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Northland Foundation announces Emergency Early Care and Education Wrap-Around Grant Opportunity - Round II

Jan 12, 2021 09:38AM ● By Editor
From the Northland Foundation - January 12, 2021

The Northland Foundation has partnered with the Minnesota Department of Education on behalf of the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief (GEER) Fund to help support emergency wrap-around early care and education services for northeastern Minnesota children ages 0-8 from underserved populations impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.This is the second and final round; the first round occurred Fall 2020. Approximately $150,000 total will be available. Organizations will be selected on a competitive basis.

There are two funding levels for which eligible organizations may apply:
  • Small grants up to $5,000
  • Grants of $5,001 to $15,000

Key Dates and Services Supported 
The application process opens January 12, 2021 and closes February 15, 2021. Applicants will be notified of a decision by March 17, 2021. This funding round applies to projects that can be completed between April 1, 2021 and March 31, 2022 that support the following: 
  • Mental health services and supports 
  • Social, emotional, and physical health supports 
  • Supplemental after-school programs  
  • Summer learning or enrichment programs  
  • On-line/distance learning programs 
  • Training and development to more effectively operate during the pandemic and address the needs of young children 0-8 
  • Other activities that are necessary to maintain the operation of and continuity of services in early care and education prioritizing the needs of historically under-served groups.
Eligibility Criteria

ELIGIBLE organizations must: 
  • Demonstrate efforts that benefit children ages 0-8 including low-income students; students with disabilities; students who are Black, Indigenous, or People of Color; students experiencing homelessness; children in foster care; English learners; migrant students; and/or rural students disproportionately impacted by the pandemic.

  • Be a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, local unit of government, or a community group with a fiscal agent. Schools are eligible that provide wrap-around early care and education services and supports and or serving as a fiscal agent for these services.

  • Provide services in Aitkin, Carlton, Cook, Itasca, Koochiching, Lake, and/or St. Louis Counties or within the five Tribal Nations that share the same geography: Bois Forte Band of Chippewa, Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe (District 2), and Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe (District 1).
For questions about grant criteria and eligibility, please contact Lynn Haglin, Vice President/KIDS PLUS Director at [email protected] or Zane Bail, Director of Development and Special Projects [email protected].
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