The Community Group

What The Community Group does

The Community Group is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1970 in Lawrence, Massachusetts, that operates a portfolio of interconnected education and family-support programs serving approximately 2,400 children and families annually across 19 sites. Its core programs include Early Learning (center-based child care for infants through pre-K and a network of 80+ home-based Family Child Care educators in Lawrence and Methuen), Community Kids Place (out-of-school-time enrichment serving 350+ students daily in partnership with Lawrence and Methuen Public Schools), Training and Workforce Development (the regional StrongStart Professional Development Center and college courses offered in English, Spanish, Portuguese, and Mandarin in partnership with Urban College of Boston), Child Care Circuit (one of six Child Care Resource & Referral agencies in Massachusetts, covering 55 communities in northeastern Massachusetts), and Community Day Charter Public School (a K1-8 charter school since 1995 serving ~1,200 students across multiple campuses and ranked in the top 10 of Massachusetts charter middle schools). All early learning centers are licensed by the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care and hold NAEYC accreditation.

The organization's business model blends fee-based revenue (tuition on an income-based sliding scale determined by MA EEC) with public funding (Head Start/Early Head Start grants, EEC contracts, MA DESE 21st Century Community Learning Centers, charter school per-pupil funding) and private philanthropy (a 10-year Cummings Foundation grant for the Family Connections Program serving separated siblings in foster care, Eastern Bank Foundation support, and a Building Our Community capital campaign). The customer base spans individual families (Long-tail SMB/consumer), child care professionals, and government partners (Lawrence and Methuen Public Schools, MA DESE, MA EEC). Operational technology is conventional: standard early childhood curricula and state platforms (MyChildCareMA, WorkLife Systems, Unite Us Portal) with no proprietary digital products.

In October 2025, The Community Group broke ground on a new 52,000 square foot educational facility at 663 Andover Street in Lawrence, on seven acres of green space, designed as a year-round home for the charter school's grade 5-8 program (480 students) and Community Kids Place after-school/summer programming (~300 additional students). Recent state-level commitments include a $1.4 million workforce development initiative (2024), $800,000+ in literacy grants for Methuen and Lawrence schools (2025), and a $550,000 grant to launch an employer child care program (2026), signaling expansion into B2B service delivery alongside the core family-facing portfolio.

Name

The Community Group

Legal name

The Community Group

Website

https://thecommunitygroupinc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1970

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

The Community Group is a Lawrence, Massachusetts-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1970 that operates early learning centers, a K1-8 charter public school, out-of-school-time programs, child care resource and referral services, and workforce training - collectively serving approximately 2,400 children annually across Greater Lawrence and northeastern Massachusetts.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Early Childhood Education and Child Care Services

NAICS

Child Care Services (6244), Child Care Services (62441), Child and Youth Services (62411), 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

Early Childhood Education & Childcare Nonprofits (BPAGADAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Preschool Programs within Childcare Centers (EDACABAL), Community & Nonprofit Before/After Care Programs (Early Years) (EDACAHAD), Family Resource Centers & Wraparound Support Services (EDACALAH), Community Center Education Programs (EDAAAFAB)

Keywords

• Early childhood education
• Child care services
• Charter public school
• Workforce development training
• Child care resource referral

Headquarters

HQ city

Lawrence

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Fees for early learning child care services, out-of-school-time programs, and before/after school care. Cost varies based on income and household size as determined by Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care.
2. Government Grants and Contracts: Federal and state funding including Head Start/Early Head Start grants, Department of Early Education and Care contracts, and public school funding for charter school operations.
3. Private Foundation Grants: Funding from private foundations including Cummings Foundation (10-year grant for Family Connections), Eastern Bank Foundation, and other charitable donors.
4. Donations: Tax-deductible charitable donations from individuals, businesses, and community members through the Building Our Community Campaign for the new facility.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

The Community Group is a nonprofit education and child care organization that creates, manages, and nurtures programs supporting children from infancy through grade 8 and the early childhood workforce in Greater Lawrence and northeastern Massachusetts. Its core offerings include center-based and home-based Early Learning, Community Kids Place out-of-school-time enrichment, Training and Workforce Development for child care professionals, Child Care Circuit resource and referral services, and Community Day Charter Public School (K1-8). Collectively these programs educate and care for approximately 2,400 children annually across 19 locations.

Product overview

The Community Group operates as a multi-program nonprofit educational organization offering a portfolio of interconnected services for children and families in Greater Lawrence, Massachusetts. The core offerings include: Early Learning (center-based and home-based child care from infancy through kindergarten), Community Kids Place (out-of-school-time enrichment for school-aged children), Training and Workforce Development (professional development for child care professionals including the Northeast Professional Development Center), Child Care Circuit (child care resource and referral services across northeastern Massachusetts), and Community Day Charter Public School (a K1-8 charter public school). These programs collectively serve approximately 2,400 children annually and are supported by a central administrative office providing financial management, development, data services, IT, HR, and communications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Community Kids Place: Out-of-school time enrichment program for school-aged children offering safe, welcoming programs where children ages 5-13 can learn, play, grow, and thrive.
• Child Care Circuit
• Training and Workforce Development

