Wisconsin Daycare and Child Care Grants
Start-up capital in any business is always the main concern for any first-time entrepreneur. Starting a business from home is not an exception. Getting a bank loan for the initial capital is not even harder for most businesses. The budding entrepreneur usually resorts to getting soft loans from family and friends, their kids’ college fund, and their retirement fund. This is specially true for day care or child care services, where it is the thought of caring for children which motivated starting a childcare service in the first place.
Of course, there are other sources of funding. Besides getting a bank loan, or a mortgage, it is also possible to get government grants to start your own day care center. Admittedly, these start up grants may not be large enough for the operations, but there are some grants which can be obtained on top of earlier grants. Multiple grants for child care are not uncommon.
Government grant application is a relatively strict procedure where you have to follow the rules, which includes the submission of documents from various agencies, and to show that there is a need for a day care center within your area. For multiple grant applications, the local Child and Family Services Office can help the day care operator for the much needed support and fund sourcing.
Like a bank loan for a startup business, the grant application needs to have a separate submission of a study or a proposal which outlines the needs of the community and how the day care center can fill that need. Like any other proposal, the grant proposal is not just a feasibility study but more of “selling point” for the whole idea of a day care. Although some of the points are self-evident, enumerating these obvious advantages in the grant proposal is very important, not just for completeness but also to clarify what the day care would provide and how it would go about filling that need for the community.
Different Sources of Grants
- Federal
Federal 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.
- State
There are several state agencies in Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin Department of Human Services:
Wisconsin Department of Children and Families
Child Support Program
The Child Support Program contributes to the well-being of children through the establishment of paternity and the establishment and enforcement of court-ordered child support and medical support obligations.Department of Children and Families
201 East Washington Avenue, Second Floor
P.O. Box 8916
Madison, WI 53708-8916Telephone: 608-267-3905
Fax: 608-266-6836
Email: dcfweb@wisconsin.gov
http://dcf.wisconsin.gov/contact_us.htmEarly Childhood Special Education
Each school district in Wisconsin is responsible for providing a continuum of Special Education and Related Services to Children with Disabilities and who need special education. Children are evaluated to determine if they met the one of the state’s eligibility criteria. Special education and related services may provide consultation to staff, direct services to the child, training related to the disability, and other services that are identified in the child’s Individualized Education Program.
Erin Arango-Escalante
Early Childhood Special Education Consultant
Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction
125 South Webster Street
P.O. Box 7841
Madison, WI 53707-7841Phone: (608) 267-9172
Fax: (608) 267-3746Head Start in Wisconsin
Head Start is a Federal program for preschool children from low-income families. In Wisconsin, non-profit organizations, schools, community action commissions or other local grantees operate the Head Start program. Children who attend Head Start participate in a variety of educational activities. They also receive free medical and dental care. They are served healthy meals and snacks. Their parents are partners in the program and have a wide array of social services available as needed. Most communities in Wisconsin are served, at least in part, by Head Start programs. Early Head Start is also available in several Wisconsin communities and serves children birth to age 3 and their families. Federal funds flow directly to state Head Start grantees.
Contact Information:
Jill A. Haglund
(608) 267-9625
jill.haglund@dpi.wi.gov
http://dpi.wi.gov/ec/echdstrt.htmlEarly Childhood Kindergarten
Many parents ask how they can best get their child ready for kindergarten. The state law says that children are eligible for kindergarten based on their age and not on their skills. Good kindergarten curriculums are able to address the wide range of development levels that are natural in any kindergarten program. In today’s society parents feel pressure to “prepare” their child for school. Sometimes this pressure leads to unrealistic expectations that are heavily focused on learning specific academic skills rather than the a more appropriate focus of play, adult child interactions, and learning opportunities that promote basic child development. ild a strong foundation for school.
Contact Information:
Jill A. Haglund
(608) 267-9625
jill.haglund@dpi.wi.gov
http://dpi.wi.gov/ec/echdstrt.html - Private
Private foundations that are based or operating in the State of Wisconsin, 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:
Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation
The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation is a private foundation that looks beyond need to identify and develop pivotal opportunities for improving the education of children and creating successful businesses in Kansas City and nationwide. Through a series of grants, the foundation will invest $10 million over 5 years in demonstration projects to improve the quality of early education for children in Kansas and Missouri. The projects are designed to promote positive outcomes for young children and their families by linking professional development, quality of early education, and increased teachers’ compensation. The foundation has supported publication of major resources in early childhood education, including From Neurons to Neighborhoods: The Science of Early Childhood Development, and a public policy report, Financing Child Care.
