Early Learning Neighborhood Collaborative
Early Learning Neighborhood Collaborative is a public charity based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Its 2021 filing describes a mission to increase access to early educational resources for vulnerable children in Grand Rapids. The most recent filing on record is for 2021, with nothing filed since; the organization appears to have wound down or stopped grantmaking.
Early Learning Neighborhood Collaborative at a glance
In short: Early Learning Neighborhood Collaborative gave $2.4M across 10 grants in 2021 (avg $235K), mostly in Michigan. Source: 2021 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2021)
- $2,353,262
- -4.4% vs 2020
- Grants made (2021)
- 10
- -28.6% vs 2020
- Average grant
- $235,326
- +33.9% vs 2020
- Median grant
- $188,218
- Total assets
- $19,343,778
- +150.9% vs 2020
- Primary geography
- Michigan (100% of itemized 2021 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2021 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2021; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Early Learning Neighborhood Collaborative
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 7828, Grand Rapids, MI 49510
Phone: (616) 819-1407
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Early Learning Neighborhood Collaborative funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2021
The largest 2021 recipient was The Refugee Education Center ($743K). Together the top 10 received $2.4M.
Grant Size Distribution
24 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $100–250K range: 7 grants of 24 (29%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
All grant dollars reported for 2021 went to recipients in Michigan. The filing states that the organization’s mission centers on improving access to early educational resources for vulnerable children in Grand Rapids.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2021 grant dollars across all 10 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Early Learning Neighborhood Collaborative gives
- 80% of 2021 grantees were also funded in 2020. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2021). 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 2021, annual grant giving ranged from $2.4M (2021) to $2.5M (2020). In 2021 it made 10 grants totaling $2.4M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| The Refugee Education Center Grand Rapids, MI | Early Childhood Education | $743,452 |
| The Other Way Ministries Grand Rapids, MI | Early Childhood Education | $430,345 |
| YMCA Grand Rapids, MI | Early Childhood Education | $292,457 |
| Secom Resource Center Grand Rapids, MI | Early Childhood Education | $252,472 |
| Hispanic Center of West Michigan Grand Rapids, MI | Early Childhood Education | $189,536 |
| GRCC Grand Rapids, MI | Early Childhood Education | $186,900 |
| Catching the Dream Learning Center Battle Creek, MI | Early Childhood Education | $178,800 |
| New Level Sports Ministry Battle Creek, MI | Early Childhood Education | $30,000 |
| Sugar and Spice Battle Creek, MI | Early Childhood Education | $25,600 |
| Pre K International Child Care Center Kalamazoo, MI | Early Childhood Education | $23,700 |
Ready to take the next step with Early Learning Neighborhood Collaborative?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
The filing notes that gala fundraising expenses are included as expenses on the financial statements but treated as a revenue reduction on the Form 990.
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $19,343,778 | $17,801,769 | $6,196,003 | $2,353,262 | 10 | $1,129 |
| 2020 | $7,709,939 | $13,081,274 | $6,275,673 | $2,460,922 | 14 | $1,033 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The organization’s stated mission is to create and provide partners with support to increase the accessibility of early educational resources for vulnerable children in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Its 2021 grants were designated for early childhood education. Among the supported organizations, the Refugee Education Center says it supports refugee children and families through educational support and youth development services. The Other Way Ministries says it provides assistance with basic needs and referral services, alongside programming to support spiritual, relational, and economic growth. The Hispanic Center of Western Michigan describes its work as including preschool and youth programs, job coaching, social-service navigation, and interpretation and translation.
Grantmaking
In 2021, the organization gave $2,353,262 through 10 grants. Grant amounts ranged from $23,700 to $743,452, with a median grant of $188,218.
The largest grants went to the Refugee Education Center in Grand Rapids ($743,452), The Other Way Ministries in Grand Rapids ($430,345), the YMCA in Grand Rapids ($292,457), Secom Resource Center in Grand Rapids ($252,472), and the Hispanic Center of West Michigan in Grand Rapids ($189,536). Other recipients included GRCC ($186,900), Catching the Dream Learning Center ($178,800), New Level Sports Ministry ($30,000), Sugar and Spice ($25,600), and Pre K International Child Care Center ($23,700).
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2021 filing lists Amirah Vosburgh as board chair; Richard Clanton as vice chair; Cindy Droog as secretary; and Eric Brown as treasurer. It lists Misti Stanton, Andrew Vredenburg, Dr Abeba Berhane, Arthur Betancourt, Tracey Fountain, and Amy DeLeeuw as board members.
Early Learning Neighborhood Collaborative is led by Nkechy Ezeh, CEO on every filing since 2020; 1 of 11 officers listed in 2021 is compensated.
Officers on the 2021 filing
Nkechy Ezeh
CEO
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$131K (2020) → $141K (2021)
Amirah Vosburgh
Board Chair
President → Board Chair, 2021
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Abeba Berhane
Board Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Andrew Vredenburg
Board Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Arthur Betancourt
Board Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Eric Brown
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Misti Stanton
Board Member
Secretary → Board Member, 2021
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Amy DeLeeuw
Board Member
New on the 2021 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Cindy Droog
Secretary
New on the 2021 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Richard Clanton
Vice Chair
New on the 2021 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Tracey Fountain
Board Member
New on the 2021 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (5)
- Former: Annemarie Valdez (2020) — Vice President
- Former: Celeste Lloyd (2020) — Board Member
- Former: Jackie Nickel (2020) — Board Member
- Former: Preston Burrell (2020) — Board Member
- Former: William Bennett (2020) — Board Member
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2021. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2021 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2021 filing was $141K, to Dr Nkechy Ezeh (CEO).
