Educational First Steps
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Educational First Steps (EFS) creates and supports high-quality early learning environments that ignite the minds of children from birth to age five in low income and historically oppressed communities.
- Income
- $2.7 million
- Spending
- $3.9 million
- Spent on programs
- 69%
- Reserves
- 19.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 97%
- Employees
- 28
- Volunteers
- 25
- Highest pay
- $213,413, president & ceo
Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 71% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 19.3 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 2% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 43% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 19% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1569% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 20 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2518 of 18 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 May 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)
- $1.8 million spent. On-Site and Virtual Mentoring & Professional Development: EFS provides regular on-site and virtual coaching, classroom modeling, and instructional support to early childhood educators across 100+ childcare centers and registered home providers. These services are aligned with national accreditation standards (NAC/NAEYC) and support teachers in implementing developmentally appropriate practices. EFS also delivers structured professional development sessions across six counties, targeting educators in under-resourced communities.
- $542,082 spent. Resource Distribution (NAC Boxes & Center Support): EFS supplies participating centers with essential classroom resources, including curriculum materials, books, manipulatives, furniture, and NAC accreditation supplies (NAC boxes). These materials are directly aligned to accreditation standards and help improve the quality of learning environments. Materials are distributed based on individual center milestones and tracked internally.
- $406,562 spent. Child Development Associate (CDA) Credentialing & Workforce Investment: EFS supports the early education workforce by providing scholarships, coursework funding, and one-on-one coaching to help early educators pursue their Child Development Associate (CDA) credential. The organization also partners with training institutions and consultants to align its credentialing pathways with industry standards, improving long-term workforce quality.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 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? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending May 2025.
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 1990.
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.