HEALTHY BEGINNINGS, ACTIVE FUTURES
GRANT APPLICATION
Grant Information and Criteria
This competitive grant program is made possible through generous support from the
Colorado Health Foundation.
Grant Information
Grant Application Deadline: Postmarked, emailed, or hand delivered by 5:00pm on May 19, 2017
Technical Assistance Webinars
April 11, April 21, and May 4, 2017 from 2:00pm-3:00pm
Contact Information
Shannon Hall
Director of Scholarships and Grants
303.339.6835
[email protected]
Mail applications to:
Qualistar Colorado
Scholarships and Grants Office
3607 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
Denver, CO 80205
[email protected]
About the Healthy Beginnings, Active Futures Grant
In a state known for physical fitness and outdoor activity, data shows that nearly a third of Colorado’s
children are not physically active on a regular basis. Qualistar, a statewide non-profit organization
dedicated to elevating the quality of early childhood education, has partnered with the Colorado Health
Foundation to offer a grant that supports programs. The Healthy Beginnings, Active Futures grant will
allow Qualistar to assist early childhood education programs in making improvements to playgrounds
and outdoor play spaces, redesign and replace expensive playground surfacing and equipment, build
new, high-quality outdoor environments, and invest in health and safety-related improvements to existing
outdoor play spaces. We will accept applications from licensed non-profit providers, privately owned
for-profit providers, family child care providers, and preschools that are committed to reducing childhood
obesity, increasing active play and physical activity, and increasing the social cohesion within and around
active play spaces.
Please do not send documents that have not been requested as part of the application process. We
cannot be held responsible for postal errors or insufficient postage.
Generously supported by:
Grant Criteria
Criteria
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Must be a licensed early childhood center, preschool or family child care home
Can have profit or non-profit status
Must serve children younger than five years of age
School district programs must demonstrate support and investment from the district
Must utilize funds to address quality, health, safety, or licensing issues through physical
improvements to facility’s outdoor play and learning environments
Applications requesting more than $25,000 must own facility or demonstrate a long-term lease
Requests may be made up to $50,000 (availability limited)
Complete application and submit all required attachments
Programs may receive only one grant during a 12-month period
If an application is not selected, the application may be resubmitted in the next round
Funds cannot be used for retirement of debt
Must submit a 12-month completion report that includes “after” photos of the project
Required Attachments
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Copy of a legible license issued by the Colorado Department of Human Services’ Office of Early
Childhood
Completed and signed W-9
“Before” photos of the project before work is started
Priorities
The funding priorities for the Healthy Beginnings, Active Futures grant include statewide geographic
dispersion, addressing unmet service gaps and increasing access to quality programs. In addition,
priority will be given to applicants that serve vulnerable families and children, which can be
demonstrated by meeting any of the following criteria:
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Demonstration of economic need for population served (e.g., percent of families eligible for
need-based child care subsidies in the county, level of participation in Colorado Child Care
Assistance Program (CCCAP), number of low-income families that may be experiencing
housing or food insecurity)
Serving a diverse population, including a high percentage of ethnic and racial diversity
Serving children who are English language learners
Serving children with disabilities or special health care needs
Section One: Organizational Information
HE A LT H Y B EG IN NI NG S, ACT I V E FUT UR E S
Grant Application
A. CONTACT INFORMATION
Name of Program:
Name of Director:
Phone:
Fax:
Mailing Address:
City:
County:
Name of Contact Person (if different than Director):
Phone:
B. ORGANIZATION INFORMATION
Primary address (if different from mailing address):
City:
County:
Child Care License Number:
Licensed Capacity:
Current Total
Enrollment:
Accreditations e.g. NAEYC:
Check one: ☐ Rent
☐ Own
E-mail:
State:
ZIP Code:
Employer Identification Number (EIN):
Email:
State:
ZIP Code:
Colorado Shines Level (1-5):
Year Opened:
Years in Operation:
Number of months program is open during
the year:
Grant amount requested:
C. DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION
Center Auspice: ☐Profit ☐Nonprofit ☐Head Start ☐School District/Name______________________
License type: ☐Child Care Center ☐Family Child Care Home ☐Preschool
Number of infants enrolled (Birth-12 months)
Number of preschoolers enrolled (3-5 years)
Number of toddlers enrolled (1-3 years)
Number of school-age children enrolled (612 years)
If yes, number of children participating in
CCCAP?
