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Help Make Dreams Become a Reality

From big dreams to bright futures, anything is possible with quality early learning.

Some children have dreams of becoming veterinarians, pilots or even America’s Next Ninja Chef. With access to quality early learning, these dreams can become a reality.

However, far too many young children living in under-resourced communities do not have access to the foundation they need to succeed in school and in life. Each year, more than 1 million children enter kindergarten unprepared to learn. But you can change that.

When you donate to Start Early, you can help ensure that these children have the best start in life through quality early learning. They’re counting on your support.

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How You Can Help

Start Early relies on the support of people like you — from donating to amplifying your voice — to deliver quality early learning and care to our youngest learners.

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Donate to Start Early

Help ensure that young children have the best start in life through quality early learning.

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Donate to Start Early

Together, when we start early, we can close the opportunity gap and ensure every child has a chance to reach their full potential.

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Join Our Affiliates Board

Commit to becoming a champion for young children.

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Join Our Affiliates Board

Our Affiliates Board advances our mission by raising awareness of our work and inspiring others to support our youngest learners.

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Take Action

Amplify your voice and be heard.

Make an Impact

Take Action

Share your story, contact legislators or post on social media to impact policy at local, state and federal levels.

Make an Impact

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Invest in Start Early

Legacy gifts enable us to evolve in response to changing, priority needs and to invest in solutions for transformational change.

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Invest in Start Early

The Irving B. Harris Legacy Community helps align your values with long-term legacy.

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An Organization You Can Trust

As a nonprofit that serves 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.

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Most Recent Rating: 4 Stars

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Most Recent Rating: Platinum

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Start Early's FY21 overhead costs - 88% of every dollar goes to support our mission.
Where Your Giving Goes

When you give to Start Early, 88% of every dollar goes to support our mission.

How We Raise & Use Funds

Since our founding in 1982, Start Early has been committed to advancing quality early learning for families with children, before birth through their earliest years, to help close the opportunity gap.

About Us

Our Reach

Our comprehensive approach allows us to create impact for the greatest number of children, families and educators. In the last year, Start Early:

Children reached through Start Early direct service and professional development programs

Reached 1.5 million children through our direct service and through our professional development programs.

Professionals reached through Start Early professional development programs

Reached 298,486 professionals through our professional development programs and by leading the Head Start National Center for Parent, Family and Community Engagement.

6.5MM children reached through Start Early's advocacy and policy work.

Enabled public sector leaders and advocates in 17 states to build more equitable systems for over 6.5 million young children.

Our Impact in Action

See firsthand how Start Early’s early learning programs help new and expecting parents build a strong foundation for their children to thrive.

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Support Our Work

Together, when we start early, we can close the opportunity gap and ensure every child has a chance to reach their full potential.

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Get Involved

Inequity starts at birth, and that impact lasts a lifetime. Get involved with Start Early and help us change the course for our youngest learners.

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Sign up to receive news, helpful tools and learn about how you can help our youngest learners.

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