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Executive Summary
Little Sprouts Early Learning Center is a nonprofit that gives young children in the west side of our city and the nearby county a safe, nurturing and high-quality start in life, and gives their parents the child care they need to work or study. We provide full-day licensed care for children age 1 to 5, play-based early learning and scholarships for families with low income, with caring, trained educators.
The first five years are when children's brains grow fastest. Children who have warm, stable care and rich early learning are better prepared for school and for life. But good child care is expensive, and many families cannot afford it, find a spot, or find care that matches their work hours. Our program provides quality care and early learning to children from families who need it most, with scholarships so cost is never the reason a child is left out.
In Year 1 we plan to serve about 24 children in two classrooms. Our Year 1 budget is about $193,000, growing to about $358,000 by Year 5 as we grow from two early childhood educators to six. Each year's budget is planned to balance, with a small amount set aside in savings.
We are asking the Brightpath Foundation for $60,000, as part of the $178,000 in grants and contracts we need for Year 1. The other $15,000 in Year 1 comes from donations, which we plan to grow to about $49,000 a year by Year 5. Grant money pays for early childhood educators, scholarships for families who cannot pay full cost, and the record-keeping funders require.
We will measure how many children we serve, how steadily they attend, how they are growing in learning and development using a simple developmental screening and checklist, and how many parents are able to work or study because of our care. We will report results to our funders every six months.
Company Description
Little Sprouts Early Learning Center is a nonprofit organization in Nebraska. A 501(c)(3) public charity
Our mission. To give young children a strong start through safe, nurturing and high-quality early learning, and to support the families who rely on us.
How we started and what we have done. We began in 2022 when a church opened one licensed classroom for 12 toddlers whose parents worked evenings. Since then we have served about 30 children, with six volunteers helping each week.
What we do:
- Provide full-day or part-day care and early learning for children from infancy to age five, in a licensed setting.
- Use play-based activities that build language, early math, social skills and a love of learning.
- Offer scholarships on a sliding scale so cost is not a barrier.
- Screen for developmental delays and connect families to early intervention services when needed.
- Support parents with information, regular communication and referrals to other help.
Where we work. Two licensed classrooms at a church, Monday to Friday 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Our partners. The church that provides our space, the county health department, a pediatrician who screens children and a food program that provides meals.
Our approach. Young children learn through relationships, play and routine. We hire warm, well-trained educators, keep groups small and treat parents as partners.
How we are run. A volunteer Board of Directors (a small group of community members who oversee the organization) meets regularly, approves the budget, reviews the finances and oversees the Executive Director.
Problem & Opportunity
Why this program is needed.
Many families in the west side of our city and the nearby county cannot find or afford quality child care. Care that fits their work hours is hard to find, waiting lists are long and the cost can equal a month's rent. Some parents leave their jobs. Others use unsafe or unregulated care. Children miss the early learning that helps them start school ready to succeed.
Facts about our community. According to our state licensing office, there are far fewer licensed child care spots than children under 5 in our county.
Gaps in the help that exists now:
1. Cost. Child care is one of a family's biggest expenses, and subsidies cover only some families.
2. Space. There are not enough licensed spots, especially for infants and toddlers.
3. Hours. Parents who work early, late or on weekends have few choices.
4. Quality. Many programs struggle to hire and keep trained staff because pay is low.
5. Early support. Many children with developmental delays are not identified until they start school.
What we have seen ourselves. Several parents told us they had to turn down a job or change shifts because they could not find child care.
Who we serve first. Children from birth to age five in families with limited income, children with special needs and children of parents who work non-traditional hours, in children from families earning under 200% of the poverty line, and children of parents who work evenings and weekends, in the west and south neighborhoods.
Products & Services
How the program works.
1. Safe, licensed care. We operate in a licensed setting, follow all state rules about ratios (the number of children per adult), safety and staff background checks, and keep groups small.
2. Play-based early learning. Educators plan daily activities that build language, early math, movement and social skills, and follow the state's early learning guidelines.
3. Scholarships so cost never decides. About $48,000 in Year 1 in scholarship and subsidy funds covers the gap between what families can pay and the true cost of care. Eligible families may also use state child care subsidies.
4. Early screening. We use a simple developmental screening and, with parent permission, connect families to early intervention services when needed.
