Clayton Early Learning
Clayton Early Learning is a Denver-based nonprofit that delivers Head Start, Early Head Start, and Educare early childhood education alongside wraparound food, health, and family support services to 500+ low-income families with young children annually, primarily funded by federal Head Start grants.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1900
- HeadquartersDenver, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Clayton Early Learning does
Clayton Early Learning is a Denver-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides early childhood education and wraparound family support services to low-income families with children from birth to age 5. The organization operates Educare Denver, a 16-classroom on-campus school, and supplements it with home-based Early Head Start and Head Start programs, community-based programs, and family engagement offerings including the Clayton Cares Market (a no-cost weekly food pantry launched October 2021), the Seed to Stomach gardening and nutrition curriculum, and parent leadership programs such as the Policy Council, Family Ambassadors, and Fathers Building Futures. The model is explicitly multi-generational and place-based, co-locating education, food security, and family services on a single campus and increasingly integrating healthcare (a Denver Health clinic in development) and cultural programming (a Denver Center for African Art exhibit space).
Clayton does not rely on proprietary technology; its core "product" is direct human service delivery by an estimated 101-250 employees. Funding is composed primarily of federal Office of Head Start / Early Head Start grants (award numbers 08CH01224102 and 08HP00061901), supplemented by foundation grants (PNC, Anschutz, Beacon, Bonfils Stanton, Buell, Colorado Health), corporate and individual donations, and special events such as the annual Futures Grow Here Gala. Services are delivered at no cost to qualifying families, consistent with Head Start eligibility based on federal poverty guidelines and the Colorado Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP).
In 2024 the organization advanced multiple campus expansion projects — a Denver Health clinic, the Denver Center for African Art partnership, and PNC-funded sensory playgrounds — and continues to scale food distribution (250+ tons cumulative, 52 families weekly) and family advocacy programming. Reported programmatic outcomes include serving 500+ families and children annually and 85% of students achieving above-average social-emotional development. The organization is led by President and CEO William Browning, with an executive team that includes a Chief Impact Officer and functional directors across comprehensive services, food and nutrition, and marketing/communications.
Clayton Early Learning firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Clayton Early Learning
- Legal name
- Clayton Early Learning
- Website
- https://claytonearlylearning.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1900
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Clayton Early Learning is a Denver-based nonprofit that delivers Head Start, Early Head Start, and Educare early childhood education alongside wraparound food, health, and family support services to 500+ low-income families with young children annually, primarily funded by federal Head Start grants.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Clayton Early Learning industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Early Childhood Education Services
- NAICS
- Educational Services (61), Educational Support Services (61171)
- 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
- Comprehensive ECE Curriculum Frameworks (Birth–5) (EDACAJAA), Standards Alignment & Curriculum Mapping Resources (State/NAEYC/Head Start) (EDACAJAN), Early Intervention Academic Readiness (Pre-K–Early Elementary) (EDAKADAG)
Keywords
Where Clayton Early Learning is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Denver
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Clayton Early Learning business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Federal Grants: Clayton receives federal funding through Head Start and Early Head Start grants (funding grants 08CH01224102 and 08HP00061901) from the Office of Head Start within the Administration for Children and Families, a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
- Foundation Grants: Clayton receives grants from multiple foundations including Anschutz Foundation, Beacon Fund, Bonfils Stanton Foundation, Buell Foundation, Colorado Health Foundation, PNC Bank Foundation, and others for specific programs and initiatives.
- Individual & Corporate Donations: Clayton receives donations from individual donors, corporate partners, and community builders at various giving levels (Visionary Partners, Changemakers, Community Builders, Advocates, Friends of Clayton).
- Special Events: Clayton holds annual fundraising events including the Futures Grow Here Gala, which attracts 400+ attendees and features fundraising, silent auctions, and community engagement.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Clayton Early Learning product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Clayton Early Learning is a Denver-based nonprofit that delivers high-quality early childhood education through the Educare Denver school, home-based Head Start and Early Head Start services, and community-based programs for young children and their families. Core services combine research-based curricula with wraparound supports including nutrition (Clayton Cares Market, Seed to Stomach), parenting education, behavioral health, and family wellness. Programs are offered primarily tuition-free to income-eligible families in the Denver metro area.
