Au Pair in America

What Au Pair in America does

Au Pair in America, founded in 1986 as a division of the American Institute For Foreign Study (AIFS), is the first and longest-running U.S. Department of State-designated au pair placement agency. The company matches American host families with screened au pairs aged 18–26 recruited from more than 60 countries, operating under the J-1 cultural exchange visa framework that was made permanent by Congress in 1994. Its core product is a one- to two-year live-in childcare placement augmented by cultural exchange, sold at $9,700–$12,200 in annual program fees plus a $525 match processing fee, with weekly stipends ($146.81–$300) paid directly to the au pair. The company operates four program tiers — the flagship Au Pair program (up to 45 hours/week), Au Pair Extraordinaire® (credentialed caregivers), EduCare in America® (part-time for school-aged children), and Year2 (extension placements) — alongside a subsidiary called Global Awareness that enriches the program experience.

The platform runs on a web-based matching portal (aupairinamerica.com) where host families register, filter candidate profiles, and initiate matches, supplemented by Placement Coordinators who provide personalized recommendations and Community Counselors who conduct in-person orientations and ongoing mediation. A recently launched Mutual Match™ feature allows pre-screened au pairs to initiate connections with host families, and an AI-powered recommendation engine surfaces personalized candidates based on family preferences. Five global recruitment offices in London, Sydney, Berlin, Paris, and Warsaw — alongside a broader international partner network — supply the candidate pipeline, while U.S. operations are headquartered in Stamford, CT with 501–1,000 employees supporting 24/7 emergency assistance, screening (including psychometric testing), and partnerships with AAA for driver safety and the American Red Cross for CPR/First Aid training.

The business model combines direct-to-consumer host family acquisition (website self-service, referral program, content marketing) with a nascent B2B corporate-benefits channel that offers au pair placement as an employee benefit at a 5% corporate discount. Pricing is per family rather than per child, generating attractive unit economics for multi-child households, and is supported by an extended payment plan and a portfolio of discounts (military, switchers, AIFS alumni, referrals, repeat hosts). Revenue is not publicly disclosed. The company competes within a federally regulated market segment in which only State Department-authorized sponsors may operate, and parent AIFS is owned by the Cyril Taylor Charitable Foundation, situating Au Pair in America within a nonprofit educational ecosystem rather than a venture-backed commercial entity.

Name

Au Pair in America

Legal name

American Institute For Foreign Study, Inc.

Website

https://aupairinamerica.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Au Pair in America is a U.S. Department of State-designated agency that places live-in au pairs from 60+ countries with American host families under the J-1 cultural exchange program. Founded in 1986 as part of AIFS, it operates four childcare program tiers via a web-based matching platform supported by global recruitment offices and a Stamford, CT headquarters.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Childcare & Cultural Exchange Services

NAICS

Child Care Services (62441), Social Assistance (624)

SIC

Services-Child Day Care Services (8351), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Au Pair Placement & Matching Services (HSAAAEAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

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

Keywords

• Live-in childcare services
• Cultural exchange programs
• Au pair placement
• Intercultural childcare
• Host family matching

Headquarters

HQ city

Stamford

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Program Fees: Host families pay a match processing fee ($525) when selecting an au pair and an annual program fee that varies by program option ($9,700-$12,200). These fees cover enrollment, matching, administrative support, au pair transportation, screening, training, visa processing, and insurance.
2. Weekly Stipend: Host families pay au pairs a weekly stipend (minimum $146.81-$300 depending on program), which is a federal requirement set by the U.S. Department of State. This is a pass-through cost to au pairs.
3. Education Stipend: Host families cover educational costs for au pairs: up to $500 for Au Pair and Extraordinaire programs, and up to $1,000 for EduCare in America, to cover tuition and books at American academic institutions.
4. Extended Payment Plan: Families can pay program fees in 8 installments with a $90 annual plan activator fee and $65 service charge per installment, providing flexible payment options.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Au Pair in America matches American host families with screened young adults (au pairs) from 60+ countries for live-in, intercultural childcare. The program provides flexible childcare (up to 45 hours/week), cultural exchange, screening, training, visa processing (J-1), medical insurance, and 24/7 support under U.S. Department of State authorization. Four program options (Au Pair, Au Pair Extraordinaire, EduCare in America, Year2) address different family needs and budgets.

