Lionheart Children's Academy

What Lionheart Children's Academy does

Lionheart Children's Academy is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit Christian child care and early education provider founded in 2014 and headquartered in Arlington, Texas. It delivers licensed child care and preschool programming for children from infancy through Pre-K, plus before/after-school and summer programs for school-age children, across 23 physical academy locations in Texas, Colorado, Indiana, Tennessee, and Ohio. Every location is operated inside a partner church's facility, with the church providing real estate and Lionheart providing curriculum, staffing, and operations under a standardized model.

The core service stack layers a faith-based curriculum (First Look via Orange and Experience Early Learning) onto age-banded programs (Infants, Toddler, Older Toddler, Preschool, Pre-K), with a before/after-school offering branded as Trailblazers and a part-time Mother's Day Out format at select sites. Family-facing technology is limited to the third-party Daily Connect app for daily activity updates and photos, a 1Core parent portal for billing and enrollment, and an online tour-booking system linked to childcarecrm.com. Transportation is supported by an in-house fleet of NHTSA-compliant buses for school-age pickup and drop-off.

Revenue is generated primarily through recurring monthly tuition across full-time and part-time enrollments, supplemented by 501(c)(3) donations channeled through the ROAR 100 multi-year pledge campaign, a scholarship fund, and a Helping Hands for Teachers fund. Go-to-market combines direct-to-consumer tour booking, Google reviews and parent testimonials as social proof, and a church partnership inquiry funnel that converts interested congregations into new academy hosts. The organization reports serving 10,000+ families and self-claims the position of the largest Christian child care provider in the United States.

Name

Lionheart Children's Academy

Legal name

Lionheart Children's Academy

Website

https://lionheartkid.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Lionheart Children's Academy is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit Christian child care provider operating 23 academies on partner church campuses across five states, serving infants through school-age children with faith-based curriculum and recurring tuition revenue.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Child Care and Early Childhood Education

NAICS

Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Child Day Care Services (8351)

akta.pro primary industry

Play-Based Early Learning Academies (EDACADAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

General Preschools (Play-Based) (EDACABAA), Community & Nonprofit Before/After Care Programs (Early Years) (EDACAHAD), Center-Based Toddler Care (18–36 months) (EDACAGAB)

Keywords

• Early childhood education
• Child care services
• Faith-based preschool
• Before and after school care
• Infant and toddler care

Headquarters

HQ city

Arlington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices23 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Child Care Tuition: Revenue generated from full-time and part-time childcare enrollment fees charged to families for infant, toddler, preschool, pre-K, and school-age programs.
2. Donations and Charitable Giving: 501(c)(3) nonprofit accepting donations through online giving, checks, ACH transfers, and donor-advised funds. Offers ROAR 100 Club multi-year pledges, scholarship fund, and Helping Hands Fund for teachers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Lionheart Children's Academy is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit Christian organization that delivers licensed childcare and early childhood education for children from infancy through age 12. Core offerings include age-based programs (Infants 0–12 months, Toddler 12–18 months, Older Toddler 18–24 months, Preschool 2–4 years, Pre-K 4–5 years), the Trailblazers before/after-school and Summer Club programs for school-age children, Mother's Day Out part-time care, the Daily Connect parent communication app, and a Church Partnership program for hosting new academies. Services are delivered through 23 academy locations operating within partner church facilities across five U.S. states.

Product overview

Lionheart Children's Academy operates as a non-profit Christian organization providing high-quality, Christ-centered early childhood education and child care services through a network of academy locations. The organization offers a unified portfolio of age-based childcare programs spanning infants (0-12 months), toddlers (12-24 months), preschool (2-4 years), pre-K (4-5 years), and school-age children (6-12 years), utilizing the Experience Early Learning Curriculum and Orange Curriculum. Key programs include the Trailblazers before-and-after-school care, Summer Club, and Mother's Day Out part-time option. Lionheart partners with local churches to operate academies within church facilities, creating a unique faith-based childcare model. The organization supplements its core childcare services with parent engagement tools (Daily Connect app), donor programs (Scholarship Fund, ROAR 100 Campaign, Helping Hands for Teachers Fund), and church partnership opportunities. The company operates 22 locations across Texas, Colorado, Indiana, Tennessee, and Ohio.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Trailblazers: A before-school, after-school, and summer program for school-age children from kindergarten through age 12, providing structured care, activities, and spiritual development.
• Mother's Day Out

