Application Requirements and Guidelines

The application must be submitted electronically by 11:59 pm on October 1st, 2024.

 Proposal Guidelines

• All grant requests must be from a licensed home-based program in Michigan in good standing with Child Care Licensing Bureau of Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA).
• All grant requests must focus on one or more of the following areas: Professional development and/or resources/materials to enhance literacy, dramatic play and/or outdoor environments.
• Two (2) individual grants of $500 each will be awarded.
• In addition to the financial support from the grant, a one-year membership to NAEYC/Michigan AEYC will be provided. After you have enjoyed the benefits of membership for one year, we hope you will continue to be a member of Michigan AEYC.
• Proposed project must:
  • Be submitted by the licensee of a home-based program in Michigan (either Family Child Care or Group Home Child Care Owner)
  • Focus on one or more of the following:
    • Continuing professional development for yourself and/or staff (Michigan AEYC, NAEYC, or MiRegistry approved professional development opportunities only.)
    • Physical resources/materials to enhance literacy, dramatic play and/or outdoor environments
  • Demonstrate the relationship between the request and one or more of the Child Development Associate (CDA) Family Child Care Competency Standards:
    • To establish and maintain a safe, healthy learning environment
    • To advance physical and intellectual competence
    • To support social and emotional development and to provide positive guidance
    • To establish positive and productive relationships with families
    • To ensure a well-run purposeful program that is responsive to participant needs
    • To maintain a commitment to professionalism
  • Show budget requirements
    • Materials to be purchased must be individually described and priced in the budget request
    • Requests of funds for ongoing operation of existing programs or a project previously funded by this grant will not be considered.
    • Debt incurred by any applicants is the sole responsibility of those applicants.
  • Current Michigan AEYC Governing Board members or employees may not apply for the Debbie Antone Memorial Fund Award.
  • A final report will be due within one year after the award is given. This report will include:
    • A reflective description of how the grant impacted the awardee and the program
    • A breakdown of all expenditures including receipts
    • A “spotlight” of the project for Michigan AEYC advertisements (website, newsletters, social media, annual conference, etc.) may also be requested

Selection Process

• Each proposal is evaluated by the Awards Committee using a rubric.
• Recommendations of the Awards Committee are made to the Michigan AEYC Governing Board for its review and approval.
• Proposals will be rated on the following criteria:
  • Meeting the requirements of the grant.
  • Description of grant applicant and applicant’s program.
  • Overview/description of how the applicant will use the funds and why it is important to receive this grant.
  • What brought you to this point of requesting grant funds for this project? How will it improve the quality of your program?
  • Description of how children/families will benefit from this award
  • How the request supports the CDA Competency Standards
  • A complete and detailed budget

We are a 501(c)(3) early childhood non-profit in Michigan dedicated to supporting Michigan’s early childhood educators.