Cultural Care Au Pair

What Cultural Care Au Pair does

Cultural Care Au Pair (d/b/a Cultural Care, Inc.) is the largest U.S. Department of State-designated sponsor of the J-1 au pair cultural exchange program, in continuous operation since 1989. The company matches pre-screened au pairs recruited from 30+ countries with American host families seeking live-in, flexible childcare, and has placed more than 175,000 au pairs across 48 U.S. states plus Washington D.C. The service is delivered to dual-income and single working-parent households, multi-child families, military and first responder families, educator families, and single parents; the typical arrangement provides up to 45 hours per week of childcare (max 10 hours/day) plus cultural exchange exposure for the children. Program fees are $11,245 for first-time families and $9,880 for repeat families, with optional $670/month installment plans and 6/9/12-month extensions priced from $4,857 to $7,995. The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of EF Education First and operates offices in Cambridge (HQ), Boston, Denver, and Austin, with 101–250 employees.

The platform is built around a cloud-based, mobile-first matching stack: a Host Family App on iOS and Android enables profile creation, candidate browsing and filtering, in-app chat, video interviews, and document signing, with no fees charged until a match is confirmed. The proprietary NeuroColor Personality Assessment, described as a neuroscience-based temperament inventory, is the only such tool in the au pair industry validated by statistical methods, and is used to surface personality and communication-style compatibility. Matching is hybrid: families can self-serve in the app or work with dedicated Matching Specialists (inside sales), while Local Childcare Consultants provide in-person orientations, monthly check-ins, and community events post-match. Supporting services include 32 hours of instructor-led pre-departure training (with American Heart Association CPR/First Aid certification), a Host Family Preparation Program, 24/7 emergency support, and the Cultural Care Kids First Foundation (159 children's organizations across 31 countries).

Revenue is generated almost entirely from annual program fees plus extension fees from a large, distributed base of individual U.S. host families; the stipend paid to au pairs (minimum $195.75/week) flows directly to au pairs and is not company revenue. Discounts target the military ($1,500), first responder ($1,000), educator ($1,000), and loyalty/renewal segments, and a $250/$250 referral program feeds word-of-mouth demand. Go-to-market combines a self-serve PLG app, inside-sales Matching Specialists, a field LCC network, paid social, content marketing, and earned media (USA Today, People Magazine, Military Families Magazine), with brand credibility anchored by a 4.7/5 TrustPilot rating across 1,500 reviews and the company's status as the only 4-time International Au Pair Association Au Pair of the Year Award winner.

Name

Cultural Care Au Pair

Legal name

Cultural Care, Inc.

Website

https://culturalcare.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Cultural Care Au Pair is the largest U.S. State Department-designated J-1 au pair agency, founded in 1989 and owned by EF Education First. It matches pre-screened au pairs from 30+ countries with American host families, operating a mobile-first matching platform across 48 states.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Childcare Services

NAICS

Child Care Services (62441)

SIC

Services-Child Day Care Services (8351)

akta.pro primary industry

Au Pair Placement & Matching Services (HSAAAEAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Au Pair Program Sponsorship & Compliance (Visa/Host Family Support) (HSAAAEAB), Au Pair Training, Orientation & Cultural Exchange Programs (HSAAAEAD), Host Family Screening, Onboarding & Training (HSAAAEAC), Paid Placement & Au Pair/Working Holiday Placement Programs (EDAIAFAD), Au Pair & Live-In Care Placement Agencies (HSAAALAG)

Keywords

• Au pair agency
• Cultural exchange programs
• Live-in childcare services
• J-1 visa sponsorship
• Childcare placement services

Headquarters

HQ city

Waiuku

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Program Fees: Annual program fees paid to Cultural Care for matching, screening, training coordination, ongoing support, and program administration. Fees vary by customer status: $11,245 for first-time families, $9,880 for repeat families, with extension fees of $7,995 (12-month), $6,330 (9-month), or $4,857 (6-month). Includes non-refundable deposit at matching.
2. Monthly Payment Plan: Optional monthly installment plan with $670/month for 12 months including a $45/month fee. Customers pay initial deposit at matching, then installments automatically deducted by ACH.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion5 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

Cultural Care Au Pair matches pre-screened international au pairs from 30+ countries with American host families for a 52-week live-in, in-home childcare and cultural exchange program, with the option to extend for 6, 9, or 12 additional months. The service is delivered under a U.S. Department of State J-1 visa designation and includes a 32-hour Au Pair Training School (with American Heart Association CPR/First Aid certification), a proprietary NeuroColor personality assessment, in-app video interviewing and messaging via iOS and Android apps, ongoing Local Childcare Consultant support, and 24/7 emergency assistance. Host families pay an annual program fee plus a minimum weekly stipend paid directly to the au pair.

