However, the majority of private expenditure on pre-primary education comes from households via parental fees. However, in Austria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Germany, Iceland, Israel and Japan, more than 9% of all private funding comes from other private entities (e.g. private businesses and non-profit organisations, religious organisations, charitable organisations, and business and labour associations). In these countries, encouraging private foundations and community engagement to support ECEC centres is increasingly seen as an important policy lever and a potential source of additional resources. This type of funding can act as a “connector” between families and ECEC services, as well as other services for children, a “social network” to support parents in reducing stress and making smart choices, especially for disadvantaged families, and an “environment” to promote social cohesion. However, some foundations may also contribute to the financing of ECEC settings.