National Head Start Association

Early Childhood Education Advocacy and Professional Developmentnhsa.org

Company typePrivate
Founded1974
HeadquartersAlexandria, United States
Headcount11–50
GTM typeB2B
OfferingServices

National Head Start Association firmographics

Firmographics

Name: National Head Start Association
Legal name: National Head Start Association
Website: https://nhsa.org
Company type: Private
Founded year: 1974
Operating status: Operating
Headcount range: 11–50 employees
Ownership category
akta.pro rank

National Head Start Association industry classification

Industry

Product category: Early Childhood Education Advocacy and Professional Development
NAICS: Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)
SIC: Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Prepackaged Software (7372)
akta.pro primary industry: Head Start & Public Pre-K Programs (EDACABAK)
akta.pro secondary industries: Early Head Start & Publicly Funded Infant/Toddler Programs (EDACAGAH), Federated Giving Organizations (e.g., United Way-type) (BPAGAKAG), Public Health Financing, Budgeting & Grants Management (HLAJAMAC)

Keywords

Early childhood advocacy
Professional development training
Nonprofit membership association
Education conference services
Federal policy advocacy

Where National Head Start Association is headquartered

Location

Headquarters

HQ city: Alexandria
HQ country: United States
HQ region: North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

National Head Start Association business model

Business model

GTM type: B2B
Offering type: Services
Cost components: Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

Federal Grants and Public Funding Advocacy: NHSA advocates for increased federal commitment to Head Start and maintains nonpartisan support for the program. The organization engages with Congress to shape legislation and secure funding for the Head Start program administered by the Office of Head Start in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Membership Dues: NHSA generates revenue through tiered membership categories: Program membership (for Head Start programs and their staff/parents), Affiliate membership (for state and regional associations), Associate membership (for nonprofits and for-profit companies), Individual membership, and Lifetime membership. Discounted conference rates are available to members.
Conference and Event Registrations: NHSA organizes major annual conferences including the National Head Start Conference and Expo, Leadership Education and Development Summit (LEADS), Fall Leadership Institute, Winter Leadership Institute, and Parent and Family Engagement Conference. Revenue generated through registration fees, exhibitor fees, and sponsorship opportunities.
Professional Development Courses and Academy+ Subscriptions: The Academy offers individual course purchases, certification programs (Director Credential, Manager Credential, Site Leader Credential, etc.), and Academy+ annual team subscriptions. The subscription model provides full access to all courses for entire Head Start programs with 5 admin seats included.
Donations and Fundraising: Tax-deductible donations through multiple campaigns including Dollar Per Child (annual advocacy campaign), Disaster Relief Fund (support for programs affected by emergencies), and Scholarships and Awards Fund (supporting Head Start leaders and alumni educational growth).

Pricing tiers

Model	Billing	Price
Subscription	One time	Fall Leadership Institute Super Early Bird Rate
Subscription	One time	Fall Leadership Institute Early Bird Rate
Subscription	One time	Fall Leadership Institute NHSA Member Rate
Subscription	One time	Fall Leadership Institute Week of Event Member Rate
Subscription	One time	Fall Leadership Institute Non-Member Rate
Subscription	Per night	Winter Leadership Institute Hotel Rate
Subscription	Annual	Academy+ Annual Team Subscription
Per seat	One time	Individual Course Purchases

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

National Head Start Association product offering

Product offering

Core offering

NHSA is the national nonprofit association dedicated exclusively to supporting the federal Head Start program, providing federal advocacy on Capitol Hill, tiered membership services to 1,600 grant recipients, and The Academy professional development platform offering 92 Head Start-specific courses. The organization also operates major annual conferences, alumni and parent engagement networks, and fundraising campaigns to sustain the Head Start field across all 50 states.

Product overview

NHSA operates as a nonprofit association offering a multi-faceted portfolio of programs, professional development services, and advocacy resources. The core programs include Early Head Start (serving families from pregnancy to age 3) and Head Start Preschool (ages 3-5), both providing comprehensive early childhood education, health, nutrition, and family engagement services. Professional development is delivered through The Academy at NHSA, which includes Academy+ subscription training and individual courses, certifications, and leadership tracks. NHSA organizes major annual conferences including the National Head Start Conference and Expo, Leadership Education and Development Summit (LEADS), Fall and Winter Leadership Institutes, and the Parent and Family Engagement Conference. Additional offerings include advocacy services (NHSA Action Network, Alumni Network), grant programs (GroMoreGood Garden Grants, Disaster Relief Fund), membership tiers, and a searchable resources library with policy documents, fact sheets, and toolkits.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

The Academy: NHSA's award-winning professional development hub offering courses for Head Start and Early Head Start staff, including certifications, leadership training, and continuing education.
The Academy+
Dollar Per Child
Disaster Relief Fund
Head Start Alumni Network
NHSA Action Network

Products and services

Early Head Start Federally-funded program serving families from pregnancy to age 3, providing comprehensive early childhood development, health, nutrition, and family support services.
Head Start Preschool Federally-funded preschool program for children ages 3-5 providing high-quality early learning, health services, nutrition, and family engagement.
The Academy at NHSA

Quantifiable outcome

750,000 children and families served annually
+8 more outcomes

Companies that use National Head Start Association

Customer profile

Named customers6 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

National Head Start Association technology and API

Technology

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API: No
API docs
API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

