Early Connections Inc
The organization is a leading organization in northwestern Pennsylvania for quality early care and education. The organization provides direct service as well as training and planning leadership for a wide georaphic region.
Early Connections Inc at a glance
In short: Early Connections Inc gave $201K across 7 grants in 2025 (avg $29K). Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $200,849
- +15.0% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 7
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $28,693
- +15.0% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $22,761
- Total assets
- $2,681,933
- +4.2% vs 2024
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
How to apply to Early Connections Inc
Open Grants
3 open opportunities from Early Connections Inc
Early Childhood Education Apprenticeship Program
Early Connections Inc
Amount
No-cost (tuition, books, portfolio, and electronics covered)
Deadline
Deadline not published
Early Childhood Education Pre-Apprenticeship Program
Early Connections Inc
Amount
Free
Deadline
Deadline not published
Erie's Future Fund Scholarship
Early Connections Inc
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who Early Connections Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 6 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Erie First Early Ed Center ($65K). Together the top 6 received $194K.
Organizations only. It also paid 1 individual scholarship ($6,750), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
38 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 34 grants of 38 (89%).
How Early Connections Inc gives
- Giving fell 56% from 2022 to 2025. 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 2022 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $175K (2024) to $460K (2022). In 2025 it made 7 grants totaling $201K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Erie First Early Ed Center | Scholarships Awarded | $64,908 |
| YMCA of Erie | Scholarships Awarded | $35,370 |
| Little Explorers Christian Academny | Scholarships Awarded | $34,421 |
| Growing and Learning Center | Scholarships Awarded | $22,761 |
| South Hills Child Development Center | Scholarships Awarded | $20,520 |
| Barber National Institute Happy Hearts | Scholarships Awarded | $16,119 |
| 1 individual scholarship Recipients not named | — | $6,750 |
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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 | $2,681,933 | $3,265,307 | $3,290,103 | $200,849 | 7 | $32,712 |
| 2024 | $2,574,816 | $3,128,791 | $3,323,375 | $174,680 | 7 | $7,509 |
| 2023 | $2,782,716 | $3,253,346 | $3,280,959 | $203,137 | 9 | $3,704 |
| 2022 | $2,954,081 | $3,295,056 | $3,234,466 | $460,481 | 15 | $5,180 |
| 2021 | $2,732,981 | $3,612,230 | $2,861,489 | — | — | $1,177 |
| 2019 | $2,066,260 | $2,948,381 | $3,298,330 | — | — | $1,217 |
About Early Connections Inc
Based on IRS filings
Early Connections Inc is a public charity, based in Erie, PA. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $2.7M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 7 grants totaling $201K. Net investment income was $33K.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Early Connections Inc is led by Michelle Harkins, Executive Director on every filing since 2021; 2 of 15 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Michelle Harkins
Executive Director
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$54K (2021) → $71K (2025)
Michael Plazony
Board President
Board Member → Board President, 2023
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Hannah Cowan
Vice President of Finance
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$51K (2022) → $61K (2025)
Jamie Schumacher
Board Member
President → Board President, 2022
Board President → Board Member, 2025
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Katie Jones
Treasurer
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Matthew Zinna
Board Member
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michael Visnosky
Board Member
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Alivia Haibach
Board Member
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Daniel Pertl
Board Member
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kathryn Ruffa
Board Member
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Rachel Loper
Board Vice President
Board Member → Board Vice President, 2025
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Amy James
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Chrissy Anthony
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jody Irwin
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Stanley Zlotkowski
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (7)
- Former: Alicia Pelkowski (2019–2024) — Board Member
- Former: John Van Tassel (2019–2024) — Vice President -
- Former: Kevin Seeker (2019–2024) — Board Member
- Former: Darlene Kovacs (2019–2021) — Former Executive Director
- Former: Jacqui Catrabone (2019–2021) — Board President
- Former: Janet Wojtalik (2019–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Lori Hetrick (2019) — Vice President
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 $71K, to Michelle Harkins (Executive Director Through July 2025). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Early Connections Inc
How much does Early Connections Inc give each year?
Early Connections Inc gave $201K across 7 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $175K across 7 grants.
What is Early Connections Inc's typical grant size?
Early Connections Inc's median grant in 2025 was $22,761, and its average grant was $28,693, across 7 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Does Early Connections Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 7 grants with a stated purpose on Early Connections Inc's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Scholarships Awarded" (7 grants).
Who are Early Connections Inc's largest grantees?
Early Connections Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Erie First Early Ed Center ($64,908), YMCA of Erie ($35,370) and Little Explorers Christian Academny ($34,421), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. It also paid 1 individual scholarship ($6,750), which are not listed by name. Together they received 67% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Early Connections Inc?
Early Connections Inc reported $2.7M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $3.3M.
What is Early Connections Inc's EIN?
Early Connections Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 25-0965635. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS April 20, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 8, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS September 28, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS September 30, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS September 25, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
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Early Connections Inc down — hundreds of funders to go?