First Children's Finance
First Children’s Finance is a public charity based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, that works to increase the availability, affordability, and quality of early care and education. Founded in 1991, it supports child care businesses and communities through financial and business-development assistance, partnerships, and consultation.
First Children's Finance at a glance
In short: First Children's Finance gave $1.1M across 80 grants in 2025 (avg $13K), mostly in Minnesota. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,078,881
- -92.7% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 80
- -92.9% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $13,486
- +1.6% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $11,839
- Total assets
- $6,993,255
- -55.8% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Minnesota (80% 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
- 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.
Open Grants
2 open opportunities from First Children's Finance
Make Way for Kids Infant and Toddler Capacity Building Grant
First Children's Finance
Amount
$20,000 - $50,000+
Deadline
Deadline not published
Minnesota Child Care Facility Revitalization Grant
First Children's Finance
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who First Children's Finance funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Craftsbury Saplings ($50K). Together the top 10 received $268K.
Organizations only. It also paid 2 grants to individuals ($24,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
1,823 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 1,767 grants of 1,823 (97%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
First Children’s Finance provides services regionally and nationally, according to its website. Its Minnesota team serves child care businesses and communities across the state. Its website also describes grant offerings in Minnesota and Vermont, while the 2025 filing’s grant dollars went to recipients in Minnesota, Vermont, and Wisconsin.
The 2023 filing says the loan fund lends in Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, South Dakota, Oregon, Texas, Vermont, and Wisconsin.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 80 itemized grants.
Cities
How First Children's Finance gives
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2025). 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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $18K (2020) to $14.9M (2024). In 2025 it made 80 grants totaling $1.1M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Craftsbury Saplings Craftsbury, VT | VT Childcare Feasability Project | $50,000 |
| Langlade County Economic Development Corporation East St Paul, MN | WI Provider Paticipant Stipend | $25,870 |
| Calumet County - Child Care Resource & Referral Kimberly, WI | WI Provider Paticipant Stipend | $25,608 |
| United Way of Sheboygan County Inc St Cloud, MN | WI Provider Paticipant Stipend | $25,431 |
| Mauston School District Plymouth, MN | WI Provider Paticipant Stipend | $25,408 |
| Village of La Farge Chaska, MN | WI Provider Paticipant Stipend | $24,431 |
| Wood County Health Department-WI Burnsville, MN | WI Provider Paticipant Stipend | $24,430 |
| United Way of Portage County Ramsey, MN | WI Provider Paticipant Stipend | $24,428 |
| Pittsford Village Farm Rutland, VT | VT Childcare Feasability Project | $22,875 |
| Kids Come 1ST Rochester, MN | MN Facility Revitalization Grant | $20,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
The 2025 filing reports 80 grants; the 2024 filing reports 1,119, and the 2023 filing reports 584. Separately, the organization reported that its loan fund provided $2.1 million in loans to child care businesses in 2024.
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $6,993,255 | $9,273,101 | $10,010,203 | $1,078,881 | 80 | $635,701 |
| 2024 | $15,837,465 | $30,342,329 | $31,549,339 | $14,853,076 | 1,119 | $527,634 |
| 2023 | $15,096,909 | $29,299,227 | $23,126,208 | $9,136,409 | 584 | $61,556 |
| 2022 | $10,144,998 | $9,546,912 | $10,709,389 | $678,497 | 35 | $4,378 |
| 2021 | $8,206,336 | $4,134,768 | $2,983,202 | $87,000 | 5 | $1,733 |
| 2020 | $6,829,243 | $4,344,505 | $2,484,954 | $17,500 | 1 | $16,797 |
| 2019 | $4,623,662 | $1,828,616 | $2,080,954 | $38,653 | 2 | $6,444 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
First Children’s Finance says its mission is to grow the supply and business sustainability of excellent child care. It provides financial and business-development assistance to child care businesses serving low- and moderate-income families, and works with public and private partners to connect those businesses with resources.
