Arizona Daycare and Child Care Grants
Looking for funds to start, and later on maintain, a child care business is a daunting task especially now that obtaining a bank loan is a very difficult process. Many people who are in the child care business oftentimes draw capital from their savings or borrow from family and friends. In some instances, running a child care business becomes financially unsustainable but operators keep on going just for the love of children and their commitment to provide the community the necessary service of caring children of working parents.
Instead of seeking a bank loan, a better alternative to obtain funding for the continued operation of a child care center is to look for grants that are given by many organizations, both government and private. A single grant may not be enough to sustain the operation of a child care center but is possible to obtain multiple grants to cover the needed capital. The best source of grants for a child care center is the local Child and Family Service Office which can help a child care center access several grant programs. Operators can also tap local businesses to contribute funds toward the establishment and maintenance of the child care center.
Applying for a grant is not easy but it is not as difficult or daunting as it may seem. Most organizations that provide grants have ready application forms which are generally self-explanatory. Some grants are provided for child care centers that work with specific groups of children but it is not the general requirements for most of the child care grants. The basic requirements for availing of a grant include a business license to operate a child care center and a federal tax identification number.
Most grant applications require a grant proposal, which is simply a request for a grant that outlines the reasons why the child care center should be entitled to it. The grant proposal, therefore, must “sell” the business to the grant approval board by enumerating the purpose of the center and the population it will serve. The proposal must explain how the child care center can provide a positive impact on the community that it aims to serve. The proposal must also explain how the grant will be specifically used for.
Different Sources of Grants
- FederalFederal grants are funded by the different agencies of the federal government. Typically, grants from a federal agency are funneled down to the communities through state agencies.U.S. Department of Agriculture – It has two agencies with start-up/expansion funding programs:The Rural Housing Service (RHS) has facility funding available for non-profits or local governments that support child care facilities. (http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rhs/index.html)The Rural Business Cooperative Service has guaranteed loan programs for small business development available for profit child care programs. For eligibility or to apply for any of their programs, contact the state or local Rural Development Office, http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/recd.map.html
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) – The agency has funding programs that support child care services. The Child Care Bureau has several funding programs for child care facilities. http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ccb/
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) – It supports child care facilities near or within public housing, EZ/EC’s, or low-income areas through facility construction using block grants, programs, and networks. To determine eligibility or to apply for any of their programs, contact the state HUD office at http://portal.hud.gov/portal/page/portal/HUD/states
U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) – It provides small businesses financing options, technical assistance, and child care resource information. Check with your local SBA offices at http://www.sba.gov/localresources/index.html
U.S. General Services Administration – It has programs that allow the donation of surplus federal personal property to state and local public agencies and qualifying nonprofits, which include child care centers. Please contact http://www.gsa.gov/Portal/gsa/ep/contentView.do?contentType=GSA_OVERVIEW&contentId=10092&noc=T
There are other federal programs that support child care such as:
The Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) provides child care vouchers to subsidize the cost of care for low-income families as well as funds for state child care quality improvement initiatives. Nearly half of all children receiving CCDF subsidies are between the ages of five and 12. States are required to utilize at least 4 percent of their CCDF funds on quality activities and may also use discretionary funds earmarked by Congress for school-age care quality improvements and/or resource and referral activities. States may choose to use these funds to support initiatives to improve the quality and availability of school-age care, such as training programs or capacity-building grants for afterschool providers.
Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) funds, which provide financial support for low-income families, may also be used to support afterschool programs in ways consistent with one or more of the four purposes of the TANF program. States may either directly spend TANF funds on afterschool programs and initiatives, or states can transfer up to 30 percent of their federal TANF allocation to the CCDF. TANF funds transferred to CCDF are subject to all of the CCDF rules and requirements, and can be used to expand out-of-school time capacity-building and quality-enhancement efforts. Direct TANF spending can provide states with additional flexibility when it comes to afterschool care. For example, funds can support services for older youth and can support programs as well as individual subsidies for children.
