What United 4 Children does

United 4 Children (legal name: Child Day Care Association of St. Louis, dba United 4 Children / U4C) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, providing early childhood education support services across Missouri and Illinois. The organization serves child care providers (center-based, family child care homes, and afterschool programs), families with young children, and K-12 families, reaching 34,000+ children, families, and providers annually. Core services include individualized coaching, nutrition services (USDA CACFP sponsorship launched in 1980), MOPD-approved professional development training, child care inclusion services for children with special needs, a resource and referral call center (1-800-467-2322), an annual Early Childhood Educator Conference, and Customizable Support Packages. All core services are delivered free of charge to end users, with fee-based coaching on a sliding scale for small programs.

The organization was founded in 2012 through the merger of St. Louis for Kids (originally Regional Violence Initiative, Inc., founded 1996) and the Child Day Care Association (CDCA, founded 1969), which had become the only social service agency created by United Way of St. Louis and developed the foundation for Missouri Accreditation standards. In November 2025, United 4 Children announced a merger with Navigate STL Schools, completed in 2026, extending the organization's mission from early childhood through K-12 graduation. The nonprofit is governed by a board of directors and led by CEO Deanna Finch, with a staff of 11-50 employees.

United 4 Children's revenue model is donation- and grant-based, drawing from individual donors (including the Change 4 Children monthly giving program at $8.33/month), corporate sponsors (Ameren Missouri, Oracle, BJC HealthCare, First Bank, WWT, Healthy Blue Missouri/Elevance Health), foundation grants, asset gifts (IRAs, stocks, DAFs), Neighborhood Assistance Program (NAP) tax credits (50% credit for gifts of $5,000+), employer matching gifts, and third-party fundraising events. Distribution is primarily community-led through direct program delivery, a dedicated Power Apps portal, the resource and referral call center, on-site/virtual coaching, and partnerships with schools, nonprofits, and community organizations across Missouri.

Name

United 4 Children

Legal name

Child Day Care Association of St. Louis

Website

https://united4children.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

United 4 Children is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit providing free early childhood education support services — coaching, nutrition, training, inclusion, and resource/referral — to child care providers, families, and 34,000+ children annually across Missouri and Illinois, following its 2026 merger with Navigate STL Schools.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Early Childhood Education Support Services

NAICS

Child Care Services (6244), Child and Youth Services (62411), Educational Support Services (611710), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)

SIC

Services-Child Day Care Services (8351), Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Family Resource Centers & Wraparound Support Services (EDACALAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Inclusive / Special-Needs Childcare Centers (EDACAAAH), Developmental Therapy / Early Childhood Special Instruction (EDACAFAG)

Keywords

• Early childhood education services
• Child care provider support
• Early childhood professional development
• Child nutrition programs
• Child care inclusion services

Headquarters

HQ city

Saint Louis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: United 4 Children operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that relies on donations from individuals, companies, and foundations. Donors can make one-time or ongoing contributions, with options for monthly giving through the Change 4 Children program. The suggested monthly sponsorship amount is $8.33 per month to sponsor a child care center to attend the annual conference.
2. Gift of Assets: Donors can contribute assets including IRA charitable distributions, stocks, and Donor-Advised Fund (DAF) gifts. Stock donations are processed through Stock Donator platform.
3. NAP Tax Credits: United 4 Children offers 50% Neighborhood Assistance Program (NAP) tax credits to businesses making gifts of $5,000 or more, which can offset Missouri income tax liability.
4. Matching Gifts: Corporate matching gift programs where employers match charitable contributions made by employees.
5. Third-Party Events: Community fundraising events organized by groups or companies with United 4 Children as beneficiary, including jean days, golf tournaments, and 5K runs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

United 4 Children is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization providing a coordinated portfolio of early childhood education support services across Missouri. Its core offerings include individualized coaching for child care providers, Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) sponsorship and nutrition services, MOPD-approved professional development training, child care inclusion services for children with special needs, a statewide resource and referral call center, customizable support packages, and an annual Early Childhood Educator Conference. All core services are delivered free of charge to child care providers and families, funded through donations, sponsorships, and grants.

