| The 6 Important Steps | | | | Rotary, Kiwanis, and United Way. |
| There are many questions circulating these | | | | Also, keep in mind corporations and businesses in your |
| day’s on how to get grants to start up a small | | | | area. Many a time I will enter a business and ask them |
| business or daycare. Unfortunately I’m here to | | | | if they have anything they would like to contribute. One |
| tell you that if you are a non-profit daycare finding | | | | example would be going to a paper factory, stationary |
| “free” money will be difficult. But | | | | etc or any office that throws out paper. Remember, |
| don’t give up, just because the government is | | | | you need paper for your daycare and would be able |
| unwilling to supplement a business start ups cost | | | | to utilize what they consider trash. |
| doesn’t mean that it’s totally hopeless. It is | | | | 2. After you have contacted the above mentioned |
| your duty to be creative in coming up with the supplies | | | | organizations your next step would be to request their |
| that you will need to start up your business. In the | | | | guidelines and applications. At this point and time |
| home study course, many of these issues are | | | | necessary information should be collected to |
| addressed. Realistically you can set up a very | | | | determine whether you and the funder are a good fit. |
| profitable business if you think a little differently from | | | | One research tool that would help you in your |
| everyone else. | | | | determination would be Grant Smart ([ |
| One tip is non-profit independent child care business | | | | 3. Write a description of your need for money. You will |
| owners can try a service called, “Foundation | | | | have a discuss why you need the money and what |
| Grants to Individuals Online”. This service is an | | | | your purpose will be for those funds. Other questions |
| online listing offering grants to individuals in the U.S. To | | | | that you should be asking yourself is, why should the |
| learn more you can go to There is a charge of $9.95 | | | | project be done?, how long will it take?, how much it |
| per month for this service. | | | | will cost?, who will do the work?, and most of all, how |
| Here are some important steps in finding childcare | | | | will it impact the quality of childcare you will provide? |
| grant money: | | | | 4. Prepare your proposal letter. Your letter will |
| 1. Do your due diligence and research. Your first step | | | | encompass and expand on why you need the grant |
| should be calling your licensing bureau office, referral | | | | funds, and what your purpose is behind it, and how it |
| agency, and child care organizations. The other | | | | will benefit your program. Be sure to include any |
| organizations that also should be called an are affiliated | | | | statistics and demographics that will influence your |
| with childcare are: Head Start, Child Care and | | | | cause. Attach any letters of support from parents, |
| Development Fund, Social Services Block Grant, Child | | | | people in the community advocating your project. As |
| and Adult Care Food Program, Even Start, Individuals | | | | well, make sure that you have fine tuned any financial |
| with Disabilities Education Act. | | | | numbers or budget considerations for this project. |
| While these organizations are affiliated with childcare, | | | | 5. Be patient and organized. Make sure that all your |
| you also may be able to find an organization that | | | | papers are organized into folders; there will be a time |
| would be willing to grant you money. Keep into | | | | that you will need to wait. |
| consideration backyard organizations such as: Lions, | | | | |