Products and services

• Infants Program Child care program for infants aged 0–12 months, providing individualized daily routines, trust-based care, and developmental support including physical, social, emotional, and spiritual growth through gentle interaction and responsive care. Delivered at all 23 Lionheart academy locations in faith-based, state-licensed environments.
• Toddler Program Child care program for toddlers aged 12–18 months, supporting natural curiosity through hands-on experiences and play while building confidence, social skills, cognitive abilities, and physical development in a Christ-centered environment.
• Older Toddler Program Child care program for older toddlers aged 18–24 months, offering environments that encourage exploration and discovery through hands-on experiences while building confidence, social skills, and developmental milestones.
• Preschool Program Preschool program for children aged 2–4 years using the Experience Early Learning Curriculum and Orange Curriculum, supporting academic growth alongside physical, social, emotional, and spiritual development while preparing children for kindergarten.
• Pre-K Program Pre-kindergarten program for children aged 4–5 years using the Experience Early Learning Curriculum and Orange Curriculum, providing developmentally appropriate experiences that build skills, confidence, and self-esteem while preparing children for kindergarten and beyond.
• Trailblazers (Before/After-School and Summer Care) Before- and after-school care program for kindergarten through age 12, including Summer Club. Provides daily devotions, breakfast, NHTSA-compliant school transportation (high-back seats, three-point belts, backup cameras, emergency exits), homework support, group activities, STEAM learning, field trips, and weekly chapel time called "Base Camp."
• Mother's Day Out Part-time child care program offering flexible scheduling for families, operating on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8:30 AM to 2:25 PM for children aged 6 months through Pre-K at select locations.
• Church Partnership Program Partnership offering where Lionheart operates licensed child care programs within church facilities, providing Christ-centered early education and operational expertise while the church provides space and community support. Recruited actively through a dedicated inquiry form on the website.

Named customers7 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

23 partnerships are on record, tiered core and strategic.

