Children First
Children First is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit advocacy organization founded in 1995 in Montgomery, Alabama, that shapes public policy for Alabama's children and families through legislative lobbying, coalition building, and watchdog oversight of the Children First Trust Fund. It is funded by individual and corporate donations.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1995
- HeadquartersMontgomery, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Children First does
Children First, legally Alabama Children First, is a 501(c)(3) non-profit advocacy organization founded in 1995 in Montgomery, Alabama, and operating with a small staff of 1-10 employees. Its core function is shaping public policy and enhancing quality of life for Alabama's children and families through legislative advocacy, education of lawmakers, and watchdog oversight of children's programs and services. The organization's most significant achievement is the creation in 1998 of the Children First Trust Fund, which receives approximately half of Alabama's annual tobacco settlement dollars (~$40-50M) and distributes funding to twelve state agencies serving children; an estimated 250,000 children and 1.5 million families are touched annually by these funds, though Children First itself does not receive any Trust Fund dollars. Its primary revenue stream is donations from individuals and corporations, including Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama, Protective Life, Alabama Power, Beasley Allen, Altec, and Nick's Kids Foundation.
The organization pursues an annual legislative agenda and has recorded several notable policy wins, including the Alabama Juvenile Justice Act of 2008 and Amendment One in 2013, which protected Medicaid funding from budget cuts. Children First operates within a coalition ecosystem that includes the Healthy General Fund Partnership (approximately 50 statewide nonprofits), the Keep Alabama Working coalition, and Alabama Arise, and holds seats on multiple state committees including the Juvenile Justice Task Force and the Department of Human Resources Quality Assurance Committee. Its primary advocacy campaigns include #IamMedicaid (launched 2016) and promotion of the Dolly Parton Imagination Library and Alabama Family Central platforms. The organization is governed by a Board of Directors and led by Executive Director Katie Jeter and Director of Policy and External Affairs Dakin Hill.
Children First's technology footprint is effectively nil: it has no commercial product, no mobile app, no API, and no proprietary software platform. Its "distribution" consists of direct lobbying at the Alabama State House, public education campaigns, weekly legislative-session newsletters, and coalition-driven advocacy work. The business model is grant-free and contract-free, depending entirely on philanthropic donations, with no pricing model or fee-for-service revenue. Geographic reach is statewide within Alabama with no indications of interstate expansion, and customer segments are best understood as policymakers (government), coalition partners (other nonprofits), and donors (individuals and corporations), rather than paying customers in a conventional commercial sense.
Children First firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Children First
- Legal name
- Alabama Children First
- Website
- https://alabamachildrenfirst.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1995
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Children First is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit advocacy organization founded in 1995 in Montgomery, Alabama, that shapes public policy for Alabama's children and families through legislative lobbying, coalition building, and watchdog oversight of the Children First Trust Fund. It is funded by individual and corporate donations.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Children First industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Children's Policy Advocacy
- NAICS
- Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Child and Youth Services (62411)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Early Childhood Education & Childcare Nonprofits (BPAGADAA)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Parenting Skills & Child Development Education (EDACALAA)
Keywords
Where Children First is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Montgomery
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Children First business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations
Revenue model
- Donations and Philanthropy: Children First operates as a nonprofit that receives donations from individuals and corporations who support children's advocacy. The organization does not receive any funding from the Children First Trust Fund or state/federal government for its operations.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
Children First product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Children First is a nonprofit advocacy organization that shapes public policy and enhances the quality of life for the children and families of Alabama. The organization lobbies the Alabama State Legislature, oversees and protects the Children First Trust Fund, and runs public education campaigns such as #IamMedicaid to advocate for funding and policy support for children's services, juvenile justice reform, infant mortality prevention, and Medicaid.
Product overview
Children First is a non-profit advocacy organization that shapes public policy for Alabama's children. The organization does not offer a commercial product or technology platform. Its work consists of advocacy programs and initiatives including the Children First Trust Fund oversight, legislative agenda advocacy, the Dolly Parton Imagination Library program, the #IamMedicaid campaign, and various policy initiatives related to juvenile justice, infant mortality prevention, and children's welfare.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Legislative Agenda Advocacy
- Children First Trust Fund Oversight
- #IamMedicaid Campaign
- Dolly Parton Imagination Library Promotion
Quantifiable outcome
- 250,000 children and 1.5 million families served annually through Children First Trust Fund
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Children First
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Children First technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Children First partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core partner, campaign partner, program partner and agency partner.
- Alabama Arisecore partnerPartner in the #IamMedicaid campaign coalition working to protect Medicaid funding from budget cuts.
