First 5 Fox Valley

What First 5 Fox Valley does

First 5 Fox Valley is a private 501c3 nonprofit organization operating as a backbone organization for early childhood development services across northeast Wisconsin. Founded in the early 2000s and rebranded around 2020-2021, the organization implements the Help Me Grow model as a centralized access point connecting families with children ages 0-5 to community resources via phone, text, chat, and email. Its core technology consists of the Help Me Grow centralized access point system and integration with ThedaCare's EPIC electronic medical records, enabling closed-loop ASQ-3 developmental screening referrals. The organization serves over 6,500 families and 7,500 children across 8 Wisconsin counties (Outagamie, Calumet, Shawano, Green Lake, Marquette, Winnebago, Waupaca, Waushara) with 13,000+ developmental screenings completed in 2024, delivered through 9 embedded part-time family resource navigators employed by partner organizations.

The organization's product portfolio includes Help Me Grow Fox Valley, the Together for Families: Fox Valley Family Resource Center (a 5-story facility in the historic Trout Museum building in downtown Appleton opening Fall 2026), the Welcome Baby program, Community-Based Doula Program, Rural Health Equity Initiative, and the Greater Fox Valley Child Care Alliance. Revenue is generated through a diversified nonprofit model: grants from foundations (Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region, Oshkosh Area Community Foundation, Basic Needs Giving Partnership, Advancing a Healthier Wisconsin Endowment, Wisconsin Partnership Program), government sources (ARPA funding, Wisconsin Department of Children and Families PDG grants), corporate donations (ThedaCare, Plexus, U.S. Venture), an $8 million capital campaign ($7.3M raised as of July 2026), office space leasing to 15 partner organizations ($200-$3,000/month), and an annual membership program. The organization operates with a lean core team of 1-10 staff under Executive Director Barb Tengesdal, Ph.D., with governance provided by a 16-member Board of Directors.

Name

First 5 Fox Valley

Legal name

First 5 Fox Valley

Website

https://firstfivefoxvalley.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

First 5 Fox Valley is a 501c3 nonprofit backbone organization implementing the Help Me Grow centralized access point to connect families with children ages 0-5 to early childhood development resources across 8 Wisconsin counties, including developmental screenings, resource navigation, and a Family Resource Center opening Fall 2026.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Early Childhood Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Child Care Services (62441)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Family Resource Centers & Wraparound Support Services (EDACALAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Family Coaching, Parent-Mediated & Home Visiting EI Services (EDACAFAJ), Developmental Screening & Assessment (0–5) (EDACAFAA)

Keywords

• Early childhood development
• Family resource navigation
• Developmental screening
• Nonprofit community services
• Parent support programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Kimberly

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Grants and Foundation Funding: First 5 Fox Valley is a 501c3 nonprofit organization that receives grant funding from various foundations and government sources including Wisconsin Department of Children and Families, Basic Needs Giving Partnership, ThedaCare, Advancing a Healthier Wisconsin Endowment, and Wisconsin Partnership Project.
2. Space Rental Income: Revenue from leasing office space to partner organizations ($350-$650/month for dedicated space, $200-$350/month for shared space) and child care space ($3,000/month) at the Family Resource Center.
3. Membership Program: Annual membership fees from individuals and organizations that provide financial support and commitment to being ambassadors for the cause.
4. Donations and Capital Campaign: Tax-deductible charitable donations from individuals, families, corporations, and foundations supporting the Family Resource Center campaign ($8 million goal).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

First 5 Fox Valley operates a Help Me Grow centralized access point serving families with children ages 0-5 in the Fox Valley region of Wisconsin. The organization connects families to community resources through developmental screenings using the Ages & Stages Questionnaire system, family resource navigation, parent leadership programming, and integrated referrals with healthcare providers and family-serving community organizations.

Product overview

First 5 Fox Valley is a backbone organization serving as a coordinated central hub for early childhood development in the Fox Valley area of Wisconsin. The organization operates a multi-product portfolio centered around Help Me Grow (HMG) Fox Valley, which provides a Centralized Access Point connecting families to community resources through developmental screenings, referrals, and resource navigation services. The flagship initiative is the Together for Families: Fox Valley Family Resource Center (opening Fall 2026), a multi-floor facility offering parenting classes, playgroups, resource navigation, and community programming. Supporting programs include the Welcome Baby program, Greater Fox Valley Child Care Alliance advocacy initiative, Community-Based Doula Program, and Rural Health Equity Initiative. The organization serves eight counties and operates an online resource directory to connect families with early childhood services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Help Me Grow (HMG): A centralized access point connecting families with children aged 0-5 to community resources, developmental screenings, and family navigators.
• Welcome Baby
• Greater Fox Valley Child Care Alliance

Products and services

• Help Me Grow Centralized Access Point Centralized telephone and referral access point that connects families with children ages 0-5 in the Fox Valley region to developmental screenings, community services, and family supports. Referred families are linked to appropriate community-based providers.
• Developmental Screening (Ages & Stages Questionnaire) Evidence-based developmental screening service for children ages 0-5 using the ASQ-3 and ASQ:SE questionnaires to identify potential developmental, social, or emotional delays and connect families to follow-up services.
• Parent Leadership Program Parent leadership development program that empowers and trains parents of young children to become advocates and decision-makers within early childhood systems in the Fox Valley region.
• Community Resource Directory Online directory of community-based early childhood, family, health, and child welfare resources accessible to families and partner agencies throughout the Fox Valley region.
• Shared Office Space Lease for Partner Family-Serving Agencies Leased office space within the First 5 Fox Valley facility made available to partner nonprofit family-serving agencies to support co-location and warm hand-offs for families served.

