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First Childrens Finance Group

EIN 99-3692335 · Minneapolis, MN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood87 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

FIRST CHILDREN'S FINANCE GROUP (FCF) GROWS THE SUPPLY AND SUSTAINABILITY OF HIGH-QUALITY CHILD CARE BY STRENGTHENING THE BUSINESS AND FINANCIAL FOUNDATIONS OF THE SECTOR. FCF IS A NATIONAL NONPROFIT HEADQUARTERED IN MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, WITH STATE OFFICES IN MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, IOWA, OREGON AND VERMONT. FCF PROVIDES FINANCING, BUSINESS TRAINING, AND CONSULTING TO CHILD CARE ENTREPRENEURS, WHILE PARTNERING WITH PUBLIC, PRIVATE, AND TRIBAL STAKEHOLDERS TO ADVANCE POLICIES AND FUNDING STRATEGIES THAT CREATE SUSTAINABLE CHILD CARE SYSTEMS.

Income
$6.2 million
Spending
$5.9 million
Spent on programs
86%
Reserves
10 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 89%
Employees
0
Volunteers
18
Highest pay
$288,495, president & ceo (former)

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

Good: 87 out of 100. Higher than 75% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 10.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 20% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 4% of income.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    86% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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 65% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • 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 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 (1)
  1. $5.1 million spent. 1. BUSINESS SUPPORT FOR CHILD CARE ENTREPRENEURSFCF PROVIDES TAILORED BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT SERVICES TO CHILD CARE ENTREPRENEURS AT EVERY STAGESTART-UP, STABILIZATION, GROWTH, AND SUCCESSION. OUR STAFF DELIVER ONE-ON-ONE CONSULTING, GROUP TRAINING, AND ACCESS TO FINANCING AND BUSINESS TOOLS THAT IMPROVE SUSTAINABILITY AND QUALITY. IN FY2025, FCF SUPPORTED 3,367 CHILD CARE BUSINESSES, OFFERING 254 TRAININGS AND 53 COHORT-BASED PROGRAMS ACROSS MULTIPLE STATES. IN IOWA, 77 BUSINESS OWNERS COMPLETED OUR BUSINESS & FINANCIAL FUNDAMENTALS SERIES, WITH 84% REPORTING MEASURABLE IMPROVEMENT IN FINANCIAL AND MANAGEMENT PRACTICES. THESE EFFORTS STRENGTHEN SMALL BUSINESSES SERVING LOW- AND MODERATE-INCOME FAMILIES.2. BUILDING LOCAL CHILD CARE CAPACITYFCF PARTNERS WITH COMMUNITIES TO INCREASE THE SUPPLY AND STABILITY OF CHILD CARE THAT MEETS LOCAL WORKFORCE AND FAMILY NEEDS. THROUGH DATA-DRIVEN CONSULTATION, FINANCIAL MODELING, AND STRATEGIC PLANNING, FCF SUPPORTED 122 COMMUNITIES NATIONWIDE IN FY2025. OUR RURAL CHILD CARE INNOVATION PROGRAM AND RELATED INITIATIVES HELPED MORE THAN 45 COMMUNITIES CONDUCT SUPPLY-AND-DEMAND ANALYSES, IDENTIFY BARRIERS, AND IMPLEMENT LOCAL SOLUTIONSTURNING CHILD CARE DESERTS INTO SUSTAINABLE SYSTEMS. THIS WORK DIRECTLY CONTRIBUTED TO THE CREATION OR PRESERVATION OF 5,743 CHILD CARE SLOTS ACROSS INFANT, TODDLER, PRESCHOOL, AND SCHOOL-AGE PROGRAMS.3. STRENGTHENING THE CHILD CARE INFRASTRUCTUREFCF COLLABORATES WITH STATE, TRIBAL, AND FEDERAL PARTNERS TO DESIGN AND IMPLEMENT POLICIES AND FUNDING STRATEGIES THAT IMPROVE THE LONG-TERM VIABILITY OF CHILD CARE BUSINESSES. IN FY2025, WE WORKED WITH 11 STATE OR SYSTEM PARTNERS AND MORE THAN A DOZEN TRIBAL NATIONS TO CONDUCT COST-OF-CARE STUDIES, ADVISE ON ARPA FUNDING, AND DEVELOP ACTIONABLE BUSINESS AND SUSTAINABILITY PLANS. FCF CONVENED THE FIRST TRIBAL NATIONS EARLY CHILDHOOD BUSINESS COLLABORATORY, BRINGING TOGETHER 10 TRIBAL NATIONS TO MAP CHILD CARE ECOSYSTEMS AND SET PRIORITIES FOR INVESTMENT.

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 March 2025.

    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.