• Five Lakes ChurchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFive Lakes Church in Sylvania, Ohio hosts a Lionheart Children's Academy location serving children ages 6 weeks to Pre-K. Lionheart provides childcare programming while the church provides facilities.
• Community CommonscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity Commons in Harrison, Ohio hosts a Lionheart Children's Academy location serving children ages 6 weeks to 12 years. Partnership provides community childcare services.
• One Church CalvarycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne Church Calvary in Murfreesboro, Tennessee hosts two Lionheart locations - a full-time academy and a Mother's Day Out program. The church provides facilities for both programs.
• First Baptist Church GreenwoodcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFirst Baptist Church Greenwood in Indiana hosts a Lionheart academy achieving Paths to Quality Level 4 certification. Partnership serves infants through age 12.
• Mercy Road ChurchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMercy Road Church in Fortville, Indiana hosts a Lionheart academy serving children ages 6 weeks to 5 years through the partnership.
• Stillwater ChurchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStillwater Church in Loveland, Colorado is launching a Lionheart academy location (Coming Soon) serving children ages 6 weeks to 6 years.
• Academy ChristiancoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademy Christian in Colorado Springs, Colorado hosts a Lionheart academy serving infants through age 12. Partnership provides faith-based childcare to the community.
• Revive ChurchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRevive Church in Arvada, Colorado hosts a Lionheart academy that has earned Colorado Shines rating and Best of Business 2025 recognition. Serves children ages 6 weeks to 12 years.
• Lake ChurchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLake Church in Arlington, Texas hosts a Lionheart academy location. Part of the 14 Texas church partnerships providing childcare services.
• Bent Tree Bible FellowshipcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBent Tree Bible Fellowship in Carrollton, Texas hosts a Lionheart academy. One of multiple Texas church partnerships.
• Central Church (Plano)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCentral Church in Plano, Texas hosts a Lionheart academy at the Central Plano location. Partnership serves children from infants through school-age.
• Cross City ChurchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCross City Church in Euless, Texas hosts a Lionheart academy. Part of the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex church partnership network.
• Springcreek ChurchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpringcreek Church in Garland, Texas hosts a Lionheart academy serving children from infancy through school-age.
• MacArthur Blvd Baptist ChurchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMacArthur Blvd Baptist Church in Irving, Texas hosts a Lionheart academy. Partnership provides childcare services to the Irving community.
• Venture Christian ChurchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVenture Christian Church in Katy, Texas (Houston area) hosts a Lionheart academy serving the Katy community.
• Eagles View ChurchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEagles View Church in Saginaw, Texas hosts a Lionheart academy. Partnership serves the Fort Worth/Saginaw area.
• Stone MyerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStone Myers in South Grapevine, Texas hosts a Lionheart academy. Part of the Dallas-Fort Worth church partnership network.
• Real Life MinistriescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerReal Life Ministries in Tomball, Texas (north Houston area) hosts a Lionheart academy for the local community.
• First Baptist Van AlstynecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFirst Baptist Van Alstyne in Texas hosts a Lionheart academy serving families in the Van Alstyne community.
• 121 Community ChurchcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner121 Community Church in West Grapevine, Texas hosts a Lionheart academy location.
• First Baptist PlanocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFirst Baptist Plano in Plano, Texas hosts a Lionheart academy (West Plano location) serving the Plano community.
• Experience CurriculumstrategicTechnology or IntegrationLicensed curriculum provider for infant, toddler, and preschool programs. Research-based early childhood curriculum supporting purposeful play and developmental tracking.
• Orange Curriculum (Orange Resources)strategicTechnology or IntegrationFaith-based curriculum provider for the First Look program. Integrates biblical values into early childhood education through age-appropriate content.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Childcare Network: Large private operator of child care centers across the southern US. Comparable as a regional multi-academy child care provider serving infants through school-age, with similar geographic concentration and family demographics.
• Goddard School: Franchise early childhood education provider for infants through Pre-K with a play-based, proprietary curriculum. Directly comparable as a multi-academy operator serving the same age range with a similar curriculum-led differentiation strategy.
• Kids R Kids: Franchise child care and early education provider serving infants through school-age children, with a faith-friendly character development focus. Comparable as a multi-academy operator serving similar age range with curriculum differentiation.
• Primrose Schools: Franchise-based private early education and care provider for infants through Pre-K and after-school, with a proprietary Balanced Learning curriculum. Highly comparable as a multi-location accredited early childhood academy chain serving similar age groups and parent demographics.
• Guidepost Montessori: Large multi-location Montessori early childhood education provider. Directly comparable as an early learning academy operator with multi-state presence, though using a Montessori pedagogy versus Lionheart's play-based and faith-based curriculum.
• The Learning Experience: National franchise of child care and preschool centers serving infants through Pre-K, with proprietary curriculum and philanthropy programs. Directly comparable as a multi-location early childhood academy operator targeting similar families.
• Cadence Education: Large private-equity-backed operator of more than 200 early childhood education centers across the US. Directly comparable as a scaled multi-state child care operator pursuing growth through acquisitions and new builds, though secular versus Lionheart's faith-based model.
• New Horizon Academy: Privately-held child care and early education provider operating more than 100 centers across multiple US states. Comparable as a regional-to-national multi-academy child care operator with similar size and demographic focus.

Broad incumbents

• KinderCare Learning Companies: One of the largest private child care and early education providers in the US, offering infant care through school-age programs nationally. Comparable in core service offering (infant-to-school-age child care), though it operates a broader secular footprint versus Lionheart's faith-based positioning.
• Bright Horizons Family Solutions: Large publicly-traded operator of child care and early education centers serving infants through preschool, plus employer-sponsored back-up care. Comparable as the dominant broad-incumbent child care brand, though secular and corporate-focused versus Lionheart's faith-based church-partnership model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/lionheartchild

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 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 Lionheart Children's Academy