

Shared Service Hubs to Support Early Care and Education Providers.
Learn More About Stronger Together Recipients
Congratulations to our Stronger Together grant recipients:
Geminus Corporation (Lake County)
United Way of Marshall County’s Early Childhood Coalition (Marshall County)
Early Childhood Alliance (Allen County)
Right Steps Child Development Centers (Tippecanoe County)
Community Foundation of Wabash County (Wabash County)
Community Foundation of Muncie and Delaware County’s Muncie By 5 (Delaware County)
Community Foundation of Bloomington and Monroe County (Monroe County)

Early care and education providers meet one of the greatest needs in our communities, yet balancing operational demands with what matters most – supporting the growth and development of our littlest learners – is a constant reality. The Stronger Together grant aims to help solve this.
Problem
In the best of times, early care and education providers operate with razor-thin margins as a result of the misalignment between the actual cost of providing care and the ability of families to afford it. The COVID-19 pandemic has added safety-related expenses while substantially eroding enrollment. These challenges threaten the future of Indiana’s early care and education system.
Solution
To support Indiana early care and education providers for the future, we need long-term solutions, not short-term fixes. Early Learning Indiana, with generous support from Lilly Endowment Inc, is supporting organizations with the development of regional shared service hubs that will help sustain providers, influence the affordability of care and enable providers to focus their scarce time and resources on the business of learning.
Grant Details
Stronger Together grants are intended to seed the creation of regional shared service offerings that provide economies of scale for providers’ operating expenses and allow them to focus their energy on providing high-quality care.
Eligible organizations may submit a proposal for up to $100,000 to launch their shared service hub.
Early Learning Indiana has partnered with Opportunities Exchange to provide technical assistance to all awarded organizations.
Timeline
Eligibility
Technical Support

Frequently Asked Questions
General
Please email natalieb@earlylearningindiana.org with questions.
Opportunities Exchange will provide all grantees with technical support throughout the launch of their shared service hub.
Application
This opportunity is closed. Learn more about the recipients of Stonger Together grants here.
Indiana’s Child Care Resource and Referral Network can provide community leaders with information about their community’s access to child care. Find your local agency.
Proposals must meet the requirements specified in the RFP, including the submission of a budget. A budget sample is available in the Resources for Applicants section above, although it is not required that applicants use this as a template.
Yes, Early Learning Indiana is providing informational webinars to support applicants. Please send additional requests for technical assistance to natalieb@earlylearningindiana.org.
Timing
Interested and eligible organizations should apply by March 19 to be considered for funding.
Early Learning Indiana will notify successful applicants in April 2021.
Stronger Together awardees will have 12 months to establish and launch their shared service hub.