First Children's Finance Group
First Children’s Finance Group (FCFG) is a public charity based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, focused on growing the supply and business sustainability of excellent child care. It provides training and consulting to child-care entrepreneurs, communities, and systems, and partners with public, private, and tribal stakeholders on sustainable child-care systems.
First Children's Finance Group at a glance
In short: First Children's Finance Group gave $1.5M across 69 grants in 2025 (avg $22K), mostly in Vermont. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,501,961
- Grants made (2025)
- 69
- Average grant
- $21,768
- Median grant
- $15,000
- Total assets
- $7,176,722
- Primary geography
- Vermont (98% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to First Children's Finance Group
- Review Cycle
- The November 14–21, 2025 Minnesota Facility Revitalization Grant application period is past.
- Deadline
- The November 14–21, 2025 Minnesota Facility Revitalization Grant application period is past.
- Contact
Mailing address: 212 Third Avenue North 310, Minneapolis, MN 55401
Phone: (612) 338-3023
Website: https://firstchildrensfinance.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who First Children's Finance Group funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was One Arts Inc ($96K). Together the top 10 received $513K.
Grant Size Distribution
69 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 65 grants of 69 (94%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
FCF’s filing describes regional offices in Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Vermont, and Oregon. Its website identifies Minnesota and Vermont as states where child-care grants are offered. In 2025, 98% of reported grant dollars went to recipients in Vermont and 2% to recipients in Massachusetts.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 69 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
In 2025 it made 69 grants totaling $1.5M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| One Arts Inc South Burlington, VT | VT Facility Grant | $96,000 |
| Otter Creek Child Center Inc Middlebury, VT | VT Facility Grant | $54,000 |
| Mater Christi School Burlington, VT | VT Childcare Feasability Project | $50,000 |
| Planetary Art Institute Middlesex, VT | VT Childcare Feasability Project | $50,000 |
| Curious Kids Childcare LLC Bennington, VT | VT Facility Grant | $48,046 |
| Ej's Kids Klub Inc Essex, VT | VT Facility Grant | $45,000 |
| The Growing Tree LLC Salisbury, VT | VT Facility Grant | $45,000 |
| Vip Roots Child Development Center Colchester, VT | VT Facility Grant | $45,000 |
| River Branch Waterbury, VT | VT Childcare Feasability Project | $40,298 |
| Rainbow Gardens Northfield, VT | VT Facility Grant | $39,421 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
The 2025 filing reports the following figures for FCFG.
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $7,176,722 | $6,192,975 | $5,948,962 | $1,501,961 | 69 | $15,106 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
FCF’s stated mission is to grow the supply and sustainability of high-quality child care by strengthening the sector’s business and financial foundations. Its work includes business development assistance and financing for child-care entrepreneurs, community partnerships to increase child-care supply, and collaboration on policies and funding strategies to support child-care businesses.
The 2025 filing describes support for entrepreneurs through individual consulting, group training, financing, and business tools. It also describes community capacity work, including data-driven consultation and strategic planning, and collaboration with state, tribal, and federal partners on child-care business sustainability.
The 2025 grants include facility grants and child-care feasibility projects. Grantees’ own descriptions illustrate the range of organizations supported. River Branch Community School describes its work as operating a licensed early education space and preschool for children from six weeks to five years. Starksboro Cooperative Preschool says it provides an affordable child-care and preschool experience, while Turtle Island Children’s Center describes a community of care and education involving children, teachers, families, and the wider community.
Grantmaking
In 2025, FCFG reported 69 grants totaling $1,501,961. Grants ranged from $5,526 to $96,000, with a median of $15,000. The largest awards included $96,000 to One Arts Inc. for a Vermont facility grant, $54,000 to Otter Creek Child Center Inc. for a Vermont facility grant, and $50,000 each to Mater Christi School and Planetary Art Institute for Vermont child-care feasibility projects. Other notable awards included $48,046 to Curious Kids Childcare LLC and $45,000 each to EJ’s Kids Klub Inc., The Growing Tree LLC, and VIP Roots Child Development Center, all for Vermont facility grants.
