 | | | | Q: What does "supporting the business of child care" really mean? Q: What services does First Children’s Finance offer? For whom?Q: What kind of expertise does First Children’s Finance have?Q: How do I go about getting a loan?Q: Does First Children’s Finance provide grants?Q: Who supports First Children’s Finance?Q: Who can I talk to about getting involved in First Children’s Finance?Q: What does "supporting the business of child care" really mean?
A: First Children’s Finance understands the challenges of running a child care business, and we can help child care professionals successfully manage their businesses through a range of products and services. We collaborate with public and private organizations to strengthen the child care industry through financing, building management skills among child care professionals and helping statewide leaders strengthen their business resources for child care and early education providers.
Well-managed child care businesses are more likely to provide stable, high-quality care and education—benefiting children and families as well as early care and education professionals, and ultimately, reducing costs to businesses and the greater community over the short and long-term. To learn more about how FCF supports the business side of child care, read more about the impact of FCF's work. |
Q: What services does First Children’s Finance offer? For whom?
A: FCF works with child care and early education businesses—in homes, centers, schools and pre-kindergarten programs. Our expertise, products and services include:
- Loans to child care homes, centers, schools and pre-kindergarten programs
- Technical Assistance related to loans, including budgeting and financial assessments
- Consulting and Training for child care professionals in the following business areas:
- Marketing tactics that maintain and grow enrollment
- Human resources approaches, such staff scheduling, employee benefits, personnel costs, team building, etc.
- Nonprofit board governance
- Building community support to increase referrals, secure product donations, etc.
- Finances, including assessments of budgets, cash flow, accounting tools, etc.
FCF also works with child care and community leaders on:
- Community Planning such as to develop more quality child care providers and facilities.
- Consulting and Planning to strengthen business development resources in the child care industry, regionally or by state.
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Q: What kind of expertise does First Children’s Finance have?
A: FCF staff members blend significant expertise from their experiences in small business and nonprofit management, community development, lending, child care, fundraising, research, marketing and communications. Staff members’ work is guided and supported by board and committee volunteers who are leaders in the child care and early education industry and the private sector (corporate, banking, community development) |
Q: How do I go about getting a loan?
A: Check out How to Apply for a Loan for important information about loans limits, how they can be used and more—including who to call for more information. |
Q: Does First Children’s Finance provide grants?
A: Generally speaking, FCF does not provide grants, except through special initiatives such as the Growth Fund.
For grant information, visit The Foundation Center (www.foundationcenter.org). Many states also have organizations that assist nonprofit organizations to identity potential sources of grant funds. In Minnesota, the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits (www.mncn.org) and the Minnesota Council on Foundations (www.mcf.org) are useful places to start. |
Q: Who supports First Children’s Finance?
A: FCF engages partners and collaborators to finance child care businesses and build the business skills of child care professionals. Our partners include banks, corporations and foundations, child care resource and referral agencies, elected and appointed government officials, child care leaders, economic development agencies, business and community organizations and research groups. FCF volunteers and partners invest dollars, time and valuable expertise to inform and collaborate on relevant programs and services, advise our activities, ensure our organizational health and keep FCF moving strategically toward a broad, compelling vision. |
Q: Who can I talk to about getting involved in First Children’s Finance?
A: For a staff directory and contact information, go to Contact Us. |
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