The Arkansas Head Start Innovation Fund, supported by the Walton Family Foundation, is a new invitation-only grant opportunity designed to strengthen Head Start (HS) and Early Head Start (EHS) grantee agencies across Arkansas. This initiative invests in sustainable, innovative approaches that enhance quality, expand capacity and improve outcomes for children and families.
This project seeks to advance the following goals for Head Start and Early Head Start grantee agencies:
- Improve child outcomes and school readiness among HS and EHS children
- Strengthen the capacity of teachers, family childcare providers, and program
- Increase public awareness of the impact and promise of HS and EHS in Arkansas
To help achieve these goals, the Community Foundation is offering a funding opportunity through an invitation-only competitive grant cycle to Arkansas HS and EHS grantee agencies in Arkansas. The 22-month project period will award grants between $200,000 to $600,000 per grantee and provide access to a dedicated project coach.
Applicant proposals from existing HS and EHS agencies should address one or more of the following priority areas:
- Teacher Workforce: Recruitment and retention of qualified teaching and family childcare staff
- Child Outcomes: Programming and materials to improve developmental and/or academic growth
- Program Enrollment: Strategies to improve enrollment at Head Start centers and family childcare homes
Proposal budgets must align with the following eligible categories:
- Personnel: Salaries of staff with time dedicated to this project
- Fringe: Benefits (payroll tax, unemployment, workers compensation, insurance, retirement) and other fringe such as stipends and/or performance incentives
- Other: in-state travel, out-of-state travel, meetings/events, printing/publications, supplies, equipment, training fees and other to support technical assistance and community engagement efforts
- Partner expenses: Includes consultant/contractors to secure external expertise and to award subawards/subgrants as needed
- Indirect: Applicants may request up to 10% of the total innovation funding request to support overhead expenses
Grantees must also commit to the following:
- Monthly project coaching sessions* (approximately 4 hours/month)
- Quarterly online cohort meetings (1 hour/quarter)
- Active participation in project evaluation activities*
*Click here for some Frequently Asked Questions about the Arkansas Head Start Innovation Fund