The website describes child-care grants in Minnesota and Vermont, made possible by state-government funding. A Minnesota Facility Revitalization Grant round ran November 14–21, 2025; that application period has passed. Its guidelines listed eligible provider types and award ranges, required prior grant reports and invoices to be resolved, and limited eligible spending to necessary items directly related to the child-care program space. Startup providers had additional documentation requirements.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Suzanne Humbert as chair, Patrick Skiles as treasurer, and Elizabeth Davis as secretary. It lists Walter Gilliam, Roger Neugebauer, Nicole Barcliff, Kelly Elkin, David Arens, Melanie Brizzi, and Dafina Williams as directors.
First Children's Finance Group is led by Gerald Cutts, President & CEO on the 2025 filing; none of the 24 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Gerald Cutts
President & CEO
New on the 2025 filing
No compensation reported
Heidi Hagel-Braid
President & CEO
New on the 2025 filing
7.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Suzanne Humbert
Chair
New on the 2025 filing
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Alicia Butler Pierre Former
Director
New on the 2025 filing
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Anne McSweeney
Director of National Iniatives
New on the 2025 filing
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Dafina Williams
Director
New on the 2025 filing
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
David Arens
Director
New on the 2025 filing
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Edith Johnson Former
Director
New on the 2025 filing
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Heidi Schlueter
Program Director
New on the 2025 filing
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kelly Elkin
Director
New on the 2025 filing
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Maria Medina Former
Director
New on the 2025 filing
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mark A. Dickerson
Marketing & Communications Director
New on the 2025 filing
7.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Melanie Brizzi
Director
New on the 2025 filing
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Nicole Barcliff
Director
New on the 2025 filing
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Roger Neugebauer
Director
New on the 2025 filing
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Suzanne Pearl
Minnesota Director
New on the 2025 filing
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Walter Gilliam
Director
New on the 2025 filing
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ben Nicholie
COO
New on the 2025 filing
7.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Cheyenne McGregor
Chief Advancement Officer
New on the 2025 filing
7.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Elizabeth Davis
Secretary
New on the 2025 filing
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jessica Beyer
Associate Director - Mn
New on the 2025 filing
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Michael-John Myette
Chief States Officer
New on the 2025 filing
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Patrick Skiles
Treasurer
New on the 2025 filing
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Stacie Reiner
CFO
New on the 2025 filing
7.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about First Children's Finance Group
How much does First Children's Finance Group give each year?
First Children's Finance Group gave $1.5M across 69 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990.
What is First Children's Finance Group's typical grant size?
First Children's Finance Group's median grant in 2025 was $15,000, and its average grant was $21,768, across 69 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does First Children's Finance Group give grants?
First Children's Finance Group gives mostly in Vermont: 98% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were South Burlington, VT (3 grants), Colchester, VT (3 grants), Morrisville, VT (3 grants) and Middlebury, VT (2 grants).
Does First Children's Finance Group give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 69 grants with a stated purpose on First Children's Finance Group's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "VT Facility Grant" (51 grants) and "VT Childcare Feasability Project" (18 grants).
Who are First Children's Finance Group's largest grantees?
First Children's Finance Group's largest 2025 grantees include One Arts Inc ($96,000), Otter Creek Child Center Inc ($54,000) and Mater Christi School ($50,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 13% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is First Children's Finance Group?
First Children's Finance Group reported $7.2M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $6.2M.
What does First Children's Finance Group fund?
FCF’s stated mission is to grow the supply and sustainability of high-quality child care by strengthening the sector’s business and financial foundations. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from First Children's Finance Group?
First Children's Finance Group has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check firstchildrensfinance.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is First Children's Finance Group's EIN?
First Children's Finance Group's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 99-3692335. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS March 11, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal year 2025
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). First Children's Finance Group funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 17, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/first-children-s-finance-group-morg_828f04981e5640829fc18816a70bbead
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_993692335_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{First Children's Finance Group funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/first-children-s-finance-group-morg_828f04981e5640829fc18816a70bbead},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-17. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from First Children's Finance Group'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.
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