Its 2023 filing describes services that include flexible financing for family child care providers and centers, training and one-on-one consultation for child care owners and operators, community consultation, and systems-level work with state, tribal, and federal agencies. The filing says its loan fund lends in Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, South Dakota, Oregon, Texas, Vermont, and Wisconsin, and that all loans are paired with technical assistance.
Examples of grantees show support for a range of child care and community organizations. An individual recipient says it provides child care to families in the greater Craftsbury area, emphasizing community collaboration and exploration of the natural world. Child Care Resource and Referral Inc. says it works to increase community awareness and enhance the quality and availability of child care. Common Roots Montessori School says it provides an inclusive Montessori environment for multicultural and economically diverse families.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, First Children’s Finance reported 80 grants totaling $1,078,881. Grant amounts ranged from $5,283 to $50,000, with a median of $11,839. Listed grant purposes included a Vermont child care feasibility project, Wisconsin provider participant stipends, and Minnesota facility revitalization grants.
The largest listed award was $50,000 to an individual recipient for a Vermont child care feasibility project. Other notable awards included $25,608 to Child Care Resource and Referral Inc. for Wisconsin provider participant stipends; $22,875 to Pittsford Village Farm for a Vermont child care feasibility project; and $20,000 each to Kids Come 1st and Small World Learning Center for Minnesota facility revitalization grants.
The funder’s website describes state-government-funded child care grants in Minnesota and Vermont. Its Minnesota Facility Revitalization Grant guidelines list award limits of $15,000 for licensed family child care, $20,000 for licensed child care centers, $10,000 for certified child care centers, and $500 for legally nonlicensed providers registered with CCAP. The 2025 guidelines also list those provider limits and specify that facility requests must be necessary and directly related to child care operations. A separate program summary says Round 10 applications have closed, final reports are due May 15, 2026, and only indoor projects or purchases are eligible.
The Minnesota Access to Technology–Business Management Grant offers awards of $100 to $1,000 for eligible licensed child care businesses’ technology needs. The website lists a September 17–25, 2026 application window; that cycle has passed. A security camera grant for licensed child care centers was listed with awards of $100 to $4,000 and a May 8, 2026 deadline, which has also passed.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Dafina Williams as board chair and Suzanne Humbert, Patrick Skiles, and Elizabeth Davis as directors. It also lists Walter Gilliam, Roger Neugebauer, Nicole Barcliff, Kelly Elkin, David Arens, and Melanie Brizzi as former directors.
First Children's Finance is led by Gerald Cutts, President & CEO since 2022 (on filings since 2019); 11 of 24 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Gerald Cutts
President & CEO
President & CEO → CEO, 2021
CEO → President & CEO, 2022
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$127K (2019) → $288K (2025)
Heidi Hagel-Braid
President & CEO
Cpo → President & CEO, 2025
On filings since 2020
32.5 hrs/week
$122K (2020) → $195K (2025)
Dafina Williams
Board Chair
New on the 2025 filing
0.8 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Heidi Schlueter
Iowa Regional Director
Iowa Director → Iowa Regional Director, 2024
On filings since 2021
30 hrs/week
$102K (2021) → $147K (2025)
Suzanne Pearl
Minnesota Director
On filings since 2021
30 hrs/week
$115K (2021) → $152K (2025)
Anne McSweeney
Director of National Iniatives
New on the 2025 filing
30 hrs/week
$121K (2025)
Ericka Warmack Austin
Lending Director
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$136K (2025)
Edith Johnson
Director
On filings since 2019
0.8 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Roger Neugebauer
Director
On filings since 2019
0.8 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Suzanne Humbert
Director
President → Chair, 2023
Chair → Director, 2025
On filings since 2019
0.8 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Walter Gilliam
Director
On filings since 2019
0.8 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kelly Elkin
Director
On filings since 2020
0.8 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Nicole Barcliff
Director
On filings since 2020
0.8 hrs/week
No compensation reported
David Arens
Director
On filings since 2023
0.8 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Elizabeth Davis
Director
Secretary → Director, 2025
On filings since 2023
0.8 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Patrick Skiles
Director
Treasurer → Director, 2025
On filings since 2023
0.8 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Alicia Butler Pierre
Director
