Successfully scaling up an early child care program

Project Scope 

The Educational Alliance’s Manny Cantor Center, a 125-year-old social service pioneer that operates an innovative preschool out of its flagship community space on the Lower East Side, wanted to know how it could prudently expand its early child care offerings.  The Public Good was asked to evaluate the financial feasibility of expanding the preschool to reach a greater audience and fulfill increasing demand for quality childcare in a changing neighborhood.

We assessed the market for infant and toddler child care using target surveys and focus groups, competitor research; and we developed a flexible financial model based on the client’s vision for offering high quality care at competitive price points.

Impact

Using our analysis, the board approved the expansion and a new toddler program launched successfully eight months later; infants were welcomed the following year.  Manny Cantor Center has fulfilled its dream of offering high-quality, flexible preschool programs for infants to four year olds through a warm and diverse high-quality program that blends funding from government, philanthropic and fee-for-services sources.