Best Beginnings
A public-private partnership that mobilizes people and resources to ensure all Alaska children begin school ready to succeed.
Best Beginnings at a glance
In short: Best Beginnings gave $84K across 4 grants in 2025 (avg $21K), mostly in Alaska. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $83,700
- +33.4% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 4
- -20.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $20,925
- +66.8% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $24,100
- Total assets
- $195,044
- -11.8% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Alaska (73% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated November 2026.
Who Best Beginnings funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 4 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was North Star Imagination Library ($30K). Together the top 4 received $84K.
Grant Size Distribution
24 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 24 grants of 24 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 4 itemized grants.
Cities
How Best Beginnings gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+19%). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $63K (2024) to $84K (2025). In 2025 it made 4 grants totaling $84K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| North Star Imagination Library Fairbanks, AK | Imagination Library | $30,000 |
| Aeyc Southeast Alaska Juneau, AK | Imagination Library | $26,000 |
| Dollywood Foundation Sevierville, TN | Imagination Library | $22,200 |
| Kodiak Island School District Kodiak, AK | Imagination Library | $5,500 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $195,044 | $675,479 | $694,618 | $83,700 | 4 | $166 |
| 2024 | $221,029 | $728,790 | $844,931 | $62,723 | 5 | $1,627 |
| 2023 | $320,871 | $551,648 | $555,763 | $69,750 | 5 | $1,642 |
| 2022 | $371,398 | $585,904 | $623,881 | $70,310 | 5 | $1,214 |
| 2021 | $401,810 | $728,768 | $779,754 | $66,647 | 5 | $1,555 |
| 2020 | $423,835 | $710,041 | $772,693 | $75,250 | 5 | $1,562 |
| 2019 | $463,613 | $592,675 | $661,016 | $77,250 | 5 | $2,242 |
About Best Beginnings
Based on IRS filings
Best Beginnings is a public charity, based in Anchorage, AK. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $195K in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 4 grants totaling $84K. Net investment income was $166.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Best Beginnings is led by Cheri Lipps, Chair on every filing since 2024; 1 of 6 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Cheri Lipps
Chair
On filings since 2024
1.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Amie Collins
Executive Di
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$73K (2023) → $102K (2025)
Stefanie O'Brien
Secretary
Member → Secretary, 2025
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jenny Doherty
Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jessica Nessett
Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Melissa Webber
Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (20)
- Former: Esther Pitts (2022–2025) — Member · Filing note: Thru 11/2025
- Former: Shanice Lawton (2024–2025) — Treasurer · Filing note: Thru 10/2025
- Former: Jesse Kreger (2019–2024) — Member
- Former: Neisha Jones (2021–2024) — Secretary
- Former: Bill Falsey (2022–2024) — Treasurer
- Former: Jena Frawner (2024) — Member
- Former: Selena Hopkins-Kendall (2019–2023) — Chair
- Former: Abbe Hensley (2019–2022) — Executive Di
- Former: Amanda Queenie (2022) — Member
- Former: Amie Collins Current (2022) — Executive Di
- Former: Brianna Gray (2022) — Member
- Former: Elizabeth Paxton (2022) — Member
- Former: Debi Baldwin (2019–2021) — Chair
- Former: Grace Johnston (2019–2021) — Secretary
- Former: Holly Willman (2019–2021) — Vice Chair
- Former: Margaret Bauer (2019–2021) — Member
- Former: Monica Kane (2019–2021) — Member
- Former: Patrick Ryland (2019–2021) — Member
- Former: Grant Todd (2019–2020) — Member
- Former: Karen Matthias (2019–2020) — Member
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $102K, to Amie Collins (Executive Di).
Frequently asked questions about Best Beginnings
How much does Best Beginnings give each year?
Best Beginnings gave $84K across 4 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $63K across 5 grants.
What is Best Beginnings's typical grant size?
Best Beginnings's median grant in 2025 was $24,100, and its average grant was $20,925, across 4 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does Best Beginnings give grants?
Best Beginnings gives mostly in Alaska: 73% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The next largest state was Tennessee (27%).
Does Best Beginnings give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 4 grants with a stated purpose on Best Beginnings's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Imagination Library" (4 grants).
How large is Best Beginnings?
Best Beginnings reported $195K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $675K.
What is Best Beginnings's EIN?
Best Beginnings's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 45-5066055. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated November 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS March 26, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS March 24, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 12, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 9, 2023)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 14, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 13, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS September 14, 2026)
Live grants for the work Best Beginnings funds
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Browse active grant opportunities in Best Beginnings's focus areas in our free grants database
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