Find preschool grants for early childhood education, classroom improvements, staff training, and curriculum development
32,000+
Available grants
$9.02B
Total funding
$6K
Median grant
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Arkansas Economic Development Commission, Division of Rural Services and the Arkansas Rural Development Commission
The Arkansas Economic Development Commission (AEDC), Division of Rural Services (DRS), is charged with assisting rural communities with a population of 20,000 and under. Established under Act 302 of 1991, and merged with the Arkansas Economic Development Commission under Act 8 of the 2015 First Extraordinary Session, DRS assists local agencies in rural areas with information and technical assistance. Currently, more than 80% of Arkansans live in rural areas.
The Arkansas Rural Development Commission (ARDC) is a group of citizens from rural Arkansas responsible for overseeing the programs of DRS. Seven of its members are appointed by the Governor, two are appointed by the Senate President Pro-Tem, and two are appointed by the Speaker of the House. Commissioners serve multiple-year terms and meet throughout the year to discuss rural issues that affect Arkansans.
The mission of these two groups is to "Enhance the quality of life in rural Arkansas."
One focus of the Division of Rural Services is to be a source of information for rural citizens and provide support services to rural communities. DRS publishes a quarterly newsletter that covers rural policies and topics. The Division also hosts an annual conference and local forums around the state throughout the course of the year.
DRS provides funding for worthwhile projects in rural communities through a variety of grant programs. One such program is the Arkansas Rural Community Grant Program (RCGP). Since this grant's inception, more than $12 million has been awarded to communities in all 75 counties.
Arkansas Rural Community Grant Program
General Information and Eligibility
Through the Arkansas Rural Community Grant Program (RCGP), the Arkansas Rural Development Commission and the Division of Rural Services strive to enhance quality of life in the state by providing incentive grants on a matching basis. The Rural Community Grant Program can assist with the improvement of local fire protection, including related emergency services and construction, along with the development and improvement of community facilities.
What Type of Projects are Eligible
Projects eligible for funding consideration under the Rural Community Grant Program include, but are not limited to:
Grants for preschools provide funding for early childhood education programs, facility improvements, and teacher training. The following grants empower organizations to enhance learning environments, promote school readiness, and support young children’s development.
Discover 8,000+ funding opportunities for preschools, with $3.86B available. Instrumentl offers grant-matching tools, deadline alerts, and funding intelligence to help organizations expand early learning programs and support child development.
How common are grants in this category?
Quite common — grants in this category are more prevalent than in others.
Over the past year, when are grant deadlines typically due for grants for Preschools?
Most grants are due in the first quarter.
Nonprofits that are eligible for preschools grants include licensed nonprofit preschools, early childhood education centers, houses of worship, and family-focused organizations that provide pre-K learning programs. Funders may also focus their grants on early childhood education programs and teacher training in their respective communities. Many grants require applicants to be 501(c)(3) organizations and may prioritize initiatives serving low-income families and children with special needs.
Grants in preschools typically have the highest concentration of deadlines in Q1, with 28.0% of grant deadlines falling in this period. If you're planning to apply, consider prioritizing your applications around this time to maximize opportunities. Conversely, the least active period for grants in this category is Q4.
Preschool grants support early childhood education programs, teacher training, curriculum development, and facility improvements. Funders also seek to enhance school readiness and learning environments, support working families, support young children's development, and improve access to quality early learning programs. There are more than 6,000 grants available and an impressive $2.95 billion in funding available for preschools and early childhood education.
Funding for preschools grants varies widely, with award amounts ranging from a minimum of $0 to a maximum of $188,250,000. Based on Instrumentl’s data, the median grant amount for this category is $37,500, while the average grant awarded is $732,334. Understanding these funding trends can help nonprofits set realistic expectations when applying.
Of the $2.95 billion available in funding, nearly half come from private funders like the Cooke Foundation, the National Education Association Staff Organization, the James C. Stewart Charitable Foundation, and the Bell Charitable Foundation. In addition, there are many federal and state and local government funders that are providing grants for preschools and early childhood education in their respective areas.
Some of the key federal grants are from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, the U.S. Department of Justice, and the U.S. Department of Labor. There are also quite a bit of state-level organizations that are offering funding for Preschool grants like the Tennessee Department of Agriculture and the New York State Office of Mental Health.
A carefully planned approach is needed in order to successfully win grants for preschools. To improve grant success, nonprofits should concentrate on all of these key areas:
Struggling to manage multiple grants? Learn how to stay organized with our comprehensive grant tracking spreadsheet guide.
Sifting through more than 6,000 grant opportunities can be daunting to say the least. Luckily Instrumentl simplifies the grant application process by helping nonprofits filter out relevant funding opportunities, analyze funder-giving patterns, and review detailed funder insights. That way, you can find the best-fitting grants right away and then tailor your applications to align with the grantor's priorities. See how Lutheran Braille Workers scaled their grant submissions by 150%.