Rise Early Learning Center

What Rise Early Learning Center does

Rise Early Learning Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit early childhood education center headquartered at 8119 Hwy 7, St Louis Park, Minnesota, co-located on the first floor of the 120-unit Rise on 7 affordable housing development that opened in Fall 2023. The center serves up to 62 infants, toddlers, and preschoolers through a Reggio-Emilia inspired, play-based curriculum built around locally-designed 2-6 week investigations, with supplementary programming in nature education, arts, and food philosophy. Learning is documented through a Focused Portfolios assessment system that delivers monthly group and individual progress stories to families, and the program is NAEYC-accredited with Minnesota's highest 4-Star Parent Aware quality rating.

The organization operates under a hybrid income-mix model: tuition from enrolled families is the primary recurring revenue stream, with scholarships offsetting approximately 50% of tuition for 25 or more children, and at least half of the 62 spaces reserved for low-income families (12 spaces are reserved first for Rise on 7 residents at or below 60% of area median income). Revenue is supplemented by donations, corporate sponsorships, and the annual Rise Together Gala. Distribution is exclusively direct-to-consumer through phone, email, online inquiry forms, scheduled tours, and a maintained year-round waitlist.

Rise Early was established in 2018 as a partnership between Westwood Lutheran Church (which provided a $1.4 million financial commitment), CommonBond Communities (affordable housing developer), and Way to Grow (prenatal-through-grade-3 family support services), and is governed by an 11-member Board of Directors. Day-to-day operations are led by an Executive Director and a team of approximately 17 staff including a Director of Curriculum, Director of Programming, Family Resource Coordinator, Administrative Assistant, and teachers across infant, preschool, and float positions.

Name

Rise Early Learning Center

Legal name

Rise Early Learning Center

Website

https://riseearlylearningcenter.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Rise Early Learning Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit childcare center in St Louis Park, MN, serving 62 infants, toddlers, and preschoolers through a Reggio-Emilia inspired curriculum co-located within the 120-unit Rise on 7 affordable housing development, with scholarships prioritizing low-income families.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Early Childhood Education

NAICS

Child Care Services (62441), Child Care Services (624410), Child Care Services (6244)

SIC

Services-Child Day Care Services (8351)

akta.pro primary industry

General Preschools (Play-Based) (EDACABAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Infant & Toddler Classrooms within Childcare Centers (EDACAGAC), Parenting Skills & Child Development Education (EDACALAA)

Keywords

• Early childhood education
• Childcare services
• Preschool programs
• Infant toddler care
• Early learning center

Headquarters

HQ city

St Louis Park

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Revenue from childcare tuition fees for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. Scholarships offset approximately 50% of tuition for 25+ children from low-income families.
2. Donations and Fundraising: As a 501c3 nonprofit, Rise Early receives donations from the community, sponsors, and fundraising events including the annual Rise Together Gala.
3. Sponsorship Programs: Corporate and individual sponsors support scholarships and special programs through sponsorship opportunities.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Rise Early Learning Center provides full-day early childhood education and childcare for 62 infants, toddlers, and preschoolers through a Reggio-Emilia inspired, play-based curriculum delivered in a NAEYC-accredited, 4-Star Parent Aware center co-located with affordable housing. Programming includes nature experiences, arts engagement, food philosophy exposure, and monthly Focused Portfolios assessments shared with families, complemented by a scholarship program that offsets approximately 50% of tuition for low-income families.

