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Is it real?
Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in Jul 1982.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS Auto-Revocation List · IRS Business Master File
Where the money goes
82 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.
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
46 people listed on the 990; $3.2M paid to officers and key staff.
Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2023); the FY2024 filing did not itemize Part VII
Chief Operating Officer
$384,024Pt VII · Sec A
Senior Vice President Until 8/23
$307,761Pt VII · Sec A
Chief Development Officer
$307,328Pt VII · Sec A
Executive Dir, Illinois Until 3/24
$281,032Pt VII · Sec A
Executive Director, Ffyf
$278,582Pt VII · Sec A
Chief Policy & Res Off. Until 6/24
$269,050Pt VII · Sec A
Chief Financial Officer
$268,623Pt VII · Sec A
Executive Director, Eln
$264,064Pt VII · Sec A
Chief Marketing Officer
$260,295Pt VII · Sec A
VP, Information Technology
$206,248Pt VII · Sec A
VP, Strategy & Impact
$199,744Pt VII · Sec A
Executive Director, Ell
$191,376Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Chair
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
President
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Vice Chair
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Treasurer
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Secretary
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 8 named individuals · Part VII
| Name | FY2025 | FY2024 | FY2023 | FY2022 | FY2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mr Michael Hoffman | — | $384,024 | $300,023 | $309,395 | $264,690 |
| Michael Hoffman | $360,286 | — | — | — | — |
| Sarah Rittling | $343,426 | — | — | — | — |
| Donna Iwanski | $333,728 | — | — | — | — |
| Ms Daphne Logan | — | $307,761 | $238,508 | $246,056 | $207,252 |
| Ms Aisha Gayle Turner | — | $307,328 | — | — | — |
| Aisha Gayle Turner | $292,576 | — | — | — | — |
| Ms Rebecca Berlin | — | — | $270,008 | $290,073 | $214,227 |
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 Start Early executive salaries →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 high-quality early learning programs, research, and advocacy from birth to age five to help close the opportunity gap for underserved families.
Questions for Start Early
Your first name shows with your question. Start Early answers here, for everyone.
3 programs · $67.7M · in their own filed words · FY2023
01
Start Early provides high-quality early childhood services for low-income children, birth to age five, and their families, as well as services to pregnant women, through a multi-site network of Early Head Start and Head Start directly-operated programs and partner and delegate agencies in high-needs communities throughout Chicago and…
$42.1Mprogram expense
02
Start Early's Home Visiting and Doula Network annually reaches approximately 1,600 at-risk young children, pregnant women, and their families through our statewide network of home visiting and Doula services.
$14.9Mprogram expense
03
See Schedule OThe Educare Learning Network (ELN) extends the impact of Start Early's extensive early childhood knowledge and expertise in states across the country through consultation and technical assistance on program, public policy and systems work; research and evaluation; organizational capacity building; and philanthropic…
$10.8Mprogram 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
Buffett Early Childhood FundFY2025$3.7M
Oechsle Family Foundation INCFY2025$50K
J R Albert Foundation INCFY2025$30K
The Ayco Charitable FoundationFY2025$10K
Loeb Family Foundation INCFY2025$2K
Total grants receivedfrom 5 funders$3.8M
Grants paid · 275 grants · $159.7M · 2020–2024
Marillac St Vincent Family Services INCIL · FY2024$3,707,485
Chicago Child Care SocietyIL · FY2024$3,284,713
Home of the Child El Hogar Del NinoIL · FY2024$3,118,820
One Hope UnitedIL · FY2024$2,456,810
Family Focus LegacyIL · FY2024$2,288,127
Casa Central Social Services CorporationIL · FY2024$2,205,660
