Early Learning Coalition of Manatee County Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO PROVIDE AND COORDINATE THE SERVICES OF SCHOOL READINESS PROGRAMS, IN AN EFFICIENT MANNER, IN ORDER TO HELP ALL CHILDREN DEVELOP THE SKILLS NEEDED TO ACHIEVE FUTURE EDUCATION SUCCESS, TO SUPPORT THE ROLE OF PARENTS AS THEIR CHILD'S FIRST AND MOST IMPORTANT TEACHER AND TO CONTINUE TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF SERVICES AVAILABLE IN THE COMMUNITY.
- Income
- $32.7 million
- Spending
- $32.9 million
- Spent on programs
- 94%
- Reserves
- 0.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 98%
- Employees
- 60
- Volunteers
- 60
- Highest pay
- $205,216, ceo/ed
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
Weak: 39 out of 100. Higher than 12% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
4 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 0.4 months of spending.
Debt
2 of 20It owes 82% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 1% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 9% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1594% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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 50% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2524 of 24 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 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 (4)
- $19.7 million spent. THE SCHOOL READINESS PROGRAM (SR) OFFERS FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO LOW-INCOME FAMILIES FOR EARLY EDUCATION AND CARE SO THEY CAN BECOME FINANCIALLY SELFSUFFICIENT, AND THEIR YOUNG CHILDREN CAN BE SUCCESSFUL IN SCHOOL. SCHOOL READINESS CHILDCARE FUNDING IS AVAILABLE TO ELIGIBLE FAMILIES TO ASSIST THEM IN OBTAINING AFFORDABLE, HIGH-QUALITY CHILDCARE. CHILDREN ARE ELIGIBLE FROM BIRTH THROUGH 12 YEARS OF AGE. THE ELC PROVIDED FUNDING ASSISTANCE FOR CHILDCARE FOR 4,116 CHILDREN AT 137 EARLY LEARNING PROVIDERS THROUGHOUT MANATEE COUNTY.
- $7.8 million spent. THE VPK PROGRAM IS A FREE PROGRAM DESIGNED TO PREPARE FOUR-YEAR-OLD CHILDREN FOR KINDERGARTEN AND BUILD A FOUNDATION FOR EDUCATIONAL SUCCESS. THE EARLY LEARNING COALITION IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION AND ADMINSTRATION OF THE VOLUTARY PREKINDERGARTEN PROGRAM. THE ELC SERVED 2,833 VPK CHILDREN IN 213 VPK EARLY LEARNING PROVIDERS. THROUGH OUTREACH AND AWARENESS, THE ELC PROMOTED THE VPK PROGRAM BY AIRING VPK PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS, DISTRIBUTING INFORMATIONAL MATERIALS AT COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENTS AND ADVERTISING THE PROGRAM THROUGH A VARIETY OF MARKETING OUTLETS.
- $3.3 million spent. COMPREHENSIVE CONSUMER EDUCATION COALITION STAFF CONDUCT ONE-ON-ONE EDUCATION IN THE OFFICE, PROVIDE LITERATURE IN THE LOBBY, AND PARTICIPATE IN MANY COMMUNITY EVENTS SUCH AS DAY OF HOPE, SAFE KIDS NIGHT, AND BACK-TO-SCHOOL CELEBRATIONS AT TITLE ONE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS. THE COALITION'S FLEET, CONSISTING OF THE MOBILE LEARNING LAB, THE DREAM MACHINE, AND THE ELC EXPLORER ARE UTILIZED AT THESE COMMUNITY EVENTS TO DISTRIBUTE HIGH-QUALITY CHILDREN'S BOOKS, PROMOTE THE