Children and Families First
Children & Families First is a Delaware public charity based in Wilmington. It provides services and supports for children and families, and its 2024 filing reports grants to Delaware childcare providers for meals through the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP).
Children and Families First at a glance
In short: Children and Families First gave $421K across 14 grants in 2024 (avg $30K), mostly in Delaware. 21% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $421,306
- +49.7% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 14
- +27.3% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $30,093
- +17.6% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $25,301
- Total assets
- $13,339,609
- +12.4% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 21% first-time grantees (3 of 14, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Delaware (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Children and Families First
- Contact
Mailing address: 555 Justison Street Suite 150, Wilmington, DE 19801
Phone: (302) 658-5177
Website: https://cffde.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Children and Families First funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Tiny Tots Child Care & Learning Center ($73K). Together the top 10 received $358K.
Grant Size Distribution
76 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 73 grants of 76 (96%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The organization describes its services as statewide in Delaware. Its 2024 itemized grants went entirely to Delaware recipients.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 14 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Children and Families First open to new grantees?
21%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 3 of 14 grantees (21%) were first-time recipients. With only 14 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 7 points. First grants averaged $19K; repeat grants $33K. How we count
Medians: $19K first-time, $32K repeat.
- 79% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $281K (2023) to $1.7M (2021). In 2024 it made 14 grants totaling $421K.
Hatched bars: grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Tiny Tots Child Care & Learning Center Wilmington, DE | Grants/ assistance to providers of meals through the child and adult care food program | $73,179 |
| Pirulo's Childcare & Learning Center Newark, DE | Grants/ assistance to providers of meals through the child and adult care food program | $45,142 |
| Dis Day Care Wilmington, DE | Grants/ assistance to providers of meals through the child and adult care food program | $41,808 |
| First Steps Preschool - Milford Milford, DE | Grants/ assistance to providers of meals through the child and adult care food program | $35,138 |
| Little Destiny II Wilmington, DE | Grants/ assistance to providers of meals through the child and adult care food program | $34,966 |
| First Steps Preschool - Lunch Lincoln, DE | Grants/assistance to providers of meals through the child and adult care food program | $31,895 |
| Beverly's Helping Hand Wilmington, DE | Grants/ assistance to providers of meals through the child and adult care food program | $25,352 |
| Junebugs Little Rubies LLC Wilmington, DE | Grants/ assistance to providers of meals through the child and adult care food program | $25,250 |
| Newark Christian Child Care Newark, DE | Grants/ assistance to providers of meals through the child and adult care food program | $23,755 |
| One Step Ahead Childcare & Preschool Newark, DE | Grants/ assistance to providers of meals through the child and adult care food program | $21,210 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $13,339,609 | $32,472,627 | $32,323,752 | $421,306 | 14 | $207,085 |
| 2023 | $11,863,092 | $29,690,018 | $30,920,718 | $281,470 | 11 | $231,608 |
| 2022 | $13,883,311 | $30,828,675 | $30,635,814 | $357,127 | 15 | $250,689 |
| 2021 | $10,992,713 | $29,769,883 | $30,775,422 | $1,704,005 | Total only | $51,152 |
| 2020 | $9,866,146 | $24,408,900 | $21,712,694 | $352,840 | 36 | $199,018 |
"Total only": grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The organization’s website states its mission as championing children and families through evidence-based, resilience-centered, and innovative approaches. Its 2024 filing describes programs in home visiting, early childhood education, nutrition, adolescent health, school-based counseling and mental health, foster care, adoption, and support for youth transitioning from foster care.
The 2024 filing describes CACFP as supporting licensed childcare providers and centers with nutrition, food preparation, safety, and other training, alongside meal reimbursements that follow USDA nutrition guidelines. The filing says participating providers served 637,444 meals to children in 2024. Separately, the organization’s itemized 2024 grants were all described as assistance to providers of meals through CACFP.
Grantmaking
In 2024, Children & Families First reported 14 grants totaling $421,306. Grant amounts ranged from $11,757 to $73,179, with a median of $25,301. All reported grant dollars went to recipients in Delaware.
The largest listed grants were $73,179 to Tiny Tots Child Care & Learning Center in Wilmington; $45,142 to Pirulo’s Childcare & Learning Center in Newark; $41,808 to DIS Day Care in Wilmington; $35,138 to First Steps Preschool – Milford; and $34,966 to Little Destiny II in Wilmington. Each was for assistance to providers of meals through CACFP. Other listed recipients included First Steps Preschool – Lunch ($31,895), Beverly’s Helping Hand ($25,352), Junebugs Little Rubies LLC ($25,250), Newark Christian Child Care ($23,755), One Step Ahead Childcare & Preschool ($21,210), Red Lion Christian Academy ($18,550), and Little People Big Dreams ($18,512).
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Mary Borger, Bill Bowlsbey, Sherry Brilliant (vice chair), Casey McCabe (assistant treasurer), Don Brown, Joshua A. Bushweller, John Collins, Clark Collins, Katy Connolly, and Gayle Dillman as officers or directors.
The filing also notes that Thomas Collins and P. Clarkson Collins are brothers serving on the board, and that Casey McCabe is a board member and P. Clarkson Collins’s son-in-law.
