First Children's Finance - Minnesota

Grant Guidelines

Communities that have worked directly with First Children's Finance in Greater Minnesota with the Rural Child Care Innovation Program or Strategic Supply Plan are eligible to apply for this grant. The community must have a completed Community Solutions Action Plan and be in the implementation stage of that plan.  This grant opportunity is by invitation only.  
**90% of grant funds will be paid up front to the organization serving as fiscal agent.  The remaining 10% will be paid on a reimbursement basis upon receipt of the final report and reconciliation of all expense documentation, ensuring that it matches the usage approved in the grant award, and the 50% match requirement.**
The primary submitter of the application may invite an additional email to collaborate on the grant application.
Requirements:
1. Grant must be used to increase the supply of child care by adding new child care programs or expansion of existing programs resulting in an increase in licensed capacity.
2. Grant must be used for items per Federal guidelines, as it cannot be used for major renovation, construction or purchase of property. 45 CFR 98.2 defines major renovation as:  (1) structural changes to the foundation, roof, floor, exterior or load-bearing walls of a facility, or the extension of a facility to increase its floor area; or (2) extensive alteration of a facility such as to significantly change its function and purpose, even if such renovation does not include any structural change.
3. Grants up to $30,000 - debt service and prior purchases including down payments are not eligible.
4. Competitive application and a rubric will be used to determine dollar awards amounts.
5. Applicants must be a past or current RCCIP or SSP community that has completed an action plan and is in the project implementation stage.
6. Grant application period: March 20, 2023 (9 AM) and closing on March 31, 2023 (5 PM)
7. Applicant can be a Core Team Lead, Project Team Lead or Fiscal Agent for the community project for the purpose of developing additional child care slots. Fiscal agents who may receive grant dollars on behalf of the community project must be be a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, community foundation, school district or unit of government.
8. Grants over $15,000 require a 50% cash match from sources other than First Children’s Finance.
9. Fiscal agent agrees to manage grant funds and reporting requirements at no charge.  
10. Each community can have only one First Children’s Finance (FCF) Community Grant open at a time.  Once the final report has been submitted and the grant is closed out, a community may be eligible to apply again for a new project. Priority will be given to communities who have not received a prior FCF Community Grant.  
11. Any newly created or expanding child care businesses receiving grant dollars must work with FCF Business Development Staff to receive Technical Assistance for a minimum of 2 hours.
12. If grant funds are used inappropriately the money must be paid back in full to FCF within 3 months. Failure to do so will be turned over to the Minnesota Department of Human Services fraud department for investigation. Consequences could include loss of licensure, loss of Parent Aware rating, loss of future funding including but not limited to Parent Aware grants, TEACH scholarships, RETAIN bonuses, Child Care Aware Regional grants and reimbursement through the Child Care Assistance Program. The case may also be referred to another agency such as the Minnesota BCA for prosecution of fraud with public funds.
13. Community grantees must notify FCF when the entire project is completed.
14. Grant funds must be spent and a final report returned to FCF within 6 months.  If project implementation is delayed - especially due to supply chain and/or contractor issues - an extension may be requested in writing.  Approval of an extension must be received in writing.
15. First Children’s Finance reserves the right to make final decisions on all grant awards.