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NEW! EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION SUSTAINABILITY GRANTS

NEW! Early Childhood Education Sustainability Grants

A grant to assist with sustainability of quality nonprofit early education centers or qualified childcare homes in Northwest Kansas, the Dane G. Hansen Foundation, the State of Kansas – through the Children’s Cabinet, and the Patterson Family Foundation, have collaborated to create this permanently endowed grant fund.

The grant is offered through the Greater Northwest Kansas Community Foundation. Click the apply button below to access the grant on the GNWKCF website.

The following organizations are eligible to apply:

  • Non-profit organizations,
  • Public School districts,
  • Private Schools with verified charitable status, or
  • Governmental organizations.
  • In certain situations, grants can work through governmental or qualified non-profit entities to assist in the sustainability of licensed childcare homes.

Organizations must be in the 26-county service area covered by the Dane G. Hansen Foundation and which includes: Cheyenne, Cloud, Decatur, Ellis, Ellsworth Gove, Graham, Jewell, Lincoln, Logan, Mitchell, Norton, Osborne, Ottawa, Phillips, Rawlins, Republic, Rooks, Russell, Saline, Sheridan, Sherman, Smith, Thomas, Trego, and Wallace Counties.

Childcare facilities must meet the following eligibility requirements:

  • Licensed and in good standing with KDHE.
  • Operates within appropriate KDHE staffing ratios and accepts children 2 weeks to 6 years of age.
  • Accepts DCF subsidy payments.
  • Open for at least 6 and less than 24 hours/day.
  • Facility is NOT located in provider’s home
  • Facility has non-profit status or the equivalent (church, government or public school)
  • Review criteria to ensure eligibility
  • Complete the application
  • If funded, complete a grant report within 30 days of project completion or within 12 months maximum.

Please email:  grants@gnwkcf.org with the following information:

Subject line: Childcare Grant Emergency Request Submitted
Included in the body of the email:

  • Name of the grant request.
  • Name of the Facility
  • Brief summary of the urgent need.

 
You will still need to complete and submit the full application.

Please note, emergency grants would include an issue that requires immediate attention for the childcare facility to remain open or provide appropriate care to the children. Note the regular application deadlines for issues that are causing sustainability concerns but are not immediate.

For non-emergent applications, grants are due by:

  • July 31, 2025
  • October 31, 2025
  • January 30, 2026
  • April 30, 2026

Applications will be reviewed and grants announced in early September, December March and May.

Questions?

Contact the grant staff at Greater Northwest Kansas Community Foundation: grants@gnwkcf.org for questions on the application process or timing.

Apply Here