The partnership empowered 47 tribal child care providers across rural areas, revolutionizing grant distribution with a 99% fund utilization rate.
Since 2006, the Tribal Child Care Association of California (TCCAC) has grown from a grassroots initiative into a nonprofit Shared Services organization focused on supporting a network of 90 of the 110 tribal communities and partners across the state. Many of these tribes live in rural areas of the state, meaning their needs differ from the traditional urban or suburban child care organizations.
TCCAC partnered with ClassWallet to streamline the distribution of funds from two separate grants to child care providers supporting children within the 47 separate tribal child care programs throughout California. Keep reading to learn how they achieved a 99% fund utilization rate with the ClassWallet digital wallet platform.
A Mix of Funding Sources
As the lead tribal child care grantee of the Quality Counts California Block Grant through the California Department of Social Services (CDSS), TCCAC supports tribal early learning and care through individualized support, resources, training and technical assistance, and mini grants to enhance quality in early care and education (ECE) programs.
With additional funding made available through a separate CDSS QCC Workforce Grant, TCCAC is also able to support tribal child care providers in all settings. This second grant provides teachers in centers, providers with family, friend and neighbor programs, community and family members operating relative care programs, and everyone who is dedicated to caring for tribal children in California an opportunity to further develop their skills in culturally relevant ways for the children of those tribes.
Watch the video: TCCAC Executive Director, Kim Nall shares her experience with ClassWallet
A New Partnership with ClassWallet
In May 2024, TCCAC partnered with ClassWallet to streamline the purchasing processes and efficiently distribute funds from these two separate grant programs to the network of tribal child care providers across the state. The primary aim of this partnership was to strengthen the quality of ECE programs for California’s tribal communities ensuring that the funds were utilized effectively and reached the intended recipients.
Impact and Outcomes of the Partnership
The introduction of ClassWallet helped change how TCCAC manages and allocates funds to tribal child care providers in all settings across the state. By providing a direct, flexible and accountable method of funds distribution, ClassWallet has enabled TCCAC to meet their goals more efficiently.
The ability to track and report on fund usage separately for each of the two grants has also significantly improved their processes, ensuring compliance and transparency with grant requirements.
"It was kind of like this perfect partnership. It just made sense." said Kim Nall, the TCCAC executive director, when acknowledging how ClassWallet gave her the ability to separately manage the two funding streams avoiding the nightmare of a fiscal reporting disaster.
By July 2, 2024, a remarkable 99.9% of the funds were compliantly spent, showcasing the effectiveness of the platform in managing and utilizing funds promptly within a short period of time.
Nall appreciated the responsiveness of ClassWallet, noting, “When there was a bump in the road, we were able to solve it pretty quickly. The willingness to listen to us and our needs of our participants, our membership, and our board of directors… I think [ClassWallet] absolutely embraced that.”
Emotional Impact for Recipients and TCCAC
The implementation of ClassWallet had a profound impact on TCCAC’s operations and its community. Providers had an easy way to purchase new supplies and seek further learning opportunities without wondering how they could pay or get reimbursed for it.
Nall shared her enthusiasm and the emotional journey of the organization: "The growth has been just amazing to watch and it’s been quite the journey." She further expresses gratitude for the partnership, "On behalf of the Tribal Child Care Association of California, our board of directors, our staff team, and our membership, and the tribes that we partner with across the state of California, we want to thank you for this partnership."
Future Prospects: Supporting Nonprofits with Grant Funds Management
The success of this collaboration between TCCAC and ClassWallet shows the potential for other nonprofits and public agencies to streamline their purchasing and funds distribution processes and deepen their impact with a digital wallet. This partnership can be a model for other shared services organizations seeking to streamline their public funds distribution and ultimately better serve their program participants.