About DECAL’s Community Impact Grants: The Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL) has three types of grant opportunities available for communities across Georgia to apply for. They are identified as follows:
Community Transformation Grants (you're currently on the application page for this grant)
With these two-year Community Impact Grants, DECAL is investing in the future of families and communities across Georgia. The purpose of these grants is to build thriving and resilient families through education and economic opportunity. Grantees are expected to address critical needs and build strong community support systems that enhance the well-being of families with children from birth to 8 years old. These grants aim to close opportunity gaps and create long-term positive outcomes for young children and their families. Programs funded by this grant will encourage collaboration across sectors, ensuring that families not only have access to exceptional early learning experiences but also have the tools and support needed for long-term, sustainable success.
To access the press release about these grants, you can click on the link here.
Eligible Applicants:
501(c)(3) Non-profit organizations, school systems, and government entities
Must be in good standing with DECAL Programs
2025-2027 Community Impact Grants Award Timeline:
November 20, 2024 - Release of Community Impact Grants application
December 2, 2024 - Community Impact Funding Opportunities Webinar, register here
December 20, 2024 - Applications due by 5:00 p.m.
January 24, 2025 - Recipients notified
January 29, 2025 - Community Impact Grants Orientation for grantees at 2:00 p.m.
March 1, 2025 - Community Impact Grants awarded; recipients begin work
March 2025 - February 2026 Community Impact Grants Year 1
March 2026 - February 2027 Community Impact Grants Year 2
February 28, 2027 - Community Impact Grants ends
Applications must meet the following guidelines to be reviewed:
Applications must be submitted using SurveyMonkey Apply
If you do not have a SurveyMonkey Apply account already, you will be prompted to register for one. Once you have a SurveyMonkey Apply account and are in the application, please click on "Instructions" for more information. The application must be completed entirely and accurately.
Applications must be completed in FULL
Applications must be submitted by December 20, 2024, no later than 5:00 p.m.
Be sure to respond to all prompts and questions on the application, following the maximum word guidelines where applicable.
Funding Awards by Type of Grant:
2Gen Innovation Grants for Student Parent Success: DECAL will award grants up to $75,000 each to six communities in Georgia for a term of 24 months. Year 1: $50,000, Year 2: $25,000
2Gen Community Literacy Grants: DECAL will award grants of up to $75,000 each to six communities in Georgia for a term of 24 months. Year 1: $50,000, Year 2: $25,000
Community Transformation Grants: DECAL will award grants of up to $125,000 each to six communities in Georgia for a term of 24 months. Year 1: $75,000, Year 2: $50,000
DECAL’s Total Investment for the Community Impact Grants will be up to $1,650,000.
Permissible and Prohibited Use of Funds
DECAL will review each grantee’s proposed budget as a part of the contract negotiation process prior to each grant term. Approved and prohibited uses of funds will be explicitly clear before the award period of the grant begins. Examples of permissible and prohibited uses of funds can be found below.
If used in furtherance of the CTG, expenditures for the following items are permissible:
Category | Examples |
Administrative | Background checks |
Contracted Services | Expenses paid to external contractors (e.g., project managers, trainers, event space, speakers, evaluators) |
Educational Expenses for Student Parents | Fees, materials, and/or supplies for parents enrolled in higher education |
Family Assistance for Child Care | Child care expenses related to providing services through this grant (includes offering licensed child care as an option for meetings or project activity) |
Fringe Benefits | Non-salary benefits for staff |
Maintenance/Renovations | Expenses for non-capital health and safety improvements of child care facilities |
Marketing/Outreach | Printing costs and promotional expenses |
Materials/Supplies | Expenses for educational items, books, non-food items |
Technology | Technology and software expenses |
Training/Professional Development | Expenses for staff trainings; rental for meeting or office space |
Transportation | Mileage and parking costs can be permissible if related to direct services |
Wages/Salary | Employee salaries; limited to 33% of the grant award amount |
Expenditures of CTG funds for the following items are prohibited:
Food and meals
Staff salaries for work unrelated to Community Impact Grants
Child care expenses such as regular tuition for parents or families
Capital improvements to buildings and facilities
Office equipment, including refrigerators, printers, computer equipment, and other technology (unless necessary to perform under CTG and specifically approved by DECAL in writing)
Questions may be submitted to communityimpactgrants@decal.ga.gov until 5:00 p.m. on December 20, 2024. When submitting your question(s), please include the type of Community Impact Grant you are inquiring about.
