Buffett Early Childhood Fund
Buffett Early Childhood Fund is a private foundation established in 2005 and headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska. The organization operates as an independent 501(c)(3) charitable foundation dedicated to advancing early childhood education and development across the United States.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$9.0M
+5.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$31.9M
+4.1% YoY
Grant Count
41
+5.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$777K
-1.0% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Buffett Early Childhood Fund reported a distributable amount of $461K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The fund's vision is "a nation that enables every child to thrive in their first five years." The organization invests in early childhood practice, policy, and science to improve systems and create structural change so all young children and families thrive.
The fund is committed to leveling the playing field for the youngest and most vulnerable children through quality experiences in the first five years. Its focus areas include:
- Early childhood education
- Child educational development
- Elementary and secondary education
- Philanthropy and nonprofit work
- Practice, policy, and science investments to maximize the potential of children facing the greatest odds in life
Grantmaking
No unsolicited requests for funding are accepted at this time.
Grant Range
approximately $3,000
Average Grant
approximately $3,000
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The fund operates with a geographic scope of Nebraska and National. It has significant funding presence in major cities and states including:
- Nebraska (primary focus)
- District of Columbia
- Massachusetts
- Arizona, California, Colorado, Delaware, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Nevada, and Wisconsin
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Most Recent Financial Data (2024):
- Total assets: $9,046,904
- Total revenues: $33,542,538
- Total expenses: $34,505,845
- Total giving: $31,856,902
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $9,046,904 | $8,606,329 | $7,380,809 |
| Revenue | $33,542,538 | $33,655,045 | $30,270,828 |
| Expenses | $34,505,845 | $33,226,589 | $34,418,103 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $34,420,845 | $32,918,898 | $34,347,066 |
| Net Investment Income | $4,401,090 | $13,151,840 | $7,028,132 |
| Distributable Amount | $460,517 | $678,125 | $734,907 |
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 2024
Grant Size Distribution
188 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Nebraska Children & Families Foundation ($5,440,550), Educare of Omaha Inc ($4,756,540), Start Early ($4,709,763).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ALLIANCE FOR EARLY SUCCESS WASHINGTON, DC | STATE BASED EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION SUPPORT | $2,991,046 |
| CAPITA SOCIAL INC GREENVILLE, SC | CHILD CARE POLICY PROJECT SUPPORT | $85,000 |
| CHILD CARE SERVICES ASSOCIATION CHAPEL HILL, NC | EARLY YEARS TEACH CONVENING | $1,000 |
| CHILD SAVING INSTITUTE OMAHA, NE | KIDSQUAD PROGRAM SUPPORT | $280,000 |
| COMIC RELIEF INC NEW YORK, NY | RED NOSE DAY - SAVE THE CHILDREN MATCHING GRANT | $300,000 |
| DC ACTION WASHINGTON, DC | GENERAL OPERATIONS SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| EDUCARE LINCOLN LINCOLN, NE | QUALITY EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAM OPERATING SUPPORT | $3,085,708 |
| EDUCARE OF OMAHA INC OMAHA, NE | QUALITY EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAM OPERATING SUPPORT | $4,756,540 |
| EDUCARE OF WASHINGTON DC WASHINGTON, DC | QUALITY EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAM OPERATING SUPPORT | $695,657 |
| EDUCARE OF WINNEBAGO INC WINNEBAGO, NE | RENOVATION PROJECT SUPPORT | $35,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Susan A. Buffett - Director and Chair
- Jessie Rasmussen - President
The organization has 6 employees.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| SUSAN A BUFFETT | DIRECTOR & CHAIR | 5 | — |
| HELEN RAIKES | DIRECTOR & TREASURER | 5 | — |
| WALLACE WEITZ | DIRECTOR & SECRETARY | 5 | — |
| MIKE BURKE | VICE-PRESIDENT | 40 | $228,610 |
| JESSIE RASMUSSEN | PRESIDENT | 40 | $364,740 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The Buffett Early Childhood Fund has demonstrated continued commitment to early childhood research and practice through recent support announcements, including renewed funding for the Prenatal-to-3 Policy Impact Center and support for early literacy initiatives in Nebraska.
Buffett Early Childhood Institute Awarded $1.295 Million Grant to Boost EarlySubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Buffett Early Childhood Fund fund?
The fund's vision is "a nation that enables every child to thrive in their first five years." The organization invests in early childhood practice, policy, and science to improve systems and create structural change so all young children and families thrive. The fund is committed to leveling the playing field for the youngest and most vulnerable children through quality experiences in the first five years. Its focus areas include: • Early childhood education • Child educational development • El…
How do I apply for a grant from Buffett Early Childhood Fund?
**Grant Activity & Amounts:** • Total giving: $31,856,902 (most recent filing) • Total assets: $9,046,904 • Typical award range: $1,000–$9,802,094 • Average grant size: approximately $3,000 **Recent Major Grants (2024):** • Nebraska Children and Families Foundation: $5,440,550 • Educare of Omaha: $4,756,540 • Start Early: $4,709,763 **Application Status:** No unsolicited requests for funding are accepted at this time.
Where does Buffett Early Childhood Fund make grants?
The fund operates with a geographic scope of Nebraska and National. It has significant funding presence in major cities and states including: • Nebraska (primary focus) • District of Columbia • Massachusetts • Arizona, California, Colorado, Delaware, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Nevada, and Wisconsin
What size grants does Buffett Early Childhood Fund award?
In 2024, Buffett Early Childhood Fund awarded 41 grants totaling $31.9M — an average of about $777K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Buffett Early Childhood Fund required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Buffett Early Childhood Fund reported a distributable amount of $461K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Buffett Early Childhood Fund's EIN?
Buffett Early Childhood Fund's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-1768874. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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