Invest in Early Learning
The first five years shape a child's future. As the nation's leading early childhood charity, Start Early, is committed to providing equitable access to quality early learning for children living in under-resourced communities.
A child’s brain develops faster from birth to age 5 than at any other time of life.
More than one million new neural connections are formed every second in the first few years of life.
The opportunity gap is measurable as early as 9 months of age.
On average, children from under-resourced communities enter kindergarten 18 months behind their more advantaged peers; and no school system can remediate this gap on a large scale.
Investments in early childhood lead to big lifetime returns.
Investing in quality early education programs provides a 13% annual return on investment through better outcomes in education, health, employment and social behavior.
Our Blog & Featured News
Start early and change the future. Stories of need and hope. Stories to inform and inspire.
Champions for Early Learning
We work directly with children and families, support and train the early childhood workforce, and partner at the local, state, and federal levels to ensure policies put families first.
Our Impact in Action
See firsthand how Start Early’s early learning programs help families build a strong foundation for their children to thrive.
An Organization You Can Trust
As an early learning charity that serves children and families in Chicago and communities across the country, Start Early is proud to have received the highest rankings from the nation’s most reputable charity evaluators and provide the most impact with your gift.
Help Make Dreams Become a Reality
From big dreams to bright futures, anything is possible with quality early learning. With your help, we can ensure that every child has the opportunity to reach their full potential.
