri) Community Foundation of · Foundation Rolling · Varies The Communityworks Endowment Fund supports '501(c)(3) organizations or units of government that advances workforce development, childcare, and early childhood education in Adams, Brown, Hancock, and Pike Counties, IL'. | |
| FY27 480-20-3970 Smart Start Workforce Grants Early Childhood · State Rolling · Varies The purpose of Smart Start Workforce Grants is to provide child care homes, child care centers, and group family care homes with the stable, ongoing funding needed to support recruitment and retention of early childhood workforce members. | |
| FY27 480-20-3722 All Our Kids Early Childhood Networks Early Childhood · State Rolling · Varies All Our Kids Early Childhood Networks (AOK Networks) are community-based collaborations that promote healthy pregnancies and the positive growth and development of all children birth to five and their parents/caregivers by assuring a… | |
| FY27 480-20-3721 Statewide CCR&R and Provider Supports and Services Early Childhood · State Rolling · Varies Contractor is to provide services for 1) statewide quality improvement and workforce professional development programs for child care providers and practitioners (Great START, Gateways Scholarship, Gateways Credentials, etc.), 2) supports… | |
| FY27 480-50-3707 Head Start Early Childhood · State Rolling · Varies The Head Start State Collaboration Office (HSCO) is a federal-state partnership funded by the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) Office of Head Start as the state point of contact for Head Start and collaboration to assist in… | |
| FY27 480-20-3956 AOK Networks Evaluation & Systems Support Early Childhood · State Rolling · Varies The Awardee will provide statewide evaluation, systems support, data management, training, and technical assistance for the All Our Kids (AOK) Early Childhood Networks Initiative. | |
| FY27 480-20-3718 Leadership Training and Tiered Reimbursement – Quality Discretionary Grantee Early Childhood · State Rolling · Varies Contractor is to provide Early Childhood Leadership Training, which includes: 1.) Taking Charge of Change Leadership Training for child care center administrators, 2.) Technology Training for child care center administrators and 3.) Family… | |
| FY27 480-40-3710 IDEC Home Visiting Early Childhood · State Rolling · Varies The IDEC Home Visiting Program supports pregnant people and parents with young children ages 0-5 who live in Illinois communities that face greater risks and barriers to achieving positive maternal and child health outcomes. | |
| FY27 480-20-3714 - Child Care Assistance Program- Early Childhood Mental Health Consultants Early Childhood · State Rolling · Varies Provide coordination of the Early Childhood Mental Health Consultant (IECMHC) program throughout the state in each of the Child Care Resource and Referral’s designated (CCR&R) Service Delivery Area (SDA). |
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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
Other grant categories in Illinois
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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