ZERO TO THREE

What ZERO TO THREE does

ZERO TO THREE is a Washington, DC-based national 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1977 (originally as the National Center for Clinical Infant Programs) that operates as the leading U.S. authority on infant and toddler development from birth through age three. The organization serves three primary stakeholder groups: early childhood professionals (educators, mental health clinicians, pediatric providers, child welfare workers), parents and caregivers, and federal/state policymakers. Its core portfolio comprises direct-service programs (HealthySteps integrated pediatric primary care, Safe Babies Court Team for child welfare), proprietary evidence-based curricula and diagnostic frameworks (DC:0-5 diagnostic classification, The Growing Brain curriculum, Critical Competencies), an annual LEARN Conference, an e-commerce bookstore, a tiered membership program ($120/$216/$306 for 1/2/3-year terms), and advocacy campaigns including Think Babies and the newer Believe In Babies movement. The organization also operates the Evidence to Impact Center (established in 2022 with a $4.2M HHS grant) and the ZERO TO THREE Fellowship, which has produced 300+ alumni over four decades.

The underlying technology stack is content- and curriculum-driven rather than software-driven: proprietary diagnostic frameworks (DC:0-5), training-of-trainers certification programs, branded curricula (The Growing Brain), and research publications (ZERO TO THREE Journal, State of Babies Yearbook). There is no disclosed API, SDK, or AI/ML capability in the source data. Revenue mechanics span six streams: federal/state/local government grants and contracts, foundation and corporate grants, individual donations (including planned giving), membership subscription fees, bookstore sales, and conference/training registration fees. Distribution is multi-channel: direct-to-consumer via zerotothree.org, in-person and digital conferences, field/enterprise team trainings, policy advocacy outreach, and a fellowship alumni network with international reach (fellows from Uruguay, Peru, Canada).

ZERO TO THREE currently employs over 200 staff and has expanded into a fifth cohort spanning 44 states to strengthen infant mental health systems. It holds a Candid Transparency Seal (2026) and Charity Navigator Four-Star Rating (2025), and is led by Executive Director Matthew Melmed (since 1995).

Name

ZERO TO THREE

Legal name

ZERO TO THREE

Website

https://zerotothree.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1977

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

ZERO TO THREE is a 200+ employee national nonprofit founded in 1977 that serves as the leading U.S. authority on infant and toddler development, delivering evidence-based programs, professional training curricula (e.g., DC:0-5, HealthySteps, Safe Babies), advocacy campaigns, and research publications to early childhood professionals, parents, and policymakers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Early Childhood Development Services

NAICS

Educational Services (61), Educational Support Services (611710), Child and Youth Services (62411)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Developmental Screening & Assessment (0–5) (EDACAFAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Parenting Skills & Child Development Education (EDACALAA), Early Childhood Learning Standards Authorities (EDADAEAF), Developmental Therapy / Early Childhood Special Instruction (EDACAFAG)

Keywords

• Early childhood development
• Professional development training
• Infant mental health
• Child welfare services
• Policy advocacy

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Foundation and Corporate Grants: Funding from private foundations and corporate grants supporting specific programs and initiatives
2. Government Grants and Contracts: Federal, state and local government grants and contracts including $4.2M grant from U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for Early Childhood Developmental Health Systems Center
3. Individual Donations: Individual donor contributions and planned giving programs
4. Membership Fees: Annual membership fees providing access to discounts, virtual events, exclusive content, and member resources. 1 Year: $120, 2 Year: $216, 3 Year: $306
5. Bookstore Sales: Sales of publications, resources, and training materials through ZERO TO THREE Bookstore with 20% member discount and free shipping
6. Conference and Training Registration: LEARN Conference registration fees and team training program fees for professional development

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

ZERO TO THREE is a national nonprofit that translates early childhood development science into evidence-based programs, professional development curricula, diagnostic frameworks, and publications for professionals, parents, and policymakers serving infants and toddlers (ages 0-3). Its direct offerings include the HealthySteps pediatric primary care program, Safe Babies child welfare approach, the annual LEARN Conference, the Growing Brain and DC:0-5 training curricula, an online bookstore, the ZERO TO THREE Fellowship, policy advocacy, and research publications such as the State of Babies Yearbook.

