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Early Childhood Council Leadership Alliance

EIN 46-1020675 · Wheat Ridge, CO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak41 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

ECCLA ADVOCATES FOR AND STRENGTHENS THE ACCESSIBILITY, QUALITY, AND EQUITY OF LOCAL SERVICES AND SUPPORTS THROUGH A RESPONSIVE STATEWIDE SYSTEM OF EARLY CHILDHOOD COUNCILS, TO BENEFIT COLORADO'S YOUNG CHILDREN, THEIR FAMILIES, AND EARLY CHILDHOOD PROFESSIONALS.

Income
$1.1 million
Spending
$1.6 million
Spent on programs
91%
Reserves
2.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 56%
Employees
7
Highest pay
$100,036, executive di

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 41 out of 100. Higher than 10% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 21% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 40% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 57% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    91% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 11 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 December 31, 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 (1)
  1. $1.5 million spent. THE EARLY CHILDHOOD COUNCIL LEADERSHIP ALLIANCE (ECCLA) WAS INITIALLY FORMED IN 1998 AS AN INFORMAL COLLABORATION AMONG EARLY CHILDHOOD COUNCILS TO PROVIDE SUPPORT, ALIGN EFFORTS, COMMUNICATE GRANT MANAGEMENT INFORMATION, SHARE BEST PRACTICES, AND PROVIDE LOCAL INPUT TO STATE POLICY DECISIONS. ECCLA WAS ESTABLISHED IN 2013 AS AN INDEPENDENT 501(C)(3) NONPROFIT. TODAY, ECCLA IS A STATE-WIDE COLLECTIVE IMPACT LEADER, SERVING COLORADOS 35 EARLY CHILDHOOD COUNCILS WHO REPRESENT ALL OF COLORADOS 64 COUNTIES. WORKING COLLABORATIVELY WITH THE LOCAL EARLY CHILDHOOD COUNCILS AND STATEWIDE PARTNERS, ECCLA SUPPORTS AND STRENGTHENS COLORADOS EARLY CHILDHOOD SYSTEM. AS THE MEMBERSHIP ORGANIZATION FOR THE EARLY CHILDHOOD COUNCILS, ECCLA PROVIDES TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND CAPACITY BUILDING, LEVERAGES POLICY AND ADVOCACY, SCALES INNOVATION, IMPROVES WORKFORCE SUPPORTS FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD PROFESSIONALS, ADVANCES COLLECTIVE IMPACT, AND FACILITATES PARTNERSHIPS ACROSS THE STATE. CURRENT PROGRAMS: ALL PROGRAMS HAVE A GEOGRAPHIC REACH ACROSS THE STATE OF COLORADO. --MEMBERSHIP RESOURCES: SERVING EARLY CHILDHOOD COUNCILS WITH CAPACITY BUILDING, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT. --POLICY AND ADVOCACY: ELEVATING THE EARLY CHILDHOOD WORKFORCE, HEALTHY CHILD OUTCOMES, INCREASED ACCESS FOR LOCAL FAMILIES, AND POLICIES AND INVESTMENTS IN THE LOCAL EARLY CHILDHOOD SYSTEM INFRASTRUCTURE. --WORKFORCE SUPPORTS: PROVIDING STATE WIDE DIRECT SUPPORT TO THE EARLY CHILDHOOD WORKFORCE, PROGRAMS SERVED 351 PROFESSIONALS IN 2024. ----T.E.A.C.H. EARLY CHILDHOOD COLORADO SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM: THE T.E.A.C.H. EARLY CHILDHOOD INITIATIVE, A NATIONAL, EVIDENCE-BASED STRATEGY THAT