Grants For Kids
Help for kids can come in the form of grants, loans, child care, special learning programs and more. They are different for individuals and organizations. How and where to look for them are different too. It’s important to understand the difference in order to find what you’re looking for. With a little effort, some persistence, and the right information you can find them!
Following is an overview and guide to help you find assistance and grants for kids. To streamline your search, we’ve organized this information in two categories. The first is for individuals seeking grants, the second for non-profits. If you already know the specific type of grant you're looking for, see Grants for Kids: Contents at the bottom of this page and click the appropriate topic for more information.
Grants For Kids Individuals Can Win:
When you look for grants for kids you may be frustrated that none of them are something you can apply for. That’s because “grants” are typically given out only to government agencies or non-profit organizations. Grantors give the money to accomplish a very specific goal. And there are very strict requirements about tracking how the money is used. So it’s not possible for grantors to just give money to individual people in need.
Help for Kids from the Government: Don’t despair. The agencies that the government and foundations give large grants to do help individuals in their community. The largest program of all for individuals is Temporary Assistance for Needy Families. Money is given by the Department of Health and Human Services to local agencies. That is where you can go to get cash aid and other help. You can find what is available in your state by going to the Office of Family Assistance. Select the tab that says Help For Families. Then fill in your zip code and your state’s programs and contact information appears. (See "More Resources" on our About page.
For example when we entered “California”, we learned about CalWORKS. This program gives cash and other service to needy families with children. They also help children who have been orphaned or abandoned. On a short term basis you can get money to help with housing,clothes, food, utilities and medical care. If you qualify you might get long term help paying for food, housing and other needs. You can apply online. Every state designs and runs its own program so be sure to check out your state and see what you qualify for.
Help for Kids from Non-Profits: Most grants don’t go to individuals but — they do go to organizations that provide help to individuals and families. There are agencies in your area who have received these funds and use them to help out people like you and your kids. How to find them? Here are some great places to look:
Help Finding Childcare: This is one of the biggest challenges for working families and single parent families today. Sometimes the cost of childcare and the challenges of transportation are extreme. They make it so hard for parents to earn a living and provide quality care for their kids. You may find some resources as you pursue the suggestions above. You should also check out one of the most hopeful resources we have found: childcareaware.org. They are not a government agency and they don’t provide childcare directly. They do gather and manage excellent networks of information and provide it free of charge. If you go to their website you can enter your location and find all the childcare resource and assistance programs available.
Grants For Kids Non-Profits Can Win:
If you are a non-profit seeking grants for kids you can look to the government for some help. Most government grants go to other government agencies. But the Children’s Bureau - part of Health and Human Services - does offer a category of grants called Discretionary Grants. These can be awarded to non-profits, faith-based groups and even small businesses. Their website provides a link to the Discretionary Grants Library. This is a comprehensive database which is searchable by state or by specific topics of interest to you.
There are also many grants for kids-related programs offered by private foundations and corporations. The Center for Nonprofit Excellence is a good source to find these grants. Some currently available examples include:
The American Legion’s Child Welfare Foundation looks for proposals from nonprofits which contribute to the welfare of children through the “dissemination of knowledge”. The applicant’s program has to provide benefits to children in a broad area — i.e. not just in one state.
The Kellogg Foundation aims to support the creation and provision of programs that help underserved and vulnerable kids be successful.
The Anne E. Talcott Fund targets their efforts and funds at preventing cruelty to children and animals. In awarding grants they give preference to programs which provide services in very low-income areas.
If your non-profit provides programs and services for kids there are likely to be grants out there you can win. Be persistent in your search and you (and the kids) will be rewarded.
Grants For Kids: Contents (Click on any topic for more information available on this site)
Federal Aid for Childcare: great ways to find and pay for quality care for your kids.
Grants for Kids' Programs: tips and resources for funding for program for kids (e.g. summer camps, after-school programs, special learning centers, sports programs and more).
Grants for Kids with Autism: a review of multiple types of support available for parents whose child has been diagnosed with Autism.
Grants for Kids with ADHD: where to look for assistance and extra income to support a child with ADHD.
Grants for Healthy Kids: where to find money for programs that help improve kids' health and encourage them make healthy choices.
Grants for Foster Kids: public and private assistance for the families of foster kids, plus direct help for kids who have "aged out" of the foster system and those who need help paying for their education.
Healthy Kids Grants: programs and financial support to hep young people work to make the world a better place, start their own businesses, become farmers and ranchers, and pursue higher education.
