Early Head Start Expansion and Early Head Start – Child Care Partnership Grants in Multiple States
🏛 Administration for Children and Families - OHS
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Oct 19, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for organizations providing early childhood education and care services. Eligible applicants are nonprofit organizations, community action agencies, Indian tribes, and public entities that can deliver Early Head Start services or partner with child care providers. The grant targets pregnant women, low-income infants, and toddlers in Georgia, North Carolina, and Virginia.
Applicants must demonstrate capacity to provide comprehensive services including education, health, nutrition, and family support. Prior experience serving low-income families or established partnerships with child care providers strengthen applications.
Funding supports either expansion of existing Early Head Start programs or creation of Early Head Start-Child Care Partnerships. Cost sharing is required.
⚖️ Cost sharing / matching required — applicants must contribute their own funds.
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Key dates
- Sep 2, 2026 Applications open
- Dec 15, 2026 Application deadline in 56 days
- Jul 30, 2027 Award announced
- Aug 2, 2027 Project start
Program description
The Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Office of Head Start (OHS), announces a competitive notice of funding opportunity to provide high-quality, comprehensive services to pregnant women, low-income infants and toddlers and their families through the expansion of Early Head Start services or through Early Head Start-Child Care (EHS-CC) Partnerships. This funding opportunity advances ACF’s mission to promote the economic and social well-being of children, families, and communities, and reflects OHS’s commitment to expanding access to high-quality, comprehensive early childhood services that strengthen family stability and community prosperity. Approximately $7.7 million in federal funding will be awarded in multiple communities in GA, NC and VA.
These service areas are subject to change until a Notice of Funding Opportunity is published.
Applicants may also email the OHS Operations Center at OHSgrants@koniag-gs.com for additional information.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
- 501(c)(3) Public Charity
- City / Municipal Government
- County Government
- Nonprofits
- Private University
- Public Authority
- Public K-12 School
- Public University
- Small Business (SBA-defined)
- State Government
- Tribal Nation
- Tribal Organization
Demographic focus
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance)
- Project Narrative/Statement of Need
- Budget and Budget Narrative
- Organizational capacity documentation
- Letters of commitment from partners
- Evidence of cost-sharing commitment
Program contact
- 👤 Nicole Stoakley
- 📧 OHSgrants@koniag-gs.com
- 📞 (888) 242-0684
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 93.600 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$839,927,303
-
$607,779,021
-
$427,896,331
-
$395,120,164
-
$358,501,261
-
$355,204,337
-
$321,695,165
-
$321,573,170
-
$304,236,922
-
$284,417,299
Top States by Funding
- CA 30 awards $6,799.7M
- TX 12 awards $1,756.5M
- FL 8 awards $1,177.1M
- AZ 7 awards $989.9M
- NY 6 awards $952.5M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 93.600). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $12,144,413,680 | |
| 2025 | $12,000,267,372 | |
| 2026 est. | $12,001,716,254 |
FAQ
Who is eligible to apply for this grant?
Nonprofits, community action agencies, Indian tribes, and public entities in GA, NC, or VA can apply. You must be able to serve low-income infants, toddlers, and pregnant women.
What is the deadline and funding range?
The deadline is December 15, 2026. Individual awards range from approximately $1.2 million to $5 million.
What activities does this grant support?
Funding supports Early Head Start program expansion or Early Head Start-Child Care Partnerships that provide education, health, nutrition, and family support services.
Is cost sharing required?
Yes, cost sharing (matching funds) is required. Check the Notice of Funding Opportunity for specific percentages.
How competitive is this grant?
Competition is moderate to strong given the federal funding level and limited service areas. Strong applications demonstrate community partnerships, financial capacity, and experience serving low-income families.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Review the Notice of Funding Opportunity carefully when published; service areas and specific requirements may change from the announcement.
- Build a strong partnership strategy, especially if proposing an EHS-CC Partnership model with child care providers.
- Document your organization's experience serving low-income families and ability to provide comprehensive services.
- Start identifying cost-sharing sources early; demonstrate realistic, committed matching funds.
- Highlight community need data and how your program will increase access to quality early childhood services in your target area.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Weak community partnerships or unclear roles in proposed EHS-CC collaborations. Unrealistic or unsecured cost-sharing commitments that reviewers doubt will materialize. Insufficient evidence of organizational capacity to manage federal funding and serve the required population effectively.
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