2025 - 2027 Community Transformation Grants
About DECAL’s Community Impact Grants: The Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL) has three types of grant opportunities available for communities across Georgia to apply for. They are identified as follows:
Community Transformation Grants (you're currently on the application page for this grant)
With these two-year Community Impact Grants, DECAL is investing in the future of families and communities across Georgia. The purpose of these grants is to build thriving and resilient families through education and economic opportunity. Grantees are expected to address critical needs and build strong community support systems that enhance the well-being of families with children from birth to 8 years old. These grants aim to close opportunity gaps and create long-term positive outcomes for young children and their families. Programs funded by this grant will encourage collaboration across sectors, ensuring that families not only have access to exceptional early learning experiences but also have the tools and support needed for long-term, sustainable success.
To access the press release about these grants, you can click on the link here.
Eligible Applicants:
501(c)(3) Non-profit organizations, school systems, and government entities
Must be in good standing with DECAL Programs
2025-2027 Community Impact Grants Award Timeline:
November 20, 2024 - Release of Community Impact Grants application
December 2, 2024 - Community Impact Funding Opportunities Webinar, register here
December 20, 2024 - Applications due by 5:00 p.m.
January 24, 2025 - Recipients notified
January 29, 2025 - Community Impact Grants Orientation for grantees at 2:00 p.m.
March 1, 2025 - Community Impact Grants awarded; recipients begin work
March 2025 - February 2026 Community Impact Grants Year 1
March 2026 - February 2027 Community Impact Grants Year 2
February 28, 2027 - Community Impact Grants ends
Applications must meet the following guidelines to be reviewed:
Applications must be submitted using SurveyMonkey Apply
If you do not have a SurveyMonkey Apply account already, you will be prompted to register for one. Once you have a SurveyMonkey Apply account and are in the application, please click on "Instructions" for more information. The application must be completed entirely and accurately.
Applications must be completed in FULL
Applications must be submitted by December 20, 2024, no later than 5:00 p.m.
Be sure to respond to all prompts and questions on the application, following the maximum word guidelines where applicable.
Funding Awards by Type of Grant:
2Gen Innovation Grants for Student Parent Success: DECAL will award grants up to $75,000 each to six communities in Georgia for a term of 24 months. Year 1: $50,000, Year 2: $25,000
2Gen Community Literacy Grants: DECAL will award grants of up to $75,000 each to six communities in Georgia for a term of 24 months. Year 1: $50,000, Year 2: $25,000
Community Transformation Grants: DECAL will award grants of up to $125,000 each to six communities in Georgia for a term of 24 months. Year 1: $75,000, Year 2: $50,000
DECAL’s Total Investment for the Community Impact Grants will be up to $1,650,000.
Permissible and Prohibited Use of Funds
DECAL will review each grantee’s proposed budget as a part of the contract negotiation process prior to each grant term. Approved and prohibited uses of funds will be explicitly clear before the award period of the grant begins. Examples of permissible and prohibited uses of funds can be found below.
If used in furtherance of the CTG, expenditures for the following items are permissible:
Category | Examples |
Administrative | Background checks |
Contracted Services | Expenses paid to external contractors (e.g., project managers, trainers, event space, speakers, evaluators) |
Educational Expenses for Student Parents | Fees, materials, and/or supplies for parents enrolled in higher education |
Family Assistance for Child Care | Child care expenses related to providing services through this grant (includes offering licensed child care as an option for meetings or project activity) |
Fringe Benefits | Non-salary benefits for staff |
Maintenance/Renovations | Expenses for non-capital health and safety improvements of child care facilities |
Marketing/Outreach | Printing costs and promotional expenses |
Materials/Supplies | Expenses for educational items, books, non-food items |
Technology | Technology and software expenses |
Training/Professional Development | Expenses for staff trainings; rental for meeting or office space |
Transportation | Mileage and parking costs can be permissible if related to direct services |
Wages/Salary | Employee salaries; limited to 33% of the grant award amount |
Expenditures of CTG funds for the following items are prohibited:
Food and meals
Staff salaries for work unrelated to Community Impact Grants
Child care expenses such as regular tuition for parents or families
Capital improvements to buildings and facilities
Office equipment, including refrigerators, printers, computer equipment, and other technology (unless necessary to perform under CTG and specifically approved by DECAL in writing)
Questions may be submitted to communityimpactgrants@decal.ga.gov until 5:00 p.m. on December 20, 2024. When submitting your question(s), please include the type of Community Impact Grant you are inquiring about.