The 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21CCLC) is the only federal funding source that exclusively supports afterschool programs. The purpose of 21CCLC is to support community learning centers that provide students with a broad array of academic enrichment services, including tutoring, homework help, and community service, as well as music, arts, sports, and cultural activities. When the program first began in 1998, the U.S. Department of Education made competitive awards directly to school districts. However, following the passage of the No Child Left Behind Act in 2002, 21CCLC was converted into a state formula grant program. As a result, the Department of Education awards grants to State Education Agencies (SEAs), which then manage statewide competitions to grant funds to eligible organizations.
Federal Food and Nutrition Programs may support snacks or meals for afterschool program participants. After school programs may be able to receive reimbursements from one of four different food and nutrition programs administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture: the National School Lunch Program: Afternoon Snacks, the Child and Adults Care Food Program, the Summer Food Service Program and the School Breakfast Program. Reimbursement from these programs can be used to free up funds already spent on meals and snacks to support other program components.
- StateThere are several state agencies in Arizona that fund child care assistance programs. Many grants can be obtained through the Family Child Care and Development Grants. Applications can be made through http://www.governmentgrants.us.In addition, funding sources can be accessed through the following programs of the Arizona Department of Human Services:The Arizona Early Childhood Development & Health BoardFirst Things First as an uplifting reference to the voter-enacted initiative, and to exemplify the importance of early childhood development and health.
Contact Information:
4000 North Central Ave, Suite 800
Phoenix,AZ.85012
Phone: (602) 771-5100 Fax: (602) 265-0009
National School Lunch Program & School Breakfast Program
Contact Information:
Arizona Department of Education
1535 West Jefferson Street, Bin 7
Phoenix, Arizona 85007
Tel: (602) 542-8700
Toll Free: (800) 352-4558
Fax: (602) 542-3818 or (602) 542-1531
Lynn Ladd, RD, SNS, NSLP Health Director
The Special Milk Program
The SMP is available to children of all schools or nonprofit child care institutions which do not participate in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), School Breakfast Program (SBP), the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), or Summer Food Service Program (SFSP). This includes nonprofit day care centers, summer camps, settlement houses and homeless shelters. An eligible shelter’s primary purpose must be to provide shelter and a minimum of one regularly scheduled meal service per day to homeless families. The shelter cannot be a residential child care institution.
Contact Information:
Arizona Department of Education
1535 West Jefferson Street, Bin 7
Phoenix, Arizona 85007
Tel: (602) 542-8700
Toll Free: (800) 352-4558
Fax: (602) 542-3818 or (602) 542-1531
Lynn Ladd, RD, SNS, NSLP Health Director
Lynn.Ladd@azed.gov
https://www.azed.gov/health-safety/cnp/milk/ - PrivatePrivate foundations that are based or operating in the State of Arizona, as well as those operating nationwide, can also be tapped as source of funding for the establishment and operation of child care business, support for parents and families to avail of child care services, and the training of professionals in the field of child care.Some of these foundations are the following:Allyn Family FoundationThe Allyn Family Foundation continues to be interested in organizations concerned with health, education, and welfare in the communities in which each individual trustee resides. Of special concern to the trustees are the status, condition and treatment of women, children, minorities and the underprivileged.
High priority is given to requests for grants in Maricopa County, Arizona, Cook County Illinois, and Morris County, New Jersey, as well as to programs and activities of special interest to the trustees.
Contact Information:
7373 North Scottsdale Road,
Suite E-200, Scottsdale Arizona 85253
(480) 778-8200
Angel Charity for Children, Inc.
Angel Charity for Children, Inc. was founded in 1983 with the mission of raising funds for children’s causes in Pima County. Since then, the Angels have raised more than $14 million for many worthwhile organizations and helped improve life for thousands of children in Southern Arizona.
Contact Information:
Mailing Address:
Steele Children’s Research Center
PO Box 245073
Tucson, Arizona 85724-5073
Director of Development:
Lori Stratton, MPH
520-626-7799
http://www.steelecenter.arizona.edu/supporters/foundations/angel.asp
Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation
Established in 1997, the Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation focuses its efforts on three main areas of need: homelessness, indigent healthcare, and children’s programs of all types, including education and youth baseball field development. Through fundraising activities, the team’s charitable arm has raised and donated more than $14.5 million to the Arizona community.
