FIRST STEPS KENT

EIN: 270640886 501(c)(3) Education

GRAND RAPIDS, MI

Total Revenue
$12,965,156
Total Expenses
$11,930,968
Total Assets
$4,830,339
Net Assets
$2,290,958
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Financial Trends

Organization Details

Formation Year
2009
Legal Domicile
MI
Principal Officer
JENNIFER HEADLEY-NORDMAN
Phone
6166321003
Tax Period
2023-10-01 to 2024-09-30

FIRST STEPS KENT, founded in 2009, is a mid-sized nonprofit in the Education sector that reported $13.0M in total revenue in fiscal year 2023. Revenue surged 23% from the prior year, signaling strong growth momentum. Expenses of $11.9M left a modest 8% surplus.

Mission

TO CREATE A COORDINATED, INTEGRATED SYSTEM OF EARLY CHILDHOOD SERVICES THAT SUPPORTS ALL FAMILIES IN KENT COUNTY SO EVERY YOUNG CHILD IN KENT COUNTY WILL ENTER KINDERGARTEN READY TO SUCCEED IN SCHOOL AND IN LIFE. THE ORGANIZATION'S MOST SIGNIFICANT ACTIVITY WAS OBTAINING GRANTS AND DONATIONS TO IMPLEMENT, INCREASE, STRENGTHEN, AND COORDINATE THE NETWORK OF EARLY CHILDHOOD SERVICES IN KENT COUNTY, MICHIGAN.

Program Service Accomplishments

Program 1
Expenses: $10,489,760 Revenue: $10,424,978

EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT FIRST STEPS KENT ADMINISTERS AND OVERSEES THE READY BY FIVE EARLY CHILDHOOD MILLAGE (THE "READY BY FIVE MILLAGE") FOR PROGRAMS THAT IMPROVE THE HEALTH, SCHOOL READINESS...

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EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT FIRST STEPS KENT ADMINISTERS AND OVERSEES THE READY BY FIVE EARLY CHILDHOOD MILLAGE (THE "READY BY FIVE MILLAGE") FOR PROGRAMS THAT IMPROVE THE HEALTH, SCHOOL READINESS, AND WELLBEING OF CHILDREN THROUGH AGE FIVE. IT ALLOWS MORE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES FROM ACROSS KENT COUNTY TO PARTICIPATE IN PROGRAMS THAT ARE PROVEN TO INCREASE THEIR LIKELIHOOD OF SUCCESS IN SCHOOL AND BEYOND. COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS APPLY FOR FUNDING TO PROVIDE SERVICES SUCH AS HOME VISITING, PLAY AND LEARN GROUPS, DEVELOPMENTAL SCREENING, AND NAVIGATION SUPPORT TO HELP FAMILIES ACCESS THE HELP THEY NEED AND WANT. DECISIONS ABOUT WHICH ORGANIZATIONS TO FUND ARE BASED ON COMMUNITY NEEDS ASSESSMENTS AND THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE RESIDENT PROPOSAL REVIEW BOARD, WHICH INCLUDES PARENTS, KENT COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AND STAFF, A COMMUNITY EARLY CHILDHOOD EXPERT, AND A FIRST STEPS KENT COMMISSIONER.

Program 2
Expenses: $392,827

MAINSPRING EARLY CARE ALLIANCE - INCREASES ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE, QUALITY CHILDCARE FOR WORKING FAMILIES WITH YOUNG CHILDREN BY MAXIMIZING EARLY CHILDCARE PROVIDER CAPACITY. THE SHARED SERVICES...

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MAINSPRING EARLY CARE ALLIANCE - INCREASES ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE, QUALITY CHILDCARE FOR WORKING FAMILIES WITH YOUNG CHILDREN BY MAXIMIZING EARLY CHILDCARE PROVIDER CAPACITY. THE SHARED SERVICES INITIATIVE OFFERS RESOURCES TO INCREASE BUSINESS SUSTAINABILITY THROUGH SUPPORTS SUCH AS: TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FROM EXPERTS ON SMALL BUSINESS MANAGEMENT, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WEBINARS AND WORKSHOPS ON BEST PRACTICES IN QUALITY CHILDCARE, AND DEVELOPING A COORDINATED PURCHASING SYSTEM TO ENSURE PROVIDERS RECEIVE VOLUME DISCOUNTS THAT WILL INCREASE THEIR BUYING POWER FOR SUPPLIES.

Program 3
Expenses: $504,835

EARLY LEARNING INITIATIVES-FIRST STEPS KENT WAS ESTABLISHED TO BE THE SYSTEMS LEVEL ORGANIZATION FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD IN KENT COUNTY, BORN OUT OF PLANNING BETWEEN COMMUNITY LEADERS, FUNDERS AND THE...

