National Head Start Association
National Head Start Association reported $15.6 million in revenue and $11.4 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $83.07 went to program services, $16.83 to management and general costs and $0.10 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was program service revenue such as fees, sales and contracts: 70.4% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $494,784 (EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR). 17 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 130% 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 $11MFor context, the median across 2,433 covered unclassified charities: $88.27 programs, $11.68 management, $0.05 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 $16MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 83.1% | 86.7% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 16.8% | 11.5% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 0.1% | 0.0% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.00 | $0.01 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 20.2% | 29.9% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 3.8% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 70.4% | 58.9% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $494,784 | $301,601 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 4.35% | 1.38% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 17 | 6 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 33.6 | 6.8 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 51 of 52 | 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 expenseExternal affairs: external affairs advocates, lobbies for, and supports the interests of the Head Start community in congress, the administration, and the early learning community. The department cultivates grass roots action and educates the Head Start community on policy, legislation, and advocacy
Conferences: conferences are designed to advance the knowledge of Head Start staff and parents, local partners, and community allies. Each event offers a unique content focus and is held in differing locations to ensure broad access by membership
Professional development: professional development services include training opportunities for individuals working in Head Start agencies, early education programs, and allied organizations. Events promote evidence-based education sessions, networking, innovative leadership, and performance excellence
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Director/trustee, officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $448,836 | $0 | $45,948 | $494,784 |
| CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $290,756 | $0 | $33,522 | $324,278 |
| DEPUTY DIRECTOR FOR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND INNOV Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $273,949 | $0 | $33,579 | $307,528 |
| SENIOR DIRECTOR OF CONFERENCES AND PROFESSIONAL DE Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $204,058 | $0 | $19,750 | $223,808 |
| DEPUTY DIRECTOR Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $198,911 | $0 | $19,986 | $218,897 |
| CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $180,250 | $0 | $25,904 | $206,154 |
| SENIOR DIRECTOR OF DATA Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $153,846 | $0 | $17,057 | $170,903 |
| SENIOR DIRECTOR OF GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $143,936 | $0 | $23,797 | $167,733 |
17 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from National Head Start Association (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $1.4M (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–1b52 · 51 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 18No
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bNo
- Employees Part I, line 545
- Volunteers Part I, line 610
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| XCELERATOR GROUP LLC Consulting | $416,536 |
| THE BEANS Consulting | $269,530 |
| ACORN EVALUATION INC Consulting | $196,796 |
| IMPEXIUM CORPORATION Consulting | $127,637 |
| ALINEHS CONSULTING LLC Consulting | $127,013 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 9 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
9 private foundations reported grants to National Head Start Association totaling $1.1M 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 National Head Start Association's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for National Head Start Association, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 National Head Start Association spent in FY2025, $83.07 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
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Questions people ask
How much of National Head Start Association's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, National Head Start Association reported that 83.1% of its $11.4 million in expenses went to program services, 16.8% to management and general and 0.1% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does National Head Start Association pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation National Head Start Association reported for one person in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 was $494,784, for the role of EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does National Head Start Association get its money?
Of $15.6 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, 20.2% came from contributions and grants and 70.4% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is National Head Start Association a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 52-1282065 as a 501(c)(3) organization (publicly supported organization (509(a)(2))), 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 202631329349302978 · read the filing
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, object 202530359349300808 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, object 202411109349300311 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, object 202320939349300537 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, object 202200979349300240 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, object 202131109349301308 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 52-1282065: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.