5. Partnership with parents. We talk with families daily, hold regular conferences and offer parent events.
How we will measure results. We track attendance, staff-child ratios and safety checks. We use a standard developmental checklist or screening to see how each child is growing, and share it with parents. We ask parents twice a year how the program is helping them work or study. We report honestly about what we can and cannot measure. Our goals for Year 1: serve 24 children; have 85% attend regularly; screen every child for developmental needs; and have 80% of parents say they were able to work or study because of our care.
Market Analysis
Where we work and who we serve.
We serve children from birth to age five and their families in the west side of our city and the nearby county, especially children from families earning under 200% of the poverty line, and children of parents who work evenings and weekends, in the west and south neighborhoods.
How we know people need this. We opened with 12 spots and have a waiting list of 40 children.
How many we will reach. In Year 1, about 24 children in two classrooms. The number of licensed child care spots compared to the number of young children in our county, and the share of families that qualify for subsidies, are common ways to size the need, and the guide for this plan shows where to find them. As we grow from two early childhood educators to six, we expect to serve more children each year.
How families reach us. The WIC office, two elementary schools, a pediatric clinic and local churches.
Competitive Landscape
Other help, and how we work with it.
- Licensed child care centers and family child care homes provide care. We partner with them and focus on families and ages where there are gaps. We are licensed by the state and work with our regional child care resource and referral agency.
- Head Start and Early Head Start offer free programs for eligible children. We refer families to them and help families apply.
- Public pre-kindergarten programs serve 4-year-olds in many places. We help families enroll and offer care for the rest of the day.
- Family, friend and neighbor care is common and valuable. We offer training and resources to those caregivers.
- Child care resource and referral agencies help families find care and may fund programs. We work with them.
What makes us different: care for non-standard work hours, scholarships for every family who needs one and an educator who stays with the same group of children
Marketing & Sales Strategy
How we reach people and build support.
Reaching people:
- Referrals from schools, pediatricians, WIC offices, churches, shelters and employers.
- Flyers and information in places families go, such as clinics, libraries and laundromats.
- Word of mouth from parents.
- A simple application with help in the languages families speak.
Licensing and quality. Every state has rules for child care licensing, staff qualifications, ratios and background checks, and many have quality rating programs. We learn our state's rules first, and we do not accept children until we are licensed.
Volunteers. Retired teachers, church groups and college education students.
Raising money beyond grants. Donations are planned at about $15,000 in Year 1, growing to about $49,000 by Year 5, through a yearly giving campaign, business and community partners, a community event and online giving. Raising more of our own money means we depend less on any one grant or contract.
Operations Plan
How the program runs.
How a family moves through the program:
1. An inquiry and a visit to see the classroom.
2. An application and a meeting to talk about the child's needs, and the family's schedule and income.
3. A scholarship or subsidy review, if needed.
4. A gradual start, with the child and parent visiting together first.
5. Daily routines, regular parent communication and screening at set times.
A first visit. The director shows the family the classroom, introduces the educator and explains routines, safety and costs. The parent and child stay together for a short first visit.
Safety and licensing. All staff pass background checks, complete required training (such as first aid, CPR and safe sleep for infants) and follow state ratio rules. We never leave children without the required number of adults. Staff are required by law to report suspected child abuse.
Privacy. Information about children and families is kept private. We share it only with parent permission or when the law requires it, and funders get totals, never names.
Equipment. In Year 1 we buy about $10,000 in equipment (classroom furniture, safe sleep equipment, toys and learning materials, a playground area and a computer), then about $2,000 to $3,000 a year to replace worn items.
Staff. Two early childhood educators in Year 1, then three in Year 2, four in Year 3, five in Year 4 and six in Year 5. Classroom staff are paid fairly and receive ongoing training, because steady educators make a big difference to young children.
Office work. Bookkeeping, insurance and reporting cost about $13,000 in Year 1.
Management & Organization
Who leads the organization.
Tanya Singh, Executive Director.
The Executive Director leads the organization, raises money and manages grants and contracts, builds partnerships, oversees the finances and reports to the Board. Planned salary: $56,000 a year.
Early childhood educators. Care for and teach children, plan daily activities, communicate with families and keep records. Two positions in Year 1, growing to six by Year 5, at a planned salary of $36,000 each. Qualifications we look for: a child development credential or a degree in early childhood, at least a year of experience with young children and CPR and first aid training.
Volunteers. Volunteers read to children, help with events and play, after passing background checks and training. They never replace the required staff.
