As the holidays approach, we are reminded of the true spirit of giving. While we all take time to reflect on our blessings, we must also recognize the incredible impact of the gifts we give—not just during the season but all year long. This Giving Tuesday and every Tuesday, we invite you to join us in making a powerful difference for children, families, and the family child care educators who serve them.
At the National Association for Family Child Care (NAFCC), we believe that every child deserves a bright future, and every family deserves a safe, nurturing environment to help their child grow and thrive. But behind the love and support these children receive are the unsung heroes—family child care educators.
Family Child Care plays a critical role in America’s broader early childhood education system. Family child care educators across the nation serve more than 12 million children. Family child care homes are often the most accessible and flexible option for families, particularly those in rural or underserved communities.
Family child care educators are more than just caregivers. They are a child’s first teacher, mentor, and protector. These educators provide children with a safe, nurturing environment where they receive individualized attention and help build the foundation of a child’s cognitive, social, and emotional skills and academic growth they need to succeed in school and beyond. And they do it all with dedication, compassion, and an unwavering commitment to the well-being of every child in their care.
Family child care educators family child care educators face increasingly complex challenges, and are often the most underappreciated, overworked, and underfunded individuals in our education system. Many work long hours, often without the recognition they deserve, and face financial strain and a lack of resources. This disparity is compounded by recent policy shifts that have not always prioritized the needs of family child care educators. For example, while many states have begun to increase funding for early childhood education programs, family child care has often been left out of these policy discussions. Nearly 67% of early care and education providers were left without the same relief funding during the COVID-19 pandemic as other sectors of the economy, despite being essential in serving families during the crisis. At the NAFCC, we believe that family child care educators deserve better. Our mission is to support these dedicated professionals and small business owners through advocacy, professional development, and resources that help them continue providing high-quality care. We are committed to addressing the systemic barriers that limit the success of family child care educators, ensuring they have the recognition, resources, and policies in place to thrive.
But we can’t accomplish this goal without your help. We need you Now more than Ever.
On this Giving Tuesday, we invite you to support the heart of early childhood education by donating to NAFCC. Whether it’s $10, $50, $100, or more, your gift to the NAFCC can have a profound impact and directly support the work we do to advocate for, train, and empower family child care educators.
Why Your Donation Matters:
- Advocacy for Policy Change: Your donation helps NAFCC provide a platform for family child care educators to champion policies —such as those highlighted in initiatives like August Advocacy in Action and efforts to Safeguard & Strengthen Housing Access for Family Child Care.
- Leadership & Professional Development: Beyond advocacy, your contribution fuels leadership development through programs like the Leaders Shaping Leaders Fellowship, our State Representatives program, and Affiliate Leaders. Together, we are equipping FCC educators to become powerful voices shaping the future of family child care. We offer training, resources, and accreditation to ensure family child care educators have the tools they need to succeed and improve the quality of care they provide.
- Supporting the Workforce: Family child care educators are often underpaid and overlooked. Your donation will help increase their visibility and support fair compensation for their hard work.
When you give, you’re not just making a donation—you’re investing in the future of our children, the strength of our families, and the well-being of the communities we live in, building a powerful community for change.
Every child who experiences compassionate, high-quality care today is building a brighter tomorrow. Every family supported by a skilled, dedicated educator is creating a foundation for future success. Every educator who receives your support can continue to make a lasting impact in the lives of children, helping them grow up to be confident, compassionate individuals ready to make their own mark on the world.
This Giving Tuesday, let’s give a gift that keeps on giving—one that empowers our educators, nurtures our children, and strengthens our communities.
Donate now and be a part of something bigger. Together, we can create a brighter future, one child at a time. Let’s make this Giving Tuesday one to remember.
Sign up for our listserv to stay connected, join NAFCC as a member to access valuable resources, and take action in advocacy efforts to amplify the voices of FCC educators nationwide.
