Think Small
Think Small reported $20.7 million in revenue and $22.2 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $91.44 went to program services, $6.72 to management and general costs and $1.84 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 91.0% of the total. Government grants made up 74.7%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $217,557 (President and CEO). 8 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue fell 29% between FY2020 and FY2025. Source: Form 990, FY2025.
Where $100 of spending went
The fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $22MFor context, the median across 3,614 covered human services charities: $88.27 programs, $11.52 management, $0.21 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
The fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $21MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 91.4% | 87.2% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 6.7% | 11.4% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 1.8% | 0.2% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.02 | $0.02 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 91.0% | 20.6% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 74.7% | 2.4% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 1.4% | 70.8% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $217,557 | $274,992 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 0.98% | 1.18% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 3.2 | 6.9 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 14 of 14 | 100.0% |
A median is context, not a target: hospitals, universities, food banks and grantmakers spend in very different ways. What these measures can and can't tell you.
What the money paid for, in its own words
FY2025 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseStrengthen FamiliesThink Small recognizes that supporting families is critical to supporting their children's early learning and education. We administered 4,700+ Early Learning Scholarships whereby 57% served children priority groups, living in homelessness, foster care, with teen parents, and other unique or challenging circumstances. Through the free statewide program ParentPowered Texts, 3,100 caregivers received texts, three times weekly, related to their child's development for children ages 0-5. More than 819,000 curricular messages were delivered to participating caregivers
Prepare ProvidersWe take care for early childhood educators so they can take care for children. From flexible, affordable professional development to expert coaching, business tools, and financial supports, we provide what educators need to start or strengthen their practice and sustain their programs. In 2025, we supported 21,525 total enrollments in professional development, and 3,682 providers started or expanded their child care businesses in Minnesota
Catalyzing ChangeWe lead so early childhood education can succeed not just for educators and families, but for the broader community. Our leadership spans policy, research, and practice. We advocate for statewide reforms, expand access to child care in underserved areas, and publish new thought-leadership materials through Redleaf Press. In 2025, we supported the opening of 1,540 child care slots in under-served areas, and we launched a statewide advocacy and engagement effort to advance improvements in child care quality and licensing
Highest reported compensation
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section A · roles as filed; names are in the filing, not here| Role | From this org | From related orgs | Other | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| President and CEO Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $202,162 | $0 | $15,395 | $217,557 |
| VP of Innovation & Development Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $134,986 | $0 | $7,628 | $142,614 |
| President and CEO until March 2024 Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $118,588 | $0 | $6,004 | $124,592 |
| Director of Early Childhood Supports Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $112,808 | $0 | $10,576 | $123,384 |
| VP of Equity and Early Childhood Programs Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $116,733 | $0 | $6,485 | $123,218 |
| Director of Think Small Institute and Redleaf Pres Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $103,729 | $0 | $10,547 | $114,276 |
| COO until March 2024 Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $106,185 | $0 | $3,676 | $109,861 |
| Human Resources Manager Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $105,230 | $0 | $2,125 | $107,355 |
8 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Think Small (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $365K (Part IX, line 5).
6 years of filings
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
FY2025 · the organization's own yes/no answers; explanations, if any, are in Schedule O of the filing · what each means- Voting board members, and how many are independent Part VI, lines 1a–1b14 · 14 independent
- Audited financial statements Part XII 2bYes
- Conflict-of-interest policy Part VI 12aYes
- Whistleblower policy Part VI 13Yes
- Document retention policy Part VI 14Yes
- Independent process for top executive pay Part VI 15aYes
- Board given the 990 before filing Part VI 11aYes
- Family or business ties among insiders Part VI 2No
- Aware of a significant diversion of assets Part VI 5No
- Excess benefit transaction with an insider Part IV 25aNo
- Loans to or from insiders outstanding Part IV 26No
- Lobbying, or a 501(h) election in effect Part IV 4Yes
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18Yes
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bNo
- Employees Part I, line 5145
- Volunteers Part I, line 614
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| MyTech Inc IT Support | $255,436 |
| Versa Press Inc Printing & Binding Books | $190,855 |
| Franklin Lake LLC Lobbying | $180,525 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 3 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
18 private foundations reported grants to Think Small totaling $3.6M on their tax year 2023 Form 990-PF returns. See which foundations, on WHOFUNDS.
Source: WHOFUNDS open grant graph, matched from Form 990-PF Part XV.
Correct a figure or respond
Every number above is copied from Think Small's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Think Small, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Think Small spent in FY2025, $91.44 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Greater Burlington YMCABurlington, VT · revenue $21M · programs 84.1% · 2025
- Christopher HouseChicago, IL · revenue $21M · programs 91.6% · FY2025
- Ecumenical EnterprisesDallas, PA · revenue $21M · programs 84.9% · FY2025
- Burlington United Methodist Family ServicesKeyser, WV · revenue $21M · programs 72.0% · FY2025
- Arab American and Chaldean CouncilTroy, MI · revenue $21M · programs 85.8% · FY2025
All human services charities · Largest charities in Minnesota
Questions people ask
How much of Think Small's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, Think Small reported that 91.4% of its $22.2 million in expenses went to program services, 6.7% to management and general and 1.8% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Think Small pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Think Small reported for one person in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 was $217,557, for the role of President and CEO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Think Small get its money?
Of $20.7 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, 91.0% came from contributions and grants (including 74.7% from government grants) and 1.4% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Think Small a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 41-1260581 as a 501(c)(3) organization (publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(a)(vi))), and its records show contributions as tax-deductible. Form 990 filings on record here cover tax years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- FY2025: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, object 202601319349304365 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, object 202520859349301522 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, object 202431079349300238 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, object 202310629349300441 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, object 202133439349300438 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, object 202131279349302903 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 41-1260581: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.