Grants

Early childhood programs often operate on tight profit margins and many lack the budgetary flexibility required for costly improvements to the building, classroom, or playground. Our grants are competitive opportunities for early childhood programs and offer important capital improvement funding.

Why Learning Environments Matter

Environmental psychology and architectural researchers have shown a correlation between school design and student achievement and teacher retention. Children need well-designed spaces to promote active learning and in an industry challenged to retain experienced teachers, facilities can contribute to a positive work environment, and enhance job satisfaction. High-quality learning environments also convey a sense of value while creating a setting where children are able to thrive.

Well-designed facilities can:

  • Ensure health and safety requirements are met
  • Support age-appropriate child development
  • Provide a positive workplace in a field challenged by high turnover
  • Encourage family involvement

Eligibility

We award capital improvement grants twice each year for both indoor and outdoor improvement projects. For some grants, applicants must show evidence of matching dollars or other sources of funding for the project. We encourage you to review the requirements for each grant and find the one that best meets your need. To ensure applicants are prepared and understand the guidelines, we host several informational webinars to guide potential applicants through the process.

 
There are no open Grant Opportunities at this time. Please check back again soon.

*Check out our Resource page for other grant opportunities from our partners.

2020 Grant Recipients

Grant supports 501(c)3 nonprofit child care programs to complete capital improvement projects that are needed in order to obtain or maintain a child care license and keep spaces safe for the children and staff.​

 

Bethany Busy Bee Preschool, Arapahoe

Divine Redeemer Catholic School, El Paso

Early Excellence Program of Denver, Denver

First Steps at Monarch Montessori, Denver

Little Lambs, Trinity Early Learning Center, Morgan

Maslow Academy of Applied Learning/Bright Beginnings, Montrose

Off Broadway Preschool of Fine Arts, Boulder

Rio Grande Child Development and Family Services, Rio Grande

Season’s Schoolhouse, Gunnison

St. Rose of Lima Preschool, Denver

The Learning Tree, Eagle

Zach’s Place Program for Children with Disabilities. El Paso

Quotes from Grantees

On behalf of the board of directors, staff, and the families we serve, thank you for your grant award to Family Star to support our renovation and relocation. Your gift truly helped launch our capital campaign and has inspired other foundations and individuals to make contributions- further increasing the impact of your gift! Through support of organizations like yours Family Star has been able to provide an inclusive montessori education to Denver children, in addition to a wide range of family support services for over 20 years.

Ginny Trierweiler, Ph.D.
Family Star Montessori
Denver

On behalf of the BMH-BJ Preschool, we want to express our heartfelt thanks for your support of our playground renovation. Without your generous contribution, we would have never been able to achieve our dream. Our students set foot on the playground for the first time on February 28th and the sounds of pure joy as they saw it made the hard work we all put in very worthwhile!

Sarah Raphaely, BMH-BJ Preschool Board President

&

Lindsey Levin-Salamon, BMH-BJ Preschool Director

A teacher observed, “the transformation in the Big Room is significant due to the installation of new lights. The most dramatic change is the absence of a constant buzz emitted from old lights. The sound was an irritant and we now have a more peaceful and calm environment. The new lights also give an even brightness to our space. Very cheerful and welcoming! On behalf of the Board of Trustees, staff, families, and children we serve, thank you for your grant award to Paddington Station Preschool to upgrade lighting at our school.

Deb Deverell, Ph.D.
Paddington Station
Denver