Child Care Subsidy Grant Program 2025

The College strives to provide competitive benefits and programs that support our community members, annually assessing our offerings in the context of a changing benefits landscape.

The Child Care Subsidy Grant program (CCSG) program allows eligible families to receive a taxable award of up to $3,744 for full-time benefits eligible employees (up to $1,872 for part-time benefits eligible employees) to put towards child care expenses in 2025. The CCSG program is intended to help our community members manage the cost of child care. Multiple factors were considered during the development of the CCSG program, including the costs of local child care. It was developed in consultation with the Faculty Staff Benefits Committee, and in response to feedback garnered from our community members.

We invite you to apply for the 2025 Child Care Subsidy Grant program. This year’s application period runs from Monday, April 28, 2025 through Friday, May 16, 2025. Eligible applicants will receive the grant with their June 13, 2025 paycheck (monthly payroll) or June 25, 2025 paycheck (biweekly payroll).

Eligibility

Employees who meet or will meet all the following criteria, as of May 31, 2025, may apply to the CCSG program:

  • You are a Swarthmore College employee in a benefits-eligible position.
  • You have been in a Swarthmore College benefits-eligible position for a minimum of one year.
  • You have at least one biological, legally adopted, stepchild, or legal ward age 6 or under as of May 31, 2025.
    • Families with a child (regardless of age) with a documented disability are also eligible to apply.
  • You have a prior year household adjusted gross income of $154,350 or less (per line 11 on your 2024 finalized tax return).
  • If you are married, have a registered domestic partner, or share a household with the parent of your child(ren) as of May 31, 2025, they must be:
    • Employed at least 50% FTE, or
    • Enrolled as a full-time student, or
    • Currently unemployed but actively looking for work (not employed due to retirement does not qualify), or
    • Disabled, in accordance with the IRS definition of Permanent and Total Disability

Additional requirements apply. Please see the application and program guidelines, available below, for more information. Please note that employees who are deemed eligible for the CCSG program will receive the grant payment in one lump sum as part of their paycheck, which they are expected to use towards child care expenses in 2025.

If you have any questions, please contact benefits@swarthmore.edu.