Families First Learning Lab
Families First Learning Lab is a Missoula, Montana-based nonprofit founded in 1994 that delivers evidence-based parenting education, early childhood programs, and family support services to families with young children, funded through donations and community partnerships.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1994
- HeadquartersMissoula, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Families First Learning Lab does
Families First Learning Lab is a private nonprofit organization founded in 1994 and headquartered at 455 E Main St, Missoula, Montana. The organization delivers community-based family education and early childhood support services centered on four programmatic pillars: Education, Connection, Play, and Partnership. Its core offerings include evidence-based parenting programs such as Circle of Security and Dads & Dialogue, a Kindergarten Summer Camp, play-based early education partnerships, community classes, and clinical support services. Programming is delivered through in-person classes at the organization's main office and through monthly sessions hosted at the Missoula Public Library, with take-home activity kits extending engagement into the home. A network of more than 30 outside community partners supports holistic family service delivery and cross-referral.
The organization is funded primarily through charitable donations collected via the Donorbox online platform, including a recurring monthly giving program ('Gems of Impact'), supplemented by special fundraising events such as a Golf Tournament, Halloween Bash, and Comedy Night. No tuition or fee-for-service pricing is publicly disclosed; services appear to be offered free or at subsidized rates to participating families. The go-to-market motion is community-led, relying on organic social media presence (Instagram and Facebook), a Family Support Blog, local events, and library-hosted programming rather than paid acquisition. Customers are families with young children in Missoula, Montana seeking parenting education, kindergarten preparation, and social connection. There is no app, API, or proprietary technology platform; the underlying 'technology' is the curated library of evidence-based curricula and the community partnership ecosystem developed over thirty years of operation.
Families First operates exclusively within Montana, with no disclosed geographic expansion, parent organization, funding rounds, or institutional investment. Revenue, headcount, and management team details are not publicly disclosed. The organization is governed by a board of directors (referenced via a 'Board Portal' on the website), consistent with standard nonprofit governance. Operational scale, as documented in the 2025 Impact Report covering 2023 activity, includes participation figures for family education programs, take-home activity kit distribution, and average monthly attendance at library programs, but does not include financial performance metrics.
Families First Learning Lab firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Families First Learning Lab
- Legal name
- Families First
- Website
- https://familiesfirstmt.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1994
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Families First Learning Lab is a Missoula, Montana-based nonprofit founded in 1994 that delivers evidence-based parenting education, early childhood programs, and family support services to families with young children, funded through donations and community partnerships.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Families First Learning Lab industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Family Support and Early Childhood Education Services
- NAICS
- Educational Services (61), Educational Support Services (611710)
- SIC
- Services-Child Day Care Services (8351), Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Early Childhood Education & Childcare Nonprofits (BPAGADAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Parent Support Groups & Peer Networks (EDACALAG), Family Engagement & Take-Home Learning Materials (Home Packs, Parent Guides) (EDACAJAL), Behavioral Therapy (ABA/ESDM/Positive Behavior Support) (EDACAFAE)
Keywords
Where Families First Learning Lab is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Missoula
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Families First Learning Lab business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Donations and Fundraising: Nonprofit organization supported by charitable donations through Donorbox platform, with options for monthly giving programs.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels5 records
Families First Learning Lab product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Families First Learning Lab is a community-based nonprofit that delivers in-person family education, parenting support, and early childhood development programs in Missoula, Montana. Its offerings include Circle of Security and Dads & Dialogue parenting programs, Kindergarten Summer Camp, play-based early education partnerships, community classes, clinical support, and take-home activity kits — all anchored in four pillars: Education, Connection, Play, and Partnership.
Product overview
Families First Learning Lab operates as a community-based family education center offering a unified portfolio of programs centered on four pillars: Education, Connection, Play, and Partnership. The core offerings include Family Education Programs (such as Circle of Security and Dads & Dialogue), Early Education through play-based partnerships, and Kindergarten Summer Camp. These programs are complemented by Take Home Activity Kits, Clinical Support Programs, and community classes. The organization serves families in Missoula, Montana, with in-person programming at their main office and the Missoula Public Library.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Quantifiable outcome
- Up to $16 ROI for every $1 spent on early childhood interventions
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Families First Learning Lab
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Families First Learning Lab technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Families First Learning Lab partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Missoula Public LibrarycoreMonthly programs conducted at the Missoula Public Library, serving as a key distribution channel for reaching families with young children in the community. Families participate in regular programming at this location.
