New Tool: Glossary of Key Financial Ratios
Analyzing a few key ratios can expand your understanding of your organization's financial situation. Monitoring these ratios from year to year can also help you determine whether your financial health is improving or declining. Use this glossary of key financial ratios to see how your center stacks up. |
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Reflections on the occasion of our 20th anniversary, Jerry Cutts, CEO
More than 20 years ago, I had a meeting with community leaders from a low-income neighborhood in North Minneapolis who were concerned about crime, affordable housing, economic development and opportunities for children and families. It was a typical, snowy Minnesota winter night, and I was last on the agenda. As the snow got deeper outside, I was introduced to talk about child care options. Even though it was late, all participants agreed that child care was an essential component of its housing plan and voted to move it ahead. This resulted in the creation of three child care businesses - a family child care, an infant and toddler home and a Science House. Read more... |
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 Greg Ellison elected chair of the First Children's Finance Board of Directors Greg Ellison, the resident partner of the Atlanta, Georgia, CPA firm of Banks, Finley, White & Co., has been elected chair of the First Children's Finance Board of Directors. Ellison has been a member of the First Children's Finance Board of Directors since 2007. Greg is a certified public accountant and a member of the Georgia State Board of Accountancy. He serves on several nonprofit boards and participated in the Leadership Atlanta program in 2003. |
Celebrating 20 years of
leadership, learning and innovation
On November 1, more than 200 friends and supporters of First Children's Finance gathered to celebrate the nonprofit's 20th anniversary. The event also featured Innovation Award winners from Minnesota. According to Barbara Simpson Epps, vice president and director of corporate relations, "Minnesota is the third state (Michigan and Iowa are the others) where we recognize the amazing accomplishments of people who are so dedicated to children. Launching the award program during the year of our 20th anniversary makes the celebration even more special."
Joining the festivities was former Olympian Jackie Joyner-Kersee, who had been an honored guest at the Iowa Innovation Awards ceremony in August. Joyner-Kersee is a strong and articulate advocate for early childhood education. Read more... |
First Children's Finance announces Growth Fund Class 5 participants
First Children's Finance has named five high performing child care centers to the fifth class of the Growth Fund in Minnesota. Established in Minnesota in 2006, the Growth Fund helps nonprofit child care center directors and their boards identify and tackle critical business challenges. Centers work with local expert business advisors and also receive First Children's grants to help implement their business plans.
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Rueben Lindh Family Services receives largest loan in First Children's history
Rueben Lindh Family Services has been awarded a loan of $300,000 from First Children's Finance to remodel its building in North Minneapolis, Minnesota, to accommodate the move of its Multi-Cultural Therapeutic Preschool. Reuben Lindh provides a comprehensive network of educational and support services for disabled children who live in poverty.
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New grants support First Children's programs
Thanks to our funders for the following generous grants:
- U.S. Department of the Treasury, Community Development Financial Institution: $600,000 to support the new online Child Care Business Resource Center, Loan Fund marketing and stakeholder communication
- Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa: $10,000 for services in Black Hawk County, Iowa
- Securian Foundation: $2,500 for services in the Twin Cities, Minnesota
- Citi Foundation South Dakota: $21,000 for financial and environmental training and consulting/technical assistance for 12 Sioux Falls, South Dakota, child care centers
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Meet First Children's Finance Staff
In each issue of The Advisor we profile two members of the First Children's Finance staff.
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 Tezikiah Gabriel, Regional Director, Minnesota and the Dakotas
As a new employee, Tezikiah Gabriel (Tez) didn't need time to learn about First Children's Finance. She has been a consultant to the organization for many years. Now Tez has joined the staff and is responsible for Minnesota and the Dakotas in addition to her contributions as a facilitator and strategic thinker. Prior to entering her consulting practice 20 years ago, Tez created and implemented multi-country and statewide organizations and programs to meet emerging needs.
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 Charissa Hanke, Information and Technology Manager
In 2002 Charissa Hanke joined First Children's Finance in the loan department after serving as IT coordinator and associate academic dean for National American University in Roseville, Minnesota. She holds an A.A.S. degree in information technology and a B.S. degree in management information systems from National American University. She graduated Summa Cum Laude and was a member of the President's List for sixteen consecutive quarters. Charissa lived in Bulgaria for nearly four years and in Austria for a year and a half...
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Supporting the business of child care