Product overview

Cultural Care Au Pair operates as a single unified service offering — a U.S. Department of State-designated au pair agency — built around a core matching platform delivered through a web application and native iOS/Android mobile apps. The product portfolio centers on the flagship 52-week au pair placement program (with first-year, repeat-family, and extension pricing tiers), supported by the Cultural Care Host Family App and Matching Tools suite. Key modules include the NeuroColor Personality Assessment (a temperament-based compatibility tool), the Matching Specialist team, and Local Childcare Consultant (LCC) ongoing support. Ancillary services include the Au Pair Training School, Host Family Preparation Program, 24/7 Emergency Support, and the Cultural Care Kids First Foundation charitable arm. The company also offers discount programs (military, first responder, educator, and loyalty/renewal) and a referral bonus program. Together these components form a vertically integrated, end-to-end childcare matching and cultural exchange platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Cultural Care Kids First Foundation: Charitable foundation that fundraises, gives grants, and volunteers for children's organizations worldwide. The foundation has helped 159 children's organizations in 31 countries across 6 continents.

Products and services

• Au Pair Program (52-week cultural exchange and in-home childcare placement) Flagship 52-week U.S. Department of State-regulated cultural exchange program that matches pre-screened international au pairs (ages 18-26, from 30+ countries) with American host families for flexible, live-in, in-home childcare of up to 45 hours/week, with a minimum $195.75/week stipend paid directly to the au pair and a $11,245 first-year program fee to Cultural Care. Includes a 32-hour pre-departure training school, NeuroColor personality assessment, in-app video interviewing, Local Childcare Consultant support, and 24/7 emergency assistance.
• Au Pair Extension Program (6, 9, or 12-month extensions) Optional 6-month ($4,857 fee), 9-month ($6,330 fee), or 12-month ($7,995 fee) extension of the au pair program for au pairs in good standing who wish to continue with their current host family, allowing up to two years of continuous live-in childcare and cultural exchange.
• Host Family Preparation Program Pre-arrival educational program for host families comprising live and pre-recorded webinars that cover program basics, welcoming tips, logistics, and communication strategies, delivered before the au pair's arrival.

Quantifiable outcome

• No waitlists for childcare placement
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers17 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• TETO (Teto.br)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 February 2026Partnership through Cultural Care Kids First Foundation supporting construction of seven homes with bathrooms in a São Paulo community. Provided families with safe, sanitary housing. Foundation volunteers worked alongside TETO staff.
• Virginia TechminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 December 2023Virginia Tech announced a partnership with Cultural Care Au Pair in December 2023, likely related to student wellness programs or educational initiatives connecting international exchange with university resources.
• Erika Insurance Ltd.coreOthersProvides emergency travel insurance coverage for all Cultural Care au pairs during their program term in the U.S. Partners with Aetna Student Health to assist with medical questions, provider identification, and claims processing.
• Aetna Student HealthcoreOthersPartners with Erika Insurance to assist au pairs and host families with medical insurance questions, finding in-network providers, understanding coverage, and filing claims. Contact: 1-800-783-7447 or [email protected].
• American Heart AssociationminorOthersProvides CPR and First Aid certification course for au pairs as part of pre-departure training. Au pairs complete this certification before traveling to the U.S. as part of the 32-hour instructor-led training program.
• Molo MhlabaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFirst independent girls' school in Khayelitsha township, Cape Town, South Africa. Cultural Care Au Pair donated $50,000 to fund an additional building to accommodate growing student enrollment.
• Casa AlianzaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational non-profit providing shelter, food, and crisis care to homeless and runaway youth in Mexico City. Cultural Care funded development of an on-campus urban garden to help children build confidence, develop skills, and find peace.
• The Freedom StoryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization helping prevent child sexual exploitation and trafficking in Thailand. Provides scholarships and resources to vulnerable Thai children and youth to break cycles of poverty and avoid trafficking dangers.
• Casa do ZezinhominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAfter-school programming site serving youth in a formerly high-violence area of Sao Paulo, Brazil. Children participate in educational projects, art classes, and cultural activities.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Market position

Competitive moat6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cultural-care-au-pair
• Instagraminstagram.com/culturalcare
• Xx.com/culturalcare
• Facebookfacebook.com/culturalcare

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Cultural Care Au Pair