Early Childhood Initiative Inc

What it reported doing in 2024

We advocate for the policies and investments that help each child in Florida thrive in their first five years: amplifying the voices of parents and educators; engaging elected officials; and highlighting the role of business leaders. The movement does not use any tax dollars for this work, and does not endorse political candidates or political parties/agendas. Throughout 2024, we hosted and/or participated in more than 100 community events in 22 Florida counties, ranging from speaking engagements, moderated conversations with parents and leaders, our bi-weekly future call, and our 5th annual built to thrive summit that engaged more than 500 floridians in a virtual format. We further engage the state legislature, key stakeholders and parents with a strategic and far-reaching communication strategy to spread the message of early investment through email newsletters, social media, and the movement's website. Through these daily activities, we have been able to: - engage thousands of supporters for early childhood across the state, sharing Florida's early learning roadmap - foster discussions of increased funding and support for teachers in Florida's early learning programs - maintain collaborative efforts for legislative engagement on early learning issues - run our bosses for babies initiative to recognize business champions and entice more Florida employers to enhance their family- friendly policies - manage a statewide volunteer initiative, readingpals, focused on early literacy and mentorship, and serving more than 2,500 children across the state-in person and now virtually as well.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 60.8%; rating input score 61
• Program expense ratio: 72.1%; rating input score 72
• Fundraising efficiency: $8.66 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 33; 33rd percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 0 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 0
  • Compensation committee: Missing
  • Independent consultant: Missing
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Missing
  • Written employment contract: Missing
  • Compensation survey or study: Missing
  • Board or committee approval: Missing
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: Limited
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 8 of 9 controls in place; rating input score 89
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Fail
  • CEO compensation review process: Pass
  • Other executive compensation review process: Pass
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 16%; rating input score 72; 72nd percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 1.03; rating input score 38; 38th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.03; rating input score 76; 76th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 18.3%; rating input score 14; 14th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 0.2% per year; rating input score 100; 14th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: -5.6% per year; rating input score 0; 3rd percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: -12.1% per year; rating input score 0; 1st percentile among comparable filings