For Early Childhood Professionals
Grants and Financial Opportunities
The 2022-2023 Regional Grant provides FREE money to help cover the cost of supplies, equipment, technology, and training.
Grant funds are offered annually and are awarded on a competitive basis to qualified child care programs in the seven county metro area.
Important Dates
- November 1, 2022 – Award/Denial Letter
- March 31, 2023 – All required training must be completed AND on your Achieve Learning Record
- April 15, 2023 – All receipts and required documentation deadline
Grant Reimbursement Workshop
The workshop will be held once a month on Thursdays from 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm. We will cover the reimbursement process and the steps to complete a request. Simply click on the date that works for you and register. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.- November 17, 2022
- December 15. 2022
- January 19, 2023
- February 16, 2023
- March 23, 2023
- April 13, 2023
Other Helpful Tools & Resources (Click on the red text below to access the document or website.)
- Grant Spending Calculation Spreadsheet – spreadsheet will calculate your expenditures for you. You will know how much you’ve spent and total remaining.
- Example of a Completed Grant Spending Calculation Spreadsheet
- Vendor Calculation Spreadsheet The spreadsheet will help calculate the final total of vendor orders. A built in formula will do the work for you!
- Required Training FAQ
- Knowledge and Competency Framework Informational Handout
- Knowledge and Competency Framework 2021 - Preschool
- KCF Infant Toddler
- FY23 Regional Grant – Additional Information
Emergency Grants are available to assist licensed child care providers/programs and legally exempt school-based school-age care programs experiencing an emergency. An emergency includes occurrences that disrupt a provider/program’s immediate ability to provide care for the children enrolled in their program, or occurrences that jeopardize the health and safety of the children in the program.
Please email grantsrequest@thinksmall.org for availability of funds and to request for an application.
The Start Up Grant is a non-competitive grant available for child care programs that intend to become licensed or have been licensed for six months or less, which are contingent on your program becoming licensed. These funds are available to assist with the costs associated with start-up for newly licensed child care programs and are limited to items and services required by licensing or the Fire Marshall.
The evaluation of the Start-up Grant Application and the Start-up award determination is the amount of funding requested and the appropriateness of the items requested in reference to Minnesota Licensing Rule regarding the need for the items along with any Licensor’s/Fire Marshall’s orders and verification of the items requested.
To inquire, please email suegrantrequest@thinksmall.org.
Applications/Resources:
Families may apply for Early Learning Scholarships. Scholarships can help pay for high-quality childcare and early education to help children get ready for kindergarten. Early Learning Programs must participate in Parent Aware to serve scholarship children.
Think Small accepts applications for families living in Ramsey and Hennepin County.
Click here for the application and more details.
Please contact Think Small at 651-641-6604 or scholarships@thinksmall.org if you have questions about helping families fill out the application.