Active — applications close September 25, 2026
Atlas Opportunity Score 76/100
Verified September 25, 2026
Delaware Community Foundation
Delaware Community Foundation funding of up to $7,500 for qualifying 501(c)(3) nonprofits supporting early childhood development for vulnerable children from birth through age 5 in New Castle County. The 2026 cycle closes September 25, 2026; no closing clock time or time zone is published.
Required next actionNo action. Preserve only as duplicate source history. Canonical 2026 Next Gen North record is WordPress post 3448.
Active
Atlas Opportunity Score 76/100
Verified September 14, 2026
Children's Literacy Foundation
CLiF's Fall 2026 Literacy Enrichment Grant offers up to $1,000 for qualifying Vermont schools, nonprofits, libraries, childcare and youth programs serving children birth through age 12. Applications are due October 15, 2026.
Required next actionDefine an eligible literacy-centered project, confirm Vermont eligibility, the 35% need threshold and minimum 30-child participation requirement, identify the required coordinator, and submit through CLiF's online application by October 15, 2026.
Active
Atlas Opportunity Score 74/100
Verified September 14, 2026
Children's Literacy Foundation
Fall 2026 CLiF Community Literacy Grant for eligible Vermont school-based, community, social-service, childcare and early-learning programs serving children birth through age 12. Applications are due October 15, 2026.
Required next actionConfirm Vermont eligibility, at least 35% qualifying low-income/access threshold, service to children birth-12, and ability to engage at least 30 children; then apply through CLiF's online application by October 15, 2026.
Active
Atlas Opportunity Score 72/100
Verified October 4, 2026
American Library Association
Nebraska public libraries are eligible for ALA's A Year of STEM program. Twenty-five libraries will receive a $5,000 programming stipend, four quarterly STEM kits, a programming guide, training, and implementation support. Applications are due October 28, 2026 at 11:59 PM Central Time through ALA Apply.
Required next actionCurrent ALA guidelines list October 28, 2026 at 11:59 PM as the submission deadline and do not state a time zone. Nebraska public libraries should verify the live guidelines and required materials before the deadline.
Open - FY27 Innovation Grant Extension funding is available to qualifying prior FY26 awardees and closes September 30, 2026 at 11:59 p.m.; DESE does not state a time zone on the current page.
Atlas Opportunity Score 72/100
Verified September 28, 2026
Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE)
Missouri DESE's FY27 Innovation Grant Extension is open to eligible FY26 Innovation Grant awardees that did not request or receive their full prior award amount. The extension supports approved child care start-up or expansion work and closes September 30, 2026 at 11:59 p.m.; DESE does not state a time zone on the current page.
Required next actionEligible FY26 Innovation Grant awardees should review the applicable extension terms and FAQ, confirm remaining approved award funds, verify CCDF and vendor/payment compliance, document required matching business or community partnership support, and submit by September 30, 2026 at 11:59 p.m.
Open — renewal proposals only, due October 15, 2026
Atlas Opportunity Score 70/100
Verified September 29, 2026
Schumann Fund for New Jersey
Current Schumann Fund for New Jersey grantee partners may submit Q4 2026 renewal proposals by October 15, 2026. The Fund is not accepting new Letters of Inquiry during Q4 2026; new funding inquiries are expected to resume in January 2027.
Required next actionCurrent Schumann Fund grantee partners should confirm the deadline in their grant award letter, contact Program Partner Jared Boone for the latest renewal application format, prepare the required renewal proposal and reporting materials, and submit by October 15, 2026. New organizations should not submit a new LOI in Q4 2026; the Fund expects to review new funding inquiries beginning in January 2027.
Active
Atlas Opportunity Score 68/100
Verified September 16, 2026
Vermont Department for Children and Families
Vermont Child Development Division funding administered with VTAEYC helps eligible regulated early childhood and afterschool programs pay qualifying NAEYC initial accreditation, reaccreditation, and annual renewal costs. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, subject to fiscal-year funding availability.
Required next actionEligible Vermont CDD-regulated programs should confirm current NAEYC status and qualifying costs, gather the required receipt and NAEYC-status screenshot, and submit a complete application while fiscal-year funds remain available.
Active
Atlas Opportunity Score 68/100
Verified September 15, 2026
Children's Literacy Foundation
CLiF's Spark Grant offers up to $500 on a rolling monthly basis for qualifying Vermont schools, libraries, nonprofits, childcare and youth programs serving children birth through age 12. Awards continue until available funds are fully committed.
Required next actionConfirm Vermont eligibility, low-income or under-resourced community need, minimum 30-child participation, and coordinator availability; select an eligible Spark support option and apply promptly while funds remain.
Active
Atlas Opportunity Score 66/100
Verified September 16, 2026
Vermont Department for Children and Families
Vermont Child Development Division funding administered with VTAEYC helps eligible regulated family child care homes pay qualifying National Association for Family Child Care accreditation and reaccreditation fees. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, subject to fiscal-year funding availability.
Required next actionEligible Vermont regulated family child care providers should confirm current NAFCC status and qualifying fees, gather the required receipt and NAFCC-status screenshot, and submit a complete VTAEYC application while fiscal-year funds remain available.
Active - ongoing monthly review cycles
Atlas Opportunity Score 66/100
Verified September 20, 2026
Nebraska DHHS maintains three ongoing Child Care and Development Block Grant opportunities for eligible Nebraska child care providers: Start-Up/Expansion, Emergency Mini-Grant, and Quality Improvement. Applications are reviewed monthly and must be postmarked by the first of the month for that month's review cycle.