Product overview

United 4 Children is a nonprofit organization (dba Child Day Care Association of St. Louis) providing a coordinated portfolio of early childhood education support services in Missouri. The organization operates as a services-based nonprofit rather than a software product company. Its core offerings include Coaching Services, Nutrition Services (CACFP sponsorship), Education and Training Services, Child Care Inclusion Services, Resource and Referral Services, an annual Early Childhood Educator Conference, and Customizable Support Packages. Additional offerings include the Navigate STL Schools school navigation platform (merging organization), Family Education Packets, the Change 4 Children monthly giving program, and newsletters for Champions (donors), Educators, and Communities. The organization serves children, families, and child care providers across Missouri.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Coaching Services Individualized coaching sessions for child care providers that include reflective conversations, targeted feedback, and resources to elevate teaching practices and enhance quality of care.
• Nutrition Services Sponsorship of the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) for family child care home providers in Missouri and Illinois, including nutrition education, meal planning guidance, and reimbursements for meals meeting USDA guidelines.
• Education and Training Services MOPD-approved professional development trainings, mini conferences, and customized training sessions for early childhood educators offering Missouri clock hours.
• Child Care Inclusion Services Resources, referrals, technical assistance, coaching, education, and evaluation services to help families and child care providers support children with special needs, developmental concerns, or challenging behaviors.
• Resource and Referral Services Early Care & Education Resource & Referral call center connecting families, early educators, and community advocates to local childcare options and resources throughout Missouri.
• Early Childhood Educator Conference Annual conference offering early childhood educators professional development opportunities with Missouri clock-hour approval, featuring breakout sessions and networking.
• Customizable Support Packages Flexible, affordable support packages including training, inclusion and behavioral support, technical assistance, classroom observations, coaching, evaluations, and CDA credentialing guidance.

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• Child Care Aware of AmericacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUnited 4 Children is a proud member of Child Care Aware of America, a national network supporting quality child care and family resources.
• United Way of Greater St. LouiscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUnited 4 Children is a proud partner of United Way of Greater St. Louis, continuing a legacy relationship since the founding of Child Day Care Association in 1969 as the only social service agency created by United Way.
• Navigate STL SchoolsflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerIn November 2025, United 4 Children and Navigate STL Schools announced their intent to merge, creating a unified nonprofit dedicated to helping Missouri children and families thrive from birth through graduation. The merger was completed in 2026.
• St. Louis Blues for KidscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to deliver social-emotional learning materials to child care centers. Marked the 30th delivery of supplies to centers in need, with Louie the mascot appearing at Williams Academy.
• Ameren MissouriminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor supporting United 4 Children's programs and services.
• OracleminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor supporting United 4 Children's programs and services.
• BJC HealthCareminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor supporting United 4 Children's programs and services.
• First BankminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor supporting United 4 Children's programs and services.
• WWT (World Wide Technology)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor supporting United 4 Children's programs and services.
• Delmar DivINeminorOthersVenue host for U4C Early Childhood Educator Conference scheduled for June 12, 2027.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Save the Children (US Programs): International nonprofit with substantial U.S. early childhood programs, including early childhood education, literacy, and nutrition support. Operates similar wraparound services for young children and families across multiple states.
• Zero to Three: National nonprofit advancing infant and toddler development through training, policy advocacy, and resources for providers and families. Comparable audience and mission focus on early childhood development support.
• NAEYC (National Association for the Education of Young Children): National membership organization providing accreditation, professional development, and advocacy for early childhood educators. U4C's foundational role in Missouri Accreditation standards and its training catalog parallel NAEYC's offerings at a regional level.
• First 5 California: State-funded commission supporting early childhood (prenatal through age 5) programs, including provider training, parent education, and inclusion support. Comparable in scope of early childhood wraparound services, with significantly larger funding base.

Direct peers

• Child Care Aware of America: National nonprofit network of Child Care Resource & Referral agencies. U4C is a member of this network and operates a comparable R&R call center plus training/coaching services for child care providers and families.
• Child Care Resources Inc. Regional CCR&R agency providing child care referrals, training, and provider support. Operates a functionally similar model to U4C at a smaller geographic scale, making it a direct comparable for early childhood support services.
• Bright Beginnings: Community-based nonprofit providing early childhood education and family support services to families experiencing homelessness and poverty. Operates a comparable wraparound model of early childhood education plus family social services.

Regional players

• Child Care Aware of Minnesota: State-level CCR&R affiliate providing R&R, training, and quality supports to child care providers and families across Minnesota. Comparable in mission, program mix, and delivery model to U4C, but operating in a different geography.

Others

• Imagine Learning (Early Childhood Division): Education technology company providing digital early childhood curriculum and professional development tools for child care providers. Adjacent comparison as a paid digital alternative to U4C's free in-person training and coaching services.

Emerging players

• ParentChild+: National nonprofit operating early literacy and school readiness home-visiting programs for families with young children. Comparable mission of supporting early childhood development and family engagement, with overlapping family-facing service delivery.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/U4CSTL
• Facebookfacebook.com/United4Children.org
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/united-4-children
• Instagraminstagram.com/united4childrenstl

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 United 4 Children