For-Profit Versus Non-Profit Childcare Providers

Child care and day care is a significant part of your child's growth and development. Finding the right childcare, or daycare, facility is important to not only your child's physical health but also your child's emotional health. When considering the options for child care, you may be inclined to look at the childcare facilities track record, amenity services, cost of tuition, and even the hours of availability. In addition to these aspects of interest, you may also want to consider whether the organization is "for-profit" or "non-profit".

As a low-wage earning professional, providing childcare and becoming a childcare provider is still a significant business in the United States. With more than 50 percent of all children, under age six, in childcare, this is a big business. While many childcare centers are considered for-profit and hire both certified and uncertified childcare providers, there are many that are non-profit, often linked to a church, civic or other community-based organization.

If the age of the childcare provider is important to you, the use of profit versus non-for-profit childcare facilities may be a key factor. Traditionally, in the for-profit childcare location, the childcare providers are typically younger than that of childcare providers in non-profit organizations. While one is not necessarily better than the other, if you have a preference in the age of the childcare provider, you may want to begin by differentiating the organizations based on their financial or profit status.