Preserving Childcare in Fulton through Collaboration

Located in Fulton, a working-class Richmond neighborhood with limited childcare options, Fulton Montessori preschool has been a vital resource for local families. When the Executive Director stepped down in 2023, the board and community leaders realized the challenge extended beyond hiring a new leader—it was about ensuring the school's survival and sustainability.

Locally, and across the country, early childcare centers are facing an ongoing struggle with retaining qualified teachers, offering affordable tuition rates, while delivering the quality early childhood education that young children, their parents, and the community depend on.

Luckily for the Fulton Montessori School, Thrive Birth to Five (TB5), the YWCA of Richmond, and other partners came together to address under-enrollment, funding shortages, and staffing challenges. They facilitated connections to resources and expertise, including the YWCA's successful Sprout School model that provides accessible, high-quality early education for mixed-income families at several locations across the city.

With support from the Robins Foundation, the Community Foundation, the City of Richmond and individual donors, the school transitioned to become part of the Sprout School network. This partnership secured $500,000 in funding for the school’s continued operation and demonstrates how collective action can address pressing community needs and safeguard opportunities for local children.

Watch the video story below!