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Cost Analysis and Modeling

Photo credit: First Steps Kent
At Children’s Funding Project, we understand the power of being able to put a price tag on your goals for children and youth. To do so, we partner with communities and states to develop cost models and various types of cost analyses that clarify the resources needed to achieve the goals and desired impacts for children and youth with quality and at scale.

Specifically, these analyses equip our state and local partners with a tool that functions like a calculator that state and community leaders can use to calculate the cost of their existing goals, update those costs over time, and explore various cost scenarios based on new and emerging needs.

Additionally, we provide the necessary skill development and training to equip our community and state partners with the tools and knowledge to develop and maintain their cost models over time. Through our online courses, one-on-one coaching, cost modeling cohort, and general technical assistance, we build lasting organizational capability that empowers communities to drive their own financial strategy and decision-making for funding programs and services for children and youth.

We believe that the most effective funding solutions emerge when communities actively participate in developing those solutions. Consequently, our approach to cost analysis and modeling centers community voices and collaboration. In addition to training and coaching community and state partners, we offer various cost analyses and cost modeling services designed to provide local leaders with tools that deliver immediate cost insights and strategic recommendations:

  1. Cost modeling: Our cost models offer an in-depth look at the true costof equitably implementing, maintaining, or expanding a program or service for kids. They examine costs related to program requirements, staffing needs, employee wages and benefits, facility rent and utilities, number of expected participants, supplies, and other factors that influence costs to estimate how much money a state or community will need.
  2. Cost estimations: These analyses provide an approximatecost figure based on available data to define a momentary funding need to achieve a goal. Cost estimations can provide a general dollar amount to initiate a child and youth investment campaign plan, specify a starting point for an approved local ballot measure about how to allocate funds, or help price the multiple elements of a strategic plan for children and youth.
  3. Funding formula development: We create equitable, transparent mechanisms for distributing resources across programs, providers, and/or jurisdictions. Our funding formulas incorporate factors such as population needs, service costs, and existing resources to help local leaders allocate available funding fairly and in a manner that aligns with the community’s policy goals.
  4. Scalability analysis:This analysis assesses how costs change as programs grow, replicate, improve, and evolve. Scalability analyses identify the required infrastructure investments and optimal growth pathways to expand essential programs for children and youth strategically.
  5. Turning cost insights into action: We help our community and state partners translate complex cost analyses and cost models into powerful tools for advocacy, funding, and expanding services for children and youth. Our approach equips local and state leaders and advocates with the skills and tools to turn their cost insights into strategies that drive real investments in programs and services for children and youth.

Explore the resources on this page to learn more about the role cost models and cost analyses serve in strategic public financing.

How children's funding project helps

Collaborate

We work with local leaders to estimate how much money they need to achieve their goals.

Identify

We identify the true cost of the programs and services a community’s children and youth need.

Coach

We coach community and state leaders to have the skills, knowledge, and resources needed to grow and sustain expertise in cost modeling.

Integrate

We believe that cost modeling or cost estimation should always be part of a comprehensive and integrated system of funding programs and services for children and youth.

Expand

We strive to expand cost modeling to all programs and services that support child and youth development from cradle to career.

Featured Resources

Contact us to find out how we can help in your community.