Beginning 2023, the following changes regarding Buell Foundation funding have been implemented:
- Applications for child care centers that serve fewer than 15% enrollment of low-income families will no longer be considered. THBF definitions for low-income by county can be found here.
- Applications for organizations that have operating reserves greater than nine months will no longer be considered. Operating reserves are generally calculated by dividing net current assets into annual operating budget.
- Given budgetary restrictions, programs in the following areas will no longer be eligible for funding: nutrition & physical activity, book distribution, children’s museums, and certain parent information and support programs. At this time, the Foundation will only consider longer duration parenting information programs with active participation (i.e., parenting education classes, home visitation programs, etc.).
The Foundation will consider proposals in the following areas that directly support the healthy development of very young children between the ages of zero and five.
Programmatic and Operational Grants
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- Assessment and evaluation – We support a variety of assessments used to gauge the effectiveness of programs and progress of program participants. This may include process/fidelity measures as well as outcome measures (e.g., Teaching Strategies GOLD, Adult-Adolescent Parenting Index, Social Competence Scale, etc.).
- Behavior and social competence – We support direct programming as well as consultation in early learning settings with a focus on the promotion and prevention levels of behavioral health.
- Early childhood and preschool programs – We support licensed child care centers and preschools that have a commitment to quality improvement and serving children from diverse populations. We also support the early learning components of community-based programs, such as family literacy.
- Home visitation – We support evidence-based and evidence-informed home visiting programs with a focus on supporting positive parenting skills and increased knowledge about child development.
- Improvements directly related to quality – We support ongoing quality improvement of all programs. This includes funding for materials, additional staff, coaching, and quality ratings.
- Parenting education – We support evidence-based and evidence-informed parenting education programs with a focus on supporting positive parenting skills and increased knowledge about child development.
- Professional development and education – We support projects that facilitate early childhood professionals’ access to college-level coursework, mentoring, or community-based trainings.
Capital Grants
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Guidance
The Buell Foundation’s capital grants are limited to capital campaigns for licensed child care and early childhood education serving infant through preschool. Nonprofit organizations, public entities, faith-based organizations, and Native American Tribes in Colorado are eligible to apply. All capital funds are reserved for projects that:
- Open new licensed child care and preschool slots through building purchases, construction, expansion, or renovations within the next 24 months; or
- Include renovations to meet or maintain licensing requirements for early childhood education.
We support capital projects that:
- Prioritize access to a minimum of 10 hours of weekly child care and early childhood education for low-income families (eligible projects must intend for at least 15% of children served to come from low-income families, defined using both the Federal Poverty Level and the local self-sufficiency standard).
- Increase access to quality early childhood education (i.e., eligible projects should plan to achieve a Level 3-5 Colorado Shines rating within the first two years of operating).
- Demonstrate a viable five-year business plan, including thoughtful consideration for time required to fully staff and enroll the early childhood program.
- Have developed a thoughtful capital campaign with at least 25% of the total capital project budget committed in fundraising before Buell Foundation funds can be awarded. Note that additional context will be considered when reviewing funds raised to date, including anticipated bond measures or pending DOLA and USDA grants.
When making funding decisions, we prioritize:
- Projects serving rural or underserved populations (e.g., low-income families, teen parents, communities of color, etc) where there are fewer individuals and institutions providing financial support for capital projects.
- Projects with evidence of engaging community members to inform project priorities and best meet community needs (e.g., a parent advisory board, focus groups with local families, etc.).
- Projects developed in collaboration with local stakeholders, such as the region’s early childhood council, a family resource center, the school district, and/or elected officials.
- Projects with strong engagement and support from the organization’s governing board.
- Projects that intend to leverage public funding as sustainable revenue sources once the program is operating (e.g., the Colorado Child Care Assistance Program and Universal Preschool Program).
We do not fund:
- Capital projects that do not directly support licensed child care or preschool.
- Capital projects for child care or preschool programs that do not have a demonstrated commitment to serving low-income families.
- Capital projects that exclusively construct or enhance playgrounds for early childhood programs unless the playground renovation is specifically needed to address a licensing violation.
- Capital projects specific to a privately leased facility that cannot commit to delivering child care or preschool to the community for a minimum of five years.
- Capital projects specific to a public facility that cannot commit to delivering child care or preschool to the community for a minimum of 10 years.
- Capital projects for whom the child care or preschool operator cannot commit to uphold the Buell Foundation’s non-discrimination policy for all vendors, employees, and families served.
Click here for a printable PDF of this Capital Grant Guidance.
Click here for a printable PDF of the Capital Funding Application.
Click here to access the online Capital Funding Application.
If you have any questions about the types of programs that we fund, please call the Program Officer for your region.