12 Mar Funding Alert! Grants for Campus-Based Child Care Services
Department of Education – Office of Postsecondary Education
Attention institutions of higher education! The Department of Education – Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE) is now accepting proposals for its 2021 Child Care Access Means Parents in School (CCAMPIS) program. The goal of CCAMPIS is to support low-income parents in their postsecondary education pursuits through the provision of campus-based child care services. Proposals for this program are due June 1, 2021.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants are institutions of higher education that awarded a total of at least $250,000 of Federal Pell Grant funds during fiscal year 2020 to students enrolled at the institution.
What are the program details?
The CCAMPIS Program supports institutions that are either currently operating an existing child care program on campus or that propose to create a new campus-based program. In addition, grant funding may be used for before- and afterschool activities and/or to serve the child care needs of the community served by the institution.
Proposed projects must focus on serving those with the greatest needs. As such, applicants must demonstrate the needs of low-income students at their institution by providing student demographic information, an assessment of child care capacity on or near campus, any information regarding waitlists for existing child care services, and any other needs created by concentrations of poverty and/or geographic isolation.
For fiscal year 2021, proposed CCAMPIS projects must meet both of the following absolute priorities:
- Projects must leverage significant local or institutional resources, including in-kind contributions, to support the project activities. This could include technical expertise, financial support, access to social service funding, leveraging foundation or corporate support, etc.
- Projects must utilize a sliding fee scale for child care services to support a high number of low-income parents pursuing postsecondary education at the institution.
The funder expects to award 275 total grants with a maximum four-year project period. Grant awards will range from $30,000 to $443,492 with an estimated average of $167,116 each.
What makes a project a good fit?
In addition to the absolute priorities described above, the Department of Education has included three invitational priorities for applicants to consider:
- Supporting students who are single parents by providing resources (with institutional funds) that will enhance the student/parents’ educational, personal, and financial growth;
- Addressing child care shortages due to COVID by increasing the number of licensed, quality child care centers in areas most impacted by the pandemic; and
- Providing wrap-around services for low-income parents in postsecondary education, such as by partnering with community organizations to provide additional financial aid, transportation, mental health services, tutoring, peer support groups, etc.
Furthermore, the institution should coordinate with its education curriculum (including early childhood education, if applicable) to meet the needs of education students as well as the parents and children receiving child care services.
What if I am ready to apply? To move your project forward, take the following action steps as soon as possible:
- Review the full program solicitation for additional details and review criteria.
- View the Department of Education’s CCAMPIS program page for examples of previously funded proposals, tips and assistance, program contacts, and other news and resources.
- Mark your calendar for Tuesday, March 30 – the funder is sponsoring an online technical assistance workshop for CCAMPIS applicants. The program page includes contact information for anyone interested in participating.
- Make sure your System for Award Management (SAM) registration is active and be sure you have agov profile. You can check your SAM status here: https://www.sam.gov/SAM/pages/public/searchRecords/search.jsf.
What if I need help with this application?
Contact Assel Grant Services (AGS) today! Our team can help with all aspects of preparing the application and managing the grant if you are awarded. If you would like to discuss this possibility, please contact AGS as soon as possible. Rosie Brennan, Community Engagement Specialist, will be happy to talk with you about this opportunity and provide you a quote for grant services.
What if I am not ready to apply this year?
Start preparing for next year! The Department of Education also has a variety of other programs and funding opportunities available that might be a good fit. The office’s website has ample resources, webinars, and descriptions of available or upcoming opportunities.
How do I learn more about federal grant opportunities?
AGS is excited to offer a new Federal Grants Training Series coming in 2021! The series is designed to support nonprofit professionals before and during their first federal grant. AGS also offers several on demand webinars on a variety of topics to support the full grant cycle. Check out our website to learn more and sign up for our training newsletter.
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