Following is an overview and guide to help you find assistance and grants for kids. To streamline your search, we’ve organized this information in two categories. The first is for individuals seeking grants, the second for non-profits. If you already know the specific type of grant you're looking for, see Grants for Kids: Contents at the bottom of this page and click the appropriate topic for more information.
Grants For Kids Individuals Can Win:
When you look for grants for kids you may be frustrated that none of them are something you can apply for. That’s because “grants” are typically given out only to government agencies or non-profit organizations. Grantors give the money to accomplish a very specific goal. And there are very strict requirements about tracking how the money is used. So it’s not possible for grantors to just give money to individual people in need.
Help for Kids from the Government: Don’t despair. The agencies that the government and foundations give large grants to do help individuals in their community. The largest program of all for individuals is Temporary Assistance for Needy Families. Money is given by the Department of Health and Human Services to local agencies. That is where you can go to get cash aid and other help. You can find what is available in your state by going to the Office of Family Assistance. Select the tab that says Help For Families. Then fill in your zip code and your state’s programs and contact information appears. (See "More Resources" on our About page.
For example when we entered “California”, we learned about CalWORKS. This program gives cash and other service to needy families with children. They also help children who have been orphaned or abandoned. On a short term basis you can get money to help with housing,clothes, food, utilities and medical care. If you qualify you might get long term help paying for food, housing and other needs. You can apply online. Every state designs and runs its own program so be sure to check out your state and see what you qualify for.
Help for Kids from Non-Profits: Most grants don’t go to individuals but — they do go to organizations that provide help to individuals and families. There are agencies in your area who have received these funds and use them to help out people like you and your kids. How to find them? Here are some great places to look:
- internet search for kids’ programs in your city/county/state
- read the bulletin board at your local library, at the grocery store, at Starbucks
- talk to Family Services Agencies in your area
- contact local churches and see if they provide some special programs — if not, they can probably give you some referrals.
- get more information about grants, loans and programs for kids.
Help Finding Childcare: This is one of the biggest challenges for working families and single parent families today. Sometimes the cost of childcare and the challenges of transportation are extreme. They make it so hard for parents to earn a living and provide quality care for their kids. You may find some resources as you pursue the suggestions above. You should also check out one of the most hopeful resources we have found: childcareaware.org. They are not a government agency and they don’t provide childcare directly. They do gather and manage excellent networks of information and provide it free of charge. If you go to their website you can enter your location and find all the childcare resource and assistance programs available.
Grants For Kids Non-Profits Can Win:
If you are a non-profit seeking grants for kids you can look to the government for some help. Most government grants go to other government agencies. But the Children’s Bureau - part of Health and Human Services - does offer a category of grants called Discretionary Grants. These can be awarded to non-profits, faith-based groups and even small businesses. Their website provides a link to the Discretionary Grants Library. This is a comprehensive database which is searchable by state or by specific topics of interest to you.
There are also many grants for kids-related programs offered by private foundations and corporations. The Center for Nonprofit Excellence is a good source to find these grants. Some currently available examples include:
The American Legion’s Child Welfare Foundation looks for proposals from nonprofits which contribute to the welfare of children through the “dissemination of knowledge”. The applicant’s program has to provide benefits to children in a broad area — i.e. not just in one state.
The Kellogg Foundation aims to support the creation and provision of programs that help underserved and vulnerable kids be successful.
The Anne E. Talcott Fund targets their efforts and funds at preventing cruelty to children and animals. In awarding grants they give preference to programs which provide services in very low-income areas.
If your non-profit provides programs and services for kids there are likely to be grants out there you can win. Be persistent in your search and you (and the kids) will be rewarded.
Grants For Kids: Contents (Click on any topic for more information available on this site)
Federal Aid for Childcare: great ways to find and pay for quality care for your kids.
Grants for Kids' Programs: tips and resources for funding for program for kids (e.g. summer camps, after-school programs, special learning centers, sports programs and more).
Grants for Kids with Autism: a review of multiple types of support available for parents whose child has been diagnosed with Autism.
Grants for Kids with ADHD: where to look for assistance and extra income to support a child with ADHD.
Grants for Healthy Kids: where to find money for programs that help improve kids' health and encourage them make healthy choices.
Grants for Foster Kids: public and private assistance for the families of foster kids, plus direct help for kids who have "aged out" of the foster system and those who need help paying for their education.
Healthy Kids Grants: programs and financial support to hep young people work to make the world a better place, start their own businesses, become farmers and ranchers, and pursue higher education.