Bright Horizons runs child care centers for many of America's biggest employers, and it tells its own investors that broad, government-funded child care is a business risk. In its annual report, the company says government aid paid to parents could help it grow, but a broad system of "governmentally mandated or funded child care or preschool, such as universal pre-K," could pull families toward cheaper options and push down the tuition it charges [1]. In New York City, where the mayor is working to expand universal child care, the company has hired lobbyists to position itself for "Universal child care opportunities" [2][3]. Bright Horizons is publicly traded (NYSE: BFAM) and based in Newton, Massachusetts [1].
- It paid New York City lobbyists to help stop "unjustified closures" of its centers.
- Its own SEC filing warns universal pre-K could pull families away and cut tuition.
- About 97 percent of 2024 party donations from people tied to it went to Democrats.
- In 2025 its annual report dropped the words "diversity" and "equity" from its workforce section.
- It says it runs six times more employer child care centers than its closest rival.
Quick Take
Bright Horizons' clearest political signal is its own SEC filing: it calls tax credits and direct aid to parents an opportunity, and universal, government-funded care a risk to its revenue [1]. It has not lobbied Congress in its own name since 2009, but it is a listed member of an industry group that spent $300,000 on federal lobbying in 2025 [4][5][6]. In recent years it has paid lobbyists in New York City and Albany [2][7]. People tied to the company gave about $78,600 to federal candidates and parties in the 2024 election cycle, and about 97 percent of the money that went to either party went to Democrats; the company itself has given no PAC money [8].
Where Bright Horizons Stands on Government Child Care
Bright Horizons' own SEC filings draw a line between two kinds of public help. Aid that flows to parents, such as tax credits, "may provide us opportunities for expansion in additional markets," the company says [1]. A broad public program is different. The filing warns that "governmentally mandated or funded child care or preschool, such as universal pre-K, could reduce the demand" at its centers or "place downward pressure on the tuition and fees we charge" [1].
The company does not treat every public program as a threat. The same filing says some states and cities already run universal pre-K programs "in which we may or may not participate as a service provider," and that being shut out of them, or "insufficient funding," could also hurt its business [1]. In New York City, Bright Horizons says at least one of its centers partners with the city's Department of Education to offer the free 3-K and Pre-K for All programs [9].
Beyond Washington: Lobbying New York
Bright Horizons' most active lobbying in recent years has been in New York, not Washington. From October 2024 to August 2025, it paid the firm James F. Capalino & Associates about $10,000 every two months, according to city lobbying records. The stated goal was "building relationships with New York City officials who may be able to help stop unjustified closures of the Client's centers" [2].
In November 2025 it hired a second firm, Fontas Advisors, to work on city and state budgets. Its city registrations list the subject as "Budget," with the details "Program Funding" for 2025 and "Secure Program Funding" for 2026 [2]. Its first city report, for November and December 2025, listed permits and licensing, with the Buildings and Health departments as targets [2]. Reports for March through August 2026 list "Problem solving and positioning for Universal child care opportunities" and name targets including the Mayor's Office of Child Care, the Department of Education and about ten City Council members [2]. The city fee was $10,000 every two months, or $40,000 for January through August 2026 [2]. A separate New York State registration with the same firm runs from November 2025 through December 2026 at $5,000 a month, covering state and program funding [7].
The Federal Lobbying and Money Picture
In its own name, Bright Horizons has reported federal lobbying activity in only one year. In 2009 it paid the law firm Jackson Lewis $10,000 to lobby on the Employee Free Choice Act, a bill that would have made it easier for workers to form unions [4]. It reported no activity in 2010 and ended the registration in 2011 [4]. No federal lobbying by the company has been filed since.
Its federal policy voice now runs through a trade group. Bright Horizons is listed as a member of the Early Care and Education Consortium, an alliance of large child care providers, and one of its executives, Mary Lou Burke Afonso, sits on the group's board [5][10]. The consortium hired the firm Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck and reported $240,000 in federal lobbying in 2024 and $300,000 in 2025, on issues including taxes and education [6]. That is the group's spending, not Bright Horizons' own.
