Early Childhood Collective of Douglas County Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Early Childhood Collective connects the coalition of early childhood resources that serves growing families in Douglas County. ECCo serves as the fiscal agent and administrative hub for community-based early childhood programs that provide education support and resources to families from pregnancy through early childhood.
- Income
- $1.4 million
- Spending
- $1.3 million
- Spent on programs
- 85%
- Reserves
- -4.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 79%
- Employees
- 7
- Volunteers
- 0
- Highest pay
- $66,591, executive director
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
Fair: 50 out of 100. Higher than 28% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
5 of 20It owes 63% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 13% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 2% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1585% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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
Good: 82 out of 100. Higher than 42% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 257 of 7 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no 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
0 of 10Did not give 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 (4)
- $487,479 spent. Early Childhood Collective of Douglas County ECCo administers Early Care and Education programs funded primarily by the Kansas Childrens Cabinet and Trust Fund KCCTF through the Early Childhood Block Grant. ECCo partners with Positive Bright Start PBS and Brown Like Me Infant Toddler Care LLC BLM to expand access to high-quality early learning experiences. PBS provides childcare financial aid for families ineligible for public subsidies on-site coaching and classroom mentoring. Brown Like Me Infant Toddler Care offers affordable culturally responsive infant and toddler care for families served by ECCos community-based doula program.
- $342,691 spent. ECCos Care Coordination and Family Support program provides case management parent education doula services and mental health support to families from pregnancy through early childhood. The program is implemented in partnership with Centro Hispano and Doulas of Douglas County. ECCo employs a team of bilingual care coordinators who deliver culturally and linguistically responsive case management and parenting support. To complement this work ECCo contracts with community-based doulas and a licensed therapist to provide perinatal support postpartum care community engagement and therapeutic services for families experiencing social emotional or economic stressors. Families receive advocacy resource navigation developmental screenings and individualized support that promotes maternal and child wellbeing.
- $196,792 spent. ECCo collaborates with Positive Bright Start PBS to implement the Mental Health and Play Therapy program which supports young childrens emotional and behavioral development through early identification and therapeutic intervention. Licensed therapists provide diagnostic assessments and play-based trauma-informed therapy that strengthen the parent-child relationship and promote social-emotional growth. Therapists collaborate with parents teachers and early intervention providers to ensure coordinated care and improved outcomes.
- $40,790 spent. In partnership with the Dollywood Foundation this program mails a free age-appropriate book each month to children from birth to age five in Douglas County to promote early literacy and kindergarten readiness. ECCo provides fiscal and administrative oversight to maintain local enrollment and community outreach.
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 September 2005.
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.