- Healthy General Fund Partnership (HGFP)core partnerCoalition of almost 50 statewide and regional nonprofits working on healthcare budget advocacy. Created #IamMedicaid campaign together.
- Keep Alabama Working Coalitioncampaign partnerCoalition that Children First worked with to pass Amendment One in 2013 to protect Medicaid funding.
- Dolly Parton Imagination Libraryprogram partnerChildren First promotes the Dolly Parton Imagination Library program which sends free books to children under 5 years old.
- Department of Human Resourcesagency partnerState agency partner. Children First works with DHR on mandatory reporter training and sits on their Quality Assurance Committee.
- Alabama Department of Mental Healthagency partnerPartner in the Our Kids Initiative providing therapeutic services to children and teens needing intensive intervention.
- Alabama Department of Youth Servicesagency partnerPartner in the Our Kids Initiative. Children First works with DYS to ensure county diversion programs are available statewide.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Children First competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Healthy Families America: A national evidence-based home visiting program supporting new and expectant parents through voluntary, structured support. They intersect with Children First's early childhood and family support focus areas but operate at the programmatic rather than policy layer.
Broad incumbents
- Children's Defense Fund: A national child advocacy organization that works to ensure every child has a healthy, fair, safe, and moral start through federal policy, research, and convening. As a much larger national entity, they operate as a broader incumbent in the child policy space where Children First focuses on Alabama.
- National Children's Alliance: The national accrediting body and advocacy voice for Children's Advocacy Centers serving child abuse victims across the United States. They are a broader national incumbent in the child welfare and juvenile justice space adjacent to Children First's agenda.
- First Focus on Children: A national bipartisan advocacy organization dedicated to making children and families a priority in federal policy and budget decisions. They are a broader incumbent shaping the federal policy environment that state-level advocates like Children First engage with.
- Prevent Child Abuse America: A national organization dedicated to preventing child abuse and neglect through advocacy, research, and program support across a network of state chapters. They represent a broader national incumbent intersecting directly with Children First's child welfare advocacy.
- Child Welfare League of America: A national nonprofit coalition of public and private agencies serving vulnerable children and families, focused on policy advocacy, research, and capacity-building. They operate as a broader national incumbent in child welfare policy adjacent to Children First's work.
Direct peers
- NC Child: A statewide child advocacy organization that uses research, data, and direct legislative advocacy to advance North Carolina children's well-being. Like Children First, they are a state-bounded child policy advocacy nonprofit with a long legislative track record.
- Kentucky Youth Advocates: A statewide, multi-issue, nonpartisan nonprofit that conducts policy research and advocates at the Kentucky statehouse to improve outcomes for children and families. Their state-focused child policy advocacy model closely mirrors Children First's Alabama approach.
- Voices for Virginia's Children: A statewide policy advocacy organization that uses research, community engagement, and legislative advocacy to improve outcomes for Virginia's children. Their state child advocacy model and legislative engagement approach are closely comparable to Children First.
- Alabama Arise: A statewide coalition of nearly 150 member organizations advocating for low-income Alabamians through policy research and legislative engagement. They are an explicit coalition partner of Children First via the Healthy General Fund Partnership and the #IamMedicaid campaign, sharing an Alabama-focused, non-electoral policy advocacy model.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Children First social profiles
Digital presenceChildren First financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Children First leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Children First funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
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Children First M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
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Frequently asked questions about Children First
What does Children First do?
Children First is a nonprofit advocacy organization that shapes public policy and enhances the quality of life for the children and families of Alabama. The organization lobbies the Alabama State Legislature, oversees and protects the Children First Trust Fund, and runs public education campaigns such as #IamMedicaid to advocate for funding and policy support for children's services, juvenile justice reform, infant mortality prevention, and Medicaid.
Is Children First a public or private company?
Children First is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Children First founded?
Children First was founded in 1995. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Children First based?
Children First is headquartered in Montgomery, United States, in the North America region.
How does Children First make money?
One revenue line is on record: donations and Philanthropy.
Who are Children First's main competitors?
Healthy Families America is listed as an emerging player. Broad incumbents are Children's Defense Fund, National Children's Alliance, First Focus on Children, Prevent Child Abuse America and Child Welfare League of America. Direct peers are NC Child, Kentucky Youth Advocates, Voices for Virginia's Children and Alabama Arise.
Does Children First have an API?
No public API is recorded for Children First.
What industry is Children First in?
Children First's product category is Children's Policy Advocacy. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGADAA, Early Childhood Education & Childcare Nonprofits, with a secondary code of EDACALAA, Parenting Skills & Child Development Education. Its NAICS code is 8133 and its SIC code is 8300.