Bright Horizons does not run a corporate political action committee (PAC), a fund a company sets up to give to candidates. OpenSecrets shows no PAC money from the company in any election cycle, and a search of Federal Election Commission committees finds none under its name [8][11]. The giving that does show up comes from people tied to the company, mostly employees and their families, giving $200 or more [8]. Those donors gave about $83,600 in the 2016 cycle, about $217,200 in the 2020 cycle, and about $78,600 in the 2024 cycle [8]. Of the money that went to either party, about 90 percent went to Democrats in 2016, about 93 percent in 2020, and about 97 percent in 2024 [8]. These are federal records only. Giving to state candidates and state PACs, including in Massachusetts, is not captured and was not examined here.
How the Diversity Language Changed
Bright Horizons once called diversity, equity and inclusion "core priorities." Its annual report for 2023, filed in February 2024, had a section titled "Our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Focus" and said "diversity, equity and inclusion are core priorities that we believe are critical to our long-term success" [12]. Its 2023 proxy statement used the same words and made "Execution on DE&I Initiatives" one of the individual goals in its annual cash bonus program [13].
A year later the wording was different. In the annual report for 2024, filed in February 2025, the section was retitled "Culture and Inclusion," and the words "diversity" and "equity" no longer appeared in it [14]. The new text speaks of a workplace "where all employees feel welcome and have a sense of belonging," and describes employee resource groups as "open to all employees" [14]. The annual report for 2025, filed in February 2026, kept that wording [1].
From Two Startups to a Bain Buyout
Bright Horizons traces its roots to two companies. Bright Horizons, Inc. was founded in 1986 by husband and wife Roger Brown and Linda Mason, and Corporate Family Solutions was founded in 1987; the two merged in 1998 [1][15]. Bain Capital, the private equity firm, took the company private in a deal worth about $1.3 billion in 2008 [15]. Mitt Romney, who had run Bain before entering politics, pointed to Bright Horizons on the 2012 campaign trail as a private equity success [15]. The company returned to the stock market in 2013, and Bain sold the last of its shares in March 2018 [15][16]. An investor's politics do not transfer to the company, so this history is background.
What the Company Does
Bright Horizons says it runs about six times more employer-sponsored child care centers than its nearest competitor, and it calls itself one of the largest providers in the field [1]. It runs early education centers, offers back-up care when a family's usual care falls through, and sells education and college advising as employee benefits [1]. In 2025 it served more than 1,450 employers, including more than 220 Fortune 500 companies, and no single client made up more than about 1 percent of revenue [1]. It operated 1,010 centers with room for about 115,000 children in the United States, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Australia and India [1].
Revenue reached about $2.93 billion in 2025 [17]. Back-up care alone brought in more than $725 million, about a quarter of the total [17]. Employers typically sign center contracts of three to ten years, and the company reports keeping about 95 percent of its clients over the past ten years [1].
Recent News
In March 2026, Bright Horizons agreed with New York City to give up the permit for its Columbus Circle center in Manhattan and to open no new child care centers in the city for ten months [18]. The deal followed charges filed in July 2025 by the Manhattan District Attorney against three workers at that center, who were accused of abusing and endangering toddlers between September 2023 and February 2025 [19]. One of the three was sentenced to three months of probation in March 2026 [18]. The company said it was "encouraged by this settlement" and cited new safeguarding rules, more staff training, and more oversight staff at every center [18]. The center has since closed, and the company said it is installing cameras in all of its classrooms [3].
In July 2026, the company put its forecast for 2026 revenue at $3.085 billion to $3.115 billion, compared with $3.075 billion to $3.125 billion in February [20][17]. Stephen Kramer is chief executive [20]. About 29 percent of 2025 revenue came from outside North America [1]. It expanded into Australia in 2022 by buying Only About Children, a provider with about 75 campuses [21][22].
Where to Find Them
Bright Horizons centers are mostly run on behalf of employers, and families usually reach them through a workplace benefit. Locations and back-up care are listed at brighthorizons.com.
