Early Childhood Connections
To increase child care providers' (home and center) and parents' knowledge of early childhood development to the extent necessary to enable them to promote the health, safety, and development of young children.
Early Childhood Connections at a glance
In short: Early Childhood Connections gave $504K across 8 grants in 2024 (avg $63K), mostly in South Dakota. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $504,245
- -0.4% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 8
- +14.3% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $63,031
- -12.8% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $46,199
- Total assets
- $1,703,032
- +5.9% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- South Dakota (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026.
How to apply to Early Childhood Connections
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Early Childhood Connections
Who Early Childhood Connections funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 8 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was YMCA Rapid City ($253K). Together the top 8 received $504K.
Grant Size Distribution
35 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 18 grants of 35 (51%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 8 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Early Childhood Connections gives
- Giving grew 83% from 2021 to 2024. 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 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $275K (2021) to $566K (2022). In 2024 it made 8 grants totaling $504K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| YMCA Rapid City Rapid City, SD | For early education of children participating in the starting strong program and for program quality improvements | $253,251 |
| St Elizabeth Seton Preschool Rapid City, SD | For early education of children participating in the starting strong program and for program quality improvements | $56,913 |
| Every Child Is Special Childcare Rapid City, SD | For early education of children participating in the starting strong program and for program quality improvements | $53,735 |
| Banana Bunch Child Care Rapid City, SD | For early education of children participating in the starting strong program and for program quality improvements | $51,123 |
| Open Bible Christian Center Rapid City, SD | For early education of children participating in the starting strong program and for program quality improvements | $41,274 |
| Kyra's Kiddos Rapid City, SD | For early education of children participating in the starting strong program and for program quality improvements | $19,994 |
| LIL Friends Learning Center Rapid City, SD | For early education of children participating in the starting strong program and for program quality improvements | $16,439 |
| Dream Kids Preschool & Child Care Center Rapid City, SD | For early education of children participating in the starting strong program and for program quality improvements | $11,516 |
Ready to take the next step with Early Childhood Connections?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $1,703,032 | $1,890,155 | $1,830,224 | $504,245 | 8 | $54,480 |
| 2023 | $1,608,485 | $2,025,773 | $1,679,378 | $506,264 | 7 | $31,679 |
| 2022 | $1,249,469 | $1,755,279 | $1,495,288 | $566,149 | 6 | $6,838 |
| 2021 | $1,003,322 | $1,329,455 | $1,098,513 | $275,070 | 7 | $3,995 |
| 2020 | $752,012 | $1,164,283 | $1,021,131 | $286,178 | 7 | $4,664 |
About Early Childhood Connections
Based on IRS filings
Early Childhood Connections is a public charity focused on Arts, Culture & Humanities, based in Rapid City, SD. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $1.7M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 8 grants totaling $504K. Net investment income was $54K.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Early Childhood Connections is led by Autumn Gregory, Executive Director since 2024 (on filings since 2020); 1 of 5 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Autumn Gregory
Executive Director
Program Director → Executive Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$75K (2020) → $90K (2024)
Sharon Kallemeyn
President
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Judy Duhamel
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Rick Stracqualursi
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Marcia Barnes
Vice President
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: James Van Loan (2020–2021) — Secretary & Treasurer
- Former: Jean Hohm (2020) — Director
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 $90K, to Autumn Gregory (Executive Director).
Frequently asked questions about Early Childhood Connections
How much does Early Childhood Connections give each year?
Early Childhood Connections gave $504K across 8 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $506K across 7 grants.
What is Early Childhood Connections's typical grant size?
Early Childhood Connections's median grant in 2024 was $46,199, and its average grant was $63,031, across 8 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990.
Where does Early Childhood Connections give grants?
Early Childhood Connections gives mostly in South Dakota: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Rapid City, SD (8 grants).
Does Early Childhood Connections give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 8 grants with a stated purpose on Early Childhood Connections's 2024 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support.
Who are Early Childhood Connections's largest grantees?
Early Childhood Connections's largest 2024 grantees include YMCA Rapid City ($253,251), St Elizabeth Seton Preschool ($56,913) and Every Child Is Special Childcare ($53,735), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 72% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Early Childhood Connections?
Early Childhood Connections reported $1.7M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $1.9M.
What is Early Childhood Connections?
Early Childhood Connections is a public charity focused on Arts, Culture & Humanities, based in Rapid City, SD. It holds $1.7M in total assets as of 2024.
What is Early Childhood Connections's EIN?
Early Childhood Connections's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 46-0439068. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(3)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS October 17, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS October 27, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Early Childhood Connections's focus areas in our free grants database
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Early Childhood Connections down — hundreds of funders to go?