Required next actionEligible Nebraska child care providers should select the grant matching their licensing and project need, review current allowable and non-allowable expenditures, assemble every required section and supporting document together, and submit by U.S. Mail for the desired monthly cycle. Funded providers must remain licensed/in business and maintain Child Care Subsidy enrollment for three consecutive years. No N9+ or QC Healthcare outreach is warranted on the current scope.
Open
Atlas Opportunity Score 66/100
Verified 2026-09-12
Michigan early childhood education grant offering one licensed child care center up to $2,000 for an innovative Children and the Arts or Play Environments for Young Children project. Applications are due November 1, 2026 at 11:59 p.m.
Required next actionTrack only. No N9+ or QC Healthcare outreach because the program focus does not support a legitimate fit.
Active
Atlas Opportunity Score 60/100
Verified October 3, 2026
Minnesota Department of Agriculture
Minnesota Department of Agriculture reimbursement funding for licensed family child care providers participating in CACFP to purchase and serve Minnesota-grown or raised foods.
Required next actionEligible licensed Minnesota family child care providers should confirm active CACFP participation, register or verify their Minnesota SWIFT vendor record, gather CACFP site and sponsor information and SWIFT identifiers, determine whether the new-participant no-match rule or prior-participant 1:1 cash-match rule applies, and submit the online FY 2027 Local Tots Letter of Intent by October 15, 2026 at 4:00 PM Central Time.
Closed
Atlas Opportunity Score 58/100
Verified October 6, 2026
Illinois Department of Early Childhood noncompetitive FY27 renewal for the statewide Infant Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation program. $5,075,159 in opportunity funding; continuation applications only; GATA lists the application range through September 30, 2026.
Required next actionThe FY27 continuation application window ended September 30, 2026. Existing awardees should monitor Illinois DEC and GATA for remaining administrative requirements or amendments. Organizations outside the continuation cohort should wait for a successor opportunity that expressly opens broader eligibility.
Active
Atlas Opportunity Score 58/100
Verified September 15, 2026
Alaska Department of Education and Early Development
Open now. The Alaska Department of Education and Early Development (DEED) is accepting applications for the FY27-FY29 Early Education Program (EEP) Grant. The current DEED funding page lists the application deadline as September 21, 2026 at 11:59 PM; the page does not specify a time zone, so applicants should confirm the controlling submission-time convention before […]
Required next actionPublication remains active. Do not create new applicant outreach because the controlling DEED page states September 21, 2026 at 11:59 PM but does not state a time zone. Reverify the controlling RFA, submission time zone, and amendments before any applicant-specific action.
Active
Atlas Opportunity Score 48/100
Verified September 16, 2026
Vermont Department for Children and Families
Vermont regulated child care providers facing an unplanned or emergency financial threat to child care access may request Extraordinary Financial Relief from the Department for Children and Families. Relief may include a cash grant, an advance against Child Care Financial Assistance payments, or other suitable assistance; no fixed maximum or application deadline is published.
Required next actionConfirm a provider has a documented qualifying closure, opening, expansion, or displaced-child enrollment risk; then prepare the approved application and required financial/operational documentation.
Closed - application deadline passed September 16, 2026 at 12:00 p.m. EDT
Atlas Opportunity Score 42/100
Verified September 16, 2026
Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential (MiLEAP)
MiLEAP is selecting a statewide administrative partner for MI Tri-Share Child Care. FY27 funding is $3.4 million. Completed applications are due September 16, 2026 at 12:00 p.m. EDT; the required Notice of Intent deadline was August 28, 2026.
Required next actionNo new applicant outreach or application work. The controlling MiLEAP deadline passed on September 16, 2026 at 12:00 p.m. EDT. Preserve the record for history and monitor only for an official reopening, amendment, or future cycle.
Available
Atlas Opportunity Score 42/100
Verified September 30, 2026
Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets
Vermont schools and eligible early childhood providers may apply for $10,000 to $30,000 through the FY27 Farm to School and Early Childhood Grant. The state has $200,000 available, requires no match, and is accepting applications through October 21, 2026 at 1:59 PM; the official announcement does not state a time zone.
Required next actionEligible Vermont schools and early childhood providers should review the current FY27 RFA and WebGrants requirements, confirm applicant eligibility and project scope, and submit by October 21, 2026 at 1:59 PM. The official program page does not state a deadline time zone, so Atlas does not infer one.
Open - current application window September 25-November 16, 2026
Verified September 27, 2026
Upcoming Alaska early-childhood workforce award: the 2026 Alaska SEED Mini ROOTS Award will provide a one-time $500 payment to eligible professionals. Applications are scheduled to open September 25, 2026 and close November 16, 2026 or earlier if funding is exhausted.
Required next actionReview current official Alaska SEED Mini ROOTS materials; the 2026 application window is open.
Closed — deadline passed
Verified September 19, 2026
The Gerber Foundation
The Gerber Foundation’s Fall 2026 West Michigan Youth Program Grant cycle supported projects serving youth ages 0–18 in Lake, Muskegon, Newaygo, and Oceana counties. Priority areas included Health, Nutrition & Dental Issues, Early Childhood Services & Literacy, Parenting Education, Education, and youth life experiences. The Fall 2026 application deadline has passed. Deadline: September 15, 2026 […]
Required next actionClosed. The Fall 2026 application deadline passed September 15, 2026 at 4:00 p.m. ET. Do not initiate new outreach, CRM production, package work, or submission work for this cycle. Preserve the verified eligibility and requirements as historical intelligence and monitor The Gerber Foundation for the next West Michigan Youth Program grant cycle.
