Facilities Upgrades Grants

The Infant & Toddler Care: Facilities Upgrades grant initiative is administered by the Kosciusko County Community Foundation and funded by a $2,838,000 grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. This program is part of a broader strategy to improve access to early learning and care for children ages 0–3 in Kosciusko and Whitley Counties, Indiana. It specifically supports capital projects designed to expand or enhance facilities serving infants and toddlers, with a goal of increasing both the quality and the capacity of child care infrastructure in the region. Eligible applicants are nonprofit and school-based childcare programs operating in Kosciusko or Whitley County that directly serve children ages 0–3. Proposals must aim to either increase the number of children served through renovations or new construction, or improve the quality of care through physical upgrades to the facility. This includes renovations to add sinks, cribs, toddler-accessible bathrooms, playground installations, HVAC systems, furnishings, accessibility features, and other structural modifications. The grant is intended solely for capital improvement projects; programmatic funding requests will not be considered. Applicants can request up to $50,000 in funding, and the program operates on a reimbursement basis. This means grantees must initially cover project expenses and then submit documentation for reimbursement through the Foundation’s online portal. If this presents a hardship for the organization, the Foundation allows applicants to request an upfront grant payment. Organizations receiving funds will have 12 months from the time of the award to complete their projects and must submit receipts, paid invoices, and a narrative report detailing outcomes. The application process is rolling, open from March 2024 through December 2026 or until funds are exhausted, whichever comes first. Quarterly submission and decision cycles are used, with decisions made approximately 4–6 weeks after each deadline. Applicants must speak with a Foundation program officer before submitting a formal application to ensure alignment with program goals and requirements. Full application access and supporting materials are available online through the Foundation’s childcare grants webpage. Interested applicants are encouraged to contact Alex Hall, Vice President of Programs, at 574-267-1901 or alex@kcfoundation.org. Questions about the eligibility of specific project types, budget planning, or documentation requirements should be discussed in advance of submitting an application. All submissions must be made online using the Foundation's designated grant management system.

Contact the Foundation before applying; reimbursement model requires sufficient cash flow unless hardship is documented.