Frequently asked questions about Early Learning Neighborhood Collaborative
How much does Early Learning Neighborhood Collaborative give each year?
Early Learning Neighborhood Collaborative gave $2.4M across 10 grants in 2021, according to its 2021 IRS Form 990. In 2020 it gave $2.5M across 14 grants.
What is Early Learning Neighborhood Collaborative's typical grant size?
Early Learning Neighborhood Collaborative's median grant in 2021 was $188,218, and its average grant was $235,326, across 10 grants on its 2021 IRS Form 990.
Where does Early Learning Neighborhood Collaborative give grants?
Early Learning Neighborhood Collaborative gives mostly in Michigan: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2021 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Grand Rapids, MI (6 grants) and Battle Creek, MI (3 grants).
Does Early Learning Neighborhood Collaborative give general operating support?
Not in 2021: none of the 10 grants with a stated purpose on Early Learning Neighborhood Collaborative's 2021 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Early Childhood Education" (10 grants).
Who are Early Learning Neighborhood Collaborative's largest grantees?
Early Learning Neighborhood Collaborative's largest 2021 grantees include The Refugee Education Center ($743,452), The Other Way Ministries ($430,345) and YMCA ($292,457), according to its 2021 IRS Form 990. Together they received 62% of its itemized 2021 grant dollars.
How large is Early Learning Neighborhood Collaborative?
Early Learning Neighborhood Collaborative reported $19.3M in total assets on its 2021 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $17.8M.
What does Early Learning Neighborhood Collaborative fund?
The organization’s stated mission is to create and provide partners with support to increase the accessibility of early educational resources for vulnerable children in Grand Rapids, Michigan. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Early Learning Neighborhood Collaborative?
Early Learning Neighborhood Collaborative has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Early Learning Neighborhood Collaborative's EIN?
Early Learning Neighborhood Collaborative's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 27-3763547. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2021.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(3)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 15, 2022)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2021
Live grants for the work Early Learning Neighborhood Collaborative funds
Human Services Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Early Learning Neighborhood Collaborative's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Grand Rapids Community Foundation
Grand Rapids, MI
Grand Rapids Community Foundation funds nonprofits and eligible public or fiduciary-sponsored organizations working in education, health, neighborhoods, arts and culture, economic prosperity, and the environment, with an emphasis on equity and reducing barriers. Its 2025 grants ranged from $5,065 to $2.36 million, with a median of $23,000, and primarily serve Kent County and West Michigan; eligible applicants can submit an online pre-application for projects fitting its priorities.
Assets
$483.6M
Grants
377
Total Given
$22.0M
WK Kellogg Foundation
Battle Creek, MI
The W.K. Kellogg Foundation funds work to help children, families, and communities thrive, including early education, health equity, food systems, family economic well-being, and racial equity. In 2025, its grants ranged from $50 to nearly $5 million, with a median of $100,000; it funds across the United States, with long-term commitments in several states and communities, as well as parts of Mexico and Haiti. It accepts unsolicited proposals online at any time.
Assets
$481.0M
Grants
1,818
Total Given
$303.9M
Steelcase Foundation
Grand Rapids, MI
The Steelcase Foundation funds public education, family well-being, youth learning and belonging, and community-led systems change, primarily in Kent County, Michigan. Typical grants have a median of $50,000, though amounts vary; selected early-stage Kent County nonprofits may receive $150,000 over three years. It states that it does not accept unsolicited requests and gives only to preselected organizations.
Assets
$128.8M
Grants
98
Total Given
$7.2M
Corewell Health Group Return
Grand Rapids, MI
Corewell Health funds community health and wellness, including nutritious food, safe housing, mental health care, and access to care for underserved populations, as well as aligned community sponsorships. Its 2024 reported grants had a median of $20,000; listed programs offer awards from up to $20,000 to $150,000, primarily in Southwest Michigan and Kent County. The profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$6.8B
Grants
3
Total Given
$172K
Heart of West Michigan United Way
Grand Rapids, MI
Heart of West Michigan United Way funds local nonprofit programs and partnerships addressing poverty through financial security, health, and youth opportunity. Its 2025 grants ranged from $5,217 to $726,531, with a median of $20,000; its investment area is Allegan, Kent, and Ottawa counties in Michigan. The 2026–2029 application cycle is closed; the profile does not state whether unsolicited requests are accepted.
Assets
$33.7M
Grants
118
Total Given
$5.2M
Consumers Energy Foundation
Jackson, MI
Consumers Energy Foundation funds Michigan projects focused on basic needs, education and workforce readiness, environmental protection, economic development, neighborhood revitalization, and arts and culture, mainly in Lower Peninsula communities served by Consumers Energy. Its 2024 grants ranged from $100 to $500,000, with a median of $5,000; its 2026 Community Impact program offers up to $20,000 per project. The profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$67.1M
Grants
296
Total Given
$7.5M
More similar funders
More Funders in Michigan
The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open
Figures come from Early Learning Neighborhood Collaborative's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
Early Learning Neighborhood Collaborative down — hundreds of funders to go?