Best Grants for Nonprofit Child Care Centers in District of Columbia

Public school districts and tribal compact schools seeking to remodel, purchase, or construct early learning and child care facilities can apply for this competitive Early Learning Facilities funding in the District of Columbia and beyond. Focused on expanding access for children from low-income households, the Washington State Department of Commerce supports ECEAP and Working Connections Child Care capacity growth.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations in the District of Columbia supporting child care, early childhood development, or youth services can seek monetary or in-kind dining certificate donations to benefit kids, hunger, and education programs. Grants from Brinker International help eligible groups host events or initiatives, with requests accepted year-round and limited to one donation per organization each calendar year.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations in the District of Columbia providing direct care or services to underprivileged children, the homeless, or the elderly can apply for Cloudbreak Foundation’s US $5,000 - US $20,000 grants. Programs meeting critical basic needs, including child care and related support services, in the greater Washington, D.C. metro area may be prioritized.

Focused on child welfare and support, Speedway Children's Charities invites District of Columbia children’s nonprofits to seek Dover Grants for critical, medical, and educational services. Eligible 501(c)(3) organizations serving children in DC and the mid-Atlantic, including child care and related programs, may receive project-focused support, with priority for homeless, foster, orphaned youth, and victims of sex trafficking.

Child and youth care agencies serving children and teens in the District of Columbia can seek funding that supports care, welfare, and related services. Focused on child and youth care, the Synod of the Mid-Atlantic’s Thanksgiving Offering Fund distributes support based on donor designations and a shared formula for undesignated gifts, which may benefit nonprofit child care providers.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) child care and family service organizations in the Southern region, including the District of Columbia, can apply for Robinson Foundation grants to support programmatic work (not capital projects). Grants from Robinson Foundation help providers addressing children and families, education, poverty relief, and related services strengthen their impact and demonstrate tangible results.

Theresa Alessandra Russo Foundation Inc

The Theresa Foundation honors the memory of Theresa Alessandra Russo by touching the lives of children with special needs and their families. The Foundation fosters each child’s unique abilities by supporting programs focusing on art, music, dance, drama, and recreation.

The Theresa Foundation has a vision of the world where artistic expression and physical recreation are just as important to adults as they are to children. We believe in a world where every child, regardless of ability or challenging conditions, is free to communicate through and participate in every art or recreational activity. A society without art is a society without soul. Art enables us to express our inner thoughts, fears, joys, and sadness.  

The Theresa Foundation Grant Program

The Theresa Foundation Grant Program is committed to providing financial support for programs in art, music, dance, drama, or recreation that are designed specifically for children with special needs in order to ensure that no one is excluded from these activities. 

We believe that every individual should have the opportunity to participate in art, music, dance, drama or recreation if they so choose. Our grant program works to provide direct funding for the success of these activities, while also promoting an environment of acceptance and inclusiveness where all can take part without judgment or fear. 

As of 2026, the Theresa Foundation has provided over $3,300,000 in grant funding for over 200 programs in 29 states throughout the country and 4 international grants. With your help we can continue to make a difference in the lives of those with special needs by providing them access to enriching experiences that would otherwise be out of reach. 

Joseph G Markoly Foundation Inc

When Joseph Markoly originally established the foundation more than thirty years ago, its focus was on Alzheimer’s and heart disease support, funded through a number of the larger national disease-related organizations. Over time the focus has shifted to helping small to mid-size organizations in our local communities which support children and seniors in a variety of effective ways. 

Markoly Foundation was established in honor of Joseph G. Markoly, an entrepreneur and philanthropist who wanted to make a positive impact in people’s lives. Joseph’s family was affected directly by both Alzheimer’s and heart disease having lost a family member to each condition. For that reason, the foundation dedicates a majority of their resources to providing grants to organizations that focus on the treatment of each of these diseases. In addition, Markoly Foundation supports a variety of programs dedicated to helping children and seniors by providing services, supplies, programs and research in areas impacting these demographics.