Product overview
Clayton Early Learning is a nonprofit organization that operates a multi-component early childhood education portfolio centered around its Educare Denver on-campus school (16 classrooms) and home-based Early Head Start/Head Start programs. The organization supplements its core educational services with wraparound support programs including the Clayton Cares Market (food security initiative launched October 2021), Seed to Stomach gardening/cooking curriculum, and family engagement programs (Policy Council, Fathers Building Futures, Family Ambassadors). The approach is described as multi-generational and place-based, providing holistic services to children and families from a single campus location in Denver.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Clayton Cares Market: A cost-free weekly food market providing nutritious foods and household essentials to Clayton families.
- Seed to Stomach
Products and services
- Educare Denver Early Childhood School A full-day, year-round, research-based early childhood education program for low-income children ages 0-5 in Denver, operated as part of the national Educare network with high-quality instruction and family supports.
- Head Start and Early Head Start Home-Based Services Federally funded home-visit early childhood education program delivering the Early Head Start curriculum to pregnant women and families with infants and toddlers in the Denver metro area.
- Clayton Partnership School A Title I public elementary school co-located on the Clayton Early Learning campus, providing kindergarten through grade 4 instruction in partnership with Denver Public Schools.
- Clayton Cares Market On-site food pantry and nutrition assistance program supporting enrolled families facing food insecurity with regular access to groceries and food resources.
- Seed to Stomach Gardening and nutrition education program that teaches enrolled families and children about healthy food, growing produce, and preparing nutritious meals.
- Family Support and Wellness Programs Community-based wraparound services including parenting education, behavioral health support, and family wellness workshops offered to enrolled Clayton families.
Quantifiable outcome
- 85% of Clayton students are above average in healthy social-emotional development
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Clayton Early Learning
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Clayton Early Learning technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Clayton Early Learning partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Denver HealthcorePartnership to bring a comprehensive healthcare clinic to Clayton's campus, providing behavioral health, dentistry, and primary care services for both children and adults. Final architectural design was completed in autumn 2024.
- Denver Center for African ArtminorExhibit space partnership where a vacant Clayton building will house the Denver Center for African Art, offering new engagement opportunities for families and the community.
- Food Bank of the RockiescorePrimary food supply partner for the Clayton Cares Market, providing fresh and shelf-stable foods for weekly family distributions. One of nine food security partners.
- Healthy Food for Denver's KidscoreFunding partner supporting healthy food access for Denver children, aligned with Clayton's food security mission.
- Mile High United WaycorePartner in food distribution initiatives including the empanada donation program, working with Clayton and other nonprofits to support families during federal government shutdowns.
- Maria Empanada / Lorena CantaroviciminorLocal restaurant partner that donated 6,000 freshly baked empanadas to families during a period of federal benefit strain, distributed through Clayton Cares Market.
- Denver NuggetsminorSports partner that provides community engagement opportunities including Nuggets Grant Night, presence at games, and visibility for Clayton's mission.
- We Don't WasteminorFood recovery partner that helps redirect surplus food to Clayton families, supporting the organization's food security mission.
- Soles4SoulsminorClothing and footwear partner supporting families with essential items through the Clayton Cares Market.
- Conscious AllianceminorFood donation partner that provides nutritious food to Clayton families through community food drives.
- Food for ThoughtminorFood access partner contributing to Clayton's food security initiatives for families.
- Blue Shed Urban GardensminorUrban agriculture partner providing fresh produce and garden resources for Clayton's Seed to Stomach program.
- I Support the GirlsminorHygiene products partner providing essential personal care items for families at Clayton Cares Market.
- Designscapes ColoradominorFive-year partnership providing garden and landscape support for Clayton's outdoor learning spaces and Seed to Stomach program.
- Hardy Boy PlantsminorPlant nursery partner supporting Clayton's garden program for five years with plant donations for educational gardens.
- Warren VillageminorNonprofit partner collaborating on empanada distribution to families in need.
- Elevate for ChangeminorNonprofit partner in community food distribution initiatives.
