We're building a flexible village rooted in care, collaboration, and an abundance mindset—where families, children, and caregivers grow together. By honoring our care team and staying deeply connected, we create joyful, nature-inspired spaces that celebrate play and presence. Our adaptable support meets each family's unique rhythm, helping everyone feel seen, supported, and part of something greater—where there's always more to give and share.

We address Durham's childcare crisis by offering flexible, community-based care options that traditional centers often can't provide. Many families face barriers like rigid schedules, high costs, and impersonal environments. Our model creates a supportive "village" that adapts to diverse family rhythms, making high-quality childcare more accessible and deeply relational.

Yes, Windy Hill Play is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, and all donations to our organization are tax-deductible. When you make a contribution, you'll receive a receipt documenting your donation for tax purposes. This tax-exempt status allows us to maximize the impact of your generous support by directing more resources toward our mission of providing flexible, community-based childcare.

Our everyday operations are primarily supported by parent contributions—which mostly go toward fairly compensating our childcare providers. Donations are used to directly enhance programming and community experiences.

Your donation allows us to create "sparkle" – the enriching extras that make childhood magical: themed activities, community celebrations, birthday festivities, parent appreciation events, and community days. These experiences build connections and create joyful memories for children and families alike.

Your support also enables intentional, stable growth. Unlike traditional childcare models that prioritize expansion over community, we're committed to growing thoughtfully without compromising the quality of care for our existing families. While we're prepared for bursts of growth, our current families will always take priority. Donations help us build a stronger foundation for our childcare village while maintaining our values of flexibility, accessibility, and abundance.

Currently, we're fundraising for the development of our new Bacon Street property, which will become a purpose-built haven for children and families in our community.

Windy Hill Play is fundamentally different from traditional childcare centers because we're building a community that mirrors the informal support network many families wish they had – the extended family, neighbors, and friends who would naturally help with childcare.

Unlike transactional "service for fee" models, we create a genuine village atmosphere where:

• Care adapts to meet parents where they are in their life cycle, evolving as their needs change

• Parents can openly share their struggles and needs without judgment

• An abundance mindset replaces scarcity thinking about time, resources, and support

• Relationships between caregivers, children, and parents are authentic and nurturing

• Families experience the security of having reliable support through the profound journey of parenthood

We've served families with a wide range of needs—from nature-based half-day programs to short-term full-time care, occasional care for children already enrolled elsewhere, foster families needing temporary support, and even two-hour drop-ins so a parent can attend a job interview. No matter the need, we meet families where they are, providing care that's responsive, respectful, and rooted in community.

Windy Hill Play currently serves 42 families with 53 children actively enrolled in our programs. Since our founding, we've had the privilege of partnering with over 75 families to provide care for more than 90 children in the Durham community.

Our intentionally sized community allows us to maintain the personal connections and flexibility that make our village model effective. Rather than focusing on rapid growth, we prioritize depth of relationships and quality of care, ensuring every family and child feels truly seen and supported within our community.

Because our day-to-day operations are largely funded by parent contributions—which primarily go toward caregiver compensation—donations are used to directly enhance programming and community experiences. While we don't yet have formal audited percentages, we are committed to financial transparency and prioritize spending that directly benefits the children, families, and care team in our community.

Your donation is never used for bloated overhead. Instead, it goes toward meaningful experiences—like enrichment activities, caregiver appreciation, community events, and growth initiatives that deepen our impact without compromising the intimacy and integrity of our care.

Windy Hill Play is led by a dedicated team of professionals passionate about reimagining childcare:

Mariah King, PhD, serves as a founding board member and brings valuable experience as a former teacher and mother of three children. Her educational background and firsthand parenting experience provide deep insights into both childcare practices and family needs.

Princess Rahman is a founding board member who brings a unique perspective as an active-duty Navy service member and parent. Her experience in consumer-facing roles and military service contribute valuable organizational and leadership skills to our team.

Dex King serves on our board and brings professional expertise as a Regional Account Manager at Cisco, along with his perspective as a parent of three children. His business experience strengthens our operational and strategic capabilities.

Together, our leadership team combines diverse professional backgrounds with personal parenting experience, creating a foundation of both practical knowledge and genuine understanding of the challenges families face.

Our long-term goal is to expand from our grassroots beginnings into a county-wide support system for families, while preserving the heart of what makes our care so special. We're building on the strong foundation we've established—one rooted in trust, flexibility, and nature-based, play-centered learning.

We envision a model that offers continuity of care across a family's journey, meeting them with consistent, adaptable support at every stage. As we grow, we remain committed to our core values while staying open to the new needs and variables that come with a thriving, evolving community.

Your donation directly helps us:

• Develop our new Bacon Street property into a purpose-built haven for children and families

• Create enriching environments that foster connection, play, and development

• Thoughtfully prepare for growth while maintaining our commitment to our current community

• Introduce new programs that respond to evolving community needs

• Support our care team with professional development opportunities

• Maintain our commitment to flexibility and accessibility for families

We believe in keeping our donors closely connected to the work we do and the impact their contributions make. You'll receive regular updates through:

• Quarterly Newsletters with stories of how donations directly support families, children, and staff

• Annual Impact Reports that detail our financial health and the tangible results of your support

• Personalized Thank-You Notes featuring success stories and the specific impact of your contribution

• Social Media Updates to see real-time moments of joy, growth, and community

• Invitations to Community Events where you can connect with the families you've helped and see our work firsthand

Your involvement doesn't end with a donation—it's a partnership, and we want you to feel part of the village you're helping create.

There are many meaningful ways to support our community beyond financial contributions:

• Connect with us online by following Windy Hill Play on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay updated on our activities and share our mission with your network

• Sign up for our newsletter to receive updates about our programs, community events, and opportunities to get involved

• Be present with us at community events and celebrations, bringing your unique energy and perspective to our village

• Engage in dialogue about reimagining childcare and building stronger community support systems for families

• Share your skills or talents that might benefit our community, whether it's gardening, storytelling, music, or other gifts

We believe support flows in both directions—we're here to support you as much as you support us. By building relationships rather than just seeking resources, we create a stronger community TOGETHER. Let us know how we can be there for you as we grow this village of care.