Early Childhood Connections
Early Childhood Connections is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and designated Regional 1 partner of South Dakota's Early Childhood Enrichment System, providing training, coaching, and credentialing to roughly 250 childcare providers across 13 Western South Dakota counties while operating Starting Strong preschool scholarships and parent support programs.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1995
- HeadquartersRapid City, South Dakota, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Early Childhood Connections does
Early Childhood Connections (ECC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1995 and headquartered at 3645 Sturgis Rd Ste 110 in Rapid City, South Dakota. ECC operates as the designated Regional 1 partner of the South Dakota Department of Social Services' Early Childhood Enrichment (ECE) System, delivering training, on-site technical assistance, and coaching to approximately 250 childcare and school-age providers across 13 counties in Western South Dakota, while also providing parent referrals, resources, and community education to families.
ECC's core program portfolio comprises the Starting Strong Rapid City preschool scholarship and quality improvement program (serving 5 partner preschools), the South Dakota Child Development Associate (CDA) credential program offered in both in-person ($800) and self-study online ($296) formats, the South Dakota School-Age Care Credential Program, American Red Cross–authorized CPR/AED/First Aid certification, Social and Emotional Development (SEL) services, Parent Support including car seat distribution (944 car seats distributed in 2025), and a new Outdoor Classroom initiative scheduled to open Phase 1 in Spring 2026. Technology is minimal and operationally utilitarian — the Canvas LMS is used for CDA course tracking, assignments, and quizzes — with no proprietary platform or AI components disclosed.
The revenue model is a hybrid of donations and grants (John T. Vucurevich Foundation, Gwendolyn Stearns Foundation, City of Rapid City, United Way of the Black Hills), government funding from SD Department of Social Services and SD Department of Health, and modest fee revenue from training courses, CPR/AED classes, CDA programs, and conference registrations (most courses are free to licensed childcare staff). Go-to-market is community-led and event-driven, relying on direct relationships with providers, families, and community partners, supplemented by an online training calendar, monthly Evening with the Experts webinars, and an annual Fall Mini Conference.
Early Childhood Connections firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Early Childhood Connections
- Legal name
- Early Childhood Connections
- Website
- https://earlychildhoodconnections.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1995
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Early Childhood Connections is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and designated Regional 1 partner of South Dakota's Early Childhood Enrichment System, providing training, coaching, and credentialing to roughly 250 childcare providers across 13 Western South Dakota counties while operating Starting Strong preschool scholarships and parent support programs.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Early Childhood Connections industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Early Childhood Education Support Services
- NAICS
- Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Services (61), Child and Youth Services (62411), Educational Support Services (61171)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Early Childhood Education & Childcare Nonprofits (BPAGADAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Family Resource Centers & Wraparound Support Services (EDACALAH), Home Visiting & Parent Coaching Programs (EDACALAC), Mental Health & Infant/Early Childhood Consultation (0–5) (EDACAFAO)
Keywords
Where Early Childhood Connections is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Rapid City, South Dakota
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Early Childhood Connections business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Donations and Grants: As a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, ECC relies on donations from individuals and organizations, as well as grants from foundations including John T. Vucurevich Foundation, Gwendolyn Stearns Foundation, City of Rapid City, and United Way of the Black Hills.
- Government Funding: ECC receives funding from SD Department of Social Services and SD Department of Health as part of the Early Childhood Enrichment (ECE) System established to support better childcare services.
- Training and Class Fees: Revenue from professional development training courses, CPR/AED certification classes, CDA certification program, and conference registrations. Many training courses are provided free to licensed childcare staff.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Fall Mini Conference 2026 |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Adult & Pediatric CPR/AED Certification |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Adult & Pediatric CPR/AED/First Aid Blended |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | General Training Courses |
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | ECC CDA Classes |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Self-study Online CDA Classes |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | CDA Initial Application |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels7 records
Early Childhood Connections product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Early Childhood Connections provides training, on-site technical assistance, coaching, and credentialing programs (CDA and School-Age Credential) to approximately 250 childcare and school-age providers across 13 counties in Western South Dakota. The organization also delivers family support services including the Starting Strong preschool scholarship program for low-income families, parenting classes, and car seat distribution. Services are delivered in person at its Rapid City office, virtually through webinars and online CDA courses, and on-site at childcare facilities.
