Capacity Building
Coaching to Success
The Coaching to Success program offers assistance to Philadelphia-based early childhood education (ECE) providers of all size, structure, and quality level as they seek to navigate and sustain a delicate business model. Monthly community learning and sharing meetings will be designed and administered based upon feedback from you – the provider. Through consultation with a coach who knows the industry, ECE providers may access customized support to help them achieve stabilization and longer-term business goals.
The program is made possible with support from Vanguard Strong Start for Kids Program™.
Types of Support Available (all virtual unless otherwise stated):
- Monthly open network sessions
- Individualized Consultation and Support
- Small Group Consultation and Support
Areas of Support:
The Coaching to Success program is designed to offer an extensive array of services tailored to assist childcare organizations and early education providers in multiple operational and program-related domains. These services encompass valuable resources, including budget templates, grant writing assistance, facility tips, and tax support TA sessions. These resources are aimed at equipping childcare providers with the essential tools and knowledge required for effective operations and the delivery of high-quality childcare services. Moreover, the program provides opportunities for participants to learn from guest speakers and gain insights from experienced providers who have successfully established childcare business models.
Content Areas:
- Financial Best Practices
- Facilities Resources
- Childcare Map/Access Map
- Grant Resources
- Leadership Cultivation
- Organizational Structure and Planning
- Lending 101
- Virtual Enrichment Activities
- Parent Engagement and Communication
Programming Topics
- Budgeting
- Business tax education
- Executing a facility improvement or expansion project
- Marketing
- Shared Services
- Staffing
- Enrollment strategies
- Blending / braiding funding
- Community engagement
- Technology Support
- And more
Past and Upcoming Sessions:
The Coaching to Success program holds monthly sessions on Tuesdays, with topics being communicated in advance. To stay informed about upcoming sessions and receive topic updates, individuals can sign up for the program’s email list by registering for an event. This ensures that participants are well-prepared and informed about each session’s content and schedule.
We will continually add new topics as confirmed. Check back for updates or subscribe to our event platform to receive an invite to upcoming events.
UPCOMING SESSIONS
Miniseries #1: Leading to Sustainability – REGISTER HERE for the series
Leadership Identity & Mindset: Participants examine their role as organizational leaders, clarify leadership values, and begin building confidence in how they show up internally and externally.
Date: Tuesday, April 7, 1-2:30pm
Building and Sustaining a Team: This session focuses on hiring, retention, trust-building, and accountability, with attention to the unique challenges of staffing in small child care settings.
Date: Tuesday, April 21, 1-2:30pm
Communication, Feedback & Emotional Intelligence: Participants strengthen communication skills, practice giving and receiving feedback, and explore emotional intelligence as a leadership tool.
Date: Tuesday, May 5, 1-2:30pm
Leading in Alignment: Directors and owners learn strategies for aligning staff to mission and vision, managing conflict, and maintaining cohesion during change.
Date: Tuesday, May 12, 1-2:30pm
Professional Presence & External Leadership: This session supports participants in showing up confidently with funders, partners, and systems, including professional communication and leadership presence.
Date: Tuesday, June 2, 1-2:30pm
Leadership for Growth & Sustainability: Participants connect leadership development to long-term sustainability, funding readiness, and organizational growth
Date: Tuesday, June 16, 1-2:30pm
Miniseries #2: Minding Your Business
Your Approach to Money: How Beliefs, Behavior, and Strategy Shape Financial Outcomes Over a Lifetime: This two-part course is designed to help participants understand how their beliefs, habits, and life experiences shape their financial decisions. Rather than focusing only on budgeting or investment strategies, the course invites individuals to explore their approach to money and develop a personal framework that supports long-term confidence, clarity, and intentional financial living.
Date: Tuesday, July 7, 1-2:30pm
Understanding the Keys to Financial Success for Small Businesses: This course is designed to help small businesses and daycare owners gain control of their finances so their businesses can truly support their lives, not just survive month to month. It equips participants with practical strategies to pay themselves consistently, monitor supplies wisely, and build long-term security through retirement planning. The goal is to shift owners from financial stress and uncertainty to confidence, sustainability, and financial independence.
Date: Tuesday, August 4, 1-2:30pm
Tax Shelters: More info to come.
Date: Tuesday, August 18, 1-2:30pm
Mastering the Keys to Financial Success: This session is designed to help childcare and daycare business owners understand and take control of the financial drivers that determine long-term sustainability and personal wealth. Participants will learn how to move beyond survival mode by mastering cash flow, paying themselves intentionally, and aligning daily decisions with long-term financial goals. The session emphasizes practical, real-world strategies that can be applied immediately.