Product overview

Au Pair in America offers a portfolio of four live-in intercultural childcare programs designed for American host families. The core Au Pair Program provides flexible, reliable childcare combined with cultural exchange, while three specialized variants address different family needs: Au Pair Extraordinaire® for families seeking highly experienced caregivers with formal childcare credentials; EduCare in America® for cost-effective before/after-school coverage; and Year2 Au Pairs for families wishing to host au pairs already completing their first U.S. placement. All programs operate under U.S. Department of State J-1 visa regulations and include screening, training, matching, and ongoing support services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Au Pair Extraordinaire®: Au pairs with formal educational degrees or 2+ years of full-time childcare experience, offering more experienced live-in childcare.
• EduCare in America®
• Year2 Au Pairs
• Global Awareness

Products and services

• Au Pair Program Flagship live-in intercultural childcare program offering up to 45 hours per week of childcare from au pairs aged 18-26 recruited from 60+ countries, including cultural exchange, screening, training, visa processing, insurance, and 24/7 support. Annual program fee $11,100 with $195.75 weekly stipend.
• Au Pair Extraordinaire

Quantifiable outcome

• 95% of surveyed host families maintained contact with former au pairs
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.

• U.S. Department of StateflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 1986The Department of State regulates the au pair program and issues J-1 visas for au pairs. Only State Department authorized organizations can oversee au pair programs. Au Pair in America pioneered the program in collaboration with DOS in 1986.
• AAA (American Automobile Association)coreTechnology or IntegrationAAA provides au pairs with a customized online driving safety course as part of pre-departure training. This partnership ensures au pairs are prepared to safely drive children to and from activities, school, and appointments.
• American Red CrosscoreTechnology or IntegrationThe American Red Cross administers a two-hour child safety course and additional Infant/Child CPR and First Aid certification program to au pairs. Au Pair in America covers the cost of initial training and provides scholarships for full certification.
• International Au Pair Association (IAPA)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerIAPA is a not-for-profit organization representing au pair and cultural exchange programs. Au Pair in America participates in IAPA events and its au pairs are eligible for IAPA's annual Au Pair of the Year award.
• The Alliance for International ExchangecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Alliance promotes the growth and impact of exchange programs and the effectiveness of its members. Au Pair in America collaborates with the Alliance on policy advocacy and program best practices.
• American Institute For Foreign Study (AIFS)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerAu Pair in America is a division of AIFS, a charity-owned organization founded in 1964 that provides educational and cultural exchange experiences. AIFS owns the Cyril Taylor Charitable Foundation which supports international education and cultural exchange.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• InterExchange: DOS-designated J-1 visa sponsor offering au pair placement alongside work-travel and cultural exchange programs. Directly comparable as a smaller, mission-driven au pair agency with similar program structure.
• GoAuPair: DOS-designated au pair agency offering live-in childcare placement to U.S. host families. Competes directly on placement fees, host family matching, and international recruitment.
• Expert Au Pair: Smaller DOS-designated au pair agency offering similar live-in childcare placement services. Competes in the same regulatory framework with comparable program structure and pricing.
• Cultural Care Au Pair: The largest direct competitor in the U.S. au pair market, also a DOS-designated sponsor under the J-1 visa program. Operates similar live-in childcare placement with comparable program fees, screening, and host family matching, and is owned by EF Education First.
• AuPairCare: Long-standing DOS-designated au pair agency offering similar live-in childcare placement services to American host families. Directly competes on program options, pricing, and country recruitment breadth.
• EurAuPair: DOS-designated au pair agency focused on European au pair recruitment for U.S. host families. Operates the same live-in childcare exchange model under J-1 visa sponsorship.

Broad incumbents

• Bright Horizons Family Solutions: Large-scale provider of employer-sponsored childcare including daycare centers and back-up care. Serves the same working-family customer base and competes for corporate benefits budgets, though through center-based rather than live-in models.
• Care.com: Largest digital marketplace for finding nannies, sitters, and senior care. While not a DOS-designated au pair agency, it competes for the same host family wallet share by offering faster, lower-cost direct nanny matching.

Emerging players

• UrbanSitter: Online marketplace connecting families with babysitters and nannies, including some au pair-style arrangements. Represents the digital-native competition to traditional agency placement models.

Others

• Camp America (AIFS): Sister brand within the AIFS family of programs focused on summer camp counselor placement. Shares the AIFS parent and international recruitment infrastructure, providing operational synergies and cross-program referral pathways.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/aupairinamerica

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

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 Au Pair in America