The mission of Collaborative for Children is to meaningfully improve the quality of early childhood education and care for Greater Houston's children through those most influential in their lives.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
74¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 239 volunteers and 44 employees.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · People: Part I, lines 5–6

Before you give

FY2025 · 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
3 of 6
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $116K a year · 1% of revenue · last 6 filings
Worth a look: a surplus in 3 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 filings
Spent on programs
74%
of spending
Fine: 74% of spending went to programs; 65% to 75%.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$812K
to officers and key staff · 14% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 14% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
4 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 3.9 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
11
named funders · $539K
Looks good: 11 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$225K
6% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 6% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
14
of 14 voting members
Looks good: 14 of 14 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$4.1M
-36% vs prior year
Spent
$5.6M
To programs
74%
Net assets
$3.5M
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$4.1M
FY2025▼ -36%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$17.4M
FY2021$11.7M
FY2022$13.7M
FY2023$9.0M
FY2024$6.4M
FY2025$4.1M
Expenses
$5.6M
FY2025▼ -18%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$15.4M
FY2021$13.0M
FY2022$12.7M
FY2023$7.9M
FY2024$6.9M
FY2025$5.6M
Net assets
$3.5M
FY2025▼ -29%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$4.6M
FY2021$3.4M
FY2022$4.3M
FY2023$5.4M
FY2024$5.0M
FY2025$3.5M

From the FY2025 Form 990 · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in Sep 1988.

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

Where the money goes

74 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 74% · $4.2M Management & general 17% · $964K Fundraising 9% · $484K

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

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Who runs it and what they're paid

19 people listed on the 990; $812K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
President & CEO
$286,830Pt VII · Sec A
$148,128Pt VII · Sec A
Chief HR Officer
$142,850Pt VII · Sec A
$125,346Pt VII · Sec A
Director Marketing
$109,147Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Melianie J Johnson’s $287K as President & CEO is at the 97th percentile of top reported officer pay among 3869 $1–10M 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 · 8 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Melianie J Johnson$286,830$309,467$318,050———
Melanie J Johnson———$296,767$264,618—
Melanie Johnson—————$243,718
Belinda Munsell—$165,175$154,178$135,314$142,724—
Alisa Ealy—$135,193$157,697$94,612——
Kimberly Borders———$125,400$152,917—
Leslie Gruver$148,128$34,681————
Susan Kennedy$142,850$145,016$137,591$128,076$117,256—

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 Collaborative for Children executive salaries →

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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 families with early childhood education resources, parent coaching, and program referrals to support children's academic and life success.

Questions for Collaborative for Children

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Provided by the organization

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3 programs · $4.2M · in their own filed words · FY2025
01

Provider Engagement programs support and develop child care and early education professionals through one-on-one consulting, training, and mentoring; materials and equipment; scholarships for professional development conferences; and wage enhancement programs that reward teachers for earning higher educational credentials.

$2.9Mprogram expense
02

Community Engagement programs participate in partnerships to promote healthy child development and strengthen laws and regulations impacting young children. Early childhood education is promoted as a high-priority public policy issue in our region, which needs adequate support to deliver quality programs for parents, children, and…

$786Kprogram expense
03

Family Engagement programs provide families with information, resources, and support to launch their children toward academic and life success by providing parent education classes, one-on-one parent coaching, and referrals for early education programs, after-school programs, as well as programs that have received training on meeting the…

$506Kprogram 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 · FY2024
See all 11 funders →
Grants paid · 180 grants · $6.4M · 2020–2025
Unitemized GrantFY2025$67,650
Unitemized GrantFY2024$83,675
Unitemized GrantFY2023$211,595
Peter E Hyland Child Care CenterFY2022$23,107
Unitemized GrantFY2022$15,800
Blossom HeightsFY2022$12,595
Tiny Toes LLCFY2022$8,993
Aama INC - George I SanchezTX · FY2022$8,006
Galena Park Isd Pep CenterFY2022$7,962
Star of Hope MissionTX · FY2022$6,628
Tiger TrailFY2022$6,366
Unitemized GrantFY2022$6,022
Galena Park Isd Child Care CenterFY2022$5,994
Lion LaneFY2022$5,564
Bear BlvdFY2022$5,460
See all 180 grants →