http://www.emkf.orgCharles D Jacobus Family Foundation
Generally, the Foundation awards grants twice a year. In September, the Special Program/Milwaukee Healthy Children’s Initiative grants are awarded. Capital grants are awarded in December. All grants are limited to tax-exempt organizations in Southeastern Wisconsin, but mainly in Milwaukee County.Contact Information:
Mailing Address
Missy MacLeod, President
Charles D. Jacobus Family Foundation
P.O. Box 13009
Milwaukee, WI 53213-0009Phone: Please call Missy MacLeod at (414) 577-0252
Fax: (414) 359-1357
E-mail: foundation@jacobusenergy.com
http://www.cdjff.org/Community Foundation of Chippewa County
As it continues to grow and develop permanent endowments, the Community Foundation of Chippewa County, Inc. is committed to expanding its ability to support a wide variety of qualified organizations and programs. Fields of interest include but are not limited to children, youth, and families; arts and culture; education; community development; social justice; health and medicine; animals; and the environment.Contact Information:
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 153
Chippewa Falls , WI 54729
Phone: (715) 723-8125
Fax: (715) 720-0834
Email:comfdn@comfdncc.org
http://www.comfdncc.org/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:
http://www.rbf.orgHelen Bader Foundation
The Helen Bader Foundation, Inc. strives to be a philanthropic leader in improving the quality of life of the diverse communities in which it works. The Foundation makes grants, convenes partners, and shares knowledge to affect emerging issues in key areas: Alzheimer’s & Aging, Early Childhood Development in Israel, Economic Development, Jewish Life and Learning, Youth Development, Community Initiatives & Directed Grants, Nonprofit Management, Program Related Investments (PRI).Contact Information:
http://www.hbf.org/
USA
233 North Water Street
Fourth Floor
Milwaukee, WI 53202
Tel: 414/224-6464
Fax: 414/224-1441Hugh J. Andersen Foundation
The mission of the Hugh J. Andersen Foundation is to give back to our community through focused efforts that foster inclusivity, promote equality, and lead to increased human independence, self sufficiency and dignity. The Foundation’s primary geographic area of focus is the St. Croix Valley: Washington County in Minnesota and Pierce, Polk and St. Croix Counties in Wisconsin. Secondarily, there is an interest in St. Paul, Minnesota. Programmatic Focus: Serving children and youth, especially those that provide personal development activities; Providing various social support services to the community at large; Providing access to health-related services and information; Providing educational opportunities and enrichment to the general community.Contact Information:
SRI
White Pine Building
342 5th Avenue North
Bayport, MN 55003
Telephone: (651) 439-1557
Facsimile: (651) 439-9480
Email: contact@srinc.biz
https://www.srinc.biz/index.htmlJane Bradley Pettit Foundation
The Jane Bradley Pettit Foundation will provide funds to initiate and sustain projects in the Greater Milwaukee community. The Foundation will focus on programs and projects that serve low-income and disadvantaged individuals, women, children and the elderly. The Foundation will support charitable organizations that address these concerns through arts and culture, community and social development, education and health.Contact Information:
http://www.jbpf.org/contact.html
http://www.jbpf.org/Kenosha Community Foundation
The Kenosha Community Foundation supports programs that improve the general welfare and enhance the quality of life for residents of the greater Kenosha community. Areas of funding interest include women and children; cultural life and public art; youth leadership activities, women’s health initiatives, and senior citizen programs.Contact Information:
Kenosha Community Foundation
600 52nd Street, Suite 110
Kenosha, WI 53140
Telephone: 262/654-2412
Fax: 262/654-2615
Email: email@kenoshafoundation.org
http://www.kenoshafoundation.org/La Crosse Community Foundation
The La Crosse Community Foundation uses returns on its restricted and unrestricted endowments to support organizations which make contributions for the betterment of the people who live in the greater La Crosse area. Areas of interest include social justice, health care, hunger needs, education, the arts, environmental programs, and assisting children and women’s initiatives.Contact Information:
http://www.laxcommfoundation.com/
La Crosse Community Foundation
300 Second St. N, Ste. 320
La Crosse, WI 54601
(608) 782-3223Oconomowoc Area Foundation
The Foundation makes grants to organizations that serve communities within the Oconomowoc school district (including all of the town of Ixonia) as well as Dousman and Nashotah. It is not necessary that the organization be physically located within these communities, but that it be able to demonstrate that it is providing services to the residents of these communities.The priorities for support from the Fund are:
Programs for children and youth, particularly teens; Services to the elderly, particularly those with limited access to community services; Arts and cultural programs;
Programs providing support services for persons facing life-threatening conditions or for the families of such persons;
Programs that preserve the environment through reduction of pollution, conservation or restoration of natural areas, education or protection of wildlife; Economic development.
Contact Information:
Oconomowoc Area Foundation
P.O. Box 185
Oconomowoc, WI 53066
Call: 262-567-0604
http://www.oconomowocareafoundation.com/Oscar G. & Elsa S. Mayer Family Foundation – Chicago, WI, Midwest & National Focus
The Oscar G. & Elsa S. Mayer Family Foundation seeks to partner with and support those agencies in the United States that are passionately and effectively supporting children and youth by finding and implementing solutions to the issues that are negatively impacting them.Areas of funding interest include Family/Parenting Relationship, Educational Enhancement, Health/Wellness, Community/Neighborhood Development. While the Foundation enjoys a rich heritage of focusing support toward agencies in Chicago, Illinois, Wisconsin, and the Midwest, worthy organizations in other geographical areas having projects that offer innovative and entrepreneurial solutions to children and youth issues can be considered.
Contact Information:
http://ogmayerfamilyfoundation.org/
The Oscar G. & Elsa S. Mayer Family Foundation
One South Pinckney Street, Suite 312
Madison, WI 53703
Harold F. Mayer mfndn@aol.com
Barbara J. Pope bjppc@aol.comReiman Foundation
The Reiman Foundation primary interests rest in supporting three types of endeavors – education, health care and children’s initiatives. There is no set deadline to apply for a grant from the Reiman Foundation Inc. We review and make decisions on applications received on an on-going basis throughout the year.Contact Information:
http://www.reimanfoundation.org/
Reiman Foundation, Inc.
115 South 84th Street, Suite 221
Milwaukee, WI 53214
Phone: (414) 456-0600
Fax: (414) 456-0606
reimanfoundation@hexagoninc.com
