Tips for creating a strong application for the FCCH Facilities Improvement Grant.
Each year, ECCLA receives hundreds of applications for the FCCH Facilities Improvement Grant requesting financial support to address health, safety, or licensing issues in existing programs, expand licensed capacity in existing programs, or start a new family child care home in their community.
We encourage all applicants to begin their applications early. This ensures that you have time to collect the documentation and information that you need. Giving yourself ample time to work on your application will help you create an application that is complete, thorough, and sets itself apart from other applications. The more information that you include, the easier it is for the grant review committee to understand why your project is important and should be funded.
1. Prepare your documentation before you apply. Applications are often disqualified for missing documentation!
- Proof of eligibility: If your program is licensed, scan or take a photo of your current child care license. If you are in the pre-licensing process, collect documentation that proves that you have applied for a license and have been assigned a license number.
- Photograph your space: Take at least 3 before photos of the space that you want to repair, improve, or expand. Ensure that the photos are in PNG or JPEG/JPG format.
- Collect your bids: If you are applying for funding that requires labor or installation, you must collect at least two bids from different companies/contractors. Schedule your estimates as soon as possible. If you plan to do the work yourself, please note that in your budget description, but be sure to itemize all of the materials you will need (see below).
- Collect photos and prices for your budget table: If you are asking for equipment or materials to complete your project, collect photos and prices of every item that you wish to purchase. Screenshots from the vendor’s website are ideal.
2. Draft your narratives.
We recommend preparing your narratives in Word, Google Docs, or another word processor before entering them into the application. Questions include:
- Please tell us about your program. Speak about your mission, philosophy, the children, families, and community you serve, and what sets your program apart.
- Please explain how this project will increase licensed capacity or help maintain your program. What barriers are you facing as a home child care provider? Is this funding needed to keep your program open or help you to increase capacity? If you are starting a new family child care program, what hurdles are you facing to ensure your program will open?
- Please tell us about your project, including the anticipated timeline of the project.
Remember: Projects are not selected or scored based on writing ability, but rather on the strength and clarity of the project’s purpose and alignment with program priorities.
3. Fill out the online application.
- Go to awards.ecclacolorado.org and click “Register.”
- Under “MY PROGRAMS,” click on the dropdown menu and select “Family Child Care Home Facilities Improvement Grant.” Click “Create.”
- Fill out the application completely. You will see a green checkmark next to each complete section.
- When you are done, click on “Submit as FINAL.” Your application is not submitted and will not be processed until you complete that step!
Good luck! If you have questions or need support with your application, please reach out to Shannon Hall. Technical assistance is available for the Fall 2025 Round until October 9th at 4:00 PM.