sheltering arms early education and family centers

What sheltering arms early education and family centers does

Sheltering Arms Early Education and Family Centers is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1888 in Atlanta, Georgia, operating 11 neighborhood early childhood education centers across Cobb, DeKalb, Douglas, Fulton, and Gwinnett counties that serve approximately 2,100 children ages six weeks to five years and their families annually. Its core programs are Head Start and Early Head Start (federally funded under Grant 04CH011659 for 25+ years), the state-funded Georgia Pre-K Program administered through Georgia DECAL, and Educare Atlanta (operated jointly with Atlanta Public Schools and the Annie E. Casey Foundation inside Dunbar Elementary School under the national Educare Network). Supporting offerings include a STEAM-focused Summer Enrichment Program, family services using a two-generation approach (Parent Leadership Organization, workshops, coaching), and the Georgia Training Institute for early-childhood professional development and conference space rental.

The organization is NAEYC-accredited across all centers, holds NHSA Program of Excellence status, and is recognized as a Georgia Model Early Head Start Classroom. Instruction follows The Creative Curriculum and Teaching Strategies GOLD assessment against GELDS. Operations are funded through a mix of federal Head Start grants, state Pre-K per-child funding, private-pay tuition, charitable contributions, and a corporate sponsorship tier led by Carter's, Delta Air Lines, and Georgia-Pacific (Diamond-level and above), with the 1888 Giving Society capturing $1,000+ individual donors. Go-to-market is community-led: families enroll directly online or in-person at each center, supplemented by partnerships with social-service agencies and advocacy through GEEARS and Strolling Thunder events.

Name

sheltering arms early education and family centers

Legal name

Sheltering Arms

Website

https://shelteringarmsforkids.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1888

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Sheltering Arms is a 138-year-old Atlanta nonprofit operating 11 NAEYC-accredited early childhood education centers across five metro counties, serving 2,100 children and families annually through Head Start, Georgia Pre-K, Educare Atlanta, and two-generation family support services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Early Childhood Education Services

NAICS

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

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Early Head Start & Publicly Funded Infant/Toddler Programs (EDACAGAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Health Education & Parent Coaching (Sleep, Safety, Illness Management) (EDACAMAN), Community & Nonprofit Before/After Care Programs (Early Years) (EDACAHAD)

Keywords

• Early childhood education
• Head Start programs
• Childcare services
• Family support services
• Pre-kindergarten programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Atlanta

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices11 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Head Start / Early Head Start Grants: Federally funded program through the Office of Head Start (Grant Number 04CH011659) providing comprehensive early learning services. Sheltering Arms has been a Head Start grantee for over 25 years.
2. Georgia Pre-K Program: State-funded early education program administered through Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL) serving four-year-olds in preparation for kindergarten.
3. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Individual donations, corporate sponsorships, 1888 Society membership ($1,000+ annual gifts), and fundraising events including the annual Embrace Early & Create the Future Garden Party.
4. Tuition and Childcare Fees: Tuition-based childcare for families who do not qualify for or prefer private pay options, serving children from 6 weeks to 5 years old.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Sheltering Arms operates 11 NAEYC-accredited neighborhood centers across metro Atlanta, providing full-day, full-year early childhood education for children ages 6 weeks to 5 years, including federally funded Head Start and Early Head Start, the state-funded Georgia Pre-K program, and the Educare Atlanta school readiness initiative. Through a two-generation approach, the organization delivers comprehensive family support services including parenting coaching, leadership development, financial literacy workshops, and community resource connections alongside early education.

Product overview

Sheltering Arms is a nonprofit early childhood education organization offering a portfolio of interconnected programs. The core offerings include Head Start and Early Head Start (federally-funded comprehensive early education for children birth to 5), the Georgia Pre-K Program (state-funded pre-kindergarten), and Educare Atlanta (an innovative school readiness program in partnership with Atlanta Public Schools and the Annie E. Casey Foundation). Supporting these are the Summer Enrichment Program (STEAM-focused seasonal camp) and Family Services utilizing a two-generation approach that serves both children and their families through Parent Leadership Organization, workshops, and coaching. Additionally, the Georgia Training Institute provides professional development for early education professionals through CDA credential programs and meeting space rentals. The organization operates 11 neighborhood centers across metro Atlanta serving children from 6 weeks to 5 years old.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Head Start
• Early Head Start
• Georgia Pre-K Program
• Educare Atlanta
• Summer Enrichment Program
• Family Services (Two-Generation Approach)
• Georgia Training Institute

Quantifiable outcome

• Children attending Sheltering Arms score in the 90th percentile for language and literacy, exceeding developmental milestones for kindergarten readiness
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 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

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and significant.

