United Way of the Black Hills launches Early Learner Community Toolkit Grant in South Dakota

Black Hills Reads, an initiative of United Way of the Black Hills, believes that all communities should have the opportunity to make Early Learning a priority.

Donor Name: United Way of the Black Hills

State: South Dakota

County: All Counties

Type of Grant: Grant

Deadline (mm/dd/yyyy): Ongoing

Grant Size: $10,000

Grant Duration: 9 months

Details: 

This toolkit and process was guided by the National League of Cities Community action guide and simplified to get a community started. This toolkit helps communities create early learning stakeholder groups, saturate the community with early learning messaging and provides funding and organizational support to allow follow through in all areas laid out below.

• Planning Grant (may reference Phase 1&2 in Early Learning Toolkit)
  • $500-$1,000 in grant funds
    • 6-month planning period
    • Need to follow structure of Early Learning Toolkit for guidance of process or the National League of Cities Guide
    • Provide a projected budget of how funds will be spent (marketing materials, materials for programs to increase quality care, etc)
      • Items included outside of grant funds:
        • 10 hours of Technical Assistance (value of $350)
        • Initial meeting facilitation by Black Hills Reads
        • 2 showings of No Small Matter or Starting at Zero (value of $350)
        • Advocacy Toolkit
• Implementation Grant (may reference Phase 3&4 in Early Learning Toolkit)
  • Round 1:
    • Amount: Up to $5,000
      • Access to marketing materials on Early Learner website
      • 6-month check in
      • Need to have a community lead(s) in place before moving into Implementation
      • Need to follow structure of Early Learning Toolkit for guidance of process or the National League of Cities Guide
      • Consider use of Advocacy Toolkit with further implementation
      • Provide a projected budget of how funds will be spent
      • Items included outside of grant funds
        • 10 hours of mentorship with Black Hills Reads Director with community lead
      • Need to show progress of stakeholder buy-in and initial planning to qualify for this grant
  • Round 2: Implementation Large scale roll out
    • Up to an additional $10,000
      • 6-9 months after first phase of roll-out is complete (they understand this may vary from one community to the next)
      • They would like to see communities making movement towards NLC work
      • Mentorship with Black Hills Reads Director as needed after full implementation
      • Plan for sustainability during this grant period
      • Need to show progress of implementation to qualify for this grant

Who Can Apply for this Grant?

For more information, visit United Way of the Black Hills.