Daycare Grants

Daycare grants to help you get started.

Daycare is an expensive business but fortunately several states offer daycare grants for eligible facilities. This financial help comes from various companies, foundations or the government and can be used towards specific facilities for your family daycare program. If you have an in home daycare center you might be able to qualify to erect a perimeter fence under a government grant, for example.

If you are not sure whether you are entitled to daycare grants from the government, obtain information about available funding in your area. Certain tasks that you might want to perform to upgrade your facilities and quality of care might be covered by the state. You should first find out whether you are eligible or not and whether the task that needs to be paid for is covered.

Information about daycare grants can be obtained by requesting a Foundations Book. This lists information on grant seekers and grant funders. You can also call your local United Way office. They will be able to direct you to the closest Center for Non-Profit Development to your locality. To request a 990 form ask for help from the resource librarian at your local library. Some 990 forms can be obtained from Center for Non-Profit Development Libraries.

What do you need the daycare grants for? If you need the money to install play equipment why not ask local businesses in your area to sponsor the installation for you? IRS laws typically require that a foundation may only contribute to non-profit organization that hold a 501(c)3 certification. So your center might not be eligible under state laws.

On your hunt for daycare grants keep an eye out for foundations and corporations that provide assistance for organizations that take care of children and families and children. If possible, try to contact the organization telephonically before you send in your written grant proposal.

However, you should not despair if you find that you do not qualify for daycare grants. There are many other ways to raise money for the equipment or facilities that you need. Parents could be approached to help raise funds and so could the church. As mentioned earlier you could approach local businesses and ask for sponsorship or talk to the local church community about arranging a fundraiser.

Daycare grants are not the only way to obtain funding for your center but you should definitely explore the option before turning to other sources of funding. You might find that you are indeed entitled to assistance that can dramatically improve the care you provide the children in your care.

So be sure to check out our pages about Daycare Providers, Daycare Business, Starting A Home Daycare, In Home Daycares, and Starting A Daycare Center elsewhere on this site.