Early Care and Education Grant Program

Early Care and Education Grant Program is sponsored by Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation (SMIF). This program helps fund early care and education services for children birth to age five.

Early Care and Education Grants - Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation Early Care and Education Grants Early Care and Education Grant Program SMIF recognizes that high-quality early learning spaces prepare children to enter school ready to succeed, building the foundation for lifelong learning and strengthening the long-term wellbeing and resilience of communities across our region .

With this request, SMIF is seeking proposals of up to $20,000 that enhance the quality of early learning environments for children birth to age five. Proposals will be prioritized that demonstrate community partnership and coordination and a plan for equitable access and affordability.

Additionally, priority will be given to proposals that demonstrate a clear understanding of local need, identify who is currently underserved and describe how the proposed project will reduce barriers, increase participation and/or improve access to high-quality Early Childhood environments.

Project examples include equity-centered projects to increase access, educator professional development, curriculum and instructional quality, family partnership and homeschool connection and wellbeing and mental health. This grant opens September 8.

Check out this short video for essential Early Care and Education Grant information: Application opens: September 8, 2026 Application due: October 6, 2026 (staff available for questions until 4:30 p. m. on Oct.

6) Notification: November 18, 2026 Final report due: December 20, 2027 Heidi Coulter, Director of Early Childhood Email: heidic@smifoundation. org Margaret Radel, Early Childhood Project and Grants Coordinator Email: margaretr@smifoundation.

org SMIF awards $279,800 to support the success of young children Gallery SMIF awards $279,800 to support the success of young children SMIF awards $279,800 to support the success of young children SMIF recently approved $279,800 for 22 Early Childhood projects that will support early care and education services in SMIF’s 20-county region.

Comments Off on SMIF awards $279,800 to support the success of young children Early Care & Education Grant Spotlight: Faribault Public Schools Gallery Early Care & Education Grant Spotlight: Faribault Public Schools Early Care & Education Grant Spotlight: Faribault Public Schools In 2023, Faribault Public Schools utilized a SMIF Early Care and Education Grant to fund ECFE on the Go, a program to ready children for kindergarten.

Comments Off on Early Care & Education Grant Spotlight: Faribault Public Schools SMIF awards $248K to support essential services for young children Gallery SMIF awards $248K to support essential services for young children SMIF awards $248K to support essential services for young children SMIF recently approved $248,275 for 24 Early Childhood projects that will support early care and education services, impacting more than 5,884 young children.

Comments Off on SMIF awards $248K to support essential services for young children Early Care & Education Grant Spotlight: Byron Community Education Gallery Early Care & Education Grant Spotlight: Byron Community Education Early Care & Education Grant Spotlight: Byron Community Education In 2023, Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation (SMIF) awarded a $5,000 Early Care and Education Grant to Byron Community Education for programming and resources to help staff, parents and children with managing their emotions.

Comments Off on Early Care & Education Grant Spotlight: Byron Community Education Early Care & Education Grant Spotlight: New Ulm ECFE Gallery Early Care & Education Grant Spotlight: New Ulm ECFE Early Care & Education Grant Spotlight: New Ulm ECFE In 2022, Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation (SMIF) awarded a $14,000 Early Care and Education Grant to New Ulm ECFE.

The grant was used on a variety of projects, including a mobile ECFE program and training on how to keep calm around challenging behavior.

Comments Off on Early Care & Education Grant Spotlight: New Ulm ECFE Early Care & Education Grant Spotlight: YWCA Mankato Gallery Early Care & Education Grant Spotlight: YWCA Mankato Early Care & Education Grant Spotlight: YWCA Mankato SMIF awarded a $10,000 Early Care and Education Grant to YWCA Mankato in 2023. The grant was used to enhance outreach efforts from YWCA to overcome barriers that their families often face.

Comments Off on Early Care & Education Grant Spotlight: YWCA Mankato SMIF awards $194,255 in grants to support essential services for young children Gallery SMIF awards $194,255 in grants to support essential services for young children SMIF awards $194,255 in grants to support essential services for young children SMIF recently approved 18 grants through its Early Care and Education Grant program impacting more than 2,600 young children.

This program helps fund early care and education services for children birth to age five.

Comments Off on SMIF awards $194,255 in grants to support essential services for young children SMIF awards $220,818 in Early Care and Education Wrap Around Grants Gallery SMIF awards $220,818 in Early Care and Education Wrap Around Grants SMIF awards $220,818 in Early Care and Education Wrap Around Grants 3,562 young children were supported through the latest round of Early Care and Education Grants.

Comments Off on SMIF awards $220,818 in Early Care and Education Wrap Around Grants inquiry@smifoundation. org Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation is a 501(c)(3) and all donations are tax deductible 36-3454285. Sign-up for our newsletter!

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