• Atlanta Public SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Atlanta Public Schools to operate Educare Atlanta within Dunbar Elementary School, creating a seamless connection to elementary school success and demonstrating a center of excellence model.
• Annie E. Casey FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-funder and strategic partner in the Educare Atlanta initiative, supporting the national Educare Network approach to early childhood education excellence.
• Educare NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of the national Educare Network connecting Sheltering Arms to a community of early learning leaders dedicated to advancing quality, innovation, and excellence in early childhood education.
• Office of Head Start (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal grantee receiving Grant Number 04CH011659 from the Office of Head Start within the Administration for Children and Families, providing comprehensive early learning services to eligible families.
• Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState partner administering the Georgia Pre-K Program through DECAL, providing state-funded early education preparing four-year-olds for kindergarten.
• GEEARS (Georgia Early Education Alliance for Ready Students)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on advocacy initiatives including Strolling Thunder events at the Georgia State Capitol to advocate for family-friendly policies and early childhood education funding.
• Carter's (Platinum Sponsor)majorGTM or Marketing PartnerPlatinum level corporate sponsor for Embrace Early & Create the Future events and ongoing organizational support.
• Delta Air Lines (Diamond Sponsor)majorGTM or Marketing PartnerDiamond level corporate sponsor supporting annual fundraising events.
• Georgia-Pacific (Diamond Sponsor)majorGTM or Marketing PartnerDiamond level corporate sponsor for events and organizational support.
• PNC Financial Services (Gold Sponsor)significantGTM or Marketing PartnerGold level corporate sponsor supporting early childhood education initiatives.
• Coca-Cola (Silver Sponsor)significantGTM or Marketing PartnerSilver level corporate sponsor for events.
• Southwire (Patron Sponsor)significantGTM or Marketing PartnerPatron level corporate sponsor.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Quality Care for Children: Atlanta-based nonprofit child care resource and referral organization serving metro Atlanta families. Directly comparable as a regional ECE nonprofit focused on access, quality improvement, and family support services.
• Easterseals of North Georgia: Atlanta-area nonprofit providing early childhood education and family services — explicitly co-referenced with Sheltering Arms and YMCA as the three largest Head Start providers in Georgia during the federal shutdown loan event.
• YMCA of Metro Atlanta: Operates early learning programs and Head Start sites across metro Atlanta. Comparable as a multi-site nonprofit ECE provider explicitly bundled with Sheltering Arms for emergency Head Start funding during federal shutdowns.
• Childcare Network: Large regional for-profit childcare operator headquartered in the Southeast with significant Atlanta presence. Comparable as a multi-site ECE provider competing for the same Atlanta families and teachers.

Broad incumbents

• Bright Horizons Family Solutions: Largest U.S. provider of employer-sponsored childcare and early education, including back-up care and tuition-discount programs. Comparable as a scaled, multi-site ECE operator though operating on a for-profit, employer-channel model rather than Head Start funding.
• KinderCare Learning Companies: National for-profit childcare operator with thousands of centers. Comparable as a large-scale multi-site ECE provider; competes for Atlanta families in the private-pay segment and for the same early educator talent pool.
• Primrose Schools: National accredited private preschool franchise system. Comparable for NAEYC-aligned curriculum and quality positioning, though operates a franchise for-profit model versus Sheltering Arms' nonprofit/Head Start funding model.
• Cadence Education: One of the largest U.S. private early childhood education providers. Comparable for multi-site operational scale and curriculum-driven delivery, though competes in the for-profit tuition segment.

Regional players

• The Malvern School: Privately held preschool and early education operator based in the Mid-Atlantic U.S. Comparable for multi-site accredited private preschool operations though operating in a different geography than Sheltering Arms' Atlanta-only footprint.

Others

• Teaching Strategies: Provider of The Creative Curriculum and GOLD assessment tools — both explicitly deployed by Sheltering Arms. Comparable as a key technology/content supplier to the ECE operator's delivery model rather than as a competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Sheltering_Arms
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCHUNxm7-lwlyFxewIqpwdlw
• Facebookfacebook.com/SAatl
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sheltering-arms-early-education-and-family-centers
• Instagraminstagram.com/sheltering_arms

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 sheltering arms early education and family centers