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EARLY LEARNING INITIATIVES-FIRST STEPS KENT WAS ESTABLISHED TO BE THE SYSTEMS LEVEL ORGANIZATION FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD IN KENT COUNTY, BORN OUT OF PLANNING BETWEEN COMMUNITY LEADERS, FUNDERS AND THE KENT COUNTY ADMINISTRATION IN 2009. ALTHOUGH TERMS AND THE VERNACULAR HAS SHIFTED OVER SEVERAL YEARS, PROMOTION AND ADVOCACY FOR EARLY LEARNING FOCUSED ON CHILDREN AND FAMILIES COVERING THE AGE CONTINUUM FROM PRENATAL TO 5 YEARS OF AGE IS A LARGE PART OF THE WORK OF FIRST STEPS KENT. THE MEASURABLE OUTCOMES ASSOCIATED WITH THIS WORK ENSURES THAT CHILDREN ARE BORN HEALTHY AND ARE REFERRED TO SERVICES TO ASSIST THEM AND THEIR FAMILIES WITH DEVELOPMENTALLY APPROPRIATE RESOURCES AND SERVICES, SO THAT THEY ARE ABLE TO ENTER KINDERGARTEN READY TO LEARN AND REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL. FIRST STEPS KENT IS A LEAD CONVENER IN KENT COUNTY, STATEWIDE AND EVEN NATIONALLY TO PROMOTE AND ADVOCATE FOR EVIDENCEDBASED MODELS TO ENHANCE THE HEALTHY DEVELOPMENT OF YOUNG CHILDREN. THESE INITIATIVES INCLUDE DOZENS OF MEETINGS, CONVENINGS AND CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE LATEST RESEARCH DOCUMENTS CREATED BY PARTNERS LIKE THE BUILD INITIATIVE, THE PRITZKER CHILDREN'S INITIATIVE, THE NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES AND THE CENTER FOR THE STUDY OF SOCIAL POLICY. FIRST STEPS KENT STRIVES TO ADVOCATE FOR SERVICES AND RESOURCES FOR OUR YOUNGEST CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES BY PROVIDING IMPACT REPORTS AND NEEDS ASSESSMENTS SHOWING WHERE GAPS EXIST IN THE EARLY CHILDHOOD LANDSCAPE.

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Trantor Score

Financial Health Score (300–850) · Liquidity · Solvency · Sustainability · Efficiency

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Liquidity (40%) • Solvency (30%) • Sustainability (20%) • Efficiency (10%)

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Financial Overview (2023)

Revenue Breakdown

Contributions & Grants $12,924,797
Program Service Revenue $0
Investment Income $0
Other Revenue $40,359
TOTAL REVENUE $12,965,156

Expense Breakdown

Grants Paid $9,996,503
Salaries & Benefits $1,106,382
Fundraising Expenses $151,541
Program Expenses $11,389,446
Other Expenses $828,083
TOTAL EXPENSES $11,930,968

Year-over-Year Comparison

2023 2022 Change
Revenue $12,965,156 $10,520,422 +0.2%
Expenses $11,930,968 $10,890,715 +0.1%
Net Income $1,034,188 $-370,293 -3.8%
Key Indicators
Grants to Organizations Grants to Individuals Lobbying Political Activity Foreign Activities Donor Advised Fund Schedule B Required
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Governance

Voting Members
21
Independent Members
20
Employees
13
Volunteers
22

Governance Policies

Conflict of Interest Policy
Whistleblower Policy
Document Retention Policy

Special Practices & Reported Activities

Operated a School
Operated a Hospital
Provided First Class Travel
Reported Conflict of Interest
Reported Asset Diversion
Excess Benefit Transaction
Made Political Expenditures
Engaged in Lobbying
Operated Donor Advised Fund
Maintained Art Collections
Filed Form 720

Compensation of Officers, Directors & Key Employees

Total Officers
4
$166,461
Total Directors
20
$0
Key Employees
0
$0
Highest Compensated
0
reported
Name Title Hours/Week Role Reportable Comp Other Comp Total
KATE PEW WOLTERS CO-CHAIR 1.00
Officer Director
$0 $0 $0
LEW CHAMBERLIN CO-CHAIR 1.00
Officer Director
$0 $0 $0
JOSH SAYLES SECRETARY/TREASURER 1.00
Officer Director
$0 $0 $0
LEAH ATKINS PARENT LEADER 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
AMANDA BARBOUR DIRECTOR 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
GUILLERMO CISNEROS DIRECTOR 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
KEVIN CLAY DIRECTOR 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
REV HOWARD C EARLE JR DIRECTOR 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
HANNA C JAWORSKI MD DIRECTOR 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
MELINDA JOHNSON DIRECTOR 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
RON KOEHLER DIRECTOR 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
FLORA MA PARENT LEADER 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
KRASHAWN MARTIN DIRECTOR 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
SEAN WELSH DIRECTOR 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
RANDY THELEN DIRECTOR 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
MICHELLE VAN DYKE DIRECTOR 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
MILT ROHWER DIRECTOR 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
ANTHONY QUEEN PARENT LEADER 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
KELSEY PERDUE DIRECTOR 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
EMILY CANTOR DIRECTOR 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
JENNIFER HEADLEY-NORDMAN PRESIDENT 40.00
Officer
$150,843 $15,618 $166,461
Note: Compensation data is self-reported by the organization on their Form 990. "Reportable Comp" includes salary, bonuses, and other reportable compensation from the organization and related organizations. "Other Comp" includes benefits, deferred compensation, and non-taxable benefits.

Historical Data

Year Revenue Expenses Assets Net Income
2024 $12,965,156 $11,930,968 $4,830,339 $1,034,188
2023 $10,520,422 $10,890,715 $3,416,832 $-370,293
2022 $8,534,103 $8,331,757 $3,263,286 $202,346
2021 $6,363,440 $6,180,254 $2,604,123 $183,186
2020 $3,588,201 $3,747,156 $2,563,732 $-158,955
2019 $1,557,034 $1,389,520 $1,466,341 $167,514
2018 $1,890,436 $1,702,968 $1,379,480 $187,468
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