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Find similar grantsQuality Improvement Funds (Illinois) is sponsored by Illinois Action for Children (IAFC). These funds assist and support child care programs in Illinois that are working to achieve a Circle of Quality above the required Licensing level.
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Quality Improvement Funds | Illinois Action for Children Quality Improvement Funds Get additional funding for your child care program. Illinois is committed to assisting child care providers in providing quality education and care for young children (birth through 12 years).
The Quality Improvement (QI) Funds have been developed to assist and support child care programs that are choosing to achieve a Circle of Quality above the Licensing level.
Quality Improvement Funds assist child care programs with: Achieving a Bronze, Silver or Gold Circle of Quality Achieving National Accreditation Advancing to a Bronze, Silver or Gold Circle of Quality Maintaining a Silver or Gold Circle of Quality Quality Improvement Funds Areas Quality Improvement Cohort The Child Care Resource & Referral (CCR&R) agency will offer cohort groups for programs working to improve the quality of care, working towards or maintaining an ExceleRate™ IL Silver or Gold Circle of Quality.
Upon completing the program’s cohort requirements and self-assessment, programs may request funds to help achieve objectives noted in their Continuous Quality Improvement Plan (CQIP). Licensed child care programs working towards/maintaining an ExceleRate™ IL Circle of Quality may apply for an ExceleRate™ IL training stipend.
The stipend applies only to the required training within the ExceleRate™ IL Circle of Quality that the program is working towards/maintaining and is available only to the minimum staff required to attend the training. Accreditation is a voluntary process that provides child care programs with the opportunity to examine their services based on recognized standards of high quality.
The Accreditation Assistance option is for child care programs that are applying for or maintaining an ExceleRate™ IL Silver or Gold Circle of Quality. Apply for Quality Improvement Funds! Application deadline for Quality Improvement Cohort is October 24, 2025 Application deadline for Quality Improvement Accreditation Assistance or Training Stipends is June 1, 2026 To learn more, view the frequently asked questions below.
How To Submit Your Application: Mail your application and all supporting documents to: Illinois Action for Children ATTN: Quality Improvement Funds 4753 N. Broadway St.
, 1st Floor Submit your application online: Frequently Asked Questions Licensed Child Care Centers & Licensed Family Child Care A child care program must: Be listed on the local Child Care Resource & Referral (CCR&R) provider database Be providing child care services in Cook County Be a current member (Provider/Staff) of the IL Gateways to Opportunity Registry.
Have no unpaid financial obligation to the CCR&R agency or IDHS-DEC Are there any priority programs?
Programs currently caring for children whose care is paid for by the IDHS-DEC’s Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP), with greater priority given to those with 50% or more of their enrollment consisting of IDHS-DEC CCAP funded children Programs that are full-year (at least 47 weeks)/full-day (at least 8 hours) Programs that are currently caring for infants and toddlers Programs that have not received QI Funds in the last two grant years (FY23 or FY22).
For ExceleRate ™ IL Cohort – first time applicant programs are a priority for cohort participation. Can a program apply for more than one area? Can a program be working on more than one circle of quality?
Not for the purposes of the Quality Improvement Funds. A program must declare one circle of quality. What is the application process?
Child care programs must complete and submit the application, the appropriate supplemental application, and all required supporting documentation. Once an application is submitted, our team will review the documents for completeness and eligibility. Programs will be notified in writing of their approval or denial.
Incomplete applications will be returned to the child care program. Can an agency submit one application for all sites if they have more than one site? No. Each site is considered a different program.
Each program must submit an application with requests specific to that program. What is meant by “working towards or maintaining” Excelerate™ Illinois A program must have at a minimum completed the orientation to Excelerate™ IL training or currently hold an Excelerate™ IL Circle of Quality (Bronze, Silver, Gold).
For those maintaining an Excelerate ™ IL Circle of Quality, must have completed self-assessment within the last 6 months (from time of application). For those working towards an Excelerate ™ IL application, must be willing to complete as part of cohort participation.
Must have a current, signed consultant agreement in place with the CCR&R Quality and/or Infant Toddler Specialist OR for those participating in the cohort, must be willing to sign a consultant agreement during the first cohort session. What is meant by “meet and work with the quality/infant toddler specialist”?
For the quality improvement cohort, programs receiving Quality Improvement (QI) funds must meet and actively work with the Quality and/or Infant Toddler Specialist for at least four sessions. For the Training Stipend and Accreditation Assistance, programs must attend a minimum of two (2) sessions.
During the first session the following items will be discussed: goals for the program, steps to develop a Continuous Quality Improvement Plan (CQIP), steps to develop a professional development plan, etc. The consultant agreement will also be discussed, developed, and signed. What is the deadline for submitting an application/supporting documentation?
See each section for application submission deadlines (C12, D15, E4) What supplemental application(s) do I complete? ALL applicants must complete the QI funds application (pages 5-7). In addition, applicants must complete one or more of the corresponding supplemental applications.
Excelerate™ IL Training Stipend If supplemental applications are submitted at different times, a QI funds application must be completed each time. What are the grant funding amounts? Funding Range for the fiscal year (July-June).
The allowable funding applies for any combination of QI Funds. Licensed Family Child Care Licensed Family Group Home Please read the specific section for payment information. Do the funds need to be repaid?
This is a grant program, which means funds do not generally need to be paid back. However, the grant funds come from the state of Illinois, and certain policies and procedures must be followed: If a program goes out of business within two years of the grant award, funds received under the cohort component will need to be repaid at a pro-rated amount.
In some cases, Illinois Action for Children may be able to recoup materials and equipment purchased with grant funds. In the event of over or improper payment or reimbursement, appropriate arrangements will need to be made with Illinois Action for Children regarding return of funds.
If payment is made for an accreditation process and the program withdraws or does not complete the process, the child care program will need to work with Illinois Action for Children regarding the return of funds. Do grant funds need to be reported as income? Grant funds may need to be reported as income.
If awarded grant funds, a completed W-9 will be required. Items purchased with grant money may be eligible to claim as business deductions. Please consult an accountant or tax preparer for further information.
What else do I need to know? Only completed applications will be considered. Applicants must use the application provided for July 2023–June 2024.
Electronic applications will be accepted. Funding is limited and not guaranteed. Partial funding may be awarded.
Payment cannot be made until a complete application and all required documents are received. Is there an information session for the Quality Improvement Funds? Yes, but attendance is not mandatory.
We encourage first-time applicants to participate. For those who have applied before, it is good to attend as a refresher and to learn about changes to the program. Have Questions?
Get Answers! For more information, contact our Quality Improvement Funds team: qualityfunds@actforchildren. org Make Change for Illinois’ Children and Families Take action with us to build strong families and powerful communities by transforming child care and early learning in Illinois, so all our young children can fulfill their life’s potential.
According to the current listing, eligibility includes: Licensed child care programs (child care center, child care home, or group child care home) in Illinois that are choosing to achieve a Circle of Quality above the Licensing level. Confirm the full requirements in the official notice before applying.
The current listing shows up to $1,200 for Licensed Family Child Care, up to $1,500 for Licensed Family Group Home, and up to $3,000 - $8,000 for Child Care Centers based on capacity. Verify award ceilings, matching requirements, and allowable costs in the official notice.
Quality Improvement Funds (Illinois) is funded by Illinois Action for Children (IAFC). Verify program details on the funder's official page before applying.
This opportunity targets applicants in Illinois. If your organization operates elsewhere, check the official notice for location requirements.
Start from the official opportunity page linked in this listing — it carries the sponsor's submission instructions.
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