Product overview
Early Childhood Connections (ECC) is a nonprofit organization offering a portfolio of early childhood education programs and professional development services. Its core offerings include the Starting Strong Rapid City (SSRC) scholarship program for low-income families; Training & Support for childcare and school-age providers covering coaching, technical assistance, and courses; the SD Child Development Associate (CDA) Program for provider credentialing; the SD School-Age Care Credential Program; American Red Cross CPR/AED/First Aid training; Social and Emotional Development (SEL) services; Parent Support including car seat distribution; and an Outdoor Classroom initiative. These programs are supplemented by a Professional Development Calendar of training courses, the monthly Evening with the Experts webinar series, CDA Portfolio Support Videos, and the annual Fall Mini Conference. The organization primarily delivers in-person and blended learning training across 13 counties in Western South Dakota.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Starting Strong: A preschool scholarship and quality improvement program that helps low-income families afford preschool and helps preschools build high-quality programs.
Products and services
- Starting Strong Rapid City (SSRC)
Quantifiable outcome
- 47 communities served in 2025
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Early Childhood Connections
Customer profileNamed customers13 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Early Childhood Connections technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
Early Childhood Connections partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.
- SD Game Fish and Parks - Outdoor Campus WestcorePartnership for ECC's Outdoor Classroom project, creating an outdoor learning space for early learners and families. SD Game Fish and Parks will be a destination partner for the sensory path, outdoor classroom, archaeological dig, mud kitchen, and other learning experiences.
- S.D. Wildland Fire - Rapid CitycorePartnership for ECC's Outdoor Classroom project, supporting the development of outdoor learning experiences.
- American Red CrosscoreECC offers CPR/AED and First Aid training through American Red Cross certification. Classes include Adult & Pediatric CPR/AED, Adult & Pediatric CPR/AED/First Aid Blended Learning, and stand-alone First Aid courses.
- Monument Health SystemssupportingPartner for childcare passenger safety program, hosting car seat distribution in Rapid City and Spearfish locations.
- Mommy's Closet/VOAsupportingPartner for childcare passenger safety and car seat distribution program.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Early Childhood Connections competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Early Childhood Connections social profiles
Digital presenceEarly Childhood Connections financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Early Childhood Connections leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles15 records
Early Childhood Connections funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Early Childhood Connections 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 Early Childhood Connections
What does Early Childhood Connections do?
Early Childhood Connections provides training, on-site technical assistance, coaching, and credentialing programs (CDA and School-Age Credential) to approximately 250 childcare and school-age providers across 13 counties in Western South Dakota. The organization also delivers family support services including the Starting Strong preschool scholarship program for low-income families, parenting classes, and car seat distribution. Services are delivered in person at its Rapid City office, virtually through webinars and online CDA courses, and on-site at childcare facilities.
Is Early Childhood Connections a public or private company?
Early Childhood Connections is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Early Childhood Connections founded?
Early Childhood Connections was founded in 1995. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Early Childhood Connections based?
Early Childhood Connections is headquartered in Rapid City, South Dakota, United States, in the North America region.
How does Early Childhood Connections make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Donations and Grants are the primary driver. The others are government Funding and training and Class Fees.
Does Early Childhood Connections have an API?
No public API is recorded for Early Childhood Connections.
What industry is Early Childhood Connections in?
Early Childhood Connections's product category is Early Childhood Education Support Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGADAA, Early Childhood Education & Childcare Nonprofits, with a secondary code of EDACALAH, Family Resource Centers & Wraparound Support Services. Its NAICS code is 611710 and its SIC code is 8200.