Sga Youth & Family Services NfpIL · FY2024$1,412,403
Childrens Home Association of IllinoisIL · FY2024$1,361,477
Childrens Home & Aid Society of IllinoisIL · FY2024$1,279,149
Asian Human Services of Chicago INCIL · FY2024$1,244,947
The Children's Place AssociationIL · FY2024$1,090,150
Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of ChicagoIL · FY2024$1,059,627
United Methodist Children's HomeIL · FY2024$918,350
Public Health Foundation of Northwest Illinois INCIL · FY2024$794,408
The YMCA of Metropolitan ChicagoIL · FY2024$780,104
Metropolitan Family ServicesIL · FY2024$738,483
Academy for Global Citizenship Charter SchoolIL · FY2024$672,048
First Step Child Care CenterFY2024$650,060
Federal money
Single Audit · Federal Audit Clearinghouse · money spent from federal programs
Year ending Jun 2025 · $54.0M federal money spent
Head StartDepartment of Health and Human Services · ALN 93.600 · Direct$47.4M
Maternal, Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting GrantDepartment of Health and Human Services · ALN 93.870 · Through Illinois Department of Human Services and 2 more$2.8M
Social Services Block GrantDepartment of Health and Human Services · ALN 93.667 · Through Illinois Department of Human Services$2.2M
Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery FundsDepartment of the Treasury · ALN 21.027 · Through Illinois Department of Human Services$1.1M
Child and Adult Care Food ProgramDepartment of Agriculture · ALN 10.558 · Through Illinois State Board of Education$191K
Plus 2 smaller programs.
The auditor reported 4 findings: a weakness in money controls.
Year ending Jun 2024 · $52.0M federal money spent
Head StartDepartment of Health and Human Services · ALN 93.600 · Direct$46.0M
Covid-19 - Maternal, Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting GrantDepartment of Health and Human Services · ALN 93.870 · Through Illinois Department of Human Services and 2 more$2.6M
Social Services Block GrantDepartment of Health and Human Services · ALN 93.667 · Through Illinois Department of Human Services$2.3M
Covid-19 - Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery FundsDepartment of the Treasury · ALN 21.027 · Through Illinois Department of Human Services$741K
Child and Adult Care Food ProgramDepartment of Agriculture · ALN 10.558 · Through Illinois State Board of Education$162K
Plus 2 smaller programs.
The auditor reported: a weakness in money controls.
Year ending Jun 2023 · $54.1M federal money spent
Head StartDepartment of Health and Human Services · ALN 93.600 · Direct$48.2M
Social Services Block GrantDepartment of Health and Human Services · ALN 93.667 · Through Illinois Department of Human Services$2.3M
Maternal, Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting GrantDepartment of Health and Human Services · ALN 93.870 · Through Illinois Department of Human Services and 1 more$2.2M
Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery FundsDepartment of the Treasury · ALN 21.027 · Through Illinois Department of Human Services$810K
Child Care and Development Block GrantDepartment of Health and Human Services · ALN 93.575 · Through Texas Workforce Commission$285K
Plus 3 smaller programs.
The auditor reported: a weakness in money controls.
Year ending Jun 2022 · $42.0M federal money spent
Head StartDepartment of Health and Human Services · ALN 93.600 · Direct$37.3M
Maternal, Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting GrantDepartment of Health and Human Services · ALN 93.870 · Through Illinois Department of Human Services and 1 more$2.2M
Social Services Block GrantDepartment of Health and Human Services · ALN 93.667 · Through Illinois Department of Human Services$1.7M
Child Care and Development Block GrantDepartment of Health and Human Services · ALN 93.575 · Through Texas Workforce Commission$317K
Child Care Mandatory and Matching Funds of the Child Care and Development FundDepartment of Health and Human Services · ALN 93.596 · Through Illinois Department of Human Services$230K
Plus 4 smaller programs.
The auditor reported no findings.
By the numbers
The FY2024 990, line by line.
