Grant Programs

Financial support for families, teacher development, and child center environment improvement.

Family Grant Program

This program is designed to identify gaps in federal and state government programs and provide funds and other resources to families that otherwise would not be able to access or afford high quality childcare or other essential family support services.  Examples include:

  • Creating Care Closets to discreetly provide needed items.  

  • Short term tuition support

  • Social Services Temporary Support

Teacher Grant Program 

Provides accessible and affordable training and other resources for early childhood education professionals. 

This is a multi-faceted effort to increase the quality and grow the ranks of highly trained teachers of young children. This program will enable teachers to remain in their profession and encourage more individuals to join the early childhood teaching workforce while meeting their own family needs. Gretchen’s House Foundation works with private childcare providers, local colleges, and universities to support teachers in their pursuit of additional education, training, and certifications while working. Examples include:

  • Teacher mentoring

  • Professional Training 

  • Conference attendance

Quality Environments Grant 

Help childcare providers improve the quality of their early childhood education environment. 

Because learning environments are so crucial to early childhood education, achieving high quality in specific elements of environments is essential. This program provides funding and other resources to childcare providers for achieving high ratings for quality learning environments and thereby aims to raise the standards of early childhood education for all children in our community. Examples include:

  • Natural and STEAM play materials

  • Nature Playground certification

  • NAEYC  Accreditation

  • Curricula approved by the State of Michigan

  • Meeting GSQ standards