Georgia Foundation for Early Care and Learning Inc

What it reported doing in 2024

The Georgia foundation for early care + learning makes strategic investments to improve and expand high-quality early education to help ensure all children in Georgia are prepared to succeed when they enter kindergarten regardless of family income or location. The foundation supports education excellence by partnering with families, communities, the early care and education industry and stakeholders. Since 2017, the foundation has recognized Georgia's pre-k teachers of the year from private child care programs and public schools. In 2021, we began recognizing early childhood educators of the year. In the 2025 fiscal year, we awarded winners in the following five categories: infant early childhood educator of the year, toddler early childhood educator of the year, preschool early childhood educator of the year, Georgia pre-k teacher of the year (private school category), and Georgia pre-k teacher of the year (public school category). As in previous years, the foundation identified a diverse group of educators who have made a significant difference in the lives of young children. By highlighting their achievements, we have not only acknowledged the hard work and commitment of these educators but also inspired others in the field to strive for excellence. In fy25, through contributions to our foundation, we also provided early literacy alignment grants to local school systems across Georgia, provided financial relief to childcare programs adversely impacted by hurricane helene, and funded the Georgia children's cabinet's 2gen leadership academy. This 2gen leadership academy fosters cross-agency partnerships, human-centered design thinking, and practical applications of whole-family support for 25-30 leaders who represent cabinet agencies.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 100%; rating input score 100
• Program expense ratio: 99.6%; rating input score 100
• Fundraising efficiency: Limited

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 90.9%; rating input score 91; 13th 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: 72.4%; rating input score 72; 46th percentile among comparable filings
• 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: 3 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 38
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Fail
  • Document-retention policy: Fail
  • CEO compensation review process: Fail
  • Other executive compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Fail
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Fail

Sustainability

• Operating margin: -24.5%; rating input score 12; 12th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 0.38; rating input score 19; 19th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.02; rating input score 39; 39th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 22.4%; rating input score 17; 17th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 8.8% per year; rating input score 100; 66th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 1% per year; rating input score 100; 29th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: -6.3% per year; rating input score 0; 9th percentile among comparable filings