Joseph G. Markoly Foundation Grant Support for Children’s Organizations

Children are the future of this world and the Markoly Foundation is proud to fund local programs dedicated to improving the lives of children and their families. From providing vision services for school kids to classes on parenting, we are proud to do our part to help fund critical community programs for families.

We are dedicated to providing funding for local nonprofit programs that improve the quality of life for all, but particularly for the children and elders in our community.

District of Columbia child care and child welfare nonprofits can access funding through Thing 123 Foundation to support programs that improve and enhance children’s lives. U.S.-based organizations, including those providing child care services, may be considered if they submit a complete application and their requests align with the foundation’s mission and founding documents.

Nonprofit organizations serving the needs of children, including those providing child care services in the District of Columbia, can seek funding for programs that improve children’s health, welfare, and development. CAPTRUST Community Foundation provides national partnership grants to charities that align with its mission to positively impact children through sustained collaboration.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations supporting children’s health, wellness, or child care services in the District of Columbia can apply for grants up to US $15,000 to improve the lives of children. 15 and the Mahomies Foundation reviews requests quarterly and supports communities in need of resources and other child-focused charitable initiatives.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) child care and early childhood service providers in the District of Columbia can apply for the Sachs Family Foundation’s support to strengthen economic and educational opportunities for low‑income families. Funding may include grants or low‑interest program-related investments for child care services, after-school programs, housing, health, and broader community development efforts that are or can become self-sustaining.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations improving educational outcomes and child development, including child care and early learning programs, can apply for $5,000 - $75,000 from Comis Foundation for pilots, capacity building, and innovative operations. With a mission to equip children to explore, learn, and thrive, it supports work in Metro Washington, D.C., Colorado, the San Francisco Bay Area, and select national efforts.

Nonprofit child care and community organizations in the District of Columbia planning highly visible events or projects can apply for sponsorship support from Tyson Foods; awards fund activities that align with its core values and community focus. Programs serving families and children, especially around food access or social services, may be particularly competitive.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations providing child care and early childhood services in the District of Columbia can apply for WK Kellogg Foundation’s WKKF Grant to support young children and families. Funding can back nurturing early care and education, maternal and child health, good food access, family-sustaining career pathways, and racial equity initiatives across the U.S.

Child care organizations in the District of Columbia without 501(c)(3) status can seek Eastern Bank Foundation Neighborhood Donations to support programs or events. Focused on community vibrancy and economic inclusion, this funding may benefit child care services working in areas like education, basic human needs, housing, health care access, and employment services, with awards of US $100 - US $1,000.

Roche Corporate Donations and Philanthropy (CDP) focuses on impactful projects that foster sustainable development, engage employees, and leverage Roche's expertise. Their philanthropic efforts prioritize humanitarian, educational, environmental, and cultural initiatives, aiming to build stronger communities and support innovative projects. Eligibility is limited to local organizations, while ineligible projects include those with political or religious ties. The foundation strives to create a positive societal impact through collaboration and strategic partnerships.

The Hearst Foundation: Culture Grant aims to support outstanding nonprofits that enhance cultural engagement and artistic talent in the U.S. With a focus on programs that reach young people, the grant prioritizes organizations that create lasting impacts in the arts and sciences. The Foundation allocates 25% of its funding to cultural initiatives, favoring established organizations with a history of significant results. Eligible nonprofits must encourage inclusivity and sustainability in their programs.

The Hillman Innovations in Care Grant seeks innovative, nursing-driven proposals to address the impact of racism on health equity for marginalized communities. This includes addressing health disparities faced by BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and economically disadvantaged populations. The program encourages bold, evidence-based interventions that enhance healthcare delivery and outcomes. Grants of up to $600,000 will support projects that demonstrate potential for broad replicability and sustainability over a 36-month period.

Quest Diagnostics Foundation

Established as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, the Quest Diagnostics Foundation is committed to addressing the systemic root causes of health disparities. By combining corporate resources with trusted community leadership, we fund and scale evidence-based initiatives that promote wellness, prevent chronic disease, and empower individuals.

