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Clayton Early Learning

EIN 84-0432238 · Denver, CO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong92 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

AT CLAYTON, WE WORK TO FOSTER A COMMUNITY CHARACTERIZED BY TRUST, DIGNITY, LOVE, AND JUSTICE WITH OUR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, OUR TEAM MEMBERS, AND OTHER PARTNERS ON OUR CAMPUS AND BEYOND. CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O.

Income
$20.1 million
Spending
$20.0 million
Spent on programs
79%
Reserves
16.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 41%
Employees
218
Volunteers
120
Highest pay
$326,074, ceo

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

Strong: 92 out of 100. Higher than 89% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 16.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 0% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 4% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    79% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 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 35% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    17 of 17 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 (5)
  1. $10.8 million spent. EDUCATION SERVICES: CLAYTON EARLY LEARNING OPERATES AN EARLY LEARNING CENTER ON A TWENTY-ACRE HISTORIC CAMPUS IN NORTHEAST DENVER. CLAYTON EARLY LEARNING IS NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED AS AN EPICENTER OF ECE PRACTICE. IN OUR DENVER SCHOOL, APPROXIMATELY 33% IDENTIFY SPANISH AS THEIR PRIMARY LANGUAGE AND NEARLY 90% QUALIFY FOR THE FREE AND REDUCED LUNCH PROGRAM. WE DIRECTLY SERVE NEARLY 600 STUDENTS BIRTH-TO-5 IN OUR SCHOOL, THROUGH HOME-BASED AND OTHER PROGRAMS, AND THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS ACROSS COLORADO. WE ARE SUCCEEDING IN CLOSING AND PREVENTING LEARNING GAPS FOR DISADVANTAGED CHILDREN THROUGH A POWERFUL MODEL UNIQUE TO CLAYTON EARLY LEARNING THAT HARNESSES THE SYNERGY OF FOUR DYNAMIC INITIATIVES - RESEARCH, PRACTICE, TRAINING, AND ADVOCACY.
  2. $3.2 million spent. EXTERNAL SERVICES: CLAYTON EARLY LEARNING IMPACTS THE SCHOOL READINESS OF APPROXIMATELY 20,000 CHILDREN IN COLORADO ANNUALLY BY SUPPORTING AND IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF HUNDREDS OF EARLY LEARNING SETTINGS. CLAYTON IS A DATA DRIVEN, EVIDENCED BASED ORGANIZATION, CONSTANTLY COLLECTING DATA TO MEASURE HOW WELL A CHILD IS DOING AND HOW SCHOOL READY THEY ARE WHEN THEY LEAVE OUR CAMPUS. WE MEASURE THE SUCCESS OF OUR WORK WITH TRAINING AND COACHING PROGRAMS BY TRACKING THE IMPROVED QUALITY OF TEACHING USING COLORADO'S QUALITY RATING AND IMPROVEMENT SYSTEM, COLORADO SHINES. OUR ALL INCLUSIVE MODEL SETS US APART AS WE ARE CONSTANTLY RESEARCHING AND EVALUATING OUR PRACTICES BOTH INTERNALLY AND EXTERNALLY TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY AND EFFECTIVENESS OF EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS.
  3. $693,482 spent. CAMPUS PRESERVATION PROGRAM: CLAYTON EARLY LEARNING OWNS 20 ACRES OF LAND ON WHICH 12 BUILDINGS HAVE BEEN CONSTRUCTED FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES. OF THESE, EIGHT BUILDINGS ARE MORE THAN 100 YEARS OLD AND THE PROPERTY HAS BEEN DESIGNATED AS A HISTORIC DISTRICT BY BOTH THE CITY OF DENVER AND THE NATIONAL REGISTRY OF HISTORIC PLACES. CLAYTON'S OBLIGATION IS TO PRESERVE AND MAINTAIN THESE BUILDINGS AND PROTECT THE EXTERIOR LAND AND ITS PARK- LIKE SETTING. ALL BUILDINGS ARE OCCUPIED BY CLAYTON STAFF OR BY OTHER NON- PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS FOCUSED ON EDUCATION, HEALTH, AND/OR SOCIAL SERVICES.
  4. $1.1 million spent. CLAYTON PLAYS AN INTEGRAL ROLE WITH ADVOCATING POLICY CHANGE FOR CHILD CARE AND EARLY LEARNING INITIATIVES. WE PARTNER WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS IN COLORADO TO INFORM AND PROMOTE EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION POLICIES. WE ARE PROUD TO SERVE AS SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS ON ISSUES THAT IMPACT CHILDREN AND FAMILIES.
  5. CLAYTON PLAYS AN INTEGRAL ROLE WITH ADVOCATING POLICY CHANGE FOR CHILD CARE AND EARLY LEARNING INITIATIVES. WE PARTNER WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS IN COLORADO TO INFORM AND PROMOTE EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION POLICIES. WE ARE PROUD TO SERVE AS SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS ON ISSUES THAT IMPACT CHILDREN AND FAMILIES.

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 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 June 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 August 1985.

    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.