Download 990
1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$134.9M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$129.3M
Investment incomeLn 3$3.1M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$2.6M
Money outPt IX
$113.8M
Ln 25
Programscol B$92.9M
Managementcol C$18.1M
Fundraisingcol D$2.9M
Owns and owesPt X
$98.0M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$23.3M
Total assetsLn 16$129.4M
LiabilitiesLn 26$31.5M
PeoplePt VI, VII
46
listed · VII A
PaidVII A12
Voting boardVI 1a33
IndependentVI 1b33
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$129.3M
Government grantsLn 1e$71.0M
Fundraising eventsLn 1c$1.1M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$2.6M
Investment incomeLn 3$3.1M
Gains on assetsLn 7$990K
Total revenueLn 12$134.9M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$4K
SavingsLn 2$23.2M
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$23.3M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$29.6M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$9.2M
Other assetsLn 15$11.1M
Total assetsLn 16$129.4M
LiabilitiesLn 26$31.5M
Net assetsLn 32$98.0M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 5386
VolunteersI 634
Fiscal year endsHeaderJune
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13Yes
Records policyVI 14Yes
3More from this return
EndowmentSch D · Pt V
| Line | FY24 | FY23 | FY22 | FY21 | FY20 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| End of yearLn 1g | $25.1M | $23.2M | $22.5M | $26.7M | $22.0M |
| SpentLn 1d–1f | $964K | $965K | $912K | $921K | $858K |
4Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
| Line | Start FY24 | End FY24 |
|---|---|---|
| Cash and savingsLn 1–2 | $31.8M | $23.3M |
| InvestmentsLn 11–13 | $27.7M | $29.6M |
| Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c | $9.5M | $9.2M |
| Total assetsLn 16 | $106.7M | $129.4M |
| LiabilitiesLn 26 | $32.1M | $31.5M |
| Net assetsLn 32 | $74.6M | $98.0M |
5Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
| Line | Total | Programs | Management | Fundraising |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1 | $36.0M | $36.0M | ||
| Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5 | $3.5M | $1.5M | $1.3M | $644K |
| Other salaries and wagesLn 7 | $39.8M | $30.6M | $8.0M | $1.2M |
| Pension plan contributionsLn 8 | $3.6M | $2.8M | $706K | $80K |
| Other employee benefitsLn 9 | $5.0M | $3.9M | $1.0M | $145K |
| Payroll taxesLn 10 | $3.0M | $2.3M | $614K | $88K |
| Legal feesLn 11b | $261K | $184K | $74K | $2K |
| Accounting feesLn 11c | $127K | $127K | ||
| Lobbying feesLn 11d | $994K | $994K | ||
| Professional fundraising feesLn 11e | $500K | $500K | ||
| Investment management feesLn 11f | $60K | $60K | ||
| Other fees for servicesLn 11g | $7.5M | $6.7M | $812K | |
| Advertising and promotionLn 12 | $807K | $633K | $174K | |
| Office expensesLn 13 | $1.4M | $1.2M | $157K | $14K |
| Information technologyLn 14 | $3.4M | $1.1M | $2.2M | $92K |
| OccupancyLn 16 | $2.1M | $1.7M | $343K | $60K |
| TravelLn 17 | $1.3M | $1.1M | $108K | $59K |
| Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19 | $1.7M | $1.5M | $139K | $25K |
| InterestLn 20 | $12K | $224 | $12K | |
| Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22 | $1.2M | $729K | $474K | |
| InsuranceLn 23 | $198K | $198K | ||
| Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24 | $840K | $547K | $285K | $7K |
| All other expensesLn 24e | $419K | $169K | $224K | $27K |
| Total functional expensesLn 25 | $113.8M | $92.9M | $18.1M | $2.9M |
Filing history
| Year | Money in | Money out | In minus out | Net assets | Download |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2025 LatestFiled with the IRS Mar 31, 2026 | $115.2M | $116.5M | −$1.3M | $98.8M | 990 PDF |
| FY2024 ViewingFiled with the IRS Mar 26, 2025 | $134.9M | $113.8M | $21.1M | $98.0M | 990 PDF |
| FY2023Filed with the IRS Mar 19, 2024 | $120.1M | $108.1M | $12.0M | $74.6M | 990 PDF |
| FY2022 | $92.1M | $89.2M | $2.9M | $61.3M | 990 PDF |
| FY2021Filed with the IRS May 13, 2022 | $70.5M | $74.3M | −$3.9M | $62.7M | 990 PDF |
Schedules filed Part IV
III · Programs
R · Related orgs
G · Fundraising
L · Interested persons
I · Grants
A · Public support
J · Pay
O · Explanations
See the full FY2024 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $134,930,918 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $116,062,919$129,261,283
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $2,117,826$2,604,270
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $1,744,120$3,100,842
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $208,179−$35,477
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $120,133,044$134,930,918
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $34,910,742$36,018,053
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $49,475,753$54,979,982
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $68,078$500,039
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $23,644,591$22,329,749
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $108,099,164$113,827,823
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $12,033,880$21,103,095
Part VI · Governance 33 of 33 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body33
VI-1b Independent voting members33
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 $134,930,918 across 10 lines filed
Lines not itemized here account for $30,129 of total revenue; see the IRS return.