SCHOOL READINESS AND VOLUNTARY PREKINDERGARTEN PROGRAMS, AS WELL AS TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE EARLY LEARNING COALITION'S ROLE AS A COMMUNITY PARTNER. THE COALITION ALSO MAINTAINS CONSUMER EDUCATION ON ITS WEBSITE. FOR EXAMPLE, THE CHILD CARE RESOURCE AND REFERRAL PAGE CONTAINS VALUABLE LINKS TO SCHOOL READINESS AND PARENT EDUCATION DOCUMENTS, SUCH AS THE FAMILY GUIDE FOR SELECTING QUALITY CHILD CARE AND QUALITY CHECKLIST. THE ELC CONTINUES TO PUBLISH ITS SEASONAL FAMILY MAGAZINE, NEXTGEN. THIS PUBLICATION IS DISTRIBUTED TO ALL MANATEE COUNTY CONTRACTED CHILDCARE PROGRAMS AND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CHILDREN AND PROVIDES A VARIETY OF INFORMATIVE ARTICLES ON CHILD AND FAMILY-RELATED TOPICS. NEXTGEN ALSO INCLUDES A DIRECTORY OF ALL LEGALLY OPERATING CHILDCARE PROVIDERS IN MANATEE COUNTY. IN ADDITION, OVER 45,000 HIGH QUALITY CHILDREN'S BOOKS WERE SHARED WITH THE COMMUNITY. EARLY LEARNING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE: THE ELC PROVIDED 78 PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SESSIONS ON 41 INDIVIDUAL TOPICS WITH 1,744 STUDENT CONTACTS, AND 241.6 TRAINING HOURS. TOPIC INCLUDED LANGUAGE AND LITERACY, INCLUSION, MATHEMATICS, STEAM, BEHAVIORAL MANAGEMENT, SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT, NUTRITION, AND FIRST AID AND CPR. ADDITIONALLY, THE ELC PROVIDER COACHING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO 2,506 TEACHERS TOTALING 1,073 TECHNICAL OR COACHING HOURS, AND 789 SESSIONS PROVIDED IN CHILDCARE CENTERS ACROSS MANATEE COUNTY. EARLY LEARNING CLASSROOM QUALITY ENHANCEMENT PROGRAMS: THE EARLY LEARNING COALITION OF MANATEE COUNTY BRINGS EDUCATIONAL CONTINUITY AND ACTIVITIES RELATED TO EARLY LEARNING STANDARDS TO NEIGHBORHOODS AROUND THE COUNTY THROUGH OUR FLEET-BASED PROGRAMS. THESE PROGRAMS SERVE CHILDREN OF ALL ABILITIES AGES 3 TO VPK IN CHILDCARE CENTERS AROUND MANATEE COUNTY IN TRANSFORMED SCHOOL BUSES. FRAME THEIR LEARNING IS A TEACHING SYSTEM SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED TO HELP TEACHERS IMPROVE THEIR PERFORMANCE AND RAISE THEIR CLASS? INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORT SCORES. THE TOOLS PROVIDED HELP TEACHERS ASK MORE THOUGHT-PROVOKING QUESTIONS AND IMPROVE THEIR EXCHANGES WITH STUDENTS TO SPUR HIGHER-QUALITY INTERACTIONS, LEARNING, AND RETENTION. ELC COMBINES FRAME THEIR LEARNING AND STEAM BY OFFERING ON-SITE SESSIONS WITH TEACHERS AND THEN A STEAM VISIT WITH THE BUS WHERE STUDENTS EXPLORE VARIOUS HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES SUCH AS NATURE, LIGHTS AND SHADOWS, AND BUILDINGS AND STRUCTURES. AN AVERAGE OF 56 TEACHERS PARTICIPATED IN FRAME THEIR LEARNING FROM 38 CLASSROOMS. READINGPALS COMPLETED 25-30 WEEKS OF READING WITH TEN CLASSROOMS AT NINE CHILDCARE SITES FOR A TOTAL OF 156 CHILDREN SERVED. EVERY CHILD RECEIVED A BOOK, TOTALING 3,113 BOOKS. WITH THE HELP OF OUR 92 VOLUNTEERS, READINGPALS MENTORS FOCUSED ON DEVELOPING EARLY LITERACY SKILLS, BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS AND REINFORCING THE LOVE OF READING. SLEEP BABY SAFELY GOAL IS TO EQUIP AND EDUCATE ALL PEOPLE WHO COME INTO CONTACT WITH INFANTS TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF PREVENTABLE INFANT DEATHS DUE TO UNSAFE SLEEP ENVIRONMENTS. THE PROGRAM PROVIDES CLEAR CONSISTENT MESSAGING IN BOTH ENGLISH AND SPANISH SUPPORTED BY LOCAL DATA AND SCIENTIFICALLY PROVEN FACTS. THE EARLY LEARNING COALITION OFFERS A VARIETY OF TRAININGS SPECIFIC TO THE AUDIENCE, WITH FLEXIBLE TIMES AND LOCATIONS. 