Low Income Investment Fund

Pre-Development Grants
Pre-Development grants support the planning and development of viable, well-designed child care facilities and sites. Funds may be used for planning and pre-development costs including feasibility studies, business plan development, permits, architectural services and related costs, as well as consultant(s) to assist with physical development / licensing of a facility. Nonprofit organizations that plan to or currently serve children ages 0 – 5 with a minimum of 20% of the children from low income households are eligible to apply. Grants up to $20,000 per facility are awarded.

Renovation and Repair Grants
The Renovation and Repair Grant Program preserves the supply of quality, licensed child care provided by nonprofit child care centers that currently serve children ages 0 – 5 with a minimum of 20% of the children from low income households. The program also increases the accessibility of center-based care to children and families with special needs. Grants of up to $100,000 per facility are available.

Capital New Development Grants
Capital New Development grants support the planning and development of viable, well-designed child care facilities and sites. Funds may be used for planning and pre-development costs; building purchases; construction costs, renovation costs, or equipment purchases that increase or maintain the number of child care slots; consultant(s) to assist with the physical development / licensing of the facility; equipment purchases; and quality improvements on a case-by-case basis. Organizations that are planning to or currently serve children ages 0 – 5 with a minimum of 20% of the children from low income households are eligible. Grants up to $200,000 per facility are available.

All grants in San Francisco are administered by the Child Care Facilities Fund (CCFF), a program of the Low Income Investment Fund, and are funded by The City and County of San Francisco. For more information about grants from the Child Care Facilities Fund, call: (415) 489-6145 Ext 345 or email: ccff@liifund.org.

Expansion Grants
Expansion Grants support licensed family child care providers seeking to expand from a small family child care business (serving 6 – 8 children) to a large one (serving 12 – 14 children). Funds may be used for facility improvements, construction and renovation associated with licensing and fire code requirements for a large family child care facility, and the purchase of materials and equipment. A provider is eligible to apply after attending an expansion workshop offered by CCFF. Grants of up to $15,000 per facility are available.

Renovation and Repair Grants
The Renovation and Repair Grant Program supports child care providers whose licenses may be in jeopardy due to health and safety emergencies or those that need to increase accessibility for children and families with special needs. The grant covers one-time costs associated with health, safety and accessibility improvements. Providers who currently serve children ages 3 – 5 with a minimum of 20% of the children from low income households are eligible. Grants of up to $10,000 are available per facility. Applications are accepted and reviewed throughout the year.

All grants in San Francisco are administered by the Child Care Facilities Fund (CCFF), a program of the Low Income Investment Fund, and are funded by The City and County of San Francisco. For more information about grants from the Child Care Facilities Fund, call: (415) 489-6145 Ext 345 or email: ccff@liifund.org.

CCFF offers workshops and training for child care providers. Training topics focus on facility maintenance, beginning and advanced business practices, advancing careers in child care and how to expand from a small to a large licensed child care operation.

San Francisco Caring for Your Building
Offered annually in coordination with the release of the Community Development Block Grant application on the City & County of San Francisco Mayor’s Office of Housing website. The “Caring for Your Building” workshop trains center-based providers on facility maintenance issues and identifies various resources both locally and statewide for funding facility maintenance and improvement projects.

CCFF offers one-on-one technical assistance to providers interested in expanding or improving their child care facilities and business management practices.

CCFF has developed a workbook for family child care providers called “Business Practices to Keep You in Business.” The workbook is used for CCFF classes and workshops. Copies are also available in Spanish and Chinese for these publications and may be requested by emailing ccff@liifund.org.

Visit our Publications page for articles and publications about Child Care

LIIF also maintains a set of tools and materials for child care operators, developers and community partners. Visit our Child Care Library of Tools

CCFF works on local and statewide policy and planning issues to ensure a fertile ground is maintained for child care facilities development and to make sure the voice of child care providers are heard and addressed. CCFF does this through its participation in meetings with county agencies, including: local Family Child Care Associations, San Francisco Child Care Planning and Advisory Council (CPAC), First 5 Alameda and First 5 San Francisco, and Child Care Resource and Referral agencies. CCFF also develops sound partnerships with the Department of Community Care Licensing as well as the City’s Fire, Building and Planning Departments to support the expansion or renovation of child care spaces.

CCFF holds InterAgency meetings with City partners and has a Policy Advisory Committee (PAC) with stakeholders to testify at city budget meetings concerning the facility needs of child care providers in San Francisco.