CREATES ACCESS TO HIGHER EDUCATION. ----FAMILY CHILD CARE HOME INITIATIVE: GRANTS TO SUPPORT LICENSED FAMILY CHILD CARE HOME PROVIDERS TO ADDRESS HEALTH, SAFETY, AND QUALITY IMPROVEMENT NEEDS. ----COACHING CREDENTIAL SCHOLARSHIP: SCHOLARSHIPS TO COMPLETE THE TRAINING NECESSARY FOR OBTAINING AN EARLY CHILDHOOD COACHING CREDENTIAL. THE ORGANIZATION IS SUPPORTED PRIMARILY BY FOUNDATION AWARDS AND GOVERNMENT GRANTS AND CONTRACTS. THE EARLY CHILDHOOD COUNCIL LEADERSHIP ALLIANCE (ECCLA) WAS INITIALLY FORMED IN 1998 AS AN INFORMAL COLLABORATION AMONG EARLY CHILDHOOD COUNCILS TO PROVIDE SUPPORT, ALIGN EFFORTS, COMMUNICATE GRANT MANAGEMENT INFORMATION, SHARE BEST PRACTICES, AND PROVIDE LOCAL INPUT TO STATE POLICY DECISIONS. ECCLA WAS ESTABLISHED IN 2013 AS AN INDEPENDENT 501(C)(3) NONPROFIT. TODAY, ECCLA IS A STATE-WIDE COLLECTIVE IMPACT LEADER, SERVING COLORADOS 35 EARLY CHILDHOOD COUNCILS WHO REPRESENT ALL OF COLORADOS 64 COUNTIES. WORKING COLLABORATIVELY WITH THE LOCAL EARLY CHILDHOOD COUNCILS AND STATEWIDE PARTNERS, ECCLA SUPPORTS AND STRENGTHENS COLORADOS EARLY CHILDHOOD SYSTEM. AS THE MEMBERSHIP ORGANIZATION FOR THE EARLY CHILDHOOD COUNCILS, ECCLA PROVIDES TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND CAPACITY BUILDING, LEVERAGES POLICY AND ADVOCACY, SCALES INNOVATION, IMPROVES WORKFORCE SUPPORTS FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD PROFESSIONALS, ADVANCES COLLECTIVE IMPACT, AND FACILITATES PARTNERSHIPS ACROSS THE STATE. CURRENT PROGRAMS: ALL PROGRAMS HAVE A GEOGRAPHIC REACH ACROSS THE STATE OF COLORADO. --MEMBERSHIP RESOURCES: SERVING EARLY CHILDHOOD COUNCILS WITH CAPACITY BUILDING, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT. --POLICY AND ADVOCACY: ELEVATING THE EARLY CHILDHOOD WORKFORCE, HEALTHY CHILD OUTCOMES, INCREASED ACCESS FOR LOCAL FAMILIES, AND POLICIES AND INVESTMENTS IN THE LOCAL EARLY CHILDHOOD SYSTEM INFRASTRUCTURE. --WORKFORCE SUPPORTS: PROVIDING STATE WIDE DIRECT SUPPORT TO THE EARLY CHILDHOOD WORKFORCE, PROGRAMS SERVED 351 PROFESSIONALS IN 2024. ----T.E.A.C.H. EARLY CHILDHOOD COLORADO SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM: THE T.E.A.C.H. EARLY CHILDHOOD INITIATIVE, A NATIONAL, EVIDENCE-BASED STRATEGY THAT CREATES ACCESS TO HIGHER EDUCATION. ----FAMILY CHILD CARE HOME INITIATIVE: GRANTS TO SUPPORT LICENSED FAMILY CHILD CARE HOME PROVIDERS TO ADDRESS HEALTH, SAFETY, AND QUALITY IMPROVEMENT NEEDS. ----COACHING CREDENTIAL SCHOLARSHIP: SCHOLARSHIPS TO COMPLETE THE TRAINING NECESSARY FOR OBTAINING AN EARLY CHILDHOOD COACHING CREDENTIAL. THE ORGANIZATION IS SUPPORTED PRIMARILY BY FOUNDATION AWARDS AND GOVERNMENT GRANTS AND CONTRACTS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.

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

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

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since September 2013.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 21, 2026.

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