By the numbers

The FY2025 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$4.1M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$4.0M
Investment incomeLn 3$101K
Other incomeLn 4–11$2K
Money outPt IX
$5.6M
Ln 25
Programscol B$4.2M
Managementcol C$964K
Fundraisingcol D$484K
Owns and owesPt X
$3.5M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$1.8M
Total assetsLn 16$3.7M
LiabilitiesLn 26$225K
PeoplePt VI, VII
19
listed · VII A
PaidVII A5
Voting boardVI 1a14
IndependentVI 1b14
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$4.0M
Government grantsLn 1e$2.4M
Noncash giftsLn 1g$17K
Fundraising eventsLn 1c$171K
Investment incomeLn 3$101K
Other incomeLn 4–11$2K
Total revenueLn 12$4.1M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$163K
SavingsLn 2$1.7M
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$1.8M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$592K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$498K
Other assetsLn 15$2K
Total assetsLn 16$3.7M
LiabilitiesLn 26$225K
Net assetsLn 32$3.5M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 544
VolunteersI 6239
Fiscal year endsHeaderDecember
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 FY25End FY25
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$3.3M$1.8M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$498K$592K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$687K$498K
Total assetsLn 16$5.7M$3.7M
LiabilitiesLn 26$745K$225K
Net assetsLn 32$5.0M$3.5M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$436K$436K
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$100K$100K
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$483K$324K$106K$53K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$2.3M$1.5M$541K$261K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$94K$70K$12K$13K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$275K$214K$44K$18K
Payroll taxesLn 10$212K$150K$39K$23K
Accounting feesLn 11c$75K$75K
Professional fundraising feesLn 11e$28K$28K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$347K$296K$34K$17K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$156K$129K$27K
Office expensesLn 13$36K$6K$21K$9K
Information technologyLn 14$513K$441K$53K$19K
OccupancyLn 16$83K$81K$1K$425
TravelLn 17$95K$80K$15K$683
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$125K$90K$21K$14K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$199K$199K
InsuranceLn 23$27K$24K$2K$911
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$62K$60K$2K
Total functional expensesLn 25$5.6M$4.2M$964K$484K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest Viewing $4.1M$5.6M−$1.6M$3.5M 990 PDF
FY2024 $6.4M$6.9M−$533K$5.0M 990 PDF
FY2023 $9.0M$7.9M$1.0M$5.4M 990 PDF
FY2022 $13.7M$12.7M$1.1M$4.3M 990 PDF
FY2021 $11.7M$13.0M−$1.3M$3.4M 990 PDF
FY2020 $17.4M$15.4M$2.0M$4.6M 990 PDF

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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 FY2025 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $4,089,871 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $6,190,037$3,986,117
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $0$0
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $159,871$101,405
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $12,142$2,349
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $6,362,050$4,089,871
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $575,456$535,888
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $3,952,734$3,369,659
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $28,319$27,600
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $2,338,483$1,716,397
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $6,894,992$5,649,544
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year −$532,942−$1,559,673
Part VI · Governance 14 of 14 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body14
VI-1b Independent voting members14
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 $4,089,871 across 8 lines filed
VIII-1c Fundraising events$170,653
VIII-1e Government grants$2,413,744
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$1,401,720
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$16,688
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$3,986,117
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $101,405$101,405
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising eventsExcluded from tax $2,349$2,349
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $0 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $103,754$4,089,871
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $5,649,544 across 19 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $435,690$435,690
IX-2 Grants to domestic individualsPrograms $100,198$100,198
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $324,088 · Management $106,334 · Fundraising $52,518$482,940
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $1,503,456 · Management $540,663 · Fundraising $260,900$2,305,019
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $69,532 · Management $12,071 · Fundraising $12,680$94,283
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $213,896 · Management $43,515 · Fundraising $17,744$275,155
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $150,320 · Management $39,347 · Fundraising $22,595$212,262
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $74,797$74,797
IX-11e Professional fundraising feesFundraising $27,600$27,600
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $295,712 · Management $34,061 · Fundraising $16,933$346,706
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $128,961 · Fundraising $26,539$155,500
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $6,097 · Management $21,205 · Fundraising $8,609$35,911
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $440,981 · Management $52,840 · Fundraising $19,496$513,317
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $81,154 · Management $1,262 · Fundraising $425$82,841
IX-17 TravelPrograms $79,716 · Management $14,753 · Fundraising $683$95,152
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $89,615 · Management $20,918 · Fundraising $14,124$124,657
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $198,761$198,761
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $23,583 · Management $2,341 · Fundraising $911$26,835
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $59,749 · Fundraising $2,171$61,920
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $4,201,509 · Management $964,107 · Fundraising $483,928$5,649,544
Part X · Balance sheet $3,736,753 assets, 15 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $248,714$163,343
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $3,005,453$1,673,060
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $1,054,870$632,446
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $226,866$175,948
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $687,313$498,091
X-12 Other securitiesStart of year $497,968$592,147
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $1,520$1,718
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $5,722,704$3,736,753
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $745,340$204,601
X-19 Deferred revenue$20,282
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $745,340$224,883
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $3,172,025$2,442,338
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $1,805,339$1,069,532
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $4,977,364$3,511,870
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $5,722,704$3,736,753
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $3,511,870 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$4,089,871
XI-2 Total expenses$5,649,544
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$1,559,673
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$4,977,364
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$94,179
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$3,511,870

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2025 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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