Supporting child care businesses, communities, and systems across the country

Through our national team, FCF partners with states, counties, cities, communities, and Tribal Nations and child care entrepreneurs outside its state office footprint to strengthen child care businesses, grow supply, and support system-level solutions.

Our national work supports child care businesses, communities, and systems across the country.

Supporting Child Care at Every Level

Business Work

For business training, consultation, and financial sustainability support.

For Businesses »

Community Work

For supply-building, local consultation, and community-driven planning.

For Communities »

Systems Work

For cost modeling, strategic projects, Tribal partnerships, and systems-level programs.

For Systems »

Ready to talk about your state or community need?

Connect with our national team »

Our Impact

See how First Children's Finance impacts communities.

A sunny street lined with parked cars, trees with yellow and green leaves, and various storefronts including restaurants and shops in a small downtown area.

National Consulting Team Completes 2-Year Dream Up! Project in Wisconsin

A young child stands on a wooden floor holding a yellow cup, surrounded by scattered toys and paintbrushes in a bright, sunlit room with brick walls and large windows.

How Funders/Investors Help FCF Close the Child Care Funding Gap

Compensation: What Systems Leaders Can Learn from Child Care Businesses

A bustling small-town street lined with colorful shops and people walking, with a large cruise ship docked at the end of the street and snow-capped mountains towering in the background.

FCF Helps Alaska Manage Loss of Providers Post-Pandemic

A group of people sit at round tables in a conference room, listening to a presenter standing by a screen displaying a slide titled "Building Partnerships." Supplies and papers are scattered on the tables.

10 Tribal Nations Gather at FCF Collaboratory to Share, Learn, and Plan

Reports and Resources

FCF Publishes Ecosystem Financing Strategy Guide

First Children’s Finance developed the Child Care Business Ecosystem to help states, tribes, and territories identify the essential elements of a strong, sufficient, and sustainable system of high-quality child care.

Following Vermont’s Act 76 Investment, New Family Child Care Picture Emerges

Nationally – and historically in Vermont – family child care has often been perceived as low-earning, undervalued work. However, recent cost modeling in Vermont reveals it is feasible to operate a family child care home and have business earnings roughly on par with median wages in the state.

10 Tribal Nations Gather at FCF Collaboratory to Share, Learn, and Plan

Data shows Tribal Nations are experiencing a child care crisis impacting the health and success of all aspects of Tribal Nations. According to a recent study, 77% of unemployed Native American households reported a lack of child care influenced their decision not to work.

Compensation: What Systems Leaders Can Learn from Child Care Businesses

Across the country, state and local leaders agree on the challenge: child care jobs are among the lowest-paid in the economy, workforce shortages are profound, and program sustainability is fragile.