To transform the lives of Children by supporting, empowering, and advocating for the adults who make the biggest impact on children's lives-their parents, caregivers and teachers.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
96¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$143K paid to officers and key staff.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · Pay: Part VII

Before you give

FY2023 · Form 990Independent: from IRS data, not the org
Download 990
IRS status
501(c)(3)
not on the IRS revocation list
Looks good: listed by the IRS and not on the revocation list.
IRS BMF · Auto-Revocation List
Tax-deductible gifts
Yes
Donations are tax-deductible
Looks good: the IRS lists gifts to it as deductible.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS BMF
Latest return
FY2025
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2025, 1 tax year back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
4 of 6
filings with a surplus
Average deficit $77K a year · under 1% of revenue · last 6 filings
Fine: a surplus in 4 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 filings
Spent on programs
96%
of spending
Looks good: 96% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$143K
to officers and key staff · 0.9% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 1% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
4 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 3.8 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
1
named funder · $22K
Fine: 1 funder names it on their filings; under 3.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$4.2M
58% of total assets
Fine: liabilities are 58% of assets; 50% to 65%.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
17
of 17 voting members
Looks good: 17 of 17 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$16.0M
+151% vs prior year
Spent
$15.9M
To programs
96%
Net assets
$3.0M
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$16.0M
FY2023▲ +151%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$4.8M
FY2021$4.3M
FY2022$6.3M
FY2023$16.0M
FY2024$18.7M
FY2025$14.5M
Expenses
$15.9M
FY2023▲ +160%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$4.7M
FY2021$4.3M
FY2022$6.1M
FY2023$15.9M
FY2024$19.2M
FY2025$15.0M
Net assets
$3.0M
FY2023▲ +3%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$2.6M
FY2021$2.7M
FY2022$2.9M
FY2023$3.0M
FY2024$2.5M
FY2025$2.0M

From the FY2023 Form 990 (year ending June 2023) · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

Give Claim
You’re viewing the FY2023 filing — not the latest on file. See the latest (FY2025) →

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in Mar 1973.

IRS Pub. 78 · IRS Auto-Revocation List · IRS Business Master File

Where the money goes

96 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 96% · $15.2M Management & general 3% · $398K Fundraising 1% · $236K

Form 990 Part IX, line 25, columns B–D. Every line is in By the numbers.

Something off? Claim to add context

Who runs it and what they're paid

18 people listed on the 990; $143K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2022); the FY2023 filing did not itemize Part VII
$143,040Pt VII · Sec A
Vice President
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Treasurer
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Eric Karolak’s $162K as CEO to June 2025 is at the 25th percentile of top reported officer pay among 3122 $10–100M human services nonprofits. Peer set: organizations in the same NTEE major field of work and revenue-size band, compared on each org’s own highest-paid officer/key-employee, from Form 990 Part VII / 990-PF Part VIII. Descriptive placement, not a verdict on whether the pay is appropriate.

Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 4 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Eric Karolak$161,763——$153,175$136,578$135,354
Eric J Karolak PHD—$139,197$143,040———
Stephanie McFadden$106,873—————
Natalie Atkins$104,632$100,819————

Total reportable compensation (Form 990 Part VII column D / Schedule J column E) by filing year, matched by name within this organization. The Schedule J base / bonus / deferred breakdown is not parsed into this dataset.

See Action for Children executive salaries →

On this list? Claim this org

Something off? Claim to add context

Questions the 990 asks

The form asks each of these directly. These are the filed answers.

  • Family or business ties among officersPt VI · Ln 2No
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aYes

Programs and updates

Provides FBI and BCI background checks and fingerprinting services to child care professionals, parents, guardians, and community members.

Questions for Action for Children

Tap to ask. Action for Children sees how many people are interested.

Your first name shows with your question. Action for Children answers here, for everyone.

Provided by the organization

Know this org? Add your story

3 programs · $15.2M · in their own filed words · FY2022
01

Early Childhood Community

Provide child care centers and family child care homes (directors, teachers and family child care providers) with coaching, professional development and technical assistance and support in obtaining, increasing or maintaining step up to quality rating.

