Buffett Early Childhood Fund
ActivePhilanthropy & VoluntarismFunds Individuals
About Buffett Early Childhood Fund
The Buffett Early Childhood Fund concentrates almost all of its giving on improving birth-to-five systems and high-quality early childhood programs, with heavy emphasis on Nebraska-based organizations and statewide policy and capacity-building networks. It funds direct-service Educare schools, statewide coalitions and data/scaling initiatives, and research/technical assistance centers that inform practice and policy. Grants are typically multi-year general operating support or program support aimed at sustaining quality program models and expanding state-level early childhood policy and implementation.
Focus Areas
Support for Educare early learning campuses (Omaha and Lincoln)Nebraska statewide early childhood systems and capacity-building (e.g., First Five Nebraska, Communities 4 Kids)State policy and advocacy networks for early childhood (Alliance for Early Success)Scaling, data and implementation support for early childhood programsEarly childhood research and innovation (Center on the Developing Child at Harvard)
Who They Fund
infants and toddlers (prenatal-to-3)preschool-aged children / early learners
About Buffett Early Childhood Fund
A defining feature of Buffett Early Childhood Fund is its sustained backing for early childhood systems in Nebraska, alongside national policy and research partners. The fund repeatedly supports organizations that work across birth-to-five services, early learning quality, and state-level implementation. Recent grants show large operating commitments to Nebraska Early Childhood Collaborative, Nebraska Children & Families Foundation, Educare of Omaha Inc, and Educare Lincoln, with additional support for national intermediaries and research centers. The foundation’s grantmaking reaches beyond direct service into the systems that shape early childhood access and quality. It funds statewide early childhood coalitions, Educare campuses, and research-linked institutions that inform policy and practice. In the recent grants list, Nebraska Early Childhood Collaborative received multiple general operating support awards, while Nebraska Children & Families Foundation was funded for First Five Nebraska, Rooted in Relationships, Communities 4 Kids, and related capacity-building work. The fund also backs national early childhood infrastructure. Start Early received multi-year support tied to the Educare Learning Network and First Five Years Fund, and Alliance for Early Success was funded for state-based early childhood education support. Across these awards, the fund favors organizations positioned to influence both service delivery and policy implementation for young children and their caregivers.
What Buffett Early Childhood Fund Funds
In early learning programs, the fund supports Educare campuses and related implementation work. Educare of Omaha Inc received $4,756,540 in 2025 for quality early childhood program operating support, and Educare Lincoln received $3,085,708 in 2025 for the same purpose. For statewide systems change in Nebraska, the foundation gave $5,440,550 in 2025 to Nebraska Children & Families Foundation for First Five Nebraska operating support, Rooted in Relationships, Communities 4 Kids, Changemakers Luncheon support, scaling up project support, and data project support. Those awards point to an emphasis on coordination, local capacity, and system development. The fund also invests in policy and research infrastructure. Vanderbilt University Peabody College of Education & Human Dvlopmt received $1,000,000 in 2024 for Prenatal-to-3 Policy Impact Center support, and President & Fellows of Harvard College received $2,999,324 in 2024 for Center for the Developing Child operating support. Another grant went to the University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill for Frank Porter Graham Child Development and CARES support.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$31.9M
Total Assets
$9M
Total Revenue
$33.5M
Total Expenses
$34.5M
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $50K and $880K, with a median of $150K.
25th Percentile
$50K
Median
$150K
75th Percentile
$880K
Geographic Reach
National22 states funded
About 38% of grants go to recipients in NE.
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
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