New on the 2025 filing
0.8 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Maria Medina
Director
New on the 2025 filing
0.8 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Melanie Brizzi
Director
New on the 2025 filing
0.8 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ben Nicholie
COO
COO → Interim CFO & COO, 2024
Interim CFO & COO → COO, 2025
On filings since 2019
32.5 hrs/week
$85K (2019) → $190K (2025)
Cheyenne McGregor
Chief Advancement Officer
On filings since 2024
32.5 hrs/week
$32K (2024) → $154K (2025)
Jessica Beyer
Associate Director - Mn
New on the 2025 filing
30 hrs/week
$105K (2025)
Michael-John Myette
Chief States Officer
New on the 2025 filing
30 hrs/week
$57K (2025)
Stacie Reiner
CFO
New on the 2025 filing
32.5 hrs/week
$57K (2025)
Former officers (13)
- Former: Maria Regan Gonzalez (2022–2024) — Director
- Former: Ericka Warmack (2023–2024) — Lending Director
- Former: Vanessa Garcia Gutierrez (2023–2024) — CFO
- Former: James Henderson (2023) — Michigan Director
- Former: Andrea Doakes (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: Liz Davis (2019–2022) — Secretary
- Former: Pat Skiles (2019–2022) — Treasurer
- Former: Stacie Goffin (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Claudia Fuentes (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Shaun McElhatton (2019–2021) — Secretary
- Former: Gary Cunningham (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Linda Hassan-Anderson (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: M-A Lucas (2019) — Director
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 $288K, to Gerald Cutts (President & CEO (Former)). 11 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about First Children's Finance
How much does First Children's Finance give each year?
First Children's Finance gave $1.1M across 80 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $14.9M across 1,119 grants.
What is First Children's Finance's typical grant size?
First Children's Finance's median grant in 2025 was $11,839, and its average grant was $13,486, across 80 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does First Children's Finance give grants?
First Children's Finance gives mostly in Minnesota: 80% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The next largest states were Vermont (12%) and Wisconsin (9%). The most frequent recipient cities were Minneapolis, MN (10 grants), Plymouth, MN (9 grants), Saint Paul, MN (4 grants) and Lakeville, MN (2 grants).
Does First Children's Finance give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 80 grants with a stated purpose on First Children's Finance's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "MN Facility Revitalization Grant" (51 grants), "WI Provider Paticipant Stipend" (22 grants) and "VT Childcare Feasability Project" (6 grants).
Who are First Children's Finance's largest grantees?
First Children's Finance's largest 2025 grantees include Craftsbury Saplings ($50,000), Langlade County Economic Development Corporation ($25,870) and Calumet County - Child Care Resource & Referral ($25,608), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. It also paid 2 grants to individuals ($24,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 9% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is First Children's Finance?
First Children's Finance reported $7.0M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $9.3M.
What does First Children's Finance fund?
First Children’s Finance says its mission is to grow the supply and business sustainability of excellent child care. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from First Children's Finance?
First Children's Finance 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's EIN?
First Children's Finance's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 41-1694837. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS February 6, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 24, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 16, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 2, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 25, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS March 11, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2025
Live grants for the work First Children's Finance funds
Human Services Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in First Children's Finance's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). First Children's Finance funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 16, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/first-children-s-finance-morg_da585fd3064346869c1c4968d705df78
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_411694837_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{First Children's Finance funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/first-children-s-finance-morg_da585fd3064346869c1c4968d705df78},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-16. 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'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.
First Children's Finance down — hundreds of funders to go?