About
Our Work
- Learn About Our WorkThrough strategic public financing we help communities, states, and Native nations ensure that all children thrive.
- Strategic Public FinancingWe develop strategic public financing plans that sustain investments for kids.
- Sourcing Additional FundingWe help leaders determine which funding options are viable in their context.
- Fiscal MappingWe analyze existing funding sources and coach local leaders on budget data.
- Voter-Approved Children’s FundsWe help communities pursue dedicated public funding for kids at the ballot.
- Cost Analysis and ModelingWe identify the true cost of services to help communities reach their goals.
- Native Children’s Funding ProjectWe help Native nations create sustainable funding for Native children and youth.
Impact
Resources
- View Our Featured ResourcesOur tools and resources help local, state, and Native leaders identify sustainable ways to fund their goals for kids.
  - View Our Resource Library
- Featured Collections
- Featured Resources
Updates
Events

About
Our Work
- Learn About Our WorkThrough strategic public financing we help communities, states, and Native nations ensure that all children thrive.
- Strategic Public FinancingWe develop strategic public financing plans that sustain investments for kids.
- Sourcing Additional FundingWe help leaders determine which funding options are viable in their context.
- Fiscal MappingWe analyze existing funding sources and coach local leaders on budget data.
- Voter-Approved Children’s FundsWe help communities pursue dedicated public funding for kids at the ballot.
- Cost Analysis and ModelingWe identify the true cost of services to help communities reach their goals.
- Native Children’s Funding ProjectWe help Native nations create sustainable funding for Native children and youth.
Impact
Resources
- View Our Featured ResourcesOur tools and resources help local, state, and Native leaders identify sustainable ways to fund their goals for kids.
  - View Our Resource Library
- Featured Collections
- Featured Resources
Updates
Events

A cost model measures the true cost of equitably implementing, maintaining or expanding a program or service for kids. It examines a program’s requirements, staffing needs, employee wages and benefits, facility rent and utilities, number of expected participants, and other factors that influence costs to estimate how much money a state or community must spend to run a program. Depending on its format, the model also can provide cost variations based on policy changes and quality characteristics.

Filed under:

Infants and Toddlers, Early Childhood, Middle Childhood, Youth, Young Adults, Advocates/Intermediaries, Funders, Leaders of Native Nations, Policymakers/Agency Leaders, Publication, Cost Analysis and Modeling

More Resources

An adult teaching cooking to a group of young children.

Publication

Voter-Approved Children’s Fund Profile: Travis County, TX

Raising Travis County supports child care slots for babies and toddlers from households with low income, and after-school and summer school slots for elementary school-age children.

Adult helping child hold up campaign sign.

Publication

Voter-Approved Children’s Fund Profile: Whatcom County, WA

The Healthy Children’s Fund invests about $10 million a year to increase access to quality early education and care, improve kindergarten readiness, and support vulnerable children in Whatcom County, WA.