Products and services

• Early Learning Education and care for children from infancy to school age, offered through center-based child care centers in Lawrence and a home-based Family Child Care network of 80+ educators in Lawrence and Methuen. Includes infant/toddler programs, preschool, and kindergarten preparation; tuition is income-based as determined by the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care.
• Community Kids Place Out-of-school time enrichment program for school-aged children ages 5-13, providing safe, supervised environments after school and during school breaks. Includes the 21st Century Community Learning Center Program for academic enrichment and career-oriented opportunities; serves over 350 students daily across multiple partner school sites.
• Training and Workforce Development Professional development, coaching, training, and education for early childhood educators and administrators. Operates the StrongStart Professional Development Center (northeast region) for the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care; offers college courses, CDA credential support, and registered apprenticeship programs in English, Spanish, Mandarin, and Portuguese.
• Child Care Circuit Free child care resource and referral service for families and providers across 55 communities in northeastern Massachusetts. Provides online child care searches, financial assistance information, and provider technical assistance; one of six CCR&Rs in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
• Community Day Charter Public School (CDCPS) Free public charter school serving students K1 through grade 8 across multiple campuses (Prospect, Gateway, R. Kingman Webster) in Lawrence, MA. Enrolls approximately 1,200 students with average class size of 20; CDCPS Upper School ranked in the top 10 of Massachusetts Charter Middle Schools (U.S. News & World Report, 2024). Includes Early Learning, Lower School (grades 2-4), and Upper School (grades 5-8).
• Family Connections Program Program providing biweekly visits for separated siblings in foster care to strengthen their bonds, supported by a 10-year Cummings Foundation grant and operated under The Community Group's family engagement function.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 2,400 children served annually through direct service programs
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core, notable and minor.

• United Way of Massachusetts BaycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIn collaboration with United Way of Massachusetts Bay, TCG offers a licensing support program for Family Child Care educators, along with coaching and mentoring to help new FCC educators develop business skills.
• Urban College of BostoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollege courses available in Spanish through the Community Partnership grant in partnership with Urban College of Boston, accredited by NEASC. Courses lead to EEC certification as Teacher, Lead Teacher, Director I, or Director II.
• Lawrence Public SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLongstanding partnerships with Lawrence Public Schools for out-of-school-time enrichment programs serving children ages 5-13 at multiple school sites.
• Methuen Public SchoolsnotableStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Methuen Public Schools to offer Methuen Kids Place after school program.
• Groundwork LawrencenotableStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Groundwork Lawrence for sustainability and environmental awareness activities, including hands-on science activities and a hydroponic garden.
• Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner21st Century Community Learning Center Program provides enriching opportunities through a grant from MA DESE, supporting deeper learning and college/career readiness.
• Greater Lawrence Boating ProgramnotableStrategic or Co-development PartnerSummer partnership for children aged 9 and up to learn water safety, kayaking, canoeing, and sailing on the Merrimack River.
• Sueños BasketballminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnrichment programming partner for Community Kids Place out-of-school-time programs.
• Ritmo CanelaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnrichment programming partner for Community Kids Place out-of-school-time programs.
• Mass AudubonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnrichment programming partner for Community Kids Place out-of-school-time programs.
• ThinkGivenotableStrategic or Co-development PartnerSocial and emotional learning programming partnership bringing SEL programming to Community Kids Place students.
• Child Care Aware of AmericanotableStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational nonprofit working to advance affordability, accessibility, and development of children in child care. Works with over 400 state and local CCR&R agencies including Child Care Circuit.
• Department of Early Education and Care (EEC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTCG operates the StrongStart Professional Development Center (PDC) for the northeast region of Massachusetts, one of five regional PDCs for EEC. Provides training, professional learning communities, technical assistance, and coaching.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Bright Horizons Family Solutions: Largest U.S. provider of employer-sponsored child care and early education, operating center-based programs and back-up care. Comparable on the core early learning and child care delivery model, though at national scale and for-profit.
• KinderCare Learning Companies: National for-profit operator of early childhood education centers and before/after-school programs. Most directly comparable business model to TCG's center-based Early Learning and Community Kids Place offerings, though at vastly greater scale.

Direct peers

• Child Care Aware of America: National nonprofit network of more than 400 state and local Child Care Resource & Referral (CCR&R) agencies. Directly comparable to TCG's Child Care Circuit program, which is one of six CCR&Rs in Massachusetts and a partner in this network.
• Boys & Girls Club of Lawrence: Local nonprofit providing after-school and summer enrichment programming for school-aged youth in Lawrence. Closely comparable to TCG's Community Kids Place out-of-school-time model serving similar demographics and partner schools.

Emerging players

• MA Promise Alliance / Massachusetts Department of Children & Families partners: Network of out-of-school-time and youth development providers. Comparable to TCG's Community Kids Place and Family Connections programming supported through state 21st Century Community Learning Centers and similar wraparound funding streams.

Regional players

• KIPP Massachusetts (KIPP Academy Lynn): Regional charter public school network operating in the greater Boston/Lynn area. Comparable to TCG's Community Day Charter Public School on K-8 charter school delivery model, though operating across a broader multi-city footprint.
• YWCA of Greater Lawrence: Regional community-based nonprofit providing child care, out-of-school-time programming, and family support services in the same northeastern Massachusetts footprint as TCG. Comparable mission and service mix, though with different programmatic emphasis.
• Community Action Inc. Massachusetts-based Community Action Agency administering Head Start, child care financial assistance, and family support services. Comparable on Head Start delivery, CCR&R-adjacent work, and nonprofit multi-program structure serving low-income families.
• Catholic Charities of the Merrimack Valley: Regional faith-based nonprofit delivering child care, family support, refugee services, and community programming in the same Merrimack Valley geography. Comparable on multi-program community services nonprofit model with state-contracted programs.

Others

• United Way of Massachusetts Bay: Strategic funding and program partner of TCG that also operates as a backbone nonprofit funding child care, workforce, and family support across Massachusetts. Comparable as a funder/convener role and as a multi-program social services nonprofit, though serving a wider geography.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-community-group
• Xx.com/CDCLawrenceMA
• Facebookfacebook.com/TheCommunityGroup

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles19 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 The Community Group