Quantifiable outcome

• $4.93 social return on investment for every dollar invested in Family Resource Centers
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ThedaCarecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare partner integrating Help Me Grow referral pathways into EPIC software systems; awarded $60,000 grant for Community Navigators; collaborative on rural health equity initiative covering 9 counties. Leadership has helped leverage additional AHW and WPP grants.
• Family Services of Northeast WisconsincoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartner organization employing family resource navigators for Help Me Grow program; navigators present at community-based offerings including Play and Learn Groups and Parent Cafes.
• Early Intervention Birth to 3 ProgramcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartner organization employing family resource navigators for Help Me Grow program; provides early intervention services for children birth to 3 years.
• Children's WisconsincoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartner organization employing family resource navigators for Help Me Grow program; provides healthcare services for children.
• CAP ServicescoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartner organization employing family resource navigators for Help Me Grow program; provides community action programming.
• Medical College of WisconsinminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Jennifer Koop collaborating on AHW seed grant project exploring integration of Help Me Grow into healthcare settings; conducts rural health equity research.
• Genesis Health ConsultingminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerConsulting partner on AHW seed grant project working to expand developmental screening access and identify gaps where Help Me Grow can better support families.
• Wisconsin Medical Home InitiativeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStatewide initiative promoting medical home concept; featured Help Me Grow in newsletter to connect families with resources promoting children's health and development.
• National Institutes of Health / UW MadisonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerF5FV serves on community advisory board for Healthy Brains and Child Development Study sponsored by NIH and conducted at UW Madison.
• EC-LINC (Early Childhood Learning and Innovations Network for Communities)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNationwide cohort led by Center for the Study of Social Policy bringing together 20 communities dedicated to diverse and equitable early childhood systems building.
• Center for the Study of Social PolicyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeads EC-LINC network of 20 communities focused on early childhood systems building innovation.
• National Center for Early Childhood Workforce Development (NCECWD)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerF5FV participates in national cohort examining wage scales and policy efforts to enhance early childhood workforce.
• Help Me Grow National CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerF5FV mentors startup Help Me Grow systems across the nation and speaks at national webinars and events. Helps shape early childhood success on national scale.
• Raising Wisconsin State CoalitionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerF5FV participates as member providing testimony on early care and education issues to state and local officials.
• 44N (Now for Good)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner organization with logo displayed; focused on early childhood and family support.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Help Me Grow National Center: The national umbrella network that operates the Help Me Grow system model F5FV implements in Wisconsin. F5FV is a Help Me Grow affiliate and mentors other affiliates, making the National Center both a peer and parent network.
• Parents as Teachers: National evidence-based home visiting and parent education model serving families with young children. Operates a similar affiliate network structure with centralized training, technical assistance, and quality assurance for local affiliates like F5FV's Welcome Baby program.
• Nurse-Family Partnership: Evidence-based nurse home visiting program for low-income first-time mothers and their children. Comparable in targeting families 0-5 with structured visits, developmental screening, and resource navigation, though delivered by registered nurses rather than community navigators.
• Healthy Families America: Home visiting preventive program for new and expectant families operated by Prevent Child Abuse America. Targets similar 0-5 population with voluntary home visits, developmental screening, and resource connection, making it a close peer in the early childhood home-visiting space.
• ParentChild+: National early childhood home visiting and school readiness program serving families with children 0-5. Comparable dual-generation approach, use of trained home visitors, and school-readiness outcomes, with a similar affiliate-network delivery model.
• CAP Services: Wisconsin Community Action Program agency serving central Wisconsin with early childhood, family, and basic needs programming. Both F5FV and CAP Services operate Help Me Grow resource navigator roles and overlap geographically across multiple counties.
• Family Services of Northeast Wisconsin: Regional nonprofit providing family counseling, youth services, and resource navigation in the same Fox Valley geography. Both employ HMG family resource navigators and partner to deliver Help Me Grow services to families 0-5.

Broad incumbents

• Start Early: National nonprofit (formerly Ounce of Prevention Fund) operating cradle-to-career early childhood programs, advocacy, and policy work. Comparable in mission and systems-building approach but operates at significantly larger scale and policy level than F5FV.

Emerging players

• BUILD Initiative: National organization supporting state and community early childhood systems building. Shares F5FV's collective impact and backbone organization model, working alongside EC-LINC (of which F5FV is a member) to advance early childhood systems.

Regional players

• United Way Fox Cities: Local United Way affiliate in the same Fox Valley geography. Both operate as backbone/funders for early childhood and family-support coalitions and overlap on many of the same partner agencies and policy coalitions.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCqEeIYMrnbDBkkwcviSTsbQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/first5foxvalley

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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 First 5 Fox Valley