National Center for Families Learning Inc logo

National Center for Families Learning Inc

Public charity · Grantmaker Louisville, KY EIN: 61-1159549 Website

The National Center for Families Learning (NCFL) is a public charity based in Louisville, Kentucky. Formed in 1989, it works to eradicate poverty through education solutions for families, supporting multigenerational learning and coordinated family learning systems in communities.

Key facts about National Center for Families Learning Inc

In short: National Center for Families Learning Inc gave $736K across 29 grants in 2025 (avg $25K), top state Kentucky. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.

EIN
61-1159549
Latest 990 filing
Form 990, 2025
Annual giving (2025)
$736,010
Grants made (2025)
29
Average grant
$25,380
Median grant
$20,000
Total assets
$20,575,567
Primary geography
Kentucky (45% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
Next open deadline
November 12, 2026 (Better World Books/NCFL Libraries and Families Award)

Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.

Financial Overview

From 2025 IRS Form 990 · View filing

Total Assets

$20.6M

+6.6% YoY

Annual Giving

$736K

+98.9% YoY

Grant Count

29

+262.5% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$25K

-45.1% YoY

How National Center for Families Learning Inc gives

  • 7% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
  • Giving grew 872% from 2022 to 2025. Method

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.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

NCFL’s mission is to eradicate poverty through education solutions for families. Its family literacy model combines adult education, children’s education, parent education, and interactive parent-child activities. Its family engagement work brings families and practitioners together to support children’s learning, while its family leadership work develops parents’ skills to advocate for their families and communities. NCFL also supports cross-sector community collaborations to build coordinated learning systems.

Its grantmaking supports literacy and family learning efforts, including schools and school districts, libraries, adult education programs, early childhood programs, childcare centers, and out-of-school-time programs. The 2025 grantees included the Somali Community of Louisville, which says it fosters Somali individuals’ and families’ ability to advocate for themselves and participate in the broader community; Literacy Center of West Michigan, which describes itself as a community-based adult literacy provider offering free literacy and English-language instruction; Neighborhood Charter Network, which says it aims to develop students as leaders; and OneWorld Community Health Centers, whose stated mission is to provide access to quality health care services for all people.

Grantmaking

In filing year 2025, NCFL reported 29 grants totaling $736,010. Grant amounts ranged from $5,434 to $60,648, with a median of $20,000. The largest awards included $60,648 to Bellevue Public Schools in Nebraska, $55,000 to Fayette County Public Schools in Kentucky, and $45,000 each to Kentucky Educational Development Corporation and YMCA of Greater Louisville. These grants were listed for literacy.

Review Cycle

is November 12, 2026.

Open Grants

3 open opportunities from National Center for Families Learning Inc

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

NCFL describes its work as occurring across the United States. In filing year 2025, the largest shares of grant dollars went to recipients in Kentucky (45%), Nebraska (26%), Colorado (11%), Arizona (6%), and North Carolina (3%).

Grant Distribution by State

21states

Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 29 itemized grants.

Cities

LouisvilleDallasWashingtonHuntsvilleOmahaAtlantaDecaturFrankfortGarlandGrand RapidsLexingtonNew YorkSan PedroAlamosaAshlandAvondaleBeatriceBellevueBronxCampbellsville

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$250K$500K$750K$1M18 grants2019 18 grants2020 12 grants2021 3 grants2022 4 grants2023 8 grants2024 29 grants2025

From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $50K (2023) to $895K (2019). In 2025 it made 29 grants totaling $736K.

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2025

Bellevue Public Schools: $61KBellevue Public Schools$61KFayette County Public Schools: $55KFayette County Public Schools$55KKentucky Educational Development Corporation: $45KKentucky EducationalDevelopment Corporation$45KYMCA of Greater Louisville Inc: $45KYMCA of Greater Louisville Inc$45KMesa County Valley School District: $45KMesa County Valley SchoolDistrict$45KAvondale Elementary School District: $42KAvondale Elementary SchoolDistrict$42KSomali Community of Louisville Inc: $40KSomali Community of LouisvilleInc$40KMarnel C Moorman Sr Family Life Center: $38KMarnel C Moorman Sr FamilyLife Center$38KTaylor County Board of Education: $38KTaylor County Board ofEducation$38KAdventurous Minds Produce Extraordinary Dreams: $30KAdventurous Minds ProduceExtraordinary Dreams$30K

The largest 2025 recipient was Bellevue Public Schools ($61K). Together the top 10 received $437K.

Grant Size Distribution

56 grants across all recorded years

46<$50K9$50–100K1$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 46 grants of 56 (82%).

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Bellevue Public Schools Bellevue, NELiteracy$60,648
Fayette County Public Schools Lexington, KYLiteracy$55,000
Kentucky Educational Development Corporation Ashland, KYLiteracy$45,000
YMCA of Greater Louisville Inc Louisville, KYLiteracy$45,000
Mesa County Valley School District Grand Junction, COLiteracy$44,892
Avondale Elementary School District Avondale, AZLiteracy$41,947
Somali Community of Louisville Inc Louisville, KYLiteracy$40,000
Marnel C Moorman Sr Family Life Center Shelbyville, KYLiteracy$37,500
Taylor County Board of Education Campbellsville, KYLiteracy$37,500
Adventurous Minds Produce Extraordinary Dreams Louisville, KYLiteracy$30,000