Contact Information:
http://www.http.com//arizona.diamondbacks.mlb.com/ari/community/grants.jsp
Rockefeller Brothers Fund (RBF)
RBF is dedicated to promoting the well-being of all people in the transition to global interdependence. One of the goals of the fund’s Education Program is to promote universal, quality education and care for pre-K children by using a comprehensive approach to their development, including concerns for health, safety, and readiness to learn. Strategies include supporting development of public policies that promote universal access to early childhood programs, and advancing the professional development of early educators.
Contact Information:
The mission of the Arizona Foundation for Women is to promote innovative solutions to fulfill the unmet needs of Arizona’s Women and Children. The Foundation works to enhance the lives of women and children by investing in and promoting innovative solutions to such issues as domestic violence and child abuse prevention, economic self-sufficiency and self-esteem for young women.
Contact Information:
http://www.azfoundationforwomen.org/
Armstrong McDonald Foundation
The mission of the Armstrong McDonald Foundation is to continue the philanthropic ideals and goals of James M. McDonald, Sr. through prudent and impartial review of all qualifying grant requests received annually to insure that awards are made to soundly conceived and operated non-profit organizations.Areas of funding interest include Animal Welfare, Children and Youth, Education, Health, Relief and Social (community outreach, homeless shelters, shelters for abuse women and children), Special Needs.
Effective December 2008, the Armstrong McDonald Foundation will only accept unsolicited grant requests from those IRS approved non-profits listed on the “Pre-Approved for Grant Submission List.” All other IRS approved non-profits desiring to submit a grant request to this foundation must meet three qualifications.
Contact Information:
LEGAL ADDRESS: 3420 EAST SUNRISE DRIVE, SUITE 200 TUCSON, AZ 85718
APPLICATION ADDRESS: PO BOX 70110, TUCSON, AZ 85737-0110
TELEPHONE: VOICE 520-878-9627 FAX 520-797-3866
E-MAIL: info@ArmstrongMcDonaldFoundation.org
http://www.armstrongmcdonaldfoundation.org/
The mission of the Bank’s Charitable Contributions Program is to help meet the needs of the communities they serve by supporting nonprofit organizations dedicated to improving quality of life, particularly for low- and moderate-income individuals and communities.
The Bank will consider requests for contributions from nonprofit organizations that qualify under the following charitable giving categories: Community and Economic Development, Education and Job Training, Health and Human Care, Civic and Cultural. The Bank actively grants charitable contributions in the communities we serve, which includes several counties in the following 19 states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
Contact Information:
Call Us
(800) 488-BANK (2265)
https://www.bankofthewest.com/customer-service/contact-personal/email-personal.html
Greater Green Valley Community Foundation
The Greater Green Valley Community Foundation (GGVCF) is dedicated to improving the quality of life in communities in the Green Valley area. It focuses on older adults, healthcare, children, housing education, the environment and rural living. Green Valley is located in South Pima County along the I-19 corridor south of Tucson. The area is home to families, retirees, ranches and many growing businesses. The Foundation serves the towns of Green Valley, Sahuarita, Amado, Arivaca, Tubac, Tumacacori and the surrounding area.
Contact Information:
Helios Education Foundation
Helios Education Foundation is one of the largest nonprofit organizations focused exclusively on education within Arizona and Florida. The Foundation works to improve student success across the education continuum in the areas of: Early Childhood Education; the Transition Years (Grades 5 – 12); and Postsecondary Scholarships.
Contact Information:
2415 E. Camelback Road
Suite 500
Phoenix, Arizona 85016-4288
Phone: 602 381 2260
Fax: 602 381 2299
Email: info@helios.org
Normal Hours of Operation:
Mon. – Fri., 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust
The Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust seeks to help people in need, especially women, children and families; to protect animals and nature; and to enrich community life in the metropolitan areas of Indianapolis and Phoenix. The Trust accepts requests from only charitable organizations located in and serving the metropolitan areas of Indianapolis, Indiana and Phoenix, Arizona, with the exception of environmental requests. For environmental requests, the Trust will consider proposals from charitable organizations throughout Arizona and Indiana, if the project has statewide impact.
