Recognition underscores continued commitment to supporting franchisees’ access to financing
The Goddard School®, the nation’s leading premium early childhood education provider, received FRANdata's 2026 TopScore FUND Award, earning the accolade for the fourth consecutive year. Presented at the Multi-Unit Franchising Conference in Las Vegas, the award honors franchise brands with the highest FUND scores for supporting their franchisees' access to financing by simplifying the financing process while improving key performance metrics that lenders evaluate.
The Goddard School earned an industry-leading FUND score of 930 out of 950 in 2026. The FUND Score is a franchise credit risk scoring system that provides lenders with an objective, data-driven evaluation of a franchise brand’s creditworthiness. It measures performance across 12 critical risk categories, including historical unit success rate™, unit profitability and franchisee support. Franchise brands that excel in these areas make it easier for lenders to confidently say “yes.” According to FRANdata, banks collectively representing over $5 trillion in assets trust the FUND scoring system as an integral part of their franchise lending programs.
“We are honored to receive the TopScore FUND Award for the fourth consecutive year,” said Tim Linderman, senior vice president and chief growth officer, Goddard Systems, LLC (GSL), the manager of The Goddard School franchise system. “This recognition reflects our continued commitment to expanding access to the highest-quality Goddard School education—equipping franchisees with best‑in‑class resources and support to grow and serve more families nationwide.”
“In a category that continues to evolve, The Goddard School has built a system that balances growth with performance and adaptability,” said Darrell Johnson, chief executive officer, FRANdata. “That consistency is what gives lenders confidence and positions the brand to support franchisees with stronger, more accessible financing. Being named a TopScore Award winner reflects that strength, grounded in their leading FUND Score.”
In addition to the TopScore FUND Award, recent distinctions showcasing the strength of The Goddard School brand include ranking #58—the highest-ranking childcare provider—in the 2025 Franchise Times Top 400 and ranking #68 in Entrepreneur’s 2026 Franchise 500. The Goddard School was also inducted into Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500 Hall of Fame in addition to being named a Top Brand for Multi-Unit Owners and a Top Franchise for Veterans. Moreover, The Goddard School was included in Franchise Business Review’s 2026 Top 200 Franchises and Top Franchises for Women.
Individuals interested in building a purpose-driven business can learn more about franchise opportunities at GoddardSchoolFranchise.com. Commercial real estate professionals with suitable locations are encouraged to connect with GSL’s franchise development team to support the expansion of high-quality early childhood education in their communities.
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