The Initiative Foundation is pleased to announce COVID-19 Early Childhood Grants Program.

The overarching goal of these grants is to support early childhood programming that benefits children birth to 8 who are adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, including illness, economic displacement and the interruption of educational and/or development supports.

Emphasis for the second round of grants will be placed on equity in support of underserved communities, including:

• Areas of concentrated poverty
• Ethnic minorities and/or English-as-a-second-language
• Disabled individuals and/or those in rural areas who lack access to basic early childhood educational services

Funding Information

• Second-round grants will provide immediate support for educational programming, including up to six grants of $15,000 to support distance learning for large groups of vulnerable children.
• Up to $30,000 will be awarded to support training, including a maximum of $5,000 for education which benefits multiple entities, or $2,500 for sole entity training. These grants are intended to fortify mental health services or support for educators or providers; social, emotional and physical health supports for early childhood professionals and children; and training and development to more effectively operate and address student needs during the pandemic.

Eligibility Criteria

• Applicants must demonstrate that all funds will be used to support or otherwise benefit children (ages birth to 8) within the Initiative Foundation’s 14-county service area: Benton, Cass, Chisago, Crow Wing, Isanti, Kanabec, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Pine, Sherburne, Stearns, Todd, Wadena and Wright counties and the sovereign tribal nations of the Leech Lake and Mille Lacs Bands of Ojibwe.
• Funding requests for use outside of this geography will not be considered. Individuals are not eligible to apply for grant funds.
• School districts are eligible to apply but may wish to explore MDE funding exclusively available to schools.

For more information, visit Initiative Foundation.