VIII-1c Fundraising events$1,068,159
VIII-1e Government grants$70,982,534
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$57,210,590
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$129,261,283
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $2,574,141$2,574,141
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $2,111,332$2,111,332
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsExcluded from tax $989,510$989,510
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising eventsExcluded from tax −$183,741−$183,741
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Excluded from tax $148,264$148,264
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $2,604,270 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $3,065,365$134,930,918
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $113,827,823 across 23 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $36,018,053$36,018,053
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $1,538,617 · Management $1,287,034 · Fundraising $644,152$3,469,803
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $30,632,478 · Management $8,023,188 · Fundraising $1,151,201$39,806,867
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $2,837,275 · Management $706,178 · Fundraising $79,620$3,623,073
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $3,869,039 · Management $1,019,607 · Fundraising $145,249$5,033,895
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $2,344,010 · Management $614,244 · Fundraising $88,090$3,046,344
IX-11b Legal feesPrograms $184,233 · Management $74,306 · Fundraising $2,000$260,539
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $126,851$126,851
IX-11d Lobbying feesManagement $993,669$993,669
IX-11e Professional fundraising feesFundraising $500,039$500,039
IX-11f Investment management feesManagement $60,021$60,021
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $6,732,825 · Management $811,529$7,544,354
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $632,607 · Management $174,497$807,104
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $1,200,970 · Management $157,192 · Fundraising $14,399$1,372,561
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $1,071,965 · Management $2,240,710 · Fundraising $91,858$3,404,533
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $1,705,402 · Management $342,859 · Fundraising $59,645$2,107,906
IX-17 TravelPrograms $1,134,389 · Management $107,686 · Fundraising $59,033$1,301,108
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $1,515,122 · Management $138,802 · Fundraising $25,086$1,679,010
IX-20 InterestPrograms $224 · Management $11,892$12,116
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $729,410 · Management $473,782$1,203,192
IX-23 InsuranceManagement $197,641$197,641
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $547,341 · Management $285,431 · Fundraising $7,461$840,233
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $168,533 · Management $223,705 · Fundraising $26,673$418,911
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $92,862,493 · Management $18,070,824 · Fundraising $2,894,506$113,827,823
Part X · Balance sheet $129,438,415 assets, 18 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $3,600$3,600
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $31,829,704$23,248,500
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $9,224,503$38,502,345
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $13,941,017$14,741,301
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $2,747,457$3,025,244
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $9,505,068$9,165,206
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $25,893,856$27,856,736
X-12 Other securitiesStart of year $1,759,010$1,759,010
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $11,783,388$11,136,473
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $106,687,603$129,438,415
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $15,751,274$15,622,271
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $719,546$1,027,233
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $15,665,775$14,824,120
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $32,136,595$31,473,624
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $23,583,559$20,395,079
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $50,967,449$77,569,712
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $74,551,008$97,964,791
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $106,687,603$129,438,415
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $97,964,791 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$134,930,918
XI-2 Total expenses$113,827,823
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$21,103,095
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$74,551,008
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$2,310,688
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$97,964,791
Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2024 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File
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