The Manitoba government is investing in children’s futures by opening applications for the Child Care Sustainability Trust, a funding program designed to help child-care centres across the province grow, improve and continue offering safe, welcoming spaces for children to learn and play.

“Every child in Manitoba deserves a great start in life,” said Education and Early Childhood Learning minister Tracy Schmidt. “Our government is committed to supporting families by ensuring child care is affordable, accessible and high quality. This funding is about helping child-care centres do what they do best: support kids, support families and build strong communities.”

The Child Care Sustainability Trust provides one-time funding to support essential improvements at licensed child-care centres for projects focused on:

  • repairs and maintenance to ensure facilities remain safe and welcoming for children and staff;
  • innovative program upgrades that improve accessibility and inclusivity in indoor and outdoor environments;
  • wellness initiatives that foster positive mental health for both children and child-care providers; and
  • professional development opportunities to enhance management practices, cultural competency and specialized training for staff working with children with additional support needs.

“Child-care providers are the heart of our communities,” Schmidt added. “They care for children, nurture development and give families peace of mind. This funding helps ensure they have the resources they need to keep doing that important work.”

Administered by The Winnipeg Foundation, the Child Care Sustainability Trust is an endowment fund offering one-time grants to all non-profit licensed child-care providers. The funding supports innovative programming, increased capacity, and facility repairs, with the goal of revitalizing and enhancing child-care services for families across Manitoba. More than $500,000 in funding is available for the 2025-26 intake, the minister noted.

Eligible projects may receive up to $25,000 for licensed child-care centres, including nursery schools, and up to $5,000 for licensed home-based providers. Priority will be given to facilities serving Indigenous, low-income, newcomer, francophone, rural and northern communities, as well as those that have not received funding from the trust in the past three years.

All approved projects must be completed by March 31, 2027.

Applications are open until Oct. 17 and successful applicants will be notified by Dec. 31.

To learn more about the Child Care Sustainability Trust, including eligibility criteria and application details, visit: manitoba.ca.