Best Early Childhood Development Grants in Minnesota

Minnesota 501(c)(3) nonprofits supporting early childhood development, youth programs, or family stability can apply for Community Possible funding to advance economic and workforce opportunity, housing, and community arts and culture. Grants from US Bank Foundation prioritize organizations led by people of color and serving designated U.S. Bank communities, including those integrating early childhood services with broader community development.

Family medicine and pediatric clinics in Minnesota providing well-child visits can receive up to US $15,000 per clinic to implement the IMPLICIT Interconception Care Model and enhance early childhood development services. With a mission to improve maternal and perinatal health, Minnesota Department of Health supports clinic system changes, screening, and referrals over a three-year period.

Minnesota 501(c)(3) nonprofits, public/government agencies, and Tribal Nations supporting children’s health and development from birth through age 12 can apply for Medica Foundation’s early childhood health grants, with awards up to US $100,000. Funding supports early intervention and health equity efforts, including maternal health, oral health, primary care, social-emotional learning, and parenting support for priority populations.

Minnesota tax-exempt nonprofits serving children ages 0–12 with direct-service or advocacy programs can access funding through the Sheltering Arms Foundation, with awards up to US $15,000. Grants support early childhood development, youth development, children’s mental health, and parent education, including high-quality, culturally appropriate early learning and out-of-school time initiatives.

Nonprofit and community-based organizations in Minnesota can seek funding to provide culturally and linguistically inclusive outreach and navigation support for families in the Follow Along Program. Focused on early childhood development and reducing health disparities, the Minnesota Department of Health offers US $95,000 - US $200,000 to help reach historically underserved communities through Community Connectors.

Minnesota schools, early childhood programs, nonprofits, government agencies, and collaboratives serving at-risk children can access funding for early childhood development, child welfare, and children’s mental health initiatives. Grants from Sauer Family Foundation help organizations build strong family relationships, create emotionally safe learning environments, and support trauma-responsive practices, with priority for the seven-county metro area.

Tax-exempt nonprofits, Tribal Nations, and fiscally sponsored groups in Minnesota can receive funding to expand access to quality early childhood care, education, and supports for vulnerable young children and caregivers. Grants from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota Foundation help cover project staff, direct program costs, and limited administrative expenses for efforts addressing early learning, screenings, and family home visiting.

U.S.-based 501(c)(3) nonprofits with established education or health programs can seek US $10,000 - US $75,000 in continuation or expansion funding from L B Research and Education Foundation. Minnesota organizations serving adolescents, post-secondary students, or adult learners, or improving health and mental health access for underserved groups, may be eligible through a rolling, concept-paper-first process.

The CenterPoint Energy Foundation aims to enhance community vitality through grants supporting affordable housing, environmental education, and workforce development. Focusing on low- to moderate-income populations, the Foundation prioritizes innovative programs that foster community connections and educational opportunities. By investing in both community vitality and education, they strive to create vibrant neighborhoods and empower individuals with the skills needed for success in today's workforce. Their commitment extends across Indiana, Minnesota, Ohio, and Texas.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations providing early childhood development and child care services in southern Minnesota can apply for up to US $20,000 to support children from birth to age five. Grants from Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation help Minnesota programs in its 20-county region enhance social, emotional, physical, and mental health services, staff training, and other needs within one-year projects.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations, schools, and government entities in Kandiyohi County can seek funding for early childhood development, K–12 engagement, and youth enrichment programs through CommunityGiving’s WACF Opportunity Gap Grant, with awards from US $5,000 - US $20,000. Grants support new or expanded programs and child-focused capital projects that strengthen families and create safe, caring communities.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations, churches, and government entities in Minnesota working on early childhood development, youth, family services, or community health can apply for the Cdv5 Foundation Grant. Funding may support general operations, capital campaigns, or specific programs that nurture successful children, strengthen families, and cultivate healthier communities.

Minnesota early childhood development nonprofits and other 501(c)(3) community organizations can access funding for programs improving quality of life for underserved families, including early childhood development, literacy, health, and social services. Minnesota organizations may apply to the O'Reilly Automotive Foundation for project, general operating, or capital support if they serve communities near O’Reilly Auto Parts locations.

U.S. nonprofit professional development providers serving early childhood programs can seek up to US $500,000 over three years to strengthen the early educator workforce. With a mission to improve early childhood development, Stranahan Foundation provides funding for scalable coaching, leadership development, substitute teacher pools, and reinvestment in proven PD models, which may benefit Minnesota-focused initiatives.

Graduate students conducting early childhood language development research at U.S. speech-language pathology or speech-language science programs, including those in Minnesota, can seek funding for preschool and early school-age studies. Focused on early verbal populations and inclusive of children with hearing impairment, the American Speech Language Hearing Foundation awards US $4,000 grants to support these student-led projects.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations supporting children’s health, wellness, early childhood development, or other child-focused services in Minnesota and nationwide can apply for grants up to US $15,000. Grants from 15 And The Mahomies Foundation help programs serving young children and youth, including those addressing child care, development, disabilities, and mental health needs.

