Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

First3years

EIN 75-2067421 · Dallas, TX

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair55 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

FIRST3YEARS NURTURES EARLY RELATIONAL AND MENTAL HEALTH OF INFANTS AND TODDLERS IN TEXAS. WORKING IN DEEP COLLABORATION WITH CAREGIVERS, PARENTS, AND PROFESSIONALS STATEWIDE, WE CULTIVATE STRONG EARLY CHILDHOOD SYSTEMS, EDUCATE OUR WORKFORCE, AND ADVANCE BEST PRACTICES.

Income
$655,809
Spending
$1.1 million
Spent on programs
84%
Reserves
4.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 71%
Employees
19
Volunteers
50
Highest pay
$92,659, executive dir.

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: 55 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 8% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 67% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 53% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    84% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 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.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    10 of 10 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 (3)
  1. $425,211 spent. SAFE BABIES IS A COLLABORATIVE APPROACH THAT CREATES A HEALING-CENTERED ECOSYSTEM FOR INFANTS AND TODDLERS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED TRAUMA AND NEGLECT. THE PROGRAM WORKS WITH CHILD WELFARE AND OTHER EARLY CHILDHOOD SYSTEMS TO IMPLEMENT DEVELOPMENTALLY SOUND, TRAUMA-INFORMED POLICIES, PROCEDURES, AND PRACTICES THAT PRIORITIZE EARLY RELATIONSHIPS, WELL-BEING, AND PERMANENCY.IN 2025, SAFE BABIES PROVIDED COORDINATED, RELATIONSHIP-BASED SERVICES TO 267 INFANTS, TODDLERS, AND THEIR CAREGIVERS AND DELIVERED TRAUMA-INFORMED TRAINING TO 252 CHILD WELFARE AND EARLY CHILDHOOD PROFESSIONALS ACROSS PARTICIPATING COUNTIES. THE PROGRAM ALSO CONVENED CROSS-SYSTEM PARTNERS TO STRENGTHEN COLLABORATIVE CARE FOR VERY YOUNG CHILDREN. THE PROGRAM MAINTAINED CONTINUITY OF SERVICES DURING A LEADERSHIP TRANSITION AND EXPANDED SYSTEM ENGAGEMENT THROUGH STAKEHOLDER COLLABORATION AND STATEWIDE LEADERSHIP ACTIVITIES.
  2. $259,386 spent. FIRST3YEARS ADVANCES LOCAL AND STATEWIDE AWARENESS EFFORTS TO PROMOTE EARLY RELATIONAL HEALTH AND ENSURE FAMILIES HAVE ACCESS TO RESOURCES THAT SUPPORT HEALTHY DEVELOPMENT DURING THE EARLIEST YEARS OF LIFE. THROUGH COMMUNITY-DRIVEN EVENTS, CROSS-SECTOR COALITIONS, AND FAMILY-FACING MESSAGING, WE ELEVATE THE IMPORTANCE OF EVERYDAY CAREGIVER-CHILD INTERACTIONS AND CONNECT FAMILIES TO DEVELOPMENTAL INFORMATION AND LOCAL SUPPORTS.IN 2025, BABY DAY SERVED 2,566 ATTENDEES THROUGH COMMUNITY-BASED EVENTS ACROSS TEXAS. BABIES IN BAYTOWN ENGAGED 29 PARENT LEADERS TO SUPPORT A MORE EQUITABLE AND CONNECTED EARLY CHILDHOOD SYSTEM. THE HOUSTON INFANT TODDLER COALITION CONVENED 99 CROSS-SECTOR PARTNERS TO STRENGTHEN COLLABORATION AND EXPAND ACCESS TO POSITIVE EARLY EXPERIENCES FOR INFANTS AND TODDLERS. LANTERN (FKA. BRIGHT BY TEXT) REACHED 10,733 ADULT SUBSCRIBERS WITH FREE, EVIDENCE-INFORMED DEVELOPMENTAL TIPS, RESOURCES, AND LOCAL SERVICE CONNECTIONS.
  3. $236,888 spent. OUR AIM IS TO EMPOWER A COMMUNITY THAT IS PREPARED TO CARE FOR AND NURTURE CHILDREN. WE ENSURE THAT CAREGIVERS AND ENGAGED STAKEHOLDER SYSTEMS HAVE ACCESS TO CURRENT RESEARCH AND BEST PRACTICES ON INFANT AND EARLY CHILDHOOD MENTAL HEALTH (IECMH) AND EARLY RELATIONAL HEALTH. WE PROVIDE EARLY CHILDHOOD PROFESSIONALS, CAREGIVERS, AND PARENTS WITH EFFECTIVE TOOLS AND STRATEGIES THAT FOSTER HEALTHY BRAIN DEVELOPMENT FOR INFANTS AND TODDLERS. FIRST3YEARS IS THE SOLE PROVIDER OF THE INFANT MENTAL HEALTH ENDORSEMENT FOR PROFESSIONALS IN TEXAS. ENDORSEMENT IS BASED ON A COMPREHENSIVE SET OF COMPETENCIES THAT DEFINE BEST PRACTICE AND GUIDE AN ORGANIZED SYSTEM OF CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE, RELATIONSHIP-BASED PROFESSIONAL GROWTH.IN 2025, 139 PROFESSIONALS PARTICIPATED IN PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TRAININGS AND REFLECTIVE LEARNING EXPERIENCES, 72 PROFESSIONALS WERE SUPPORTED THROUGH THE ENDORSEMENT PATHWAY, AND 975 INDIVIDUALS ENGAGED THROUGH MEMBERSHIP AS AN ONGOING PROFESSIONAL HOME THAT FOSTERS PEER CONNECTION AND WORKFORCE WELLNESS. THESE EFFORTS STRENGTHENED THE IECMH WORKFORCE AND EXPANDED ACCESS TO HIGH-QUALITY, RELATIONSHIP-BASED LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES STATEWIDE.

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 November 6, 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 January 1986.

    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 November 4, 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.