Child Care Aware of Minnesota
Child Care Aware of Minnesota is a statewide 501(c)(3) nonprofit that coordinates a network of 13 regional agencies and 35 navigators to connect Minnesota families to quality child care, fund early educator training, credentials, scholarships, and retention bonuses, and administer state quality rating and workforce programs.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2013
- HeadquartersSaint Paul, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Child Care Aware of Minnesota does
Child Care Aware of Minnesota (CCAoMN) is a Saint Paul-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that functions as a statewide intermediary for the Minnesota early childhood care and education system. Founded in 1987 and currently operating with 29 FTEs, the organization coordinates a network of 13 regional Child Care Resource & Referral agencies plus Minnesota Tribal Resources for Early Childhood Care (MNTRECC), supported by 35 Wayfinder Navigators deployed across the state. It serves three principal user segments: families seeking child care (via a statewide referral line at 888-291-9811, online chat, and the ParentAware.org directory with Parent Aware Star Ratings), early childhood educators and child care programs (via professional development, credentials, scholarships, and retention bonuses), and state policymakers (via advocacy and the CARE Fellowship). All services are provided free of charge to end users; CCAoMN is funded primarily through grants from the Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families, the Minnesota Department of Human Services, and the Minnesota Department of Education, supplemented by philanthropic partnerships such as the $200,000 multi-year grant from Hopkins Early Learning Center.
CCAoMN's core product portfolio is built around six interconnected program brands: Parent Aware (Minnesota's Quality Rating and Improvement System), Eager-to-Learn (an online LMS with 20+ years of curated content for early educators), TEACH Early Childhood® Minnesota (scholarships for college credits and degrees), REETAIN ($500–$3,000 retention bonuses, with 2,000+ awards since 2003), Child Care Wayfinder (one-stop navigation for starting and growing programs), and Empower to Educate (workforce development launched 2022). Supporting sub-products include CDA credential support, Director Credential training, CDA Awards, TEACH Apprenticeship, Great Start Compensation Support Payments, Foreign Credential Evaluation Scholarships, Policy Briefs, and the Local Child Care Data tool. The underlying technology stack consists of two public-facing web platforms (ParentAware.org and ChildCareWayfinder.org), the Eager-to-Learn LMS (EagertoLearn.org), and integration partnerships with Develop Tool MN for professional development tracking and First Children's Finance for child care business analytics. The organization co-publishes the annual Child Care Business Survey with the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis.
Business model mechanics are grant-driven rather than revenue-driven. Government contracts fund managed-services-style program administration (Wayfinder, Great Start Compensation Support Payments, workforce development), while grantmaking and scholarship administration generate professional-services-style overhead from administering state and federal funds (TEACH, REETAIN, CDA awards, stabilization grants). End-user pricing is Freemium and free of charge across all touchpoints. GTM motion is community-led (statewide agency network, navigators, referral line) combined with event-driven advocacy (legislative tracking, CARE Fellowship). The organization is governed by an independent Board of Directors chaired by Scott Marquardt and underwent a planned leadership transition in 2025 (Ann McCully retired May 1, 2025 after 23 years; Candace Yates appointed November 3, 2025).
Child Care Aware of Minnesota firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Child Care Aware of Minnesota
- Legal name
- Child Care Aware of Minnesota
- Website
- https://childcareawaremn.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2013
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Child Care Aware of Minnesota is a statewide 501(c)(3) nonprofit that coordinates a network of 13 regional agencies and 35 navigators to connect Minnesota families to quality child care, fund early educator training, credentials, scholarships, and retention bonuses, and administer state quality rating and workforce programs.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Child Care Aware of Minnesota industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Early Childhood Education and Child Care Resource Services
- NAICS
- Child Care Services (62441)
- SIC
- Services-Child Day Care Services (8351)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Inclusive Group Care & Peer Inclusion Facilitation (HSAAAIAN)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Inclusive / Special-Needs Childcare Centers (EDACAAAH)
Keywords
Where Child Care Aware of Minnesota is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Saint Paul
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Child Care Aware of Minnesota business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Government Grants and Contracts: Primary funding from Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families grants, Minnesota Department of Human Services funding, and Minnesota Department of Education partnerships. Funding supports programs including Child Care Wayfinder, Great Start Compensation Support Payments, and various workforce development initiatives.
