Columbus Early Learning Centers
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
COLUMBUS EARLY LEARNING CENTERS (CELC) HAS OVER 130 YEARS OF HISTORY PROVIDING HIGH QUALITY, AFFORDABLE EARLY LEARNING AND CHILDCARE IN CENTRAL OHIO. THIS RICH HISTORY PLACES CELC AMONGST THE OLDEST EARLY CHILDCARE PROGRAMS IN THE COUNTRY. OF THE OVER 300 CHILDREN THAT ARE SERVED EACH YEAR, NEARLY 75% LIVE BELOW 150% OF THE FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL. IN ADDITION, 85% COME FROM A SINGLE PARENT HEADED HOUSEHOLD AND 95% RECEIVE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE OR A CELC SCHOLARSHIP TO HELP MAKE EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND CHILDCARE ACCESSIBLE AND AFFORDABLE. CELC PRIDES ITSELF ON SERVING AS MANY CHILDREN FROM THE COMMUNITY AS WE CAN, ENSURING CHILDREN GRADUATE ON TO KINDERGARTEN PREPARED BOTH ACADEMICALLY AND SOCIALLY.
- Income
- $7.4 million
- Spending
- $6.0 million
- Spent on programs
- 90%
- Reserves
- 7.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 59%
- Employees
- 137
- Volunteers
- 373
- Highest pay
- $146,539, ceo
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 89 out of 100.
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 7.2 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 22% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 19% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 80% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1589% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 2517 of 17 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 (1)
- $5.4 million spent. COLUMBUS EARLY LEARNING CENTERS (CELC) HAS BEEN PROVIDING HIGH-QUALITY EARLY LEARNING AND AFFORDABLE CARE TO OUR CITY'S CHILDREN SINCE 1887. CELC'S SERVICES MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR PARENTS TO WORK OR ATTEND SCHOOL, WHILE CHILDREN ARE CARED FOR IN EDUCATION-FOCUSED CLASSROOMS STAFFED BY HIGHLY QUALIFIED EARLY CHILDHOOD TEACHERS.CHILDREN SERVED ARE: 18% WHITE, 61% BLACK, 14% MULTI-RACIAL, 6% HISPANIC. (72% IDENTIFY AS PERSONS OF COLOR). CHILDREN ENROLLED FOR AT LEAST 90 DAYS ARE ASSESSED USING TEACHING STRATEGIES GOLD. TEACHERS ENTER DATA INTO THE SYSTEM AFTER CONDUCTING OBSERVATIONS, AND INDIVIDUAL RESULTS ARE COMPARED TO WIDELY HELD EXPECTATIONS (WHE) IN SIX DIFFERENT DOMAINS, SUCH AS SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT, COGNITIVE ABILITY, AND LITERACY SKILLS. SUCCESS IS DEFINED AS THE CHILD MEETING OR EXCEEDING WHE IN AT LEAST FOUR OF SIX DOMAINS. OUR GOALS ANNUALLY ARE THAT MORE THAN 80% OF OUR CHILDREN ARE MEETING OR EXCEEDING THE WHE. IN ADDITION, 95% OF CEL''S GRADUATING STUDENTS DEMONSTRATE KINDERGARTEN-READINESS COMPARED TO JUST 35.4% STATEWIDE. IN 2024, VOLUNTEERS CONTRIBUTED $ 34,737.58 IN ECONOMIC VALUE.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
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 October 13, 2026.
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 October 13, 2026.
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 October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since August 1958.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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 21, 2026.
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