Board of Directors. A five-member board including Jamal Brooks, who brings nonprofit finance experience.
Money management. Grant and contract money is tracked separately so we can show each funder exactly how their money was spent. An outside accountant reviews our books every year.
Milestones Narrative
Our goals and how we will measure them.
Year 1:
- Get our child care license and complete our building safety checks.
- Hire and train our first educators and enroll our first children.
- Serve about 24 children in two classrooms.
- Reach our Year 1 goals for attendance, screening and family satisfaction.
- Stay within a balanced budget of about $193,000.
Year 2: three early childhood educators; budget of about $234,000.
Year 3: four early childhood educators; budget of about $275,000.
Year 4: five early childhood educators; budget of about $316,000.
Year 5: six early childhood educators; budget of about $358,000.
Over the five years: grow to six early childhood educators, add classrooms and an infant room, and apply for state quality ratings and larger government contracts. Scholarship and subsidy funds grow about 7% a year as more children are served.
How we will check our results. We track attendance, ratios and safety checks daily. We use a standard developmental checklist at set times and share results with families. Twice a year we ask parents for feedback. Staff and the Board review the results and share them with funders.
Funding Request
What we are asking for, and how the money will be used. Our request: $60,000 from the Brightpath Foundation for the salaries of our first two educators, scholarships for families who cannot pay full cost and the costs of reporting results, for January through December 2027. Year 1 budget: about $193,000, planned to balance. Year 1 money coming in: - Grants and government contracts: $178,000 (this request plus other grants we are applying for). - Donations: $15,000. Year 1 costs: - Executive Director: $56,000. - Early childhood educators: $72,000. - Scholarship and subsidy funds (closing the gap between what families can pay and the true cost of care): $48,000. - Office costs (bookkeeping, insurance, reporting): $13,000. - That is about $189,000 in costs. The remaining $4,000 or so goes into savings. Equipment we buy once at the start (about $10,000) is paid from startup money, not from the yearly budget. The next five years. Our budget grows from about $193,000 in Year 1 to about $358,000 in Year 5 as we grow to six early childhood educators. Grants and contracts are planned at $178,000 in Year 1, $212,000 in Year 2, $245,000 in Year 3, $277,000 in Year 4 and $309,000 in Year 5. Donations grow from $15,000 to $49,000, so grants become a smaller part of our budget over time. Savings. We start with about $20,000 of our own plus $75,000 in startup support, and we add to savings each year. Important for government subsidies and contracts. Child care subsidies are paid by the state, often after the month of service, and can be delayed. Contracts come with rules about attendance, reporting and quality. We plan for the wait, keep careful records and keep enough cash on hand. Help we receive that is not cash. Donated space, volunteer hours, donated toys and books, and meals from a food program are a real part of what we do and are not counted in the budget above. Free use of a church classroom and playground (about $9,000 a year in rent value), about 600 volunteer hours a year and donated books and toys If we are just starting. A new organization can begin before it has its own 501(c)(3) status. One way is a fiscal sponsor: an established nonprofit that agrees to receive grants for you and pass them to your program, usually for a fee (commonly around 5% to 10% of the grant, sometimes more; ask before you agree). Many funders accept this. Another way is to start smaller: partner with a church or community center that already has licensed space, start with one classroom, and track your results carefully. Quality and safety come before growth. Strong results from a small start make larger grants and contracts easier to win.
Appendix Notes
Documents to attach with this proposal:
- Your IRS 501(c)(3) letter, or your fiscal sponsor agreement.
- Your most recent financial statements and your current budget.
- A list of your Board members and what they do.
- Your child care license, or the steps and timeline to get it.
- Letters of support from schools, pediatricians, employers or other partners.
- Your safety, supervision, health and emergency policies, and staff qualification and training plan.
- Your enrollment, attendance and developmental screening numbers from the past year, if you have them.
- Resumes for your Executive Director and key staff. If you don't have any of this yet, no worries - let's continue.
The assumptions behind our numbers (change them in the Financials section to match your own):
- Staff pay: Executive Director $56,000; each early childhood educator $36,000, growing from 2 to 6.
- Scholarship and subsidy funds about $48,000 in Year 1, rising about 7% a year
- Office costs about $13,000 in Year 1, rising about 4% a year.
- Grants and contracts set so each year's budget balances with a small amount saved.
- Every dollar amount is an estimate. Replace them with your organization's real budget.