Think Small is a Minnesota-based nonprofit organization headquartered at 10 Yorkton Court in Saint Paul. Established in 1971 as the Toys N Things Training and Resource Center, the organization evolved through the merger of five organizations dedicated to affordable, organized, and accessible early childhood care and education, adopting its current name in 2012.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$10.6M
+6.4% YoY
Annual Giving
$26.2M
+10.9% YoY
Grant Count
241
+2.6% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$109K
+8.1% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: To advance quality care and education of children in their crucial early years.
Vision: To close economic and achievement gaps so that every child is ready for kindergarten and able to realize their full potential.
Think Small operates across several key program areas:
Supporting Parents and Families: The organization administers a parent-powered texting program called ParentPowered Texts that delivers evidence-based messages to families with children ages 0-5. The program provides three texts per week related to child development and age-appropriate activities designed to boost literacy and numeracy skills. Think Small also provides substantial financial assistance through eligibility-based scholarships to help families afford quality childcare.
Professional Development and Technical Assistance: Think Small offers professional development, consultation, and coaching services to early childhood practitioners and providers to improve the quality of care and education.
Innovation and Policy: The organization operates an innovation lab called Beanstalk, where high-potential services are developed and implemented. Think Small also educates and influences policymakers to advance early childhood care and education systems.
Grantmaking
Think Small functions as both a grantmaker and direct service provider. The organization awarded over $20 million in financial assistance to families in 2024, supporting 5,427 children's access to quality childcare through eligibility-based scholarships. In 2024, the organization administered more than 4,700 scholarships.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Think Small primarily serves Minnesota, with particular focus on the seven-county Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area. The organization also operates regionally and nationally through its services and advocacy work.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
2024 Financial Data:
- Total Revenue: $41,942,913
- Total Expenses: $39,507,681
- Total Assets: $10,592,175
- Total Liabilities: $5,210,000 (as of 2023)
- Total Giving: $28,221,781
2023 Financial Data:
- Revenue: $37.4 million
- Expenses: $36.1 million
- Total Assets: $9.96 million
Staffing: The organization employs 138 staff members as of 2024.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $10,592,175 | $9,957,686 | $8,024,590 |
| Revenue | $41,942,913 | $37,375,201 | $30,547,585 |
| Expenses | $39,507,681 | $36,122,189 | $31,407,460 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $135,733 | $81,571 | $26,681 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
150 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include The Family Partnership ($516,857), Ywca of Minneapolis ($458,432), Babys Space a Place to Grow ($350,383).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| PARTNERSHIP ACADEMY RICHFIELD, MN | Scholarships | $7,868 |
| JAIN ENTERPRISES Maple Grove, MN | Scholarships | $65,620 |
| ROBIN E RILEY MINNEAPOLIS, MN | Scholarships | $6,152 |
| SARAH L HOLLIDAY Minneapolis, MN | Grants and Scholarships | $28,055 |
| TIFFANY COLETTE ROBERTS ST PAUL, MN | Scholarships | $65,350 |
| MES AMIS FRENCH SCHOOL LLC CHASKA, MN | Scholarships | $36,311 |
| Mis Amigos Spanish Immersion LLC GOLDEN VALLEY, MN | Grants and Scholarships | $102,313 |
| Audrey Neal Saint Paul, MN | Grants and Scholarships | $19,180 |
| Renew Heights LLC WOODBURY, MN | Grants and Scholarships | $7,435 |
| BABYS SPACE A PLACE TO GROW Minneapolis, MN | Scholarships | $350,383 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tracy Nordstrom | Chair | 1 | — |
| Jaylon Rosenblum | Vice Chair | 1 | — |
| Tanya Skogerboe | Treasurer | 1 | — |
| Margeaux King | Secretary | 1 | — |
| Robbin Johnson | Director | 1 | — |
| Arthur Rolnick | Director | 1 | — |
| Cory Padesky | Director | 1 | — |
| Fred Senn | Director | 1 | — |
| Molly Sullivan | Director | 1 | — |
| Jim Sparks | Director | 1 | — |
| Andrea Stern | Director | 1 | — |
| Megan Gunnar | Director | 1 | — |
| Andrea Singh | Director | 1 | — |
| Angela Bissen | Director | 1 | — |
| Andre Dukes | Director | 1 | — |
| Yolanda Majors | Director | 1 | — |
| Barbara Yates | President and CEO | 50 | $239,319 |
| Mark Cross | Chief Operating Officer | 40 | $191,141 |
| Cisa Keller | SVP EC Quality Development | 40 | $143,218 |
| Jonathan May | VP of Innovations & Development | 40 | $129,361 |
| Wendy Nielsen | Director of Early Childhood Supports | 40 | $103,824 |
Recent Activity
Recent developments and announcements
In 2024, Think Small launched a collaborative pilot program with Mirza to modernize access to child care and public benefits in Minnesota, utilizing technology to streamline enrollment and benefit access for families.
Think Small and Mirza Launch Pilot to Modernize Access to Child Care andSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Think Small fund?
**Mission:** To advance quality care and education of children in their crucial early years. **Vision:** To close economic and achievement gaps so that every child is ready for kindergarten and able to realize their full potential. Think Small operates across several key program areas: **Supporting Parents and Families:** The organization administers a parent-powered texting program called ParentPowered Texts that delivers evidence-based messages to families with children ages 0-5. The program …
How do I apply for a grant from Think Small?
Think Small functions as both a grantmaker and direct service provider. The organization awarded over $20 million in financial assistance to families in 2024, supporting 5,427 children's access to quality childcare through eligibility-based scholarships. In 2024, the organization administered more than 4,700 scholarships. The ParentPowered Texts program reached 5,865 families in 2024, delivering over 750,000 text messages.
Where does Think Small make grants?
Think Small primarily serves Minnesota, with particular focus on the seven-county Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area. The organization also operates regionally and nationally through its services and advocacy work.
What size grants does Think Small award?
In 2024, Think Small awarded 241 grants totaling $26.2M — an average of about $109K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Think Small's EIN?
Think Small's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 41-1260581. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Think Small's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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