Minnesota early childhood development nonprofits focused on school readiness and high-quality early learning can seek funding to support children from birth to age 5. Focused on early childhood development, PNC Foundation invites organizations to propose programs in vocabulary, social-emotional learning, math, science, and the arts through its Grow Up Great initiative in eligible Minnesota counties.

Organizations in Minnesota working with children from birth to age eight to improve early literacy and school readiness can receive free books for families through the Early Literacy Grants program. Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation supplies books, sourced from publishing partners, to be given to children to keep and read at home.

Minnesota early childhood organizations serving children ages 0–5 can access funding for early learning, school-readiness, and family support initiatives through the Ohio Children’s Foundation; awards up to US $20,000. Programs that build early brain and language development, reduce toxic stress, and advance early childhood public policy may be competitive.

Nonprofit organizations supporting early childhood development can access free On My Way to Kindergarten materials to help 3–5-year-olds and their caregivers prepare for school. Grants from The Molina Foundation help Minnesota early childhood programs provide bilingual (Spanish-English) activity books and online songs, games, crafts, and stories for families they serve.

The First Thousand Days Grant Program focuses on supporting early childhood development during the critical first three years of life. Established by the St. Croix Valley Foundation, this program funds organizations that enhance children's physical, cognitive, communicative, socioemotional, and adaptive skills. Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) nonprofits and governmental entities within the six-county SCVF service area. Funding ranges from $500 to $25,000 for program and general operating support to foster children's success in school and life.

The CAPTRUST National Partnership Grant aims to support local and national charities that serve children's needs. Each year, a Charity of Choice is selected, typically receiving a grant of over $100,000, while additional national grants are awarded to organizations aligned with the CCF mission. This initiative represents 40% of the CAPTRUST Community Foundation's annual giving budget, underscoring its commitment to impactful charitable partnerships.

The Dr. Chao-ying & Sue Wu Early Learning Scholarship, established by the Chuckanut Health Foundation in 2022, honors the vital contributions of Dr. Chao-ying and Sue Wu to the health and education of Whatcom youth. This scholarship aims to eliminate financial barriers for local students pursuing careers in early learning, reflecting the Foundation's commitment to investing in community potential and fostering opportunities for future generations.

About Us

Saint Charles Area Community Foundation’s mission is to serve the Saint Charles area by supporting programs and projects that improve the quality of life in the St Charles area. SCACF connects donors who care about the future with initiatives that will enhance and sustain growth and development. SCACF thoughtfully distributes funds through a grant award process.

St. Charles Area Community Foundation Grant

The St. Charles Area Community Foundation (SCACF) General Grants support a broad range of community nonprofit collaborative initiatives that enhance the quality of life and strengthen the greater St. Charles area. These grants prioritize new and innovative projects or programs that build on existing organizational or community strengths while demonstrating measurable results. Funded projects must align with SCACF’s mission to promote economic development, community enhancement, and support for early childhood and families.

$20K for changemakers with transformative ideas & firsthand insight in early childhood

About the Imagine Award

The Imagine Award by the Promise Fund offers $20,000 in flexible funding (see definition in FAQs) and a six-month cohort-based learning experience for community-rooted early childhood leaders with ideas for transformative impact. ​​Award recipients are at the idea stage and will launch a pilot within six months, testing their solutions with real users, gathering feedback, and refining their approach.

Imagine Award recipients will learn strategies for designing and executing lightweight tests for rapid learning while gaining clarity on their idea's direction using impact and business models. They will craft a compelling story about their work to build future partnerships and run a focused pilot with strong feedback loops for gathering data, all while growing alongside a supportive peer community.

What We Provide

Our grant dollars are flexible and meant to be used at award recipients’ discretion for the pursuit of tests or a pilot of a transformative idea. Read the FAQ for more information.

Direct, one-on-one support from our team to help you learn, get tailored help, and make relevant connections.

Multi-day gathering for peer connection, learning, and pilot design.

Access to a bench of mentors to guide you as you transition out of the program and navigate next steps with your pilot.

Light, tailored coaching to support pilot preparation, launch, and implementation.

Ongoing peer community and resources to continue learning and collaboration

The Tribal Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program seeks applications for Development and Implementation Grants to support evidence-based home visiting programs for expectant families and young children. Funded by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, these grants aim to enhance maternal and child health, improve parenting practices, and foster early childhood development within tribal communities, ultimately promoting better socio-economic outcomes and reducing instances of child maltreatment.

The Otter Tail Corporation Foundation Grant Program focuses on supporting 501(c)(3) organizations in communities across Arizona, Georgia, Illinois, Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota. Priorities include early childhood education, health services for families in need, community development, and environmental sustainability. While the 2025 budget is fully allocated, they encourage applications for 2026, emphasizing collaborative projects that create measurable impacts.