Date: Tuesday, September 15, 1-2:30pm
Setting Up a Trust: More info to come.
Date: Tuesday, September 22, 1-2:30pm
Creating a System that Drives Financial Success: This session is designed to help childcare and daycare business owners move from reactive financial management to intentional, system-driven decision-making. Participants will learn how to build simple, sustainable financial systems that support consistent cash flow, reduce stress, improve decision-making, and free the owner from constantly “putting out fires.” The focus is on creating routines and structures that make financial success predictable rather than accidental.
Date: Tuesday, October 13, 1-2:30pm
Holding Yourself Accountable:This session is designed to help childcare and daycare business owners develop personal and organizational accountability systems that ensure financial goals are not only set, but achieved. Participants will learn how to hold themselves accountable without guilt, burnout, or perfectionism, and how to create structures that support follow-through even during busy or stressful seasons. The session emphasizes ownership, consistency, and leadership habits that sustain financial success over time.
Date: Tuesday, November 10, 1-2:30pm
PAST SESSIONS
2026 – Minding Your Business
- Navigating Federal Childcare Funding Freeze – Natalie Renew & Unpacking Your Invisible Suitcase – Shenise Henderson
Date: Tuesday, January 20th | Recording and Slides: Unpacking Your Invisible Suitcase - Minding Your Business – AI Part 1
Date: Tuesday, February 10th | Recording - Minding Your Business – AI Part 2
Date: Tuesday, February 24th | [Recording coming soon] Freemium AI Resource Tool, AI Prompt Resource Tool
2025 – Small Business Leveling Up Series
- Planning for Success – Aliya Roberts-Johnson
Date: Tuesday, January 16th | Recording - Creating the Foundation for Building Wealth & Wellness Part I – Ka’Neda Bullock
Date: Tuesday, February 18th | Recording - Creating the Foundation for Sustaining Wealth & Wellness Part II – Ka’Neda Bullock
Date: Tuesday, March 18th | Recording - Nurturing Young Minds: The Power of Art in Early Learning – Tarrell Davis
Date: Tuesday, April 1st | Recording - Bridging Home and School: The Arts as a Tool for Family Involvement – Tarrell Davis
Date: Wednesday, April 23rd | Recording - True Success Story – Damaris Alvarado-Rodriguez Part I
Date: Tuesday, May 6th | Recording - True Success Story – Damaris Alvarado-Rodriguez Part II
Date: Monday, May 19th| Recording - Know Your Numbers – Financial Health Part I – Desmond Hudson
Date: Tuesday, June 3rd | Recording - Know Your Numbers – Financial Health Part II – Desmond Hudson
Date: Tuesday, June 17th | Recording - From Nap Time to Prime Time: Leading the Way in Early Childhood Education Part I – Dr. Sharon Gamby-Sobukwe
Date: Tuesday, July 8th | Recording and Slides - From Nap Time to Prime Time: Leading the Way in Early Childhood Education Part II – Dr. Sharon Gamby-Sobuko
Date: Wednesday, July 23rd| Recording| Slides | Leadership Resource - Special Edition for STAR 1 and 2 Providers: The Expansion Accelerator Info Session Date: Tuesday, August 12| Recording
- True Success Story Part 1 – Sherilyn Kimble
Date: Tuesday, September 9th | Recording - True Success Story Part 2 – Sherilyn Kimble
Date: Tuesday, September 23rd | Recording - True Cost of Care – Session 1 – Tuesday, October 7th | Recording
2024
- Tax-giving Session with Shanita Jones
Prepare for the 2024 tax season and gain a better understanding of tax implications for your business with Shanita Jones. Date: November 19, 2024 | Recording Coming Soon - Grant Writing Session with Sharita Humphrey
Grant writing insights with a focus on ECE, small business, and minority grant opportunities
Date: October 29, 2024 | Recording - Conversation with the NEW ELRC 15, 18, & 19
Date: September 25, 2024 | Recording - Capturing the True Cost of Care – Rate Setting – August 20, 2024 | Recording
- Coaching to Success DHS Jeopardy Game Day – May 7, 2024.