Product overview

Rise Early Learning Center is a single-location, 501(c)(3) nonprofit early childhood education (ECE) center offering a unified program of high-quality childcare and education services. The core product is the Early Childhood Education Program serving 62 infants, toddlers, and preschoolers, which is enhanced by specialized curriculum components including the Nature Curriculum, Arts Program, Food Philosophy Curriculum, and Focused Portfolios Assessment System. Additional offerings include a Scholarship Program providing financial assistance to low-income families and Family Engagement Services for wraparound support. The center operates as an integrated childcare environment within the Rise on 7 affordable housing development, combining educational programming with family support services to promote school readiness and developmental success.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Early Childhood Education Program A full-day early childhood education and childcare program serving 62 infants, toddlers, and preschoolers using a Reggio-Emilia inspired, play-based curriculum. Operates as a NAEYC-accredited, 4-Star Parent Aware center with Focused Portfolios assessments, daily nature experiences, arts engagement, and a food philosophy curriculum. Scholarship-supported with priority enrollment for Rise on 7 residents and low-income families.

Quantifiable outcome

• Serves 62 infants, toddlers, and preschoolers in a 4-star rated, fully-accredited center
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• CommonBond CommunitiescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018One of the largest nonprofit affordable housing developers in the Twin Cities. CommonBond Communities created the Rise on 7 affordable housing development (120 units) and invited Rise Early to develop a childcare center within the apartment complex. They provide referrals and access to educational opportunities and employment opportunities to ensure families have a stable foundation.
• Way to GrowcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018For over three decades, Way to Grow has worked to address gaps in early childhood education in the Twin Cities. They provide year-round family support and educational programming for families with children ages prenatal through grade 3 through their 'Great by Eight' programming delivered via virtual and in-person home visits. Family Educators help prioritize well-being goals and increase knowledge of parenting and child development.
• Prince of Peace Lutheran ChurchminorOthers · 1 January 2018When the Prince of Peace Lutheran Church site in St. Louis Park was to be sold, Westwood Lutheran Church and CommonBond Communities submitted a joint bid which was accepted, leading to the Rise on 7 development and Rise Early Learning Center.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Regional players

• New Horizon Academy: Minnesota-headquartered early childhood education provider with many centers in the Twin Cities metro. Direct geographic and curriculum overlap with Rise Early, serving similar infant/preschool populations in the same regional market.

Broad incumbents

• Bright Horizons Family Solutions: National for-profit operator of early childhood education centers and employer-sponsored childcare, comparable to Rise Early in core service (infant/toddler/preschool care) but vastly larger and serving corporate-sponsored families rather than low-income housing residents.
• Cadence Education: Large operator of private early childhood education centers across the U.S., comparable in core infant/preschool offering but as a multi-state for-profit platform rather than a mission-driven single-site nonprofit.
• KinderCare Learning Companies: One of the largest U.S. providers of early childhood education with center-based care for infants through school-age children. Comparable service offering to Rise Early but operates a national, for-profit footprint at much greater scale.
• Primrose Schools: Franchised early childhood education provider using a proprietary balanced-learning curriculum for infants through Pre-K. Comparable to Rise Early's play-based, curriculum-driven preschool model, but operates as a national franchise system rather than a single community nonprofit.

Others

• CommonBond Communities: Nonprofit affordable housing developer and Rise Early's core strategic partner that built the Rise on 7 development housing the center. Strongly comparable as the integrated housing-and-services ecosystem partner rather than a childcare competitor.
• Way to Grow: Twin Cities nonprofit providing early childhood family support and home-visit programming from prenatal through grade 3. Comparable as Rise Early's wraparound family services partner serving overlapping low-income and BIPOC families in the same metro.

Direct peers

• Children of America: Accredited early childhood education company offering infant, toddler, preschool, and pre-kindergarten programs with a curriculum-driven approach. Direct comparable to Rise Early in age range, accreditation focus, and educational programming.
• The Gardner School: Premium, play-based early childhood education provider for infants through Pre-K with accredited programs. Closely comparable to Rise Early on curriculum philosophy, age range served, and quality credentialing.

Emerging players

• Apple Tree Children's Center: Community-based, mission-driven early childhood center offering subsidized care for low-income families. Comparable to Rise Early's nonprofit, scholarship-supported model and population focus, though smaller and without the co-located housing structure.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rise-early-learning-center

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 Rise Early Learning Center