Obtaining
funding for your small business can be quite tedious; it takes a lot of
research, grant writing, and proposal submissions. Here are some tips
to help you get started and additional resources by clicking on the
link at the bottom of this page.
Today childcare centers are gaining importance as a profitable
business. Many people are seeking advice to obtain grants to start
their own childcare center, expand their program, or upgrade their
facilities.
One way to locate financing for your childcare business is to:
Check with your local bank
Research and obtain venture capital
Seek gifts and loans from family and friends
Look for advice from incubator organizations
Obtain counsel from local small business and women's associations
In a few states, special loan programs have been developed to help
childcare centers access immediate funds at affordable rates, like
Washington and Oregon's Cascadian Child Care Fund.
On-line Resources
Independent childcare business owners can also try the Foundation
Grants to Individuals Online, a service of The Foundation Center at
http://www.fdncenter.org. For a small fee per month (payable by credit
card), the Foundation Center offers online listings of Grants to
Individuals in the U.S.
Requesting Guidelines and Applications
Once you have completed your initial research and found potential grant
funding, the next step involves contacting them and request their
latest application and funding guidelines. If the program is operated
by a foundation, also request their annual report. It is a good idea to
view some common grant applications online so you know what to look for
when your information comes in.
Grant/Funding Information Processing
Once you have received various funding information packets and
applications, read them carefully and make notes about specific
guidelines. Review which of the funding opportunities are available for
a childcare center and whether your business plan fits their criteria.
Examples of information you would find on a funding information packet
would be: the type of program for which funding is available,
eligibility requirements, location and populations served, and
application deadlines, and so on.
Contact Funding Agencies Directly
Funding guidelines and applications can be quite extensive. While
reviewing the guidelines and application, make notes of any questions
you may have. Most funding agencies will assist you in completing your
application for funding, and will appreciate that you have taken the
time to get all the facts before submitting your proposal. Funding
proposals are often set aside and not reviewed due to incomplete
information, therefore it is critical to review your application to
ensure you have met all the eligibility requirements and submitted all
the necessary paperwork.
Prepare Your Cover Letter and Proposal
A cover letter is usually required with each proposal submitted. Again,
check the guidelines of the funding agencies. Each agency will have
different paperwork requirements.
Don't Give Up
The best advice you can receive as you begin your quest for funding for
your childcare center is not to become discouraged. Funding agencies
typically receive a lot more proposals than they fund. So apply to more
than one funding organization, and follow each organization's
instructions very carefully as to what they want in a proposal, and you
will have a much better chance of obtaining funding for your childcare
center.
