The United Way of Central Alabama is excited to announce the 2026 Childcare Expansion Grant Program.
Donor Name: United Way of Central Alabama
State: Alabama
County: Blount County (AL), Chilton County (AL), Jefferson County (AL), Saint Clair County (AL), Shelby County (AL), Walker County (AL)
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 04/16/2026
Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000
Grant Duration: 1 Year
Details:
In response to the growing demand for high-quality, affordable childcare, EXCEL (Expanding Childcare and Early Learning) — formerly referred to as the Early Learning Acceleration Institute (ELAI) — is opening a new grant opportunity for eligible childcare providers.
This grant opportunity is available to existing DHR-licensed childcare providers who are interested in increasing the number of children enrolled in high-quality early-learning programs throughout Central Alabama.
Funding Information
Up to $25,000 per organization.
Grant Period
June 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027.
Uses of Funds
Funding is intended for one-time expenses directly tied to increased capacity or enrollment, such as:
- Facility enhancements that enable program expansion (e.g., classroom build-outs, licensing-related improvements).
- Facility repairs tied to increased capacity or safety (e.g., bathroom and playground repairs, safety upgrades).
- Learning environment improvements only if they can be clearly connected to sustained higher enrollment.
Geographical Areas
Blount, Chilton, Jefferson, Shelby, St. Clair and/or Walker counties
Eligibility Criteria
Grants will be awarded to eligible childcare providers contingent upon availability of funding. To be eligible to apply for the EXCEL Grant, a childcare provider must meet the following criteria:
- Be DHR-licensed and operating a center-based program.
- Be a DHR-licensed home-based provider actively transitioning to a center-based model.
- OR be a DHR-licensed childcare facility opening a second or third location.
Ineligibility
- Ongoing or continuous operating expenses (e.g., staffing costs)
- Materials unrelated to increasing enrollment (e.g., office chairs, general office supplies)
- UWCA funding CANNOT be used to support: (1) Lobbying or (2) Fundraising activities.
For more information, visit UWCA.
