cornerstone center for early learning

What cornerstone center for early learning does

Cornerstone Center for Early Learning is a 501c3 nonprofit organization founded in 1969 and headquartered at 3901 Russell Blvd in St. Louis, Missouri, providing licensed, accredited, year-round childcare and preschool education for children aged 6 weeks to 5 years. The organization operates a single physical campus serving approximately 190-204 children from roughly 170 families annually across St. Louis City, St. Louis County, St. Charles County, and Illinois. Tuition is structured on a tiered sliding scale: private-pay families pay $220-$380 per week depending on age, while families receiving Missouri Child Care Assistance pay $25 or less per week, with over 50% of enrollment slots reserved for assistance-recipient families and 16% of children in foster care. Additional enrollment application fees vary from $0 for foster families to $100 for full-pay families, and a 15% sibling discount is offered.

The organization's program portfolio spans five core educational tracks (Infant & Toddler, Twos, Junior Preschool, Preschool, and the Wunderkind Adventure Camp summer program) and a layered set of wraparound support services including a Nutrition Program (protein-rich meals), a Diapering Program, on-site occupational/physical/speech/play therapy delivered through partner organizations, the Books in Hand Initiative (monthly age-appropriate books for enrolled children), and an Early Intervention Program launched in January 2024 that integrates Play Therapy, Family Engagement, and Social/Emotional Screenings. The technology footprint is non-software: a Nature Explore Certified Outdoor Classroom with playscapes, greenhouses, climbing and water areas, and a CHAMP-certified therapy dog named Winston. Distribution is direct-to-consumer via an inquiry form and waitlist-based enrollment, with marketing relying on community partnerships, parent testimonials, social media (Facebook, Instagram), and the annual Celebration for Children gala.

Revenue is generated through three primary streams: tuition and fees from enrolled families, charitable grants from institutional funders (Bayer Fund, Siteman Family Charitable Fund, Saigh Foundation, Episcopal Presbyterian Health Trust, Centene Foundation, Starbucks Foundation, and Missouri Youth Opportunities Program tax credits), and individual donations plus event fundraising. Reported annual gala proceeds have ranged from approximately $210,000 to $230,000 between 2022 and 2025. Leadership is anchored by Executive Director Karen Lucy (appointed March 2020) with a master's degree and 15 years of early childhood experience, Center Director Ta'Lisha Franklin (a former Cornerstone parent and preschool teacher who earned her master's degree while on staff), Development Director Dani Smith, and Board President Carmin Pruitt. Governance is provided by a Board of Directors with no parent entity, and a Friends of Cornerstone Junior Board chaired by Becca Langsam drives volunteer engagement and awareness.

Name

cornerstone center for early learning

Legal name

Cornerstone Center for Early Learning

Website

https://cornerstonecenterstl.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1969

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Cornerstone Center for Early Learning is a 501c3 nonprofit founded in 1969 operating a single licensed childcare and preschool campus in St. Louis, Missouri, serving approximately 190 children aged 6 weeks to 5 years annually from low-income, foster, and working families through a tiered sliding-fee tuition model.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Early Childhood Education Services

NAICS

Child Care Services (6244), Child Care Services (62441), Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (6117)

SIC

Services-Child Day Care Services (8351), Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Early Childhood Education & Childcare Nonprofits (BPAGADAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Early Childhood Development (ECD) & Pre-Primary Education (BPADAKAB), Mental Health & Infant/Early Childhood Consultation (0–5) (EDACAFAO), Center-Based Toddler Care (18–36 months) (EDACAGAB), Toddler-Focused Childcare Centers (EDACAAAG)

Keywords

• Early childhood education
• Licensed preschool programs
• Affordable childcare services
• Nonprofit early learning
• Early intervention therapy

