Guild of St. Agnes

What Guild of St. Agnes does

Guild of St. Agnes is a Worcester, Massachusetts-based nonprofit organization founded in 1913 that provides early childhood education and care to nearly 2,000 children daily across Central Massachusetts. It operates a multi-tiered delivery model consisting of 8 center-based programs (infant, toddler, and preschool classrooms) in Charlton, Devens, Gardner, Webster, and Worcester; 13 school age programs located in Worcester-area public schools, Devens, and Fitchburg; and a contracted network of 135 licensed family child care (FCC) educators who operate their own licensed home-based programs in Worcester County. The organization is governed by an independent Board of Directors under President and CEO Sharon F. MacDonald, with 400+ staff, and serves children from 4 weeks to 12 years old.

The underlying technology platform is the third-party FAMLY app, deployed as the parent communication and billing system across the network and available in 133 languages, supporting newsfeeds, child profile updates, illness and vacation reporting, bill review, autopay enrollment, and direct messaging with staff. All locations participate in the USDA Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), delivering three daily meals prepared by ServSafe-certified food handlers. Most centers are accredited by NAEYC and all programs are licensed by the Massachusetts Department of Early Education & Care (EEC).

The business model combines parent tuition (with a 20% sibling discount) and Massachusetts Child Care Financial Assistance (CCFA) state subsidies as primary recurring revenue, supplemented by grants from United Way chapters, the Greater Worcester Community Foundation, the Community Foundation of North Central Massachusetts, the Health Foundation of Central Massachusetts, and Whole Kids Foundation. A 2023 lab school partnership with Worcester State University creates both an enrollment channel and a workforce pipeline, and a $1.1 million child care business incubator launched in April 2026 with Seven Hills Foundation and the Health Foundation of Central Massachusetts extends the organization's role into sector capacity-building.

Name

Guild of St. Agnes

Legal name

Guild of St. Agnes

Website

https://guildofstagnes.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1913

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Guild of St. Agnes is a Worcester, Massachusetts nonprofit, founded in 1913, operating 8 child care centers, 13 school age programs, and a 135-educator family child care network serving nearly 2,000 children daily in Central Massachusetts.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Early Childhood Education and Child Care Services

NAICS

Child Care Services (62441), Child Care Services (6244), Child Care Services (624410)

SIC

Services-Child Day Care Services (8351), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Preschool Programs within Childcare Centers (EDACABAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Center-Based Toddler Care (18–36 months) (EDACAGAB), Extended Day Programs at Preschools & Childcare Centers (EDACAHAB), Community & Nonprofit Before/After Care Programs (Early Years) (EDACAHAD), Early Childhood Education & Childcare Nonprofits (BPAGADAA)

Keywords

• Early childhood education
• Child care services
• Preschool programs
• Family child care
• School age care

Headquarters

HQ city

Worcester

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices24 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Child Care Fees: Parent tuition payments for child care services across center-based and family child care programs. Organization offers 20% sibling discount for additional children.
2. Massachusetts Child Care Financial Assistance (CCFA): State-funded child care subsidies accepted at all locations for eligible families based on income and family size.
3. Foundation and Grant Funding: Funding from United Way chapters (Central Massachusetts, North Central Massachusetts, South Central Massachusetts), Greater Worcester Community Foundation, Community Foundation of North Central Massachusetts, and Whole Kids Foundation. Supports programs including Worcester Infant & Toddler Programs, South County Behavioral Health Support Services, Family Support Coordinator, School Age Summer Programming, and Life is Good Playmaker Project.
4. Family Child Care Educator Network Fees: Contracted relationship with over 130 licensed home-based family child care educators who operate their own businesses under the Guild's system. Educators are not employees but contracted providers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Guild of St. Agnes provides licensed early childhood education and child care services for children ages 4 weeks to 12 years through 8 center-based programs, 13 school age programs, and a contracted network of 135 home-based family child care educators across Central Massachusetts. The nonprofit also operates a USDA-supported Food Program providing three daily meals and uses the FAMLY Parent Portal for family communication and billing.

Product overview

Guild of St. Agnes is the largest early education and care agency in Central Massachusetts, offering a comprehensive portfolio of child care services. The organization operates on a multi-tiered model consisting of: (1) Center-based care at 8 physical locations providing Infant Programs (4 weeks to 14 months), Toddler Programs (15 months to 2 years 8 months), and Preschool Programs (2 years 9 months to 5 years); (2) School Age Programs at 13 locations for children Kindergarten to 12 years, offering before/after school care; (3) Family Child Care (FCC) network contracting with 135 licensed home-based educators serving children 4 weeks to 12 years. Supporting services include a Food Program providing 3 meals daily under USDA CACFP, and the FAMLY Parent Portal technology platform for communication and billing. All programs are licensed by the Department of Early Education & Care (EEC) and most centers hold NAEYC accreditation. The organization serves nearly 2,000 children throughout Central Massachusetts.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• FAMLY: Parent portal app for communication and billing