$11.6Mprogram expense
02

Parents, Guardians, and Families

Provide parents and guardians with knowledge, skills and support in creating a healthy, mutually respectful family while also providing learning experiences so as to increase school readiness outcomes and ensure that families in central ohio have increased knowledge of quality indicators and access to child care and early education…

$3.6Mprogram expense
03

Community

Provide web check fingerprinting services for those needing a criminal background check for employment or other reasons.

$2Kprogram expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

From grant filings on record. Receipts are incomplete: individual donors are never listed.

Grants

Schedule I · received and paid
Grants received · FY2025
Total grants receivedfrom 1 funder$22K
Grants paid · 384 grants · $23.3M · 2021–2024
Unitemized GrantFY2024$5,186,893
Unitemized GrantFY2024$442,663
Tender Years Learning CenterFY2024$15,000
Starting Point Learning CenterFY2024$15,000
Pathway II Destiny ChildcareFY2024$15,000
Little Miracles EdcFY2024$15,000
G Tyree Learning CenterOH · FY2024$15,000
Future Scholars Learning AcademyFY2024$15,000
Fulbright Learning CenterFY2024$15,000
Driving Park Early Learning CenterFY2024$15,000
Cdcfc North Linden Early Learning CenterOH · FY2024$15,000
YMCA - Jerry L Garver Child Care ProgramOH · FY2024$10,000
Tiny Tots Day Care ServicesFY2024$10,000
Rainbow2 Childcare INCFY2024$10,000
Rainbow Childcare INCFY2024$10,000
North Branch YMCAOH · FY2024$10,000
Little Ones Learning CenterFY2024$10,000
See all 384 grants →

By the numbers

The FY2023 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$16.0M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$15.3M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$702K
Investment incomeLn 3$7K
Money outPt IX
$15.9M
Ln 25
Programscol B$15.2M
Managementcol C$398K
Fundraisingcol D$236K
Owns and owesPt X
$3.0M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$5.0M
Total assetsLn 16$7.2M
LiabilitiesLn 26$4.2M
PeoplePt VI, VII
18
listed · VII A
PaidVII A1
Voting boardVI 1a17
IndependentVI 1b17
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$15.3M
Government grantsLn 1e$14.9M
Fundraising eventsLn 1c$66K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$702K
Investment incomeLn 3$7K
Total revenueLn 12$16.0M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$4.7M
SavingsLn 2$396K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$5.0M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$328K
Other assetsLn 15$93K
Total assetsLn 16$7.2M
LiabilitiesLn 26$4.2M
Net assetsLn 32$3.0M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 5116
VolunteersI 6320
Fiscal year endsHeaderJune
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13Yes
Records policyVI 14Yes
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY23End FY23
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$3.3M$5.0M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$281K$328K
Total assetsLn 16$4.7M$7.2M
LiabilitiesLn 26$1.8M$4.2M
Net assetsLn 32$2.9M$3.0M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$2.1M$2.1M
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$5.9M$5.9M
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$143K$143K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$4.2M$4.1M$19K$129K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$370K$360K$666$10K
Payroll taxesLn 10$342K$320K$12K$10K
Accounting feesLn 11c$34K$32K$804$720
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$1.1M$986K$103K$24K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$568K$524K$6K$38K
Office expensesLn 13$103K$88K$6K$10K
OccupancyLn 16$310K$291K$13K$5K
TravelLn 17$119K$107K$9K$4K
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$54K$53K$1K$151
InterestLn 20$961$961
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$50K$48K$1K$722
InsuranceLn 23$35K$34K$807$916
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$470K$384K$82K$4K
Total functional expensesLn 25$15.9M$15.2M$398K$236K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest $14.5M$15.0M−$445K$2.0M 990 PDF
FY2024 $18.7M$19.2M−$505K$2.5M 990 PDF
FY2023 Viewing $16.0M$15.9M$81K$3.0M 990 PDF
FY2022 $6.3M$6.1M$249K$2.9M 990 PDF
FY2021 $4.3M$4.3M$56K$2.7M 990 PDF
FY2020 $4.8M$4.7M$104K$2.6M 990 PDF