Contact Information:
Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust
2201 East Camelback Road, Suite 600B
Phoenix, AZ 85016
Phone: 602.955.3000
Fax: 602.955.8029
http://www.ninapulliamtrust.org/
The foundation was incorporated in 1989 with the mission to benefit organizations that assist the needs of children in Arizona. Due to the generosity of fans and sponsors, and underwriting by the team, Phoenix Suns Charities has experienced steady growth and now distributes more than half a million dollars annually to dozens of local charities. Since its inception, Phoenix Suns Charities and the Phoenix Suns have donated more than $7 million to worthy Arizona organizations.
Contact Information:
http://www.nba.com/suns/news/charities_index.html
Phoenix Suns
201 E. Jefferson Street
Phoenix, Arizona, 85004
Phone: 602-379-7900
Fax: 602-379-7990
Steve Nash Foundation
Formed in 2001, given U.S. charitable status in 2004, and Canadian charitable status in 2007, the Steve Nash Foundation is a private foundation dedicated to assisting underserved children in their health, personal development, education and enjoyment of life. Through its own initiatives, and through grants to public service and nonprofit entities, the Foundation aims to grow health in kids by funding projects that provide direct services to children affected by poverty, illness, abuse, or neglect, and create opportunity for education, health, and empowerment.
The Foundation focuses its resources on underserved populations of children in British Columbia, Arizona, and the country of Paraguay.
Contact information:
The Steve Nash Foundation
9400 Sugar Circle
Anchorage, Alaska
99507
Stocker Foundation
The Stocker Foundation is restricted by geography, eligible communities include: Lorain and Cuyahoga counties, Ohio; Pima County, Arizona; Bernalillo and Las Cruces counties, New Mexico, Oakland and San Francisco counties, California; and King County, Washington.
The Foundation mission statement: Our mission statement: “Improving the lives of children, youth, and families – strengthening communities where trustees reside.” It seeks creative ideas and projects – both new and existing – that are catalysts for constructive change and help strengthen communities, families, and educational programs.
Contact Information:
The Stocker Foundation
401 Broadway Avenue, Suite C
Lorain, Ohio 44052
(440) 246-5719
http://www.stockerfoundation.org/default.aspx
Sundt Foundation
The Sundt Foundation is focused on the needs of disadvantaged children and adults. To date, the Foundation has provided more than $2.5 million in aid to community organizations in Arizona, California and Texas.
Contact information:
Charles Boyd, Executive Director
(520) 750-4600
Sundt Foundation
4101 E. Irvington Rd.
Tucson, AZ 85714
http://www.sundt.com/sundt-foundation
Tucson Electric Power’s commitment to our customers goes far beyond providing safe and reliable electrical service. They are an active community partner, dedicated to constantly improving the quality of life for residents of Southern Arizona. Focus areas include Higher education, especially areas that promote careers related to a utility’s workforce; Environmental programs that further understanding and adoption of energy conservation, and protecting community; Programs to support basic health, safety and well-being; Supportive of community economic development and civic activities; Child welfare and family strengthening programs.
Contact Information:
https://www.tep.com/Contact/contactus.asp
http://www.tucsonelectric.com/Community/
Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust
The Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust honors Virginia Galvin Piper’s philanthropic commitment to changing lives and strengthening community in Maricopa County (Arizona). By investing in nonprofits and encouraging strategic planning for the future, Piper Trust strives to make Maricopa County a stronger, more nurturing and vibrant community. The Trust is completing its 10th year in operation. Piper Trust focuses on healthcare and medical research, children, older adults, arts and culture, education and religious organizations.
Contact Information:
1202 East Missouri Avenue,
Phoenix, Arizona 85014
Phone: (480) 948-5853
Fax: (480) 348-1316
