Form 990 for tax year 2024

Totals

Total revenue

$1,040,489

Total expenses

$817,143

Contributions and grants received

$1,040,489

Grants paid

$0

Program service revenue

$0

Investment income

$0

Other revenue

$0

Total assets, end of year

$718,421

Total liabilities, end of year

$5,330

Net assets or fund balances, end of year

$713,091

Program services expenses (Part IX)

$125,040

Management and general expenses

$692,103

Fundraising expenses

$0

Program service expenses (Part III)

$125,040

Program services were 15.3% of total expenses calculated — Part IX's program-services column over total expenses, both as filed.

Line items

Every line the filer filed in Parts VIII, IX and X, as filed and in filed order. Blank columns are left out, and the lines are not forced to add up to the totals above.

Mission and programs · 2024

• We launched the Institute for Culturally Affirming Practices for Black Children because we know the stakes are high. Black children in early care and education (ECE) settings continue to face systemic inequities and are often either rendered invisible through underrepresentation or hypervisible and misrepresented through deficit-based lenses, both of which undermine their brilliance Too often, quality measures and professional development frameworks ignore the reality that Black families and Black educators are stewards of brilliance, cultural capital, and ways of knowing that not only benefit Black children but all children. Our vision was clear: to create a professional learning space that centers Black culture, language, and history, and equips early educators and ECE professionals with deeper awareness and practical strategies while building a community of practice committed to affirming Black children every single day. We designed the Institute as a five-session professional development journey curated and led by experts within the BlackECE coalition. Grounded in Black joy, love for Black children, and the pursuit of justice for Black people, the Institute deepened participants' awareness and planted seeds for culturally affirming strategies that uplift Black children, families, and communities. Each session blended theory with actionable practice and was complemented by reflection circles that provided space for dialogue, peer-to-peer learning, and deeper meaning-making. Twenty-four educators and leaders joined this inaugural cohort, representing program administrators, center-based educators, and family child care providers. Participants represented diverse communities across California, from Los Angeles to the Central Valley to the Bay Area. Most brought more than a decade of experience in ECE, while others were earlier in their journey but deeply committed to change. Together, they built a community of practice that combined lived experience, professional expertise, and shared purpose with the intention of shaping early learning, teacher preparation, and ECE systems in ways that affirm Black children. At the conclusion of the Institute, participants shared their perspectives and confidence. The post-survey captured how experiences across the five sessions influenced their practice and intentions moving forward. Participants reported: Stronger confidence across all practice areas: 100% felt confident applying affirming approaches (up from 76%), 80% in engaging families (up from 55%), 90% in addressing bias (up from 85%), and 90% in affirming multilingual learners including Black Language (up from 62%). High intentions to act: 100% were likely to advocate for affirming practices, 90% to share knowledge with peers, 90% to implement affirming practices, and 70% to adjust teaching or engagement strategies. Based on insights from the pre-survey, questions about coaching and technical assistance were added to the post-survey to better understand participants' ongoing support needs. Results showed: Mixed interest in coaching and technical assistance: 20% said yes, 30% maybe, and 50% no. Still, 90% were at least somewhat likely to participate if BlackECE offered it, with preferences for curriculum planning support, small-group peer coaching, and hands-on guidance. Beyond the numbers, participants described the Institute as transformative. As one reflected, "It feels refreshing to be in a space where we can actually say the word racism and not avoid it, because these conditions are real in our daily lives." Others spoke of the sessions as "planting seeds" that would guide their decisions long after the Institute, and of the call to "prepare, not just protect" children by naming racism and affirming identity. Participants highlighted how affirming Black English as a legitimate language shifted their sense of professional responsibility, and how seeing children's names, language, and culture honored changed what quality meant for them. These reflections show that the Institute did more than build skills; it reoriented mindsets toward cultural affirmation as the standard of quality.

  Expenses $3,387 · Revenue $7,400

• We hosted our first annual Symposium, bringing together nearly 150 people, including early educators, researchers, policymakers, advocates, families and community stakeholders to advance policies and practices across California's early learning and care system. The symposium provided a much-needed space to affirm and recognize the importance of culturally affirming learning environments, where Black children are loved, nurtured, and safe, Black families are welcomed and engaged, and Black early care and education providers are respected and valued as the professionals they are. The event focused on our strategic priorities, racial wage justice, cultural affirmation and Reparations.

  Expenses $75,971 · Revenue $74,100

• We help families and ECE programs discover the beauty of Black heritage with our "Black Family Culture Kits." Each kit, celebrating a unique aspect of Black culture, is filled with engaging activities and materials for Black families and their children. These kits offer a fun and educational way to connect with our roots and celebrate our rich history and traditions through four distinct themes throughout the year. Embrace this enriching cultural journey with your family. The kits are distributed four times a year, focusing on food, appreciation of all hair textures, skin colors, and a celebration of Juneteenth and music.

  Expenses $40,439 · Revenue $41,041

• We provide three Black Family Cookout events in Compton, Merced and Walnut Creek, CA. With over 200 participants, we provided space for families, children and early educators to gather and celebrate Black culture, enjoy good food, and learn more about BlackECE.

  Expenses $5,243 · Revenue $5,000

As filed on the 2024 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here.

Listed in Part VII

• Keisha Nzewi

  Executive Director

  Total calculated

  $162,000

  From this org

  $162,000

  From related orgs

  $0

  Other

  $0

  Hours/week

  32

  Schedule J breakdown matched by us

  Base

  $162,000

  Bonus

  $0

  Other

  $0

  Deferred

  $0

  Nontaxable benefits

  $12,000

  Filer's total

  $174,000

• Samantha Thompson

  Chief Operating Officer

  Total calculated

  $130,000

  From this org

  $130,000

  From related orgs

  $0

  Other

  $0

  Hours/week

  32

• Lloyd Schine

  Board Member

  Total calculated

  $0

  Hours/week

  0.5

• Angela Jenkins

  Board Member

  Total calculated

  $0

  Hours/week

  0.5

• Dr Lee Johnson

  Board Member

  Total calculated

  $0

  Hours/week

  0.5

• Lea Austin

  Board President

  Total calculated

  $0

  Hours/week

  0.5

Compensation is as filed in Part VII: reportable pay from this organization and from related organizations, other compensation, and hours per week. The total, marked calculated, is our sum of the three dollar columns, with a blank column counted as $0; the form itself has no total. On a Form 990-EZ the columns are Part IV's instead, and on a Form 990-PF Part VIII's — compensation, contributions to benefit plans, and expense account — and the total sums those. A Schedule J breakdown is as filed: base pay, bonus, other, deferred compensation and nontaxable benefits from this organization, with any from related organizations beside each, and the filer's own total. It is shown with the Part VII listing of the same name on the same return. The form gives no key between the two, so that pairing is ours, and is marked matched by us.

Schedule J

Part I's answers as filed. A line not listed was left unanswered; on lines 1a and 3 that means the box was not checked.

Grants on this return

No itemized grants to organizations on this return.

Provenance

Return type

form_990

Tax year

2024

Filed

10 November 2025

IRS schema version

2024v5.0

Source object

202523219349308437

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