We focus our resources on three critical, interconnected clinical and social interventions to build sustainable health improvement:

• Strengthening the community health workforce
• Addressing social drivers of health (SDoH)
• Promoting the prevention, early detection, monitoring, and treatment of disease through diagnostic testing

About Quest for Healthy Communities Champions

The Quest for Healthy Communities Champion award was created to honor, uplift, and support outstanding organizations across the United States that are actively living our core purpose:

Working together to create a healthier world, one life at a time.

Whether you are expanding access to life-saving screenings, supporting maternal and family wellness, or addressing critical social drivers of health, your dedication is moving us closer to an equitable healthcare future. We want to recognize and celebrate your impact.

What we celebrate: Our core impact pillars

The Champions we look to honor are community-first organizations and coalitions tackling critical disparities head-on. We are especially excited to spotlight work that advances health, addresses social drivers of health, fosters community-clinical linkages and develops the community workforce. Examples of this work could include: 

• Programs actively dismantling clinical barriers to ensure every individual—regardless of zip code, background, or income—has access to high-quality care
• Innovators providing creative solutions for food security, transportation, health education, and maternal-child support networks
• Organizations bringing critical care directly to those in need through mobile clinics, community health workers, and localized diagnostic screenings
• Organizations finding creative ways to engage the communities they serve directly into the solutions they are delivering

The award: Selected organization champions will receive a $10,000 grant.

Please see FAQs for additional guidelines.

Focused on wellness for frontline survivor-support staff, Joyful Heart Foundation invites District of Columbia child care and child advocacy nonprofits, Tribal entities, and government agencies to apply for Heal the Healers micro-grants up to US $5,000. Funding supports staff self-care training, small capital items, and team-building activities, plus access to a national peer learning cohort.

The Gupta Family Foundation Grant aims to empower disadvantaged individuals by providing financial support to organizations that foster self-reliance. Headquartered in Herndon, Virginia, the foundation offers grants ranging from $5,000 to over $250,000, prioritizing smaller organizations with a strong commitment to their missions. Eligibility typically includes US-based IRS 501(c)(3) entities, with operations extending to countries like India and Kenya. The foundation emphasizes mission alignment and effective resource allocation to ensure maximum impact.

The Michael & Susan Dell Foundation provides grants to organizations focused on improving the lives of children in urban poverty in the U.S., India, and South Africa. They prioritize projects in education, health, and family economic stability. Grants typically do not exceed 25% of a project's budget or 10% of an organization's annual expenses. The foundation seeks to partner with organizations already making an impact, ensuring funding supports impactful social enterprises.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations in the District of Columbia providing direct social services that address chronic poverty and strengthen families can apply for William Randolph Hearst Foundation’s Social Service Grant; awards More than US $100,000 for program, capital, or general support. Child care providers with large-scale, proven, poverty-focused services may be competitive.

The Spark Good: Strengthening Community Local Grants program by the Wal-Mart Foundation empowers local organizations through grants ranging from $250 to $5000. This initiative aims to enhance community welfare by supporting diverse projects, including animal shelters and educational programs. Eligible organizations must have a verified Spark Good account, ensuring funds are allocated effectively to meet local needs and foster community development. Together, we can create lasting impacts through small yet significant actions.

District of Columbia child care and youth-serving nonprofits focused on health, education, or community programs can access funding through Labcorp Charitable Foundation to support services and education for children and families. Grants may back food pantries, healthcare and patient services, STEM programming, or healthy lifestyle initiatives that benefit local communities.

The Nordstrom Community Grant focuses on supporting youth and families by providing over $1 million in grants annually. It aims to assist grassroots organizations that address essential community needs such as food, shelter, and clothing, as well as creating opportunities for economic mobility through mentorship and workforce development. Eligible organizations must be 501(c)(3) nonprofits located in areas where Nordstrom operates. Applications are encouraged for those meeting these criteria.