We are a community-based, Japanese bilingual and multicultural childcare organization committed to providing quality and affordable childcare services. Incorporating Japanese language and curriculum, our programs foster children's self-esteem, cooperation and confidence.
We promote a partnership between teachers, children and their families to build a stimulating learning environment that allows children to develop to their full potential and become active members of the community.
We promote a partnership between teachers, children and their families to build a stimulating learning environment that allows children to develop to their full potential and become active members of the community.
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NLF was founded in 1975 by a group of parents and community activists who were committed to the idea of offering culturally sensitive childcare for young children in San Francisco’s Japanese community. NLF also recognized the importance of the early years in a child’s growth and development, in particular, the critical period for brain development during the first five years of life. After much research and planning, the organization began with a single preschool serving 15 children.
With subsequent community demand for the service, in 1985, NLF opened a second preschool site at the 1830 Sutter Street, a historic building designed by world-renowned architect Julia Morgan. Today, NLF has one combined preschool program site and an elementary school-age program site serving over 200 children annually from diverse economic, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds. 40% of the children enrolled are of Asian ethnicity including Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Mongolian, Southeast Asian, East Indian and Pacific Islander; 45% are multi-ethnic; 7% are White; 5% are Hispanic; and 3% are Black.
NLF is also committed to providing affordable services for all income levels. Approximately 30% of the families of the preschoolers are subsidized by government funds due to their extremely low household incomes. Over 70% of the families served through all of its programs fall within the low-to-moderate income levels as defined by federal HUD guidelines. To accommodate these families, NLF provides a sliding private fee schedule that makes early care and education more affordable to moderate-income households.
NLF is supported predominantly by its parents—currently, 60% of operating revenue comes from parent-paid fees and fully 100% of the parents give either time or money to NLF. Another 33% come from government grants and contracts, and the balance through programmatic fundraising, grants and donations. NLF’s parents take a strong leadership role in special events and fundraising through the orchestrating of theater productions, auctions, food booths, garage sales, and similar community activities. These events are totally parent and staff driven with work committees assuming responsibility for coordinating all aspects of an event from publicity to costumes to production.
NLF is supported predominantly by its parents—currently, 60% of operating revenue comes from parent-paid fees and fully 100% of the parents give either time or money to NLF. Another 33% come from government grants and contracts, and the balance through programmatic fundraising, grants and donations. NLF’s parents take a strong leadership role in special events and fundraising through the orchestrating of theater productions, auctions, food booths, garage sales, and similar community activities. These events are totally parent and staff driven with work committees assuming responsibility for coordinating all aspects of an event from publicity to costumes to production.