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Early Milestones Colorado

EIN 47-1929974 · Denver, CO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair61 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

EARLY MILESTONES COLORADO IS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT ADVANCES SUCCESS FOR YOUNG CHILDREN ACROSS THE STATE BY ACCELERATING INNOVATION, USE OF BEST PRACTICES AND SYSTEMIC CHANGE. EARLY MILESTONES ENVISIONS A COLORADO IN WHICH EVERY CHILD IS VALUED, HEALTHY AND PREPARED TO THRIVE IN SCHOOL AND IN LIFE.

Income
$805,381
Spending
$1.9 million
Spent on programs
57%
Reserves
10.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 75%
Employees
9
Volunteers
12
Highest pay
$191,420, 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

Fair: 61 out of 100. Higher than 31% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 10.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 139% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 11% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    57% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 15 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 94% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    12 of 12 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 (5)
  1. $471,725 spent. IMPACT ON EQUITY (CLASS 149) - THE IMPACT ON EQUITY INITIATIVE (IOE) INVESTS IN INNOVATIVE COMMUNITY EFFORTS TO ADVANCE EQUITY IN EARLY CHILDHOOD AND ACCELERATES SYSTEMIC CHANGE BASED ON WHAT WORKS. IN 2024- 2026, THE INITIATIVE IS FOCUSED ON POWERING COLLABORATIONS TO REDUCE INEQUITIES, PRENATAL TO THREE. THE FIRST GRANTEE PARTNERS IN THIS INITIATIVE, SEVEN COLLABORATIVE COMMUNITY-BASED EFFORTS FROM ACROSS THE STATE, ARE POISED TO MAKE REAL AND LASTING CHANGE FOR ALL YOUNG CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES IN COLORADO.
  2. $261,876 spent. ORGANIZATION WORK PLAN (154) - IS AN INTERNALLY FUNDED INITIATIVE DESIGNED TO HELP INCREASE VISIBILITY, AND BUILD SUPPORT FOR PROACTIVE WORK ACROSS THE CORE AREAS OF FOCUS DETERMINED BY THE LEADERSHIP TEAM AND BOARD.
  3. $82,841 spent. UPK & CHILD CARE POLICY RESEARCH (151) - EMC HAS A SUBCONTRACT WITH CHILD TRENDS TO HELP SUPPORT THEIR WORK TO FORMALLY EVALUATE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF COLORADO'S UNIVERSAL PRESCHOOL PROGRAM. MILESTONES HAS A SMALL, BUT IMPORTANT, ROLE IN DRAWING CONNECTIONS TO AND INSIGHTS ABOUT THE COLORADO CONTEXT. EMC IS SUPPORTING CHILD TRENDS IN THEIR STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT AND SURVEY RECRUITMENT AND DATA COLLECTION.
  4. $280,882 spent. EARLY LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT (146) - EARLY MILESTONES IS PROVIDING A TWO YEARS OUT EVALUATION FOR CIRCLE AND RECEIVING A REPORT ON EARLY CHILD MENTAL HEALTH NEXT STES. EXPENSES 79,616. INCLUDING GRANTS OF 0. REVENUE 9,999. COLORADO STATEWIDE PARENT COALITION (155) - CSPC FUNDING SUPPORTS THE RURAL CARE NETWORK. THE RURAL CARE NETWORK OFFERS COMMUNITY BUILDING OPPORTUNITIES, TRAINING, AND FUNDING FOR RURAL FAMILY, FRIEND, AND NEIGHBOR PROVIDERS (FFNS) THROUGH IN-PERSON GATHERINGS AND MONTHLY VIRTUAL MEETINGS. INITIAL CONVENINGS WERE IN ALAMOSA AND DURANGE. THE NETWORK IS CURRENTLY FUNDED THROUGH JUNE 2026. EXPENSES 39,092. INCLUDING GRANTS OF 0. REVENUE 0. HEALTH & WELL-BEING SYSTEMS (130) - SYSTEMS BUILDING EFFORTS FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD HEALTH AND WELL-BEING INCLUDING RESEARCH AND STAKEHOLDER COLLABORATION AND ENGAGEMENT. EXPENSES 38,970. INCLUDING GRANTS OF 0. REVENUE 0. OTHER CROSS FUNCTION, DEMONSTRATION, AND RESEARCH PROGRAMS. EXPENSES 123,204. INCLUDING GRANTS OF 15,500. REVENUE 40,375.
  5. EARLY LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT (146) - EARLY MILESTONES IS PROVIDING A TWO YEARS OUT EVALUATION FOR CIRCLE AND RECEIVING A REPORT ON EARLY CHILD MENTAL HEALTH NEXT STES. EXPENSES 79,616. INCLUDING GRANTS OF 0. REVENUE 9,999. COLORADO STATEWIDE PARENT COALITION (155) - CSPC FUNDING SUPPORTS THE RURAL CARE NETWORK. THE RURAL CARE NETWORK OFFERS COMMUNITY BUILDING OPPORTUNITIES, TRAINING, AND FUNDING FOR RURAL FAMILY, FRIEND, AND NEIGHBOR PROVIDERS (FFNS) THROUGH IN-PERSON GATHERINGS AND MONTHLY VIRTUAL MEETINGS. INITIAL CONVENINGS WERE IN ALAMOSA AND DURANGE. THE NETWORK IS CURRENTLY FUNDED THROUGH JUNE 2026. EXPENSES 39,092. INCLUDING GRANTS OF 0. REVENUE 0. HEALTH & WELL-BEING SYSTEMS (130) - SYSTEMS BUILDING EFFORTS FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD HEALTH AND WELL-BEING INCLUDING RESEARCH AND STAKEHOLDER COLLABORATION AND ENGAGEMENT. EXPENSES 38,970. INCLUDING GRANTS OF 0. REVENUE 0. OTHER CROSS FUNCTION, DEMONSTRATION, AND RESEARCH PROGRAMS. EXPENSES 123,204. INCLUDING GRANTS OF 15,500. REVENUE 40,375.

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 February 2015.

    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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