- Community Partners NetworkcoreOver 30 outside community partners supporting holistic family services. Partners engage with Families First to provide comprehensive services addressing various family needs.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights3 records
Families First Learning Lab competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Nurse-Family Partnership: Evidence-based nurse home visiting program for low-income first-time mothers from pregnancy through child age two. Comparable in mission (strengthening vulnerable families through structured early intervention) and outcome-driven funding model.
- Healthy Families America: Prevent Child Abuse America affiliate providing home visiting and family support for new parents. Directly comparable target population (families with young children) and evidence-based service model.
- Parents as Teachers: National nonprofit delivering evidence-based parent education and family support through home visits and group sessions. Closely comparable model (early childhood, parenting curriculum, community-based delivery) with significantly larger geographic footprint.
- HIPPY USA: Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters — a nonprofit delivering structured early learning and parent engagement through home visits and take-home activity materials, conceptually adjacent to Families First's Take Home Activity Kits.
- Circle of Security International: The originating organization behind the Circle of Security attachment-based parenting program that Families First delivers. Operates as the upstream training/certification body for the same evidence-based curriculum Families First runs locally.
- ParentChild+: National early literacy and parent engagement nonprofit delivering home-based programming with take-home books and activity kits to families with young children. Directly comparable in product mix (home kits + family education) and target audience.
- Bright by Three: Colorado-based nonprofit delivering early childhood support, parenting resources, and developmental information to families with young children. Comparable mission, target population, and community-based service delivery approach.
Regional players
- Zero to Five Missoula: Missoula-area early childhood coalition whose ROI research Families First cites. Operates in the same geographic market with overlapping family-services mission; potential partner or funder rather than direct program competitor.
- Montana Home Visiting Network: State-affiliated home visiting network serving Montana families with young children. Operates in the same state geography with overlapping family-support mission; potential referral partner or programmatic collaborator.
Broad incumbents
- Save the Children US: Large national/international NGO with a U.S. early childhood portfolio including literacy and parenting programs. Overlaps in mission space and competes for the same federal, corporate, and philanthropic funding pools with substantially greater scale.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Families First Learning Lab social profiles
Digital presenceFamilies First Learning Lab financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Families First Learning Lab leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Families First Learning Lab funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Families First Learning Lab M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Families First Learning Lab
What does Families First Learning Lab do?
Families First Learning Lab is a community-based nonprofit that delivers in-person family education, parenting support, and early childhood development programs in Missoula, Montana. Its offerings include Circle of Security and Dads & Dialogue parenting programs, Kindergarten Summer Camp, play-based early education partnerships, community classes, clinical support, and take-home activity kits — all anchored in four pillars: Education, Connection, Play, and Partnership.
Is Families First Learning Lab a public or private company?
Families First Learning Lab is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Families First Learning Lab founded?
Families First Learning Lab was founded in 1994. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Families First Learning Lab based?
Families First Learning Lab is headquartered in Missoula, United States, in the North America region.
How does Families First Learning Lab make money?
One revenue line is on record: donations and Fundraising.
Who are Families First Learning Lab's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Nurse-Family Partnership, Healthy Families America, Parents as Teachers, HIPPY USA, Circle of Security International, ParentChild+ and Bright by Three. Regional players are Zero to Five Missoula and Montana Home Visiting Network. Save the Children US is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Families First Learning Lab have an API?
No public API is recorded for Families First Learning Lab.
What industry is Families First Learning Lab in?
Families First Learning Lab's product category is Family Support and Early Childhood Education Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGADAA, Early Childhood Education & Childcare Nonprofits, with a secondary code of EDACALAG, Parent Support Groups & Peer Networks. Its NAICS code is 61 and its SIC code is 8351.