39 CHILDCARE PROVIDER SITES IN MANATEE COUNTY HAVE BEEN TRAINED IN OUR SLEEP BABY SAFELY INITIATIVE. NEMOURS READING BRIGHTSTART IS AN INNOVATIVE, SUPPLEMENTAL EARLY INTERVENTION CURRICULUM SPECIFICALLY CREATED TO TEACH EARLY LITERACY AND FOUNDATIONAL READING SKILLS TO SMALL GROUPS OF THREE-FOUR AND FIVE-YEAR- OLDS SCREENED AND DEEMED AT RISK FOR READING FAILURE. 284 CHILDREN WERE DEEMED AT-RISK FOR READING FAILURE, USING THE NEMOURS READING BRIGHTSTART INTENSIVE LITERACY INTERVENTION SUPPLEMENTARY CURRICULUM, 177 ACHIEVED AGE-APPROPRIATE LITERACY SKILLS THAT WERE PREDICTIVE OF BEING READY TO BECOME SUCCESSFUL READERS IN KINDERGARTEN. THE ELC PARTNERED WITH THE MANATEE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT AND STEP UP SUNCOAST TO HOST THE TRANSITION TO KINDERGARTEN EVENTS: BREAKFAST WITH A PURPOSE: START TOGETHER, GROW TOGETHER, KINDER(GARTEN) TOGETHER. THE EVENT BROUGHT TOGETHER LOCAL PRE-K DIRECTORS, TEACHERS, AND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STAFF TO CELEBRATE EARLY LEARNING AND COLLABORATION. THIS YEAR, WE FOCUSED ON CREATING A MORE COORDINATED REFERRAL PROCESS IN MANATEE COUNTY THAT INCLUDES REFERRAL INFORMATION FOR BIRTH TO 36 MONTHS AND THEN FROM 36 MONTHS TO KINDERGARTEN ENTRY. THE TEAM LED SCENARIOS FOR GROUP PRACTICE AND PLANNED BREAKOUT SESSIONS TO DIVE DEEPER. COORDINATED APPROACH TO CHILD HEALTH (CATCH) IS A NATIONAL EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAM CREATED TO PROMOTE PRESCHOOLERS' PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE. A VITAL GOAL OF THE CATCH PROGRAM IS TO CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT AT SCHOOL AND HOME THAT ENCOURAGES STUDENTS TO MAKE HEALTHY CHOICES. THE ELC CATCH PROGRAM SERVED 9 SITES IN MANATEE COUNTY AND SERVED 230 CHILDREN. INCLUSION THE CHILD DEVELOPMENT STAFF COMPLETED 1,996 AGES AND STAGES QUESTIONNAIRE DEVELOPMENTAL SCREENINGS. OF THESE 1,996 DEVELOPMENTAL SCREENINGS, 567 DEMONSTRATED POTENTIAL DEVELOPMENTAL DELAYS, AND FAMILIES WERE PROVIDED WITH INDIVIDUALIZED EARLY CARE PLANS, WHICH INCLUDE AGE AND SKILL-SPECIFIC ACTIVITIES FOR FAMILIES TO USE AT HOME. THE FAMILIES OF 62 CHILDREN WERE IDENTIFIED AS NEEDING FURTHER EVALUATION AND WERE HELPED IN COORDINATING REFERRALS TO OTHER COMMUNITY AGENCIES. BATTELLE DEVELOPMENTAL SCREENINGS HELP DETERMINE HOW A CHILD IS DEVELOPING WITHIN THE CLASSROOM ENVIRONMENT. A PRE-TEST IS GIVEN NEAR THE BEGINNING OF THE SCHOO
- $119,756 spent. NEXTGEN
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
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? Worth knowing.
The IRS does not require this organization to file annual returns.
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 December 2002.
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.
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.