Do you accept families participating in the Colorado
Child Care Assistance Program (CCCAP)?
☐Yes
☐ No
How many children in your program do not have English as their primary language?
How many children in your program are experiencing homelessness?
How many children in your program have special care needs? (including, but not limited to, having a
disability, IFSP or IEP)
How many children in your program would not identify as White, Non-Hispanic?
Total number of staff employed at program:
Number of Administrators:
Number of Teachers:
Number of non-teaching staff and their roles:
Section Two: Narrative (18 total points)
Program Narrative (8 Points):
It is important to us and our funder, the Colorado Health Foundation, that our most vulnerable
families, children and communities benefit from these quality improvement funds. Therefore,
please tell us how your program benefits those populations. Please speak to how you have or
will engage your families and/or your community in planning your project. This is your
opportunity to make a compelling case for the need for and potential impact of your project.
Quality Narrative (5 points):
Tell us how your project will improve quality in your program. Please speak to quality
components such as health and safety, commitment to reducing childhood obesity, increasing
active play and physical activity, and increasing the social cohesion within and around active
play spaces.
Project Narrative (5 Points):
Please tell us about your program’s need to create, replace or improve your outdoor play and
learning space. Be sure to provide “before” pictures and a description of the improvements
you plan to make if a grant is awarded. Please address the following items in your narrative:
• Anticipated timeline of the project.
• Once the work is completed, who will be responsible for upkeep and ongoing
maintenance?
Section Three: Budget (8 total Points)
Budget Table: (3 Points)
Project Budget Items
Total Cost
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$
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$
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$
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$
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$
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$
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$
10.
$
[add if needed]
$
Total Amount Requested:
$
Total project cost:
Budget Explanation (if needed; 0 points)
Statement of Financial Need: (5 Points)
Please tell us about your community, your program and the need for financial assistance as it pertains
to quality in your program.
Section Four: Signature Page
Applications must be postmarked, emailed or hand delivered by 5:00 pm on Friday, May
19, 2017
By signing below, I hereby attest that everything included in this application is valid and true. I certify
that the applicant organization is licensed and is in good standing with the State of Colorado. I
understand that all expenditures made in conjunction with any grant award through this program must
meet all applicable code and licensing requirements. I acknowledge that Qualistar Colorado may verify
any and all information contained in this application, including, but not limited to, our facility’s licensing
history and status.
Name and title of Owner, CEO or Executive Director (please print):
________________________________________________
Signature of Owner, CEO or Executive Director:
________________________________________________ Date: _____________________
Name, title of person completing application (please print):
________________________________________________
Signature of person completing application:
________________________________________________ Date: _____________________
A twelve-month completion report is a requirement for acceptance of a grant award. Please provide two
names that would be responsible for these reports. (Suggestions: center director, board president, grant
writer, etc.; family childcare homes expempt)
Name: ________________________________Title: __________________________
Email address:
____________________________________________________________________
Name: ________________________________Title: __________________________
Email address:
____________________________________________________________________
Section Five: Checklist
Checklist (does not need to be submitted with application)
☐ Complete Application with all required attachments:
☐ Copy of legible program license issued by the Colorado Department of Human
Services’ Office of Early Childhood
☐ Completed and signed W9
☐ “Before” photos of project before work started
☐ Documentation of ownership or long term lease (if asking for more than $25,000)
☐ Letter of support/investment (if a district program)