- Grantmaking and Scholarship Administration: Administers state and federal funds for child care stabilization grants, TEACH scholarships, REETAIN bonuses, CDA awards, and other financial support programs for early childhood educators and child care programs.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Monthly | Free services for families seeking child care |
| Freemium | Annual | Free professional development and financial support for child care providers |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Child Care Aware of Minnesota product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Child Care Aware of Minnesota is a statewide nonprofit that delivers free child care resource and referral services to families, professional development and financial support programs for early childhood educators, and quality improvement tools for licensed child care programs. Its core offerings include the Parent Aware quality rating system, the Eager-to-Learn online training platform, TEACH scholarships, REETAIN retention bonuses, Empower to Educate workforce development, and Child Care Wayfinder licensing navigation, all distributed through a network of 13 regional agencies and 35 statewide navigators.
Product overview
Child Care Aware of Minnesota is a statewide early childhood leader that operates as a unified platform-plus-services organization offering multiple interconnected programs. The core offerings include Parent Aware (quality rating and improvement system), Eager-to-Learn (online training platform), TEACH Early Childhood® Minnesota (scholarship program), REETAIN Bonuses (retention incentives), Child Care Wayfinder (licensing navigation), and Empower to Educate (career support). These programs work together to support early educators from training through career advancement, help families find quality care through Parent Aware ratings, and strengthen the child care system through policy advocacy and direct grants. Additional services include CDA credential support, Director Credential training, legislative tracking, policy briefs, local child care data, and emergency preparedness resources.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Parent Aware: Minnesota's Quality Rating and Improvement System that helps families find quality child care and education.
- Eager-to-Learn
- Child Care Wayfinder
- Empower to Educate
- TEACH Early Childhood Minnesota
- REETAIN
Products and services
- Eager-to-Learn
- Parent Aware
- TEACH Early Childhood Minnesota
- REETAIN Bonuses
- Child Care Wayfinder
- Empower to Educate
- Great Start Compensation Support Payments
- Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential Program
- Director Credential Program
- Child Care Services Grants
- Foreign Credential Evaluation Scholarships
- CARE Fellowship
Quantifiable outcome
- 37,835 parents served through child care searches in FY2021-2022
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Child Care Aware of Minnesota
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Child Care Aware of Minnesota technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Child Care Aware of Minnesota partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and FamiliescorePrimary government funder. Initiative made possible with grant from Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families. Supports various programs including Child Care Wayfinder and workforce development initiatives.
- Parent AwarecoreQuality Rating and Improvement System for Minnesota. CCAoMN coordinates and administers the Parent Aware program, supporting programs through coaching, ratings, and quality improvement.
- Minnesota Department of EducationcorePartnership for early childhood education initiatives including high school career pathway programs and alignment with K-12 education standards.
- Center for Inclusive Child CareminorPartner supporting inclusive practices in child care settings for children with diverse needs.
- MN aeyc & MN sacaminorState affiliate organizations for early childhood education professionals, supporting professional development and advocacy.
- Center for Early Education and Development (CEED)minorAcademic partner at University of Minnesota providing research and professional development support.
- First Children's FinancecoreConducts the annual Child Care Business Survey with Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. Provides financial resources and support for child care business sustainability.
- Minnesota Tribal Resources for Early Childhood Care (MNTRECC)coreStatewide tribal partnership network supporting early childhood care in tribal communities. Local navigators operate through MNTRECC as part of Child Care Wayfinder.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Child Care Aware of Minnesota competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Child Care Aware of America: National umbrella organization for the Child Care Resource & Referral network; Child Care Aware of Minnesota is one of its state-level member agencies and operates under its brand and framework.