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Filing year Assets Revenue Expenses Grants reported
2025 $20,575,567 $12,164,588 $12,257,779 $736,010 (29 grants)
2024 $19,310,195 $12,310,189 $10,577,463 $370,000 (8 grants)
2023 $16,315,028 $9,799,383 $9,190,611 $50,000 (4 grants)
Revenue
Expenses
Net Investment Income
$0$5M$10M$15M2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
Metric202520242023
Total Assets$20,575,567$19,310,195$16,315,028
Revenue$12,164,588$12,310,189$9,799,383
Expenses$12,257,779$10,577,463$9,190,611
Net Investment Income$501,351$587,358$362,880

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS May 14, 2020)
  2. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS April 8, 2021)
  3. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 22, 2021)
  4. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 15, 2023)
  5. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS March 20, 2024)
  6. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS January 27, 2025)
  7. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS February 9, 2026)
  8. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2025

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2025 filing lists E Susan Gourley as chair of the board and Nicole Chestang as vice chair. Directors listed are Richard Barr, Sharon Darling, Deenie Espinoza, Vikki Katz, Christopher Lehman, Candy Magana, Houston Mills, and Meredith Parente.

National Center for Families Learning Inc is led by Felicia Cumings Smith, President & CEO since 2022 (on filings since 2021); 5 of 18 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.

Officers on the 2025 filing

  • Felicia Cumings Smith

    President & CEO

    Director → President & CEO, 2022

    On filings since 2021

    40 hrs/week

    $70K (2022) → $291K (2025)

  • E. Susan Gourley

    Chair of the Board

    Director → Chair of the Board, 2024

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Sharon Darling

    Director

    President & Founder → President & CEO, 2022

    President & CEO → Director, 2023

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    $269K (2019) → $0 (2025)

  • Tracy Teater

    National Director

    On filings since 2023

    40 hrs/week

    $113K (2023) → $132K (2025)

  • Christopher Lehman

    Director

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Jay Warren

    Director

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Mary Gwen Wheeler

    Director

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Meredith M. Parente

    Director

    Vice Chair → Director, 2024

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Richard E. Barr

    Director

    Chairman of the Board → Director, 2024

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Vikki Katz

    Director

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Deenie Espinoza

    Director

    On filings since 2021

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Holly Walters

    Director

    On filings since 2021

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Houston Mills

    Director

    On filings since 2021

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Candy Magana

    Director

    On filings since 2024

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Shea Coughlin

    Senior Vice President

    Vice President External Affairs → Senior Vice President, 2022

    On filings since 2019

    40 hrs/week

    $105K (2019) → $154K (2025)

  • Marc Otte

    Treasurer & CFO

    Vice President Finance → Vice President & CFO, 2022

    Vice President & CFO → Treasurer & CFO, 2024

    On filings since 2020

    40 hrs/week

    $73K (2020) → $134K (2025)

  • Tony Peyton

    Executive Vice President

    On filings since 2023

    40 hrs/week

    $164K (2023) → $188K (2025)

  • Nicole M. Chestang

    Vice Chair

    Director → Vice Chair, 2024

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

Former officers (5)
  • Former: Denise Espinoza (2023) — Director
  • Former: Barbara McDaniel (2019–2022) — Director
  • Former: Jacquelyn Jackson Fleming (2019–2022) — Director
  • Former: Josh Cramer (2019–2021) — Former Vice President
  • Former: Jessie Hardison (2019–2020) — Cfo-Partial Year

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

Felicia Cumings Smith — President & CEO: $291KFelicia Cumings SmithPresident & CEO$291KTony Peyton — Executive Vice President: $188KTony PeytonExecutive Vice President$188KShea Coughlin — Senior Vice President: $154KShea CoughlinSenior Vice President$154KMarc Otte — Treasurer & CFO: $134KMarc OtteTreasurer & CFO$134KTracy Teater — National Director (Till 12/13/24): $132KTracy TeaterNational Director (Till…$132K

The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $291K, to Felicia Cumings Smith (President & CEO). 5 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.

Contact

Mailing address: 325 West Main Street 300, Louisville, KY 40202-4237
Phone: (502) 584-1133
Website: https://familieslearning.org

Frequently asked questions about National Center for Families Learning Inc

How much does National Center for Families Learning Inc give each year?

National Center for Families Learning Inc gave $736K across 29 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $370K across 8 grants.

What is National Center for Families Learning Inc's typical grant size?

National Center for Families Learning Inc's median grant in 2025 was $20,000, and its average grant was $25,380, across 29 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.

Where does National Center for Families Learning Inc give grants?

National Center for Families Learning Inc's top state is Kentucky, with 45% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were Nebraska (26%) and Colorado (11%). The most frequent recipient cities were Louisville, KY (3 grants) and Omaha, NE (3 grants).

Does National Center for Families Learning Inc give general operating support?

Not in 2025: none of the 29 grants with a stated purpose on National Center for Families Learning Inc's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Literacy" (29 grants).

Who are National Center for Families Learning Inc's largest grantees?

National Center for Families Learning Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Bellevue Public Schools ($60,648), Fayette County Public Schools ($55,000) and Kentucky Educational Development Corporation ($45,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 22% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.

How large is National Center for Families Learning Inc?

National Center for Families Learning Inc reported $20.6M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $12.2M.

What does National Center for Families Learning Inc fund?

NCFL’s mission is to eradicate poverty through education solutions for families. Its family literacy model combines adult education, children’s education, parent education, and interactive parent-child activities. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from National Center for Families Learning Inc?

National Center for Families Learning Inc has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check familieslearning.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.

What is National Center for Families Learning Inc's EIN?

National Center for Families Learning Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 61-1159549. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.

Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.

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