Should Your Church Lease Space to a Childcare Program? Pros, Cons, and What to Know

Church buildings sit empty for most of the week. Even on Sunday, they’re often vacant after lunch. One way you can fill that space and offset the ongoing financial burden of church real estate is by repurposing it — and one of the best ways to do that is by setting up a childcare program. 

As with most administrative activities, though, building activation has its pros and its cons. While our team at Ministry Solutions loves seeing churches partner with childcare programs, we are always careful to make sure everyone knows what to expect. 

With that in mind, here’s everything you need to know about the pros and cons of using your church space for a childcare program during the week.

The Connection Between Childcare and Church

Childcare isn’t a new phenomenon in the church world. Ministries have been setting up programs to care for children for decades. However, the church is positioned to address a unique childcare need at the moment. 

In 2023, 70,000 childcare providers closed their doors due to a lack of federal funding. Since that post-pandemic financial fallout, there has been a clear need in local communities for safe spaces for children during the week, and churches across the country have helped fill that gap.

The connection makes sense. Churches are already designed and perceived as safe, kid-friendly environments and family support. They also double as an outreach opportunity to showcase your church as a Sunday option for young local families 

While childcare is a great option for a church, it’s important for church leaders to strategize first and ensure they launch this kind of initiative with both eyes open.

The Benefits of Church Childcare Partnerships

If you’re debating the benefits of leasing space for a childcare program, here are a few of the most important reasons our team at Ministry Solutions Group has found this kind of partnership works so well.

Meeting Local Needs

We already touched on it, but it’s worth driving the point home. There is a very real need for childcare at the moment. It’s a great opportunity for the church to meet a tangible local need.

Funding Ministry

Too often, we find churches paying for their buildings. That’s backwards. Your ministry should be supported by your building. Leasing space to a childcare program can help generate revenue to offset operational costs.

Expanded Foot Traffic

In a digital world where everyone can form opinions about your ministry through your online presence, it’s good to have a way to get people physically inside your facilities. Childcare services give people who might otherwise never step foot on your campus a reason to see your church on the inside.

Reduced Complexity

We said “lease” for a reason. From safety to reputation to administrative headaches, leasing unactivated space to an established childcare program is always better than running a program yourself. Let the professionals do their thing. You just need to provide the space to do it.

Things to Be Aware of With Church Childcare Programs

Childcare building activation is a great option for most churches. Even so, there are some things you want to be aware of before investing in a childcare partnership. Here are a few of the top considerations our Ministry Solutions Group team has learned over the years:

• Resist the DIY approach. We’ve seen too many issues to feel comfortable recommending a DIY approach when it comes to childcare. Don’t let that overzealous volunteer convince you to make it an internal project. Work with an outside organization.
• Protect your church’s reputation. Always vet the childcare operator you work with carefully to make sure they align with (or at least don’t clash with) your ministry’s values. That’s why we’ve curated a list of childcare providers we trust over the years at Ministry Solutions Group.
• Consider logistics. Depending on your activated spaces, you’ll need to be ready for consistent cleaning and turnover to maintain weekend and weeknight ministry alongside childcare program activities.

Activating Childcare Initiatives in Your Church

Weekday childcare programs are one of the best-kept secrets in church finance. A strategic, well-executed childcare partnership can:

• Offset building, maintenance, and utilities costs.
• Improve your church’s reputation in your local community.
• Help with outreach and encourage visitors.

If you see those spaces in your building Monday through Friday, but you aren’t sure how to activate them, reach out to our team for a FREE analysis. Together, we can go over your financials and analyze your underutilized spaces. We’ll help you decide if a childcare partnership is a good option as you make your plans for 2026 and beyond.