The Alliance for Early Success is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in Washington, DC that works to advance early childhood policy and advocacy across the United States. The organization catalyzes progress for vulnerable young children by connecting, equipping, and funding state-level policy advocates who push for improvements in early childhood programs and services. The Alliance operates as a 50-state resource, making grants and providing technical assistance to advocates working to improve outcomes for children from birth through age eight.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$26.4M
-1.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$11.3M
+7.3% YoY
Grant Count
119
+15.5% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$95K
-7.2% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The Alliance for Early Success works to ensure that every child, birth through eight, has an equal opportunity to learn, grow, and succeed. The organization advances state policies that improve health, learning, and family support outcomes for young children.
The Alliance's approach includes:
- Grantmaking: Issuing grants in varying sizes to build capacity and sustain effective early childhood advocacy, research, communications, and policymaker leadership
- Technical Assistance: Providing a best-in-class technical assistance network of organizations that deliver research and consultation to states
- Connections & Convening: Connecting state advocates with counterparts in other states and national allies to share information and coordinate efforts
- Learning Communities: Organizing learning communities focused on specific topics and strategies, including home visiting, pre-K, early learning workforce development, and alignment of state and federal early childhood policy
- Responsive Support: Facilitating intensive supports through a national responsive support network that can respond to new opportunities or unforeseen threats in states in real time
Grantmaking
The Alliance makes grants in all 50 states plus the District of Columbia from a pooled fund created by more than a dozen private investors. Grant sizes vary, with the organization issuing grants ranging from general operating investments to targeted capacity-building grants.
Grant Range
s vary, with the organization issuing grants ranging from general operating investments to targeted capacity-building grants.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Alliance operates in all 50 states plus the District of Columbia, positioning itself as a national 50-state resource for early childhood advocacy and policy expertise.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Fiscal Year 2024 (most recent filing):
- Total revenues: $13,251,984
- Total expenses: $13,615,991
- Total assets: $26,788,031
- Staff: 9 employees
Organization Details:
- EIN: 26-2797011
- Tax-exempt status: Since September 2008
- NTEE code (primary): W05 (Public and Societal Benefit Research Institutes and Public Policy Analysis)
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $26,440,069 | $26,788,031 | $26,814,475 |
| Revenue | $14,374,982 | $13,251,984 | $22,455,004 |
| Expenses | $15,006,586 | $13,615,991 | $13,475,651 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $1,084,181 | $915,468 | $202,516 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
Grant Size Distribution
250 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
3 open opportunities from Alliance for Early Success Fka
Alliance for Early Success Grants
ALLIANCE FOR EARLY SUCCESS FKA
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Responsive Support Funding
ALLIANCE FOR EARLY SUCCESS FKA
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
State Policy Advocacy Grants
ALLIANCE FOR EARLY SUCCESS FKA
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| HELENE STEBBINS | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $283,029 |
| MICHAEL BURKE | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| MICHAEL C LARACY | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| C LYNN MCNAIR | CHAIR | 1 | — |
| PATRICIA KEMPTHORNE | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| CARL HAIRSTON | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| NISHA PATEL | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| MARIO CARDONA | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| STUART LILES | COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR | 40 | $185,384 |
| ALBERT WAT | POLICY DIRECTOR | 40 | $183,818 |
| AMANDA ABLEIDINGER | POLICY DIRECTOR | 40 | $176,865 |
| COURTNEY LEE | DEPUTY DIRECTOR (PART-TIME) | 40 | $159,341 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
**Vermont Campaign Conclusion (December 2025)**: Let's Grow Kids, a statewide advocacy organization launched in Vermont with Alliance support, officially ended operations after achieving its goal of securing affordable access to high-quality child care. The organization passed Act 76 in 2023 and was designed as a time-limited, ten-year endeavor.
**State Funding Disparities (January 2026)**: The Alliance reported differing state approaches to early childhood spending, with some states including Maryland, Arkansas, and Indiana reducing funding for early learning programs, while others such as New York, Texas, and Illinois strengthened their programs despite fiscal challenges.
Five States Announced as Recipients of Major New Child Care NEXT Transformation**MacKenzie Scott Investment**: The Alliance received a $10 million investment from MacKenzie Scott and launched an innovative Early Childhood Power Equity Fund.
Alliance for Early Success Receives $10-Million Investment from MacKenzie\**Missouri Policy Win**: After two years of work, allies in Missouri won an executive order to merge state offices serving the youngest children.
Nebraska Allies Help State Win Preschool Development Grant to Strengthen**Nebraska Preschool Development Grant**: Nebraska allies helped the state win a Preschool Development Grant to strengthen early childhood services.
Nebraska Allies Help State Win Preschool Development Grant to Strengthen**Annual 50-State Policy Report**: The Alliance released its annual 50-state policy report documenting power building and progress in early childhood advocacy, along with identified headwinds.
Alliance for Early Success Receives $10-Million Investment from MacKenzie\Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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