More to add? Claim this org

Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons I · Grants A · Public support O · Explanations
See the full FY2023 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $15,950,626 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $5,612,207$15,285,472
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $725,816$701,882
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $2,642$6,608
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $4,220−$43,336
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $6,344,885$15,950,626
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $287,363$7,934,174
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $4,152,284$5,077,350
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $1,655,889$2,858,117
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $6,095,536$15,869,641
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $249,349$80,985
Part VI · Governance 17 of 17 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body17
VI-1b Independent voting members17
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsNo
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyYes
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyYes
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $15,950,626 across 10 lines filed
VIII-1a Federated campaigns$305,838
VIII-1c Fundraising events$66,048
VIII-1e Government grants$14,866,183
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$47,403
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$15,285,472
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $701,882$701,882
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $6,608$6,608
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising eventsExcluded from tax −$46,363−$46,363
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Excluded from tax $3,027$3,027
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $701,882 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax −$36,728$15,950,626
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $15,869,641 across 17 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $2,068,904$2,068,904
IX-2 Grants to domestic individualsPrograms $5,865,270$5,865,270
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffManagement $143,167$143,167
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $4,074,415 · Management $18,558 · Fundraising $128,953$4,221,926
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $359,941 · Management $666 · Fundraising $9,576$370,183
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $320,317 · Management $11,619 · Fundraising $10,138$342,074
IX-11c Accounting feesPrograms $32,480 · Management $804 · Fundraising $720$34,004
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $986,404 · Management $103,495 · Fundraising $23,846$1,113,745
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $523,956 · Management $5,790 · Fundraising $38,071$567,817
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $87,722 · Management $5,970 · Fundraising $9,700$103,392
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $291,369 · Management $12,733 · Fundraising $5,412$309,514
IX-17 TravelPrograms $106,901 · Management $8,715 · Fundraising $3,691$119,307
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $52,919 · Management $1,233 · Fundraising $151$54,303
IX-20 InterestManagement $961$961
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $47,683 · Management $1,203 · Fundraising $722$49,608
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $33,548 · Management $807 · Fundraising $916$35,271
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $384,065 · Management $82,405 · Fundraising $3,725$470,195
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $15,235,894 · Management $398,126 · Fundraising $235,621$15,869,641
Part X · Balance sheet $7,178,819 assets, 15 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $3,057,385$4,650,207
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $260,639$396,383
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $974,431$1,676,535
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $101,716$34,658
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $280,867$328,369
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $0$92,667
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $4,675,038$7,178,819
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $398,712$502,813
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $1,331,894$3,506,837
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $40,638$184,390
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $1,771,244$4,194,040
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $2,897,748$2,978,733
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $6,046$6,046
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $2,903,794$2,984,779
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $4,675,038$7,178,819
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $2,984,779 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$15,950,626
XI-2 Total expenses$15,869,641
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$80,985
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$2,903,794
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$2,984,779

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2023 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

Similar organizations you could support · Compare with another nonprofit

Names, privacy, and removal requests More

The names, titles, and compensation shown on this page are reproduced from IRS Form 990 filings, which are public records.

Philanthropy.org does not alter the content of those filings. All information appears exactly as reported by the filing organization for the tax year shown.

We publish only information contained in the public IRS filing — and less than the filing contains. Our profile pages do not display street addresses, telephone numbers, personal email addresses, or other personal contact information, even where the filing includes them.

Many people share the same name. A name shown on this page reflects only what one organization reported in one IRS filing for one tax year. It should not be interpreted as identifying any other individual with the same or a similar name.

If you are no longer affiliated with the organization, your name will generally stop appearing in future IRS filings once the organization no longer reports you. Pages for tax years in which you were reported remain published because those filings remain part of the public record.

Philanthropy.org does not alter or remove IRS filing records. Removing a page from this website would not remove the underlying IRS filing, which remains publicly available from the IRS and other publishers of the same information.

If you believe the IRS filing itself is inaccurate, corrections must be made by the filing organization or the IRS directly.

Your org? Add context

Made it to the end? Claim this org

All figures are derived from public IRS Form 990 filings and are presented without evaluation of any organization. philanthropy.org does not rate, score, or rank organizations, including the pay comparisons above.