ARVADA, Colo. (May 5, 2025) – Access to quality early childhood care and education doesn’t just support working parents — it helps families build the lives they choose, with more freedom and opportunity. That’s why Colorado Gives Foundation is excited to offer a new grant opportunity for nonprofits dedicated to making early child care and education more affordable and accessible for families in Jefferson County (Jeffco).
“At Colorado Gives Foundation, we believe that access to quality care and education is the foundation for a thriving community,” said savinay nathan, community impact vice president for Colorado Gives Foundation. “When people have the resources and opportunities to pursue their goals, economic freedom follows — and it all begins in early childhood.”
Like much of Colorado, Jefferson County is considered a child care desert, with only one licensed care spot available for every three children who need one.
“Seventy-one percent of Jeffco residents that were surveyed told us that it’s difficult finding child care, especially if you have a baby or toddler,” said nathan, adding that 30% of families surveyed rely on informal child care arrangements such as grandparents, neighbors, or friends.
The challenges go beyond availability. There are many barriers that Jeffco parents face when seeking care for their children. In partnership with Healthier Colorado and Open Answer, Colorado Gives Foundation surveyed 423 local parents to better understand their experiences. The findings are unsettling:
- 31% of parents said they had to take unpaid leave to care for their children because of challenges accessing or paying for child care.
- 38% said lack of child care prevented them from pursuing employment or education.
- Low-income families spend up to five times more of their income on child care than higher-income families.
- Most families reported they pay more than 10 percent of their household’s monthly income on child care costs. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recommends that child care costs should not exceed 7% of a family’s income for it to be considered affordable.*
“These numbers aren’t just statistics — they represent real trade-offs and tough choices families make every day,” nathan said. “And they underscore the urgent need for investment in our early childhood systems.”
“Equally important to child care affordability and access is educational opportunities for kids under the age of eight,” said Nazia Hasan, director of community impact for Colorado Gives Foundation. “Early education helps prepare children for kindergarten and elementary classrooms, and supporting emotional development is the foundation for building success in school and beyond. These opportunities have lifelong impact.”
Colorado Gives Foundation is committed to this vision through its Early Care and Education strategy, including support of the Jefferson County Bright Futures Roadmap, a blueprint focused on the well-being of Jeffco children, from birth to age eight, and their families.
Hasan emphasized that awareness of resources is just as important as access. “We have incredible nonprofit partners providing services — from early mental health to academic preparation — but families don’t always know what’s available to them. This grant aims to bridge that gap,” she said.
Through this new grant opportunity, Colorado Gives Foundation will support organizations working to implement the Bright Futures Roadmap, as well as those supporting broader policy and stakeholder engagement efforts in early care and education.
“When children and families have what they need early in life — care, connection, opportunity — they’re better equipped to shape the futures they want,” nathan said. “And when families thrive, entire communities move closer to economic freedom.”
Eligible applicants must be a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, operate under fiscal sponsorship, or be a government entity serving Jefferson County. Grant applications are open and close at 5 p.m. on May 25, 2025. To learn more or apply, visit ColoradoGivesFoundation.org/Grants.
Learn More
*Reference Economy Policy Institute
Reporter Resources
Available in Colorado Gives Foundation’s Newsroom.
- Jefferson County Child Care Survey Project
- Jefferson County Bright Futures Child Care Survey Project Report
- Jefferson County Early Childhood Workforce Survey Project Report
- Video testimonials from Jefferson County Child Care Providers
- Jefferson County Parent Testimonials
- Jefferson County Early Childhood Provider Testimonials
About Colorado Gives Foundation
Colorado Gives Foundation connects people, ideas and Colorado nonprofits to make good happen. Colorado Gives Foundation is a Jefferson County grant maker, investing over $10 million annually to Jeffco-serving nonprofits committed to ensuring that all of Jeffco is thriving. We also work statewide to build the capacity of nonprofits and donors via ColoradoGives.org, nonprofit endowments and donor services. Through ColoradoGives.org, we make it easy for people to donate to the causes they care about, enabling meaningful change to help our neighbors thrive. Colorado Gives Foundation is where donors find and discover the community impact that matters most to them, which is good for everyone.
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