- Inside the OrchestraminorMusic education partner that performed at Clayton's 20th anniversary PNC Grow Up Great celebration.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Clayton Early Learning competitors and assessment
Company assessmentRegional players
- Children's Council of San Francisco: San Francisco-based nonprofit focused on ECE access, affordability, and family support. Comparable as a regional ECE nonprofit working on child care subsidies and family services, though operating in a different metro market from Clayton.
Broad incumbents
- Educare Learning Network: National network of high-quality ECE schools that Educare Denver belongs to. Comparable as the umbrella body that defines Clayton's evidence-based school model and connects it to national funders and best-practice research.
- Nurse-Family Partnership: National nonprofit operating evidence-based nurse home-visiting programs for low-income first-time mothers. Comparable as a national, federally-supported early childhood/family support nonprofit with a similar mission and outcomes-based funding model.
- National Head Start Association: National membership organization representing Head Start grantees and families. Comparable as the federal-program ecosystem Clayton operates within, setting policy direction and training infrastructure that directly affects Clayton's funding and compliance.
Emerging players
- Lotus House Women's Shelter: Miami-based nonprofit shelter providing housing plus on-site early childhood education for women and children experiencing homelessness. Comparable as a wraparound nonprofit integrating ECE with broader family services at a single site, mirroring Clayton's place-based model.
- Warren Village: Denver-based nonprofit providing housing, education, and family support to single-parent families. Comparable as a Denver wraparound-services nonprofit partner that overlaps with Clayton's family-support mission, though anchored in housing rather than ECE.
Direct peers
- Qualistar Early Learning: Colorado ECE quality-improvement nonprofit that supports early childhood programs statewide. Comparable as a Colorado-based ECE nonprofit working in the same provider and funder ecosystem, but focused on quality ratings rather than direct service delivery.
- Bright by Three: Colorado-based nonprofit focused on early childhood health, development, and family support. Comparable mission, geography, and funder ecosystem as Clayton, though with a stronger health-screening and parent-coaching orientation.
- Mile High Early Learning: Denver-based nonprofit providing Head Start and early childhood education to low-income families. Directly comparable as a same-city ECE nonprofit serving similar demographics with a comparable federal funding model.
- ParentPossible: Colorado nonprofit advancing early childhood policy and parent engagement. Comparable as a Colorado ECE advocacy/parent-voice nonprofit operating in the same state policy environment as Clayton.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Clayton Early Learning social profiles
Digital presenceClayton Early Learning financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Clayton Early Learning leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Clayton Early Learning funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Clayton Early Learning 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 Clayton Early Learning
What does Clayton Early Learning do?
Clayton Early Learning is a Denver-based nonprofit that delivers high-quality early childhood education through the Educare Denver school, home-based Head Start and Early Head Start services, and community-based programs for young children and their families. Core services combine research-based curricula with wraparound supports including nutrition (Clayton Cares Market, Seed to Stomach), parenting education, behavioral health, and family wellness. Programs are offered primarily tuition-free to income-eligible families in the Denver metro area.
Is Clayton Early Learning a public or private company?
Clayton Early Learning is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Clayton Early Learning founded?
Clayton Early Learning was founded in 1900. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Clayton Early Learning based?
Clayton Early Learning is headquartered in Denver, United States, in the North America region.
How does Clayton Early Learning make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Federal Grants are the primary driver. The others are foundation Grants, individual & Corporate Donations and special Events.
Who are Clayton Early Learning's main competitors?
Children's Council of San Francisco is listed as a regional player. Broad incumbents are Educare Learning Network, Nurse-Family Partnership and National Head Start Association. Emerging players are Lotus House Women's Shelter and Warren Village. Direct peers are Qualistar Early Learning, Bright by Three, Mile High Early Learning and ParentPossible.
Does Clayton Early Learning have an API?
No public API is recorded for Clayton Early Learning.
What industry is Clayton Early Learning in?
Clayton Early Learning's product category is Early Childhood Education Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGADAA, Early Childhood Education & Childcare Nonprofits, with a secondary code of EDACAJAA, Comprehensive ECE Curriculum Frameworks (Birth–5). Its NAICS code is 61 and its SIC code is 8351.