Grant Funding

The following grants are available and subject to budget allocations determined by the provincial government for the fiscal year. Centre and Nursery School applicants must be familiar with the Roles and Responsibilites of a Board and all facilities should review the section on Legal Annotatability including Conflict of Interest policies.

For more information about grants, please see the information provided below or contact your Child Care Co-ordinator with any questions.

• One-Time Grant Funding (as per availability)
• Annual Grant Funding
  • Operating Grant Funding - Centres, Homes and Nursery Schools
  • Training Grants
  • Inclusion and Support Program Grants
• Early Learning and Child Care Building Fund

One-time Grant Funding

Quality and Inclusion and Enhancement Grants – Deadline: March 13, 2023

The Quality Enhancement Grants are one-time grants made available through the Canada-Manitoba Canada-Wide ELCC Agreement and provincial funding, supporting the principles of quality, inclusivity, and sustainability. These grants provide Manitoba’s early learning and child care providers with the flexibility to choose and apply funding to where it is needed most so that they are better positioned to build a stronger, more responsive early learning and child care system for the future.

Grant Acceptance Process

All eligible facilities will be required to ‘accept’ or ‘decline’ each grant funding stream through the weekly Manitoba Child Care Search facility update request, beginning Monday February 27, 2023 and before March 13, 2023. Exception: Retirement Enhancement and Retention Benefit will automatically be applied for eligible license holders as noted above.

For more information about the Quality Enhancement Grants, including the terms and conditions, download the applicable grant funding stream ‘guideline’ in the table above or see Quality Enhancement Grants Circular and FAQs for centres or homes.at:
Early Learning and Child Care Notices, Circulars and Webinars

General Eligibility for all Operating Grants

• be a provincially licensed child care facility;
• be open and providing child care services to families;
• accept subsidized families;
• enroll children with additional needs if requested;
• meet financial reporting requirements as outlined by the Early Learning and Child Care Program.

Centre Annual Operating Grant

The Centre Annual Operating Grant provides a level of operational support dependent on the type of child care services offered. 

Application:

Funded facilities are required to submit an application to receive their operating grant annually within one month after their fiscal year-end. The application includes the Centres Annual Operating Budget (located on Child Care Online) and the board meeting minutes that include the motion to approve the current annual budget.

New or unfunded facilities will be advised if they become eligible for operating grant funding.

Funding:

• Operating grants are based on the type of care provided, the number of licensed child care spaces, the utilization of all spaces as well as the actual months and days of service.

• Operating grants are issued in installments, four times per year (April, July, October, January).

Reporting Requirements:

• The Board of Directors is the legal entity and authority for a not for profit child care centre. It is accountable for the proper conduct of the centre’s business and for all aspects of the centre’s programs, staff and funds, including oversite and approval of the budget.

• Financial reporting to the Early Learning and Child Care Program is a requirement for continued eligibility of receiving all grants. The names and attendance of all children must be reported by the Centre Director or designate on the Facility Child Attendance Report. The Facility Child Attendance Report must be submitted for each designated four week period and should be submitted no later than two weeks after the end of the reporting period.

• Annual Audited Financial statements must be signed by two members of the Board of Directors and received no later than five (5) months following the fiscal year end. Financial Statements must be audited in accordance with Generally Accepted Auditing Standards by a Chartered Accountant, Certified General Accountant or Certified Management Accountant, independent of the child care centre (i.e., not involved in the operation of the centre). A set of Audit Guidelines are available to provide to the auditor.

• Monthly Operating Statements and Annual General Meeting minutes must be available for review upon request.

Nursery School Annual Operating Grant

The Nursery School Annual Operating Grant provides a level of operational support dependent on the type of child care services offered. 

Application:

Funded nursery schools are required to submit an application to receive their operating grant annually within one month after their fiscal year-end. The Nursery School Annual Operating Grant application form is located on Child Care Online.

New or unfunded nursery schools will be advised if they become eligible for operating grant funding.

Funding:

• Operating grants are based on the number of licensed spaces, the number of sessions offered, the utilization of all spaces as well as the actual months and days of service.

• Operating grants are issued in installments, four times per year (April, July, October, January).

Reporting Requirements:

• The Board of Directors is the legal entity and authority for a not for profit child care centre. It is accountable for the proper conduct of the centre’s business and for all aspects of the centre’s programs, staff and funds, including oversite and approval of the budget.

• Financial reporting to the Early Learning and Child Care Program is a requirement for continued eligibility of receiving grants. The names and attendance of all children must be reported by the Centre Director or designate on the Facility Child Attendance Report. The Facility Child Attendance Report must be submitted for each designated four week period and should be submitted no later than two weeks after the end of the reporting period.

• A complete set of Financial Statements, prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting standards, is required, but do not need to be audited or reviewed by an accountant with a professional accounting designation. Financial statements must be signed by two members of the Board of Directors and received no later than five (5) months following the nursery school’s fiscal year end. Sample financial statements are available for your reference, as well as a Sample Balance sheet and a Sample Statement of Revenue and Expenses.

Family/Group Child Care Home Operating Grant

The Family/Group Child Care Home Annual Operating Grant provides a level of operational support dependent on the type of child care services offered. 

Application:

When advised by your Child Care Co-ordinator that you are eligible for operating grant funding, submit the Family/Group Child Care Home Annual Operating Grant application form located on Child Care Online.

Funding:

• Operating grants are based on the type of care provided, the number of licensed child care spaces, the utilization of all spaces as well as the actual months and days of service.

• Operating grants are issued in installments, four times per year (April, July, October, January).

• If care is provided for less than 12 months due to an interruption of service for an extended period of time, as a result of a situation such as vacation, sick time, maternity or relocation; the grant may be prorated for the number of months care is provided.

Reporting Requirements:

• Financial reporting to the Early Learning and Child Care Program is a requirement for continued eligibility of receiving grants. The names and attendance of all children must be reported on the Facility Child Attendance Report. The Facility Child Attendance Report must be submitted for each designated four week period and should be submitted no later than two weeks after the end of the reporting period.

• Purchases made with grant funds do not require approval from the Early Learning and Child Care program; however, receipts for purchases made with the operating grant should be retained for Canada Revenue Agency. The Agency’s booklet, Using Your Home for Child Care, assists self-employed child care providers in understanding what expenses can be claimed. It also explains the importance of keeping good records and can be obtained by calling toll-free at 1-800-959-2221 or by going to www.cra.gc.ca/forms.

Training Grant

The Training Grant is available to offset the cost of professional development or educational courses directed at advancing an individual’s designation for Child Care Assistants and Early Childhood Educators. The Training Grant is subject to budget allocations determined by the government for the fiscal year April 1 to March 31.

The Training Grant is payable to the licensee on behalf of each eligible applicant up to an annual maximum each calendar year. Applicants who have successfully completed training, must provide the following documentation to the Early Learning and Child Care Program within 4 weeks of the submission in order to receive the Training Grant:

• Copy of transcripts for all courses taken. Please do not mail originals of these documents.
• Copy of receipts for all courses taken.

If any copy of a transcript or receipt is in a language other than English or French, please send an official translation.