*no recording available due to the sensitivity of this session - ABCs of HR in Childcare: Accountability, Benefits, and Challenges – April 9, 2024 | Recording
- Conversation with DHS Early Learning Certification Reps Part II – March 19, 2024. *no recording available due to the sensitivity of this session
- Increasing Keystone STARS Levels – January 16, 2024 | PPT and Recordin
2023
- Jingle, Mingle and Learn Holiday Event and Resources – December 15, 2023 | Recording and PPT
- Happy Taxgiving – November 17, 2023 | Recording
- Relaunch – July 10, 2023 | Recording
- Back 2 School Resources – August 11, 2023 | Recording
- If You Give a Provider a Budget, Part 1 – September 29, 2023 | Recording
- If You Give a Provider a Budget, Part 2 – October 20, 2023
Individualized and Small Group Supports:
The Coaching to Success program offers personalized one-on-one and small group sessions designed to provide in-depth and customized support to childcare providers, focusing on enhancing their business skills. During these sessions, participants receive individualized guidance, strategies, and insights to address specific business support within their childcare operations. Whether it is preparing for a grant application, creating a budget, or any other aspect of their business, these sessions ensure that providers receive tailored support to help them strengthen their business acumen and thrive in the childcare industry.
If you have any questions reach out to Sharon Neilson at sharon.neilson@reinvestment.com. If you are interested in individualized or small group support, complete the C2S Interest Form.
RESOURCES
Grants:
- Fund for Quality (FFQ)—Business planning support and facilities-related financing to support high-quality early care and education providers in Philadelphia with expanding their services to reach more low-income families.
- Child Care Facilities Fund (CCFF)—Provide support to high-quality early childhood education providers located in Philadelphia for the maintenance and improvement of their facilities to maintain a high-level STAR rating. The Fund also provides support to STAR 2 providers involved in quality improvement initiatives and meeting additional eligibility criteria.
- Amber Grant For Women—WomensNet gives away at least $30,000 every month in Amber Grant money.
Loans:
- ECE Loan Fund—Flexible and low-interest loans to early childhood education providers in Philadelphia to maintain high-quality early learning environments, a specialized project through Reinvestment Fund.
- Reinvestment Fund—A national mission-driven financial institution is deeply committed to Philadelphia’s childcare community, demonstrating its dedication through a multifaceted approach. The organization provides crucial technical assistance, offering childcare providers valuable expertise and guidance to enhance their operational efficiency and effectiveness. Also, Reinvestment Fund extends financial support in grants to help providers sustain their businesses and improve the quality of childcare services. This comprehensive commitment encompasses a range of additional resources and support, ensuring that Philadelphia’s childcare providers have the necessary tools and assistance to thrive and continue delivering essential services to the community.
General:
- Childcare Map—A tool to help Philadelphians make decisions about childcare. Use it for research, planning, exploration and investment in expansion.
- Fiscal Hub—Resource for child care owners and directors improve their business management practices and financial operations through resources, technical assistance, and policy advancement.
- Child Care Center Proforma (i.e. S-Corp filing tax form 1120S, Corporation filing tax form 1120 or a Non Profit filing tax form 990) – Download the excel spreadsheet
- Family Child Care Proforma (i.e. Sole Proprietor or Single Member LLC filing a Schedule C tax form) – COMING SOON
Programs and Organizations
- City of Philadelphia Department of Commerce – Offers many resources including Grants, Programs and Resources for Small Businesses.
- Better Futures – Provides technical assistance and one-on-one guidance that raises the bar and targets the needs of three distinct stakeholders – children, staff and owners. Better Futures is a unique consulting firm, offering a diverse mix of technical experts, skilled financial professionals and seasoned practitioners that are intimately familiar with the field of early childhood and the critically important aspects of managing a business. The founders hold advanced degrees (Doctorate in Early Childhood Education and Master’s in Business Management) and possess over 65 years of combined experience.
- CRAFT by Better Futures – A web-based online training platform for ECE Associations (CRAFTP) and their members.
- Campaign For Working Families (CWF) – Helps Sole Proprietors and Single Member LLCs achieve economic empowerment by providing tax preparation, resource building and asset development. CWF facilitates increased financial stability and asset accumulation for families by connecting them to valuable tax credits, quality financial services, savings options, wealth building resources and public benefits. CWF services allow families to maximize federal and state tax credits, including the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). Services are free.
Call 215-454-6483 or email contact@cwfphilly.org for more information. - Family Self-Sufficiency – The Compass Family Self-Sufficiency Program (FSS) at the Philadelphia Housing Authority (PHA) is a program that enables both PHA Public Housing residents and Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) holders to increase their earned income and reduce their dependency on welfare assistance. Participants identify personal goals such as employment, completing school, homeownership or starting a business. Once enrolled, PHA establishes an FSS Savings Account that grows as participants increase their earned income. During the program participants receive access to financial coaching and case management services designed to help them reach their goals.
Call 267-465-6446 or visit us at info@fsspha.org.