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Childrens Learning Centers of Fairfield County Inc

EIN 06-0665191 · Stamford, CT

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair55 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

PROVIDES EARLY EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS WHICH INCLUDE HEAD START, SCHOOL READINESS, AND CHILD DAY CARE IN LOWER FAIRFIELD COUNTY. CLC SERVES OVER 800 STUDENTS AGE SIX WEEKS TO FIVE YEARS OLD.

Income
$18.7 million
Spending
$16.6 million
Spent on programs
82%
Reserves
-0.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 77%
Employees
230
Volunteers
75
Highest pay
$189,284, director of child development

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 55 out of 100. Higher than 36% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 33% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 11% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 14% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    82% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 35% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    18 of 18 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (3)
  1. $6.1 million spent. SCHOOL READINESS PROGRAM SERVES 360 FULL TIME STUDENTS, 28 PART DAY STUDENTS AND 60 EXTENDED DAY STUDENTS IN THE HEAD START PROGRAM. THE SCHOOL READINESS PROGRAM IS FUNDED BY BOTH FEDERAL AND STATE FUNDS, AND A PARENT FEE THAT IS SET BY THE STATE AS MOST OF THE FAMILIES ARE UNDER THE POVERTY LEVEL. THE STUDENTS IN SCHOOL READINESS ARE RESIDENTS OF STAMFORD CT. THE STUDENTS ARE EVALUATED IN VARIOUS SKILL LEVELS SO THE AGENCY WORKS WITH THE STAMFORD PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM FOR PLACEMENT IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.
  2. $4.2 million spent. THE STAMFORD HEAD START AND EARLY HEAD START PROGRAMS SERVE 154 STUDENTS THREE TO FIVE AND 48 STUDENTS FROM SIX WEEKS TO THREE YEARS OF AGE. OUR DELEGATE FAMILY CENTERS INC. IN GREENWICH SERVES ANOTHER 34 STUDENTS THREE TO FIVE. THE HEAD START PROGRAM IS FUNDED BY FEDERAL AND STATE MONIES. AN ADDITIONAL 20% OF THE FEDERAL CONTRACT NEEDS TO BE RAISED BY THE ORGANIZATION THAT ARE NON-FEDERAL FUNDS. THE HEAD START FAMILIES DO NOT PAY FOR THE FEDERAL SERVICES. ALSO, 90% OF HEAD START FAMILIES ARE MINORITY AND FOR OVER 80% OF THE HEAD START FAMILIES, ENGLISH IS NOT THE MAIN HOUSEHOLD LANGUAGE.
  3. $3.4 million spent. THE STAMFORD DAY CARE PROGRAM SERVES 227 STUDENTS' AGES THREE TO FIVE YEARS OF AGE. THIS PROGRAM IS FUNDED THROUGH BOTH FEDERAL AND STATE FUNDS AND A FAMILY FEE THAT IS SET BY THE STATE ON A SLIDING SCALE AS AGAIN MOST OF THE FAMILIES ARE BELOW THE 75% POVERTY LINE FOR THE STATE. THE PROGRAM IS OPEN TO STUDENTS IN THE LOWER FAIRFIELD COUNTY AREA. THE AGENCY PREPARES THESE STUDENTS TO ENTER KINDERGARTEN.PRIVATE PAY PROGRAM FOR INFANTS AND TODDLERS AGES SIX WEEKS TO THREE YEARS OF AGE. THERE ARE ALSO FOUR SLOTS FOR CHILDREN THREE TO FIVE YEARS OF AGE. THIS PROGRAM DOES NOT RECEIVE ANY GOVERNMENT SUPPORT, THEREFORE THESE FAMILIES PAY THE FAIR MARKET VALUE FOR THE SERVICES PROVIDED.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since August 1954.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 7, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.