$467,000 in New Funding Supports Innovations in Early Childhood Care 

After eighteen months of research, the Community Foundation awarded $467,000 to five local nonprofits to strengthen home-based childcare and boost early literacy — two areas identified as critical to the success of our youngest children.

Grantmaking Led by Data and Experience

These grants mark the next phase in a 35-year commitment to Rochester’s youth. Building on the Rochester’s Child initiative, the Foundation is pairing national research with community wisdom to make targeted, high-impact investments that support children and the adults who care for them. 

The Foundation assembled promising evidence for what has worked to best support young children in other places, then checked it against real-life experiences of local families and providers.  

“It wasn’t enough to copy what worked in other cities,” says Dr. Tyana Velazquez-Smith, the Foundation’s director of early childhood. “We listened to caregivers, parents, and providers to understand what would make the biggest difference here.” 

Two priority areas emerged: support for home-based childcare programs and literacy interventions that make sure all children get the support they need to read.  

Why Home-Based Care Matters

Childcare located in someone’s home, rather than a center, is chosen by families looking for trusted care — in their neighborhood, with someone they know, and with non-traditional hours. Children benefit from a comfortable setting that often reflects their home culture and language. 

“I tell my families that they can come anytime because their kids are safe here, and this is their second home.”

— Rose M, a home-based provider in Rochester, NY

In Monroe County, 98% of home-based childcare businesses are operated by women of color, yet the average provider earns about $30,000 annually — less than half the county’s median household income. That makes these small businesses both an economic driver and a cultural anchor.  

There are more than 800 home-based programs in the eight-county greater Rochester region. For many of these providers, the high costs of food and supplies are significant challenges, and 35% report limited access to educational resources. 

The First Cohort of Grantees

Through grants ranging from $60,000 to $112,000, the first five grantees received significant investments in order to strengthen their services and gather insights along the way. These partnerships will generate stronger data on how different early care settings support learning and development, which can guide where resources are needed to ensure all families have access to high-quality programs. 

• Child Care Council: Early Words, Lifelong Impact: Fostering Literacy Through Nurturing Child Care

• Literacy Volunteers of Wayne County, Inc.: The First Pages Presented by Our Community Reads

• Rochester Childfirst Network: Enhancing the Family Child Care Program

• Rochester Public Library: Literacy Without Limits: Empowering Family Childcare Providers

• Wayne County Action Program, Inc.: Early Childhood Ecosystem Equity Project

A grant to the Child Care Council will support a coaching pilot to increase the skills of 12 providers while also improving the literacy levels for up to 75 children in their care. 

“This funding lays the foundation for lasting improvement in early literacy and inclusive care,” says Bethany Williams, Child Care Council’s director of special needs. “Individualized coaching helps childcare providers build sustainable, high-quality practices that benefit children and their families.” 

A $100,000 grant to Rochester Childfirst Network will expand and enhance support for over 100 home-based childcare providers serving 1,600+ children and their families, including access to food and supplies, like decodable books. 

“Decodable books are one of my favorite literacy tools. They meet kids right at their reading level.”

— Dr. Velazquez-Smith, the Community Foundation’s director of early childhood

What the Future Holds

Over the next few years, the Community Foundation will work closely with the first cohort of grantees to find out what works and what needs to be supported differently. Do home-based childcare facilities offer a strong educational return on investment? What if we could strengthen early learning in the home-based settings many families already choose? 

Rochester Area Community Foundation’s newest grant cycle and a research partnership with Rochester City School District aim to answer these intriguing questions.

Explore more recent grants.