Grants / Department of Health and Human Services / Administration for Children and Families - OHS

HHS-2025-ACF-OHS-HI-0066: American Indian and Alaska Native Head Start Expansion, Early Head Start Expansion, and Early Head Start-Child Care Partnership Grants

Closed Closed January 21, 2025 Opportunity HHS-2025-ACF-OHS-HI-0066 ☆ Save

This grant is closed. A newer notice from the same program is forecast: Early Head Start Expansion and Early Head Start - Child Care Partnership Grants in Multiple States (HHS-2027-ACF-OHS-CH-0125). Status: Expected deadline December 15, 2026. It is in our archive of Administration for Children and Families - OHS notices from 2024.

• Award ceiling$13.2 million
• Award floor$1.0 million
• Total funding$13.2 million
• Expected awards5
• Cost sharingRequired
• Funding typeGrant

Key dates

Who can apply

This opportunity was open to nonprofits, colleges and universities, state and local governments, tribes, small businesses and businesses.

Eligible applicants are any public or private non-profit agencies, including community-based and faith-based organizations, or for-profit agencies pursuant to section 645A(d) of the Head Start Act, 42 U.S.C. 9840A(d).Eligible applicants are also subject to section 641(e) of the Head Start Act, 42 U.S.C. 9836, Prohibition Against Non-Indian Head Start Agency Receiving a Grant for an Indian Head Start program. Based on the Head Start Act, as amended December 2007 [42 U.S.C. 9801 et seq.], Indian tribe means any tribe, band, nation, pueblo, or other organized group or community of Indians, including any Native village described in the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1602(c)) or established pursuant to such Act (43 U.S.C. 1601 et seq), that is recognized as eligible for special programs and services provided by the United States to Indians because of their status as Indians. Eligible entities include the following: (1) entities operating Head Start, (2) entities operating Indian Head Start or Migrant and Seasonal Head Start programs, and (3) other public entities and non-profit or for-profit private entities, including community-based and faith-based organizations, capable of providing child and family services that meet the standard for participation in programs under the Head Start Act. AIAN recipients are tribes or corporations that have a formal treaty and sovereign status with the federal government or other tribal organization. Please note, “(1) entities operating Head Start programs” includes entities operating Head Start, EHS, and/or EHS-CCP programs. Applications from individuals (including sole proprietorships) and foreign entities are not eligible and will be disqualified from the merit review and funding under this funding opportunity. Faith-based and community organizations that meet the eligibility requirements are eligible to receive awards under this funding opportunity. Faith-based organizations may apply for this award on the same basis as any other organization, as set forth at and, subject to the protections and requirements of 45 CFR Part 87 and 42 U.S.C. 2000bb et seq., ACF will not, in the selection of recipients, discriminate against an organization on the basis of the organization's religious character, affiliation, or exercise.

More grants for nonprofits, colleges and universities, state and local governments, tribes, small businesses, businesses.

Is this a realistic fit?

• Past Head Start awards averaged $10.3 million; this notice allows up to $13.2 million per award.
• Most of the program's money (75% over five years) went to nonprofits.
• The notice requires cost sharing or matching funds, so you must contribute part of the project cost.

What the grant funds

This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) has been modified. The Executive Summary and Section II. Federal Award Information sections have been updated to increase the available funding for this opportunity and Section I. Program Description has clarifying editorial edits. The Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Office of Head Start (OHS) announces the availability of approximately $13,183,977 to be competitively awarded for the purpose of expanding access to high-quality, comprehensive early learning services for newly-enrolled, income-eligible American Indian/Alaska Native (AIAN) pregnant women, and children from birth to compulsory school age through Early Head Start-Child Care (EHS-CC) Partnerships, through the expansion of Head Start services, and/or Early Head Start services.ACF solicits applications from public entities, including states; Native American tribal organizations; Native American tribal governments (federally recognized); private, non-profit organizations, including community-based or faith-based organizations; or for-profit agencies that meet eligibility for applying as stated in section 645A of the Head Start Act. Interested applicants may email OHSgrants@koniag-gs.com for additional information.OHS encourages interested applicants to visit https://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/grant-application/article/decide-whether-apply. This webpage provides information on applying for grants, registering and applying through Grants.gov, submitting an application, and understanding the grant review process.

Category: Income Security and Social Services.

Applying now

This notice no longer takes applications. Apply under the newer notice, HHS-2027-ACF-OHS-CH-0125, which is forecast.

The notice on Grants.gov keeps its full text and attachments, which is useful for planning a resubmission.