New Grant Opportunity For Early Childhood Providers in Dubois County

 

Dubois County, IN, March 31, 2025 – Early childhood education (ECE) providers in Dubois County have an opportunity to strengthen and expand their programs through the Early Care & Education Grant. This funding opportunity is designed to increase program capacity and enhance quality in nonprofit and school-based early childhood programs, ensuring more children have access to high-quality learning experiences.

The grant is made possible by the Early Care & Education initiative of Dubois County, with funding support from the Dubois County Community Foundation. This initiative aligns with a countywide effort to expand access to high-quality early education and support the growth and sustainability of local childcare programs.

Funding will be awarded to projects that align with one or more of the following goals:

Increasing Capacity – Expanding the ability to serve more children such as:

o    Adding new classrooms or age groups

o    Extending operating hours to meet family needs

o    Hiring additional qualified staff to reduce waitlists and improve child-to-teacher ratios

Advancing Quality – Enhancing program quality and meeting state and national early childhood education standards, such as:

  • Pursuing licensure to meet Indiana’s childcare regulations

  • Becoming a registered ministry to comply with faith-based childcare guidelines

  • Advancing on Paths to QUALITY™ (PTQ), Indiana’s voluntary quality rating system

  • Implementing research-based curriculum, assessment tools or professional development initiatives

Strengthening Organizational Capacity – Investing in the long-term success of early childhood programs through:

  • Strategic planning for sustainable growth

  • Board development and governance training

  • Recruitment, training, and retention of early childhood educators

Eligibility & Application

Nonprofit and school-based early childhood programs located in Dubois County are eligible to apply. Eligible organizations can apply for grants of up to $10,000. The application deadline is April 18. For more information on how to apply, contact Nicole Lampert at nicole@dccommunityfoundation.org or (812) 482-5295.

 
Nicole Lampert