Products and services

• Infant Programs Early childhood care for infants ages 4 weeks to 14 months, providing a loving, safe, and engaging learning environment with daily activities including meals, diapering, naps, language development, motor skills, sensory stimulation, and rest time. Licensed by the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care (EEC).
• Toddler Programs Early childhood care for toddlers ages 15 months to 2 years 8 months, featuring meals, hygiene, language development, motor skills, nap time, socialization, sensory activities, and circle time. Classroom ratio: 1 Teacher to 4 Toddlers, 2 Teachers to 9 Toddlers.
• Preschool Programs Preschool care for children ages 2 years 9 months to 5 years, offering meals, circle time, small group activities, literacy, hygiene, outdoor play, and rest time. Classroom ratio: 1 Teacher to 10 Preschoolers, 2 Teachers to 20 Preschoolers.
• School Age Programs Before and after school care for children from Kindergarten to 12 years, providing academic help, homework assistance, play activities, outdoor play, field trips, and meals on non-school days. Classroom ratio: 1 Teacher to 13 School Agers, 2 Teachers to 26 School Agers.
• Family Child Care (FCC) Licensed home-based family child care educators providing care in their own homes for children ages 4 weeks to 12 years. The Guild contracts with over 135 licensed FCC educators within Worcester County, each licensed by the Massachusetts Department of Early Education & Care.
• Food Program Provides children with 3 meals daily (Breakfast, Lunch, and Snack). All locations participate in USDA's Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). Food handlers are ServSafe certified in food handling, preparation, and allergy awareness.
• FAMLY Parent Portal All-in-one early childhood platform serving as a communication and billing system for families. Parents can access pictures, videos, announcements via newsfeed, update permissions, report illness and vacation days, review bills, enroll in auto pay, and send direct messages to staff. Available in 133 languages.

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly 2,000 children served daily across all programs

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• United Way of Central MassachusettscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing supporter that has funded Worcester Infant & Toddler Programs, South County Behavioral Health Support Services, Family Support Coordinator, School Age Summer Programming including field trips and enrichment programs, School Age Salaries, and Life is Good Playmaker Project training. Guild runs annual workplace campaign to support United Way fundraising.
• United Way of North Central MassachusettscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunding partner for programs including School Age Summer Programming and enrichment programs in Fitchburg and Gardner programs.
• United Way of South Central MassachusettscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunding partner supporting Guild programs and community initiatives.
• Worcester State UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity Collaborative Center at 248 Mill Street serves as a lab school for WSU's Early Childhood Education program. Students gain hands-on experience, use observation rooms, and attend classes in the conference room. Several university courses taught within the center. University Collaborative opened April 2023 with capacity for 152 children.
• Life is Good Playmaker ProjectcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit providing trauma-informed training and certification for early childhood professionals. Guild received grant from The Health Foundation of Central Massachusetts to bring the program to entire organization. 6 Playmaker Captains trained through train-the-trainer model to serve 400+ Guild staff and Family Child Care educators.
• Seven Hills FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorcester-based nonprofit partner in $1.1 million child care business incubator launched April 2026 to support local child care providers with resources, training, and on-site care for up to two years.
• Woo-Labs / Worcester Education CollaborativeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition providing 1,300 Worcester students with hands-on project-based learning in out-of-school time. Guild participates as community partner advancing educational and racial equity.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves15 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• KinderCare Learning Companies: Largest national for-profit child care provider with centers in Massachusetts offering infant through school-age care. Comparable in core service offering and target customer (working families) but at national scale and with for-profit capital structure.
• Bright Horizons Family Solutions: National, publicly traded provider of employer-sponsored child care and early education with NAEYC accreditation standards. Comparable in quality tier and curriculum, but operates at national scale and through employer-sponsored centers rather than community-based nonprofit centers like the Guild.

Direct peers

• YMCA of Central Massachusetts: The YMCA of Central Massachusetts operates licensed child care, before/after school care, and youth development programs across the same Worcester County footprint as the Guild. Both serve working families seeking reliable, full-day and school-age care with similar age cohorts and subsidy acceptance.
• Boys & Girls Club of Worcester: Provides after-school, summer, and youth development programming for school-age children in Worcester. Directly comparable to the Guild's 13 school-age programs in target customer (working families), age range (K–12), and service model (out-of-school-time care).

Regional players

• Seven Hills Foundation: Worcester-based nonprofit providing human services including early childhood, behavioral health, and family support. It is both a peer (overlapping child care and youth services in Central MA) and a current partner of the Guild in the $1.1M child care business incubator.
• Catholic Charities Worcester County: Faith-affiliated nonprofit social services agency operating in Worcester County with overlapping family support, youth, and early childhood programming. Shares the Guild's nonprofit, community-based service model and Worcester County service geography.
• Criterion Child Enrichment: Massachusetts-based nonprofit child care provider with infant, toddler, preschool, and school-age programs across multiple centers. Comparable in service mix, nonprofit structure, and reliance on Massachusetts EEC licensing and state subsidies.
• Little Sprouts LLC: Massachusetts-based child care provider with multiple centers across the state serving infants through school-age children. Directly comparable in service mix and New England footprint, though operates on a for-profit rather than nonprofit basis.
• Horizons for Homeless Children: Massachusetts nonprofit providing early childhood education and family support, with programs including center-based care for vulnerable children. Comparable in mission and EEC-licensed nonprofit child care delivery, though focused more on homeless and at-risk families.
• Associated Early Care and Education: Massachusetts-based nonprofit child care and early education provider operating multiple centers and family child care programs. Comparable in mission, scale, and reliance on state subsidy and grant funding.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xfacebook.com/guildofstagnes
• Facebookfacebook.com/guildofstagnes
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/guildofstagnes

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

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 Guild of St. Agnes