Footnotes
[1] Bright Horizons Family Solutions, Form 10-K for fiscal year 2025, filed with the SEC February 26, 2026. https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1437578/000143757826000006/bfam-20251231.htm
[2] New York City Clerk, eLobbyist search, client "Bright Horizons Children's Centers LLC," filings by James F. Capalino & Associates (2024 to 2025) and Fontas Advisors NY LLC (2025 and 2026). Accessed October 20, 2026. https://lobbyistsearch.nyc.gov/
[3] Tim McNicholas and Walter Smith Randolph, CBS New York, "What is NYC doing to keep day cares safe as Mayor Mamdani works to expand universal child care?," April 21, 2026. https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/nyc-day-care-safety-universal-child-care/
[4] U.S. Senate, Lobbying Disclosure Act database, filings for client "Bright Horizons Family Solutions Inc." (registrant Jackson Lewis PC), 2009 to 2011. Accessed October 20, 2026. https://lda.gov/api/v1/filings/?client_name=Bright%20Horizons
[5] Early Care and Education Consortium, "Child Care Providers." Accessed October 20, 2026. https://www.ececonsortium.org/child-care-providers/
[6] U.S. Senate, Lobbying Disclosure Act database, filings for client "Early Care and Education Consortium," 2024 and 2025. Accessed October 20, 2026. https://lda.gov/api/v1/filings/?client_name=Early%20Care%20and%20Education%20Consortium
[7] New York State Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government, public lobbying query, Fontas Advisors NY LLC lobbyist registration for Bright Horizons Children's Centers LLC, filing period 2025 to 2026. Accessed October 20, 2026. https://reports.ethics.ny.gov/publicquery/ViewFiling/NzU1MjU00
[8] OpenSecrets, "Bright Horizons Family Solutions Profile: Totals," all cycles. Accessed October 20, 2026. https://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/totals?cycle=A&id=D000032128
[9] Bright Horizons, "704 Broadway" center page (3-K and Pre-K for All partnership). Accessed October 20, 2026. https://www.brighthorizons.com/daycare-centers/ny/new-york-city/704-broadway-10003
[10] Early Care and Education Consortium, "Board of Directors." Accessed October 20, 2026. https://www.ececonsortium.org/board-of-directors/
[11] Federal Election Commission, committee search for "bright horizons." Accessed October 20, 2026. https://www.fec.gov/data/committees/?q=bright+horizons
[12] Bright Horizons Family Solutions, Form 10-K for fiscal year 2023, filed with the SEC February 27, 2024. https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1437578/000143757824000007/bfam-20231231.htm
[13] Bright Horizons Family Solutions, Proxy Statement (Form DEF 14A), April 27, 2023. https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1437578/000119312523122208/d438291ddef14a.htm
[14] Bright Horizons Family Solutions, Form 10-K for fiscal year 2024, filed with the SEC February 27, 2025. https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1437578/000143757825000007/bfam-20241231.htm
[15] Peter Lattman, The New York Times (DealBook), "How Bright Horizons took care of Bain Capital over the years," January 24, 2013, as reprinted by the Childcare Resource and Research Unit. https://childcarecanada.org/documents/child-care-news/13/01/how-bright-horizons-took-care-bain-capital-over-years
[16] Bright Horizons Family Solutions, Proxy Statement (Form DEF 14A), April 26, 2018. https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1437578/000119312518134931/d512234ddef14a.htm
[17] Bright Horizons Family Solutions, "Bright Horizons Family Solutions Reports Financial Results for the Fourth Quarter and Full Year of 2025," February 12, 2026. https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1437578/000143757826000003/bfam-123125xex991.htm
[18] Tim McNicholas, CBS New York, "Bright Horizons giving up permit for Manhattan day care center after child abuse, safety hazard accusations," March 19, 2026. https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/bright-horizons-giving-up-permit-nyc-day-care-center/
[19] Manhattan District Attorney's Office, "D.A. Bragg: Bright Horizons Day Care Workers Charged With Abusing, Mistreating Toddlers," July 30, 2025. https://manhattanda.org/d-a-bragg-bright-horizons-day-care-workers-charged-with-abusing-mistreating-toddlers/
[20] Bright Horizons Family Solutions, "Bright Horizons Family Solutions Reports Financial Results for the Second Quarter of 2026," July 30, 2026. https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1437578/000143757826000018/bfam-063026xex991.htm
[21] Bright Horizons Family Solutions, "Bright Horizons to Acquire Only About Children, Premier Child Care and Early Education Provider in Australia," May 3, 2022. https://investors.brighthorizons.com/node/13561
[22] Bright Horizons Family Solutions, Form 10-K for fiscal year 2022 (Only About Children acquisition completed July 1, 2022). https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1437578/000143757823000005/bfam-20221231.htm
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