Children and Families First is led by Kirsten Olson, Chief Executive Officer on every filing since 2020; 7 of 42 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Kirsten Olson
Chief Executive Officer
On filings since 2020
35 hrs/week
$167K (2020) → $203K (2024)
Jeffrey Sills
Chair
Secretary → Chair, 2023
On filings since 2022
1.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Brenda Smith
Chief Program Officer-Intervention
Chief Program Officer → Chief Program Officer-Intervention, 2024
On filings since 2020
37.5 hrs/week
$100K (2020) → $102K (2024)
Julius Mullen
Chief Inclusion Officer
Chief Clinical Officer → Chief Inclusion Officer, 2023
On filings since 2020
37.5 hrs/week
$105K (2020) → $108K (2024)
Zakiya Bakari-Griffin
Chief Program Officer-Prevention
Chief Prevention Program Officer → Chief Prevention Program O, 2023
Chief Prevention Program O → Chief Program Officer-Prevention, 2024
On filings since 2020
37.5 hrs/week
$102K (2020) → $105K (2024)
Kiera McGillvray
Chief Program Officer-School Programs
Chief Program Officer → Chief Program Officer-School Programs, 2024
On filings since 2022
37.5 hrs/week
$91K (2022) → $107K (2024)
Tam Defer
Chief Leadership & Engagement Officer
Chief Leadership & Empowerment Officer → Chief Leadership & Empow, 2023
Chief Leadership & Empow → Chief Leadership & Engagement Officer, 2024
On filings since 2022
37.5 hrs/week
$105K (2022) → $121K (2024)
Brian Maxwell
Chief Financial Officer
New on the 2024 filing
35 hrs/week
$162K (2024)
Bill Bowlsbey
Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Casey McCabe
Assistant Treasurer
Member → Assistant Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2020
1.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Clark Collins
Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Dave Sweeney
Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Don Brown
Member
On filings since 2020
1.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ellen Levin
Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Gayle Dillman
Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Gina Schoenberg
Member
On filings since 2020
1.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Heather O'Connell
Member
Vice Chair → Chair, 2021
Chair → Member, 2023
On filings since 2020
1.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
James G. Klabe
Member
Chair → Member, 2021
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Janice Rowe Tigani
Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John Collins
Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John Pierson III
Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Joshua A. Bushweller
Member
On filings since 2020
1.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Katy Connolly
Member
On filings since 2020
1.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mary Borger
Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
N. Christopher Griffiths
Member
Member → Vice Chair, 2021
Vice Chair → Member, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Nancy Karibjanian
Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Nicole Magnusson
Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Paul McCommons
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
1.8 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ranie Good
Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Shauna McIntosh
Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sherry Brilliant
Vice Chair
Member → Vice Chair, 2023
On filings since 2020
1.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Tom Collins
Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tony Lewis
Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Evan Park
Member
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Peg Kates
Member
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Alex Hannah
Member
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jeanana Lloyd
Secretary
Member → Secretary, 2023
On filings since 2022
1.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
John Kelso
Member
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Cindy Bo
Member
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Hec Maldonado-Reis
Member
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Peter Lutus
Member
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Katera Y. Moore
Member
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (18)
- Former: Barbaa Ridgely (2020–2023) — Member
- Former: Eliza Hirst (2020–2023) — Member
- Former: John Wood (2020–2023) — Chief Financial & Administrator
- Former: Sandy Autman (2020–2023) — Member
- Former: William Britton (2020–2023) — Assistant Treasurer
- Former: Jim McMackin (2020–2022) — Member
- Former: Rodney Brittingham (2022) — Member
- Former: Jeffery Sills (2020–2021) — Secretary
- Former: Josh Kelso (2020–2021) — Member
- Former: Pete Hazen (2020–2021) — Member
- Former: Tamara Defer (2020–2021) — Chief Leadership & Empowerment Officer
- Former: Willaim Collick (2020–2021) — Member
- Former: Biance Scott (2021) — Member
- Former: Kimberly Pridemore (2021) — Member
- Former: Carrie Kehner (2020) — Member
- Former: Jessica C. Bain (2020) — Member
- Former: Julia Ashworth (2020) — Member
- Former: Michele Kennedy (2020) — Member
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $203K, to Kirsten Olson (Chief Executive Officer). 7 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Children and Families First
How much does Children and Families First give each year?
Children and Families First gave $421K across 14 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $281K across 11 grants.
What is Children and Families First's typical grant size?
Children and Families First's median grant in 2024 was $25,301, and its average grant was $30,093, across 14 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Children and Families First that year got $19K on average.
Where does Children and Families First give grants?
Children and Families First gives mostly in Delaware: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Wilmington, DE (6 grants) and Newark, DE (4 grants).
Does Children and Families First give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 14 grants with a stated purpose on Children and Families First's 2024 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support.
Who are Children and Families First's largest grantees?
Children and Families First's largest 2024 grantees include Tiny Tots Child Care & Learning Center ($73,179), Pirulo's Childcare & Learning Center ($45,142) and Dis Day Care ($41,808), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 38% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Children and Families First?
Children and Families First reported $13.3M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $32.5M.
What does Children and Families First fund?
The organization’s website states its mission as championing children and families through evidence-based, resilience-centered, and innovative approaches. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Children and Families First?
Children and Families First has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check cffde.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Children and Families First's EIN?
Children and Families First's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 51-0065731. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 12, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 2, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 2, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 13, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS August 21, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Children and Families First funds
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