National Head Start Association partnerships and signals

Strategic signal

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

CventcoreTechnology or IntegrationCvent provides conference registration platform for NHSA events including the National Head Start Conference and Expo, Leadership Education and Development Summit, and other conferences. Exhibitor applications, registration payments, and event management are processed through Cvent's event management system.
Articulate (Rise360)coreTechnology or IntegrationArticulate's Rise360 platform is used to build and deliver The Academy's professional development courses. The platform meets WCAG 2.1 accessibility standards and supports the creation of interactive, mobile-compatible course content.
LitmoscoreTechnology or IntegrationLitmos provides the learning management system (LMS) for The Academy, enabling course delivery, progress tracking, certificate generation, and admin dashboard functionality for Head Start program subscriptions.
Office of Head Start (OHS)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Office of Head Start within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services administers Head Start programs. NHSA works with OHS on policy development, program standards, and federal advocacy for Head Start funding and quality standards.
U.S. CongressflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerNHSA engages directly with legislators through testimony, formal comments, and meetings to ensure they understand Head Start's impact. The Congressional Pre-K and Child Care Caucus provides a forum for early education priorities including Head Start.
Administration for Children and Families (ACF)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerACF in the Department of Health and Human Services administers Head Start through the Office of Head Start. NHSA coordinates with ACF on program standards, monitoring protocols, and policy implementation.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

National Head Start Association competitors and assessment

Company assessment

Broad incumbents

National Parent Teacher Association (National PTA): National PTA is a much larger parent engagement and education advocacy association with a comparable membership-driven model, conference portfolio, and Capitol Hill advocacy presence. It serves a broader K-12 audience but overlaps NHSA's parent and family engagement work.
National Education Association (NEA): NEA is the largest U.S. education employee organization with broad advocacy, conferences, and professional development serving K-12 educators. While not Head Start-focused, many of NHSA's 250,000 staff are NEA members, making it a structural counterpart in workforce representation.
Save the Children (US Early Childhood Programs): Save the Children operates Head Start and Early Head Start programs directly, while also running large-scale early childhood advocacy and professional development. It overlaps NHSA's customer base (1,600 grant recipients include Save the Children affiliates) and advocacy mission.

Emerging players

Association for Childhood Education International (ACEI): ACEI is an international membership association for educators focused on children from infancy through early adolescence. It competes for the same Head Start and early childhood professional audience with global credentials and professional development offerings.

Direct peers

Zero to Three: Zero to Three is a national nonprofit focused on infants and toddlers (birth to age 3), the same population as Early Head Start. It offers professional development, advocacy, and resources that closely parallel NHSA's Academy, Action Network, and Early Head Start support.
Child Care Aware of America: Child Care Aware of America is a national nonprofit advocating for affordable, quality child care and supporting the child care workforce. It mirrors NHSA's advocacy, professional development, and policy work for an adjacent federally-supported early childhood constituency.
Council for Exceptional Children: Council for Exceptional Children is a professional association serving early childhood special educators, including those embedded in Head Start programs. It delivers membership, conferences, and certifications analogous to NHSA's Academy and conference portfolio.
National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC): NAEYC is the largest professional association focused on early childhood education birth through age 8. It runs its own accreditation system and professional development credentials, directly overlapping with NHSA's Academy offerings and Head Start membership value proposition.
First Five Years Fund: First Five Years Fund is a national advocacy organization focused on federal investment in early childhood education from birth through age five. It directly competes with NHSA's federal advocacy mission for Head Start and pre-K funding on Capitol Hill.

Regional players

National Indian Head Start Directors Association: NIHSDA is a peer association supporting Head Start programs serving American Indian and Alaska Native communities, a specific sub-segment of NHSA's constituency. It delivers targeted professional development and advocacy alongside NHSA's broader national mission.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

National Head Start Association financial estimates

Financial estimate

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

National Head Start Association leadership team

Management profile

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

National Head Start Association funding detail

Funding detail

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

National Head Start Association M&A and investment

M&A and investment

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about National Head Start Association

What does National Head Start Association do?

Is National Head Start Association a public or private company?

National Head Start Association is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.

When was National Head Start Association founded?

National Head Start Association was founded in 1974. It employs 11 to 50 people.

Where is National Head Start Association based?

National Head Start Association is headquartered in Alexandria, United States, in the North America region.

How does National Head Start Association make money?

Five revenue lines are on record. Federal Grants and Public Funding Advocacy is the primary driver. The others are membership Dues, conference and Event Registrations, professional Development Courses and Academy+ Subscriptions and donations and Fundraising.

Who are National Head Start Association's main competitors?

Broad incumbents on record are National Parent Teacher Association (National PTA), National Education Association (NEA) and Save the Children (US Early Childhood Programs). Association for Childhood Education International (ACEI) is listed as an emerging player. Direct peers are Zero to Three, Child Care Aware of America, Council for Exceptional Children, National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) and First Five Years Fund. National Indian Head Start Directors Association is listed as a regional player.

Does National Head Start Association have an API?

No public API is recorded for National Head Start Association.

What industry is National Head Start Association in?

National Head Start Association's product category is Early Childhood Education Advocacy and Professional Development. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDACABAK, Head Start & Public Pre-K Programs, with a secondary code of EDACAGAH, Early Head Start & Publicly Funded Infant/Toddler Programs. Its NAICS code is 8133 and its SIC code is 8600.