Identifies five fundamental indicators of good financial management for child care programs. Offers composites of child care program experiences to illustrate these fundamentals: enrollment at capacity with a waiting list, tuition based on full cost of care, family fees paid on time, program's bills and taxes paid on time, and a cash reserve in…

Successful fundraising ideas for childcare centers are presented and guidelines for developing fundraising plans are proposed. Suggestions include diverse sales of products or services to parents and community, events where pleasure and profit can be combined, games of chance, and written or verbal appeals such as phone appeals or newsletters. (AA)