Product overview

ZERO TO THREE is a national nonprofit organization that offers a comprehensive portfolio of programs, publications, and professional development services focused on early childhood development from birth to age three. The organization operates as a multi-product entity comprising direct service programs (HealthySteps, Safe Babies), annual conferences (LEARN Conference), advocacy initiatives (Think Babies, Policy Center), professional development curricula (The Growing Brain, DC:0-5 Training, Critical Competencies), research publications (State of Babies Yearbook, ZERO TO THREE Journal), and an e-commerce bookstore. These products work together to fulfill the organization's mission of ensuring all babies have a strong start in life through direct service delivery, capacity building for professionals, policy advocacy, and public awareness campaigns.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• HealthySteps: A team-based, integrated pediatric primary care program that promotes positive parenting and healthy child development.
• Safe Babies
• Think Babies
• LEARN
• Believe In Babies
• Baby Brain Map

Products and services

• HealthySteps A team-based, integrated pediatric primary care program that promotes positive parenting and healthy development in the first five years of life, implemented in pediatric practices.
• Safe Babies A nationally recognized approach to transforming child welfare into the practice of child and family well-being, preventing maltreatment and keeping families together.
• Safe Babies Court Team Infant-toddler court program that brings together judges, child welfare professionals, and families to improve outcomes for babies in the child welfare system.
• LEARN Conference Annual professional development conference for early childhood educators, mental health leaders, researchers, and advocates offering cutting-edge research, CEUs, and networking opportunities.
• Professional Development Training Programs Comprehensive training offerings including The Growing Brain curriculum, DC:0-5 Clinical Training, IECMH Training, Critical Competencies Training, and Pre-Service Training for early childhood professionals.
• The Growing Brain Comprehensive curriculum and professional development program providing understanding of how the brain develops and strategies to encourage healthy brain development from birth to age 5, with training-of-trainers certification.
• DC:0-5 Clinical Training In-depth training on the DC:0-5 Diagnostic Classification of Mental Health Development Disorders of Infancy and Early Childhood for mental health, healthcare, and early intervention professionals.
• Policy Center Non-partisan, research-based policy advocacy center working at federal, state, and local levels to improve child care, infant mental health, family economic security, child welfare, and early learning systems.
• ZERO TO THREE Bookstore Online marketplace offering evidence-based publications, books, training materials, curricula, and resources for early childhood professionals and parents.
• ZERO TO THREE Membership Membership program offering discounts on trainings, bookstore items, and conference registration, free virtual events, exclusive self-paced online learning, and member-only experiences.
• ZERO TO THREE Fellowship 18-month intensive leadership program cultivating the next generation of early childhood leaders, with over 300 alumni across four decades and an international alumni network.
• National Center on Early Childhood Development, Teaching, and Learning (NCECDTL) National center providing training, technical assistance, and resources to support early childhood programs and professionals.
• Early Childhood Developmental Health Systems: Evidence to Impact Center Center focused on early childhood developmental health systems, working to improve health and well-being for infants and toddlers through systems-building and capacity expansion across multiple states.
• Military Families Program Support program providing resources and training for military families with infants and toddlers.
• State of Babies Yearbook Annual research publication comparing state policies and their impact on infants and toddlers across the United States.
• ZERO TO THREE Journal Professional journal publishing research and analysis on infant and early childhood mental health and development.

Quantifiable outcome

• Safe Babies approach demonstrates permanency for infants, prevention of repeat maltreatment, timely services, and increased placements with relatives
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Groundwork OhiominorOthersOhio-based advocacy organization working on childcare policy issues; mentioned as part of coalition urging federal government to disburse childcare funding

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ZEROTOTHREE
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/ZEROTOTHREE
• Facebookfacebook.com/ZEROTOTHREE
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/zero-to-three
• Instagraminstagram.com/zerotothree
• TikToktiktok.com/@zero_to_three

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles22 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds3 records

Investors2 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about ZERO TO THREE