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First Five Fundamentals

EIN 80-0209462 · Tacoma, WA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair60 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

FOUNDED IN 2008, FIRST 5 FUNDAMENTALS (F5F) IS A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION WITH A MISSION TO UPHOLD COMMUNITY-BASED INITIATIVES IN ACHIEVING THEIR COLLECTIVE GOALS FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES. OUR TEAM IS PASSIONATE ABOUT MAKING THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES BY HARNESSING THE STRENGTHS AND IDEAS THAT LIVE WITHIN COMMUNITIES. AS OUR NAME STATES, THE FIRST 5 YEARS OF LIFE ARE FUNDAMENTAL. OUR ROLE IS TO SUPPORT CROSS-SECTOR LEADERS IN EARLY CHILDHOOD, TO HELP MAKE THEIR COLLECTIVE VISION FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES A REALITY. F5F CURRENTLY SUPPORTS FOUR GEOGRAPHIC INITIATIVES PIERCE COUNTY EARLY CHILDHOOD NETWORK, WASHINGTON COMMUNITIES FOR CHILDREN, NORTHWEST EARLY LEARNING COALITION, AND VISIONS FOR EARLY LEARNING.

Income
$5.1 million
Spending
$5.9 million
Spent on programs
87%
Reserves
2.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 85%
Employees
24
Volunteers
7
Highest pay
$145,677, executive director

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

Fair: 60 out of 100. Higher than 27% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 18% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 15% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 54% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    87% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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 64% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    6 of 6 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 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 (3)
  1. $3.5 million spent. THE PIERCE COUNTY EARLY CHILDHOOD NETWORK (FORMERLY HELP ME GROW PIERCE COUNTY AND PROJECT CHILD SUCCESS) SUPPORTS A NETWORK OF ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS SERVING FAMILIES WITH YOUNG CHILDREN INCLUDING FAMILY RESOURCE NAVIGATION AT A LOCAL CALL CENTER, THE DIAPER BANK NETWORK, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND FUNDING FOR CHILD CARE PROVIDERS, PARENT SUPPORT GROUPS, PEDIATRIC HEALTH PROVIDER OUTREACH, AND THE FAMILY CONNECTS PIERCE COUNTY PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES BRIEF NURSE SUPPORT TO FAMILIES WITH NEWBORNS. FAMILY RESOURCE NAVIGATORS SERVE ABOUT 200 FAMILIES PER MONTH. THE DIAPER BANK NETWORK INCLUDES 13 LOCATIONS ACROSS THE COUNTY, WHICH SERVE AS A TOUCHPOINT FOR OUTREACH AND INFORMATION SHARING REACHING OVER 600 FAMILIES PER MONTH. FAMILY CONNECTS PIERCE COUNTY SUPPORTS OVER 50 FAMILIES PER MONTH WITH BRIEF NURSE SUPPORT DURING AN INFANT'S FIRST THREE MONTHS OF LIFE.
  2. $1.6 million spent. WASHINGTON COMMUNITIES FOR CHILDREN: WASHINGTON COMMUNITIES FOR CHILDREN (WCFC) IS A NETWORK OF REGIONAL COALITIONS WITH A MISSION TO CONNECT LOCAL AND STATEWIDE EFFORTS TO IMPROVE THE WELL-BEING OF CHILDREN, FAMILIES, AND COMMUNITIES. THERE ARE TEN WCFC REGIONS ACROSS WASHINGTON STATE THAT TOGETHER HAVE TRUSTED RELATIONSHIPS WITH OVER 1,000 ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS. PARTNERS INCLUDE EARLY LEARNING PROVIDERS, SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES, EARLY INTERVENTION SERVICES, CHILD WELFARE ORGANIZATIONS, LIBRARIES, JUVENILE COURTS, SCHOOL DISTRICTS, PUBLIC HEALTH AGENCIES, HIGHER EDUCATION, FAMILIES, AND MANY OTHERS. AS THE ONLY STATEWIDE NETWORK OF ITS KIND IN WASHINGTON, WCFC IS AN ESSENTIAL PIECE OF THE EARLY CHILDHOOD SYSTEM IN OUR STATE. WITH AN EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE OF ORGANIZATIONAL AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS, WCFC CAN MOBILIZE QUICKLY IN RESPONSE TO EMERGENT NEEDS, ELEVATE LOCAL ISSUES TO LOCAL AND STATE POLICYMAKERS, SHARE RESOURCES ACROSS COUNTIES AND REGIONS, AND ULTIMATELY IMPROVE EFFICIENT USE OF RESOURCES.
  3. $8,951 spent. NORTHWEST EARLY LEARNING COALITION: NORTHWEST EARLY LEARNING COALITION IS A REGIONAL COALITION LINKING FIVE COUNTY COALITIONS ACROSS ISLAND, SAN JUAN, SKAGIT, SNOHOMISH, AND WHATCOM COUNTIES WITH A MISSION TO MAKE EXCELLENCE IN EARLY LEARNING ACHIEVABLE AND SUSTAINABLE FOR EVERY CHILD IN NORTHWEST WASHINGTON. A NETWORK OF OVER 100 ORGANIZATIONS, SERVICE PROVIDERS, CAREGIVERS, AND COMMUNITY CHAMPIONS, THE COALITION COORDINATES AND CONNECTS LOCAL EFFORTS THAT IMPROVE EQUITABLE ACCESS TO RESOURCES FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, INCLUDING EARLY LEARNING AND CARE.

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

  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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since January 2015.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.