- Child Care Aware of Kansas: Sister state organization providing R&R, professional development, and family search services across Kansas under the same national brand.
- Child Care Aware of Missouri: Another Child Care Aware state-level intermediary operating referral, training, and financial-support programs for families and providers in Missouri.
- Child Care Aware of North Dakota: Regional peer operating the same statewide R&R model in adjacent North Dakota, delivering parent referrals, provider supports, and educator training under the Child Care Aware brand.
- Child Care Aware of Wisconsin: Sister state Child Care Resource & Referral intermediary with an analogous portfolio (Parent Aware-equivalent rating system, training, financial supports, family referral line) serving Wisconsin.
Broad incumbents
- Council for Professional Recognition: National body that administers the Child Development Associate (CDA) credential; CCAoMN supports CDA candidates as a sub-product, making this the credentialing counterpart to CCAoMN's CDA Awards and training.
- Zero to Three: National early childhood organization focused on infant and toddler development, policy, and training; overlaps with CCAoMN's birth-to-age-12 training and advocacy work but operates nationally rather than as a state R&R.
- National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC): National professional membership organization for early childhood educators; comparable in mission (workforce development, accreditation, advocacy) but operates at a national scale rather than as a state-level R&R intermediary.
- National Head Start Association: National membership organization for Head Start programs serving low-income children; adjacent in mission (early childhood access, workforce, advocacy) and operates as a broader national policy voice for early childhood programs.
Emerging players
- ParentChild+: National early-childhood home visiting and school-readiness program; comparable as an early-childhood support intermediary, but focused on home-based intervention rather than R&R, training, and quality-rating administration.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Child Care Aware of Minnesota social profiles
Digital presenceChild Care Aware of Minnesota financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Child Care Aware of Minnesota leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles12 records
Child Care Aware of Minnesota funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Child Care Aware of Minnesota 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 Child Care Aware of Minnesota
What does Child Care Aware of Minnesota do?
Child Care Aware of Minnesota is a statewide nonprofit that delivers free child care resource and referral services to families, professional development and financial support programs for early childhood educators, and quality improvement tools for licensed child care programs. Its core offerings include the Parent Aware quality rating system, the Eager-to-Learn online training platform, TEACH scholarships, REETAIN retention bonuses, Empower to Educate workforce development, and Child Care Wayfinder licensing navigation, all distributed through a network of 13 regional agencies and 35 statewide navigators.
Is Child Care Aware of Minnesota a public or private company?
Child Care Aware of Minnesota is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Child Care Aware of Minnesota founded?
Child Care Aware of Minnesota was founded in 2013. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Child Care Aware of Minnesota based?
Child Care Aware of Minnesota is headquartered in Saint Paul, United States, in the North America region.
How does Child Care Aware of Minnesota make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Government Grants and Contracts are the primary driver. The others are grantmaking and Scholarship Administration.
Who are Child Care Aware of Minnesota's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Child Care Aware of America, Child Care Aware of Kansas, Child Care Aware of Missouri, Child Care Aware of North Dakota and Child Care Aware of Wisconsin. Broad incumbents are Council for Professional Recognition, Zero to Three, National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) and National Head Start Association. ParentChild+ is listed as an emerging player.
Does Child Care Aware of Minnesota have an API?
No public API is recorded for Child Care Aware of Minnesota.
What industry is Child Care Aware of Minnesota in?
Child Care Aware of Minnesota's product category is Early Childhood Education and Child Care Resource Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HSAAAIAN, Inclusive Group Care & Peer Inclusion Facilitation, with a secondary code of EDACAAAH, Inclusive / Special-Needs Childcare Centers. Its NAICS code is 62441 and its SIC code is 8351.