Au Pair in America
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.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1986
- HeadquartersStamford, United States
- Headcount501–1,000
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
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.
Au Pair in America firmographics
Firmographics- 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
Au Pair in America industry classification
Industry- 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
Where Au Pair in America is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Stamford
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices6 records
Markets served
Au Pair in America business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Standard Au Pair program with up to 45 hours weekly childcare |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Experienced au pairs with formal degrees or 2+ years childcare experience, up to 45 hours weekly |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Part-time program for school-aged children, up to 30 hours weekly |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Year2 au pairs who have completed 12-month placement, faster arrival available |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels8 records
Au Pair in America product offering
Product offeringCore 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
Companies that use Au Pair in America
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Au Pair in America technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
Au Pair in America partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.
- U.S. Department of StateflagshipThe 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)coreAAA 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 CrosscoreThe 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)flagshipIAPA 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 ExchangecoreThe 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)flagshipAu 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
Au Pair in America competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect 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
Au Pair in America social profiles
Digital presenceAu Pair in America financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Au Pair in America leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Au Pair in America subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Au Pair in America funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Au Pair in America M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Au Pair in America
What does Au Pair in America do?
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.
Is Au Pair in America a public or private company?
Au Pair in America is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Au Pair in America founded?
Au Pair in America was founded in 1986. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.
Where is Au Pair in America based?
Au Pair in America is headquartered in Stamford, United States, in the North America region.
How does Au Pair in America make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Program Fees are the primary driver. The others are weekly Stipend, education Stipend and extended Payment Plan.
Who are Au Pair in America's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are InterExchange, GoAuPair, Expert Au Pair, Cultural Care Au Pair, AuPairCare and EurAuPair. Broad incumbents are Bright Horizons Family Solutions and Care.com. UrbanSitter is listed as an emerging player. Camp America (AIFS) is listed as an others.
Does Au Pair in America have an API?
No public API is recorded for Au Pair in America.
What industry is Au Pair in America in?
Au Pair in America's product category is Childcare & Cultural Exchange Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HSAAAEAA, Au Pair Placement & Matching Services, with a secondary code of HSAAAEAD, Au Pair Training, Orientation & Cultural Exchange Programs. Its NAICS code is 62441 and its SIC code is 8351.