Headquarters

HQ city

St Louis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Tuition revenue from families enrolled in early childhood education programs. Private pay families pay weekly tuition rates; families receiving state child care subsidies pay a sliding fee of $25 or less per week. Additional revenue from enrollment application fees ($0 for foster families, $10 for assistance-qualifying families, $100 for full-pay families)
2. Donations and Fundraising: Individual donations, event fundraising (Celebration for Children annual gala), monthly giving club, stock donations, cryptocurrency donations, IRA charitable rollovers (QCDs), and legacy/planned gifts
3. Grants: Corporate and foundation grants supporting specific programs: Bayer Fund (nutrition), Siteman Family Charitable Fund (literacy/early intervention), Saigh Foundation (diapering), Episcopal Presbyterian Health Trust (early intervention), Centene Foundation (early intervention), Starbucks Foundation (outdoor classroom), and Missouri Youth Opportunities Program (YOP) tax credits

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Cornerstone Center for Early Learning is a licensed, accredited nonprofit early childhood education center operating a year-round, single-campus program for children aged 6 weeks to 5 years in St. Louis, Missouri. It sells age-tiered early childhood education slots (Infant & Toddler, Twos, Junior Preschool, Preschool, plus a Summer Camp) bundled with wraparound support services including an Early Intervention Program with on-site play, occupational, physical, and speech therapy, a Nutrition Program, a Diapering Program, the Books in Hand literacy initiative, and the Ready4K family engagement curriculum. The center combines private-pay tuition with a sliding-fee scale that reserves more than half of seats for low-income families and offers priority enrollment with waived fees for foster families.

Product overview

Cornerstone Center for Early Learning operates as a single-site nonprofit early childhood education center offering year-round licensed and accredited childcare and preschool programs for children aged 6 weeks to 5 years. The organization provides a comprehensive suite of programs including Infant & Toddler, Twos, Junior Preschool, Preschool, and Summer Camp (Wunderkind Adventure Camp), along with wraparound support services including a Diapering Program, Nutrition Program, on-site therapy services (occupational, physical, speech, and play therapy), the Books in Hand Initiative for literacy development, and family support resources. The organization does not offer a technology platform or software product; its offerings are entirely service-based educational programs delivered on its St. Louis campus.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• 88% of children score on-target or better on developmental screenings compared to peers nationwide
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• STL Pre-K CooperativecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 June 2023In March 2023, Cornerstone was named a member of the STL Pre-K Cooperative, an initiative that deploys unused state pre-k funding to improve access to high-quality pre-k for children in St. Louis City. As a member, Cornerstone is held to high expectations and rigorous evaluation by the cooperative to ensure quality programming and kindergarten readiness, aligning with their goal of reaching 85% kindergarten readiness.
• Acorn Children's TherapycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization providing therapeutic services to Cornerstone children and families as part of the comprehensive support system.
• Bud to Bloom Play TherapycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides play therapy services integrated into Cornerstone's Early Intervention Program addressing social and emotional dysregulation.
• Delta Gamma CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner providing services to support children with visual impairments and their families.
• Gateway Early Childhood AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity alliance focused on improving early childhood outcomes in the St. Louis region.
• MO-First StepscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMissouri's early intervention system providing services to infants and toddlers with developmental delays or disabilities.
• Nature ExplorecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCertifying organization for Cornerstone's outdoor classroom. Cornerstone has been certified as a Nature Explore Outdoor Classroom featuring daily exploration and play with playscapes, greenhouses, digging and climbing areas, water stations, and more.
• Ready ReaderscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerYear-round literacy program including quarterly book distribution for all ages plus in-classroom story time for preschool students weekly.
• Sensory SolutionscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides sensory integration therapy and solutions for children with sensory processing needs.
• Skill Builders ABAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerApplied Behavior Analysis therapy services for children with autism and developmental needs.
• St. Louis Area Diaper BankcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides diaper donations to support Cornerstone's diapering program serving families in need.
• Stomp the WorldcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerYear-round music and movement program for toddlers and up with each classroom receiving sessions weekly.
• Child Abuse Prevention Program (CAPP) of JFScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProgram providing child abuse prevention services and support integrated into Cornerstone's family services.
• Healthy Kids Express of St. Louis Children's HospitalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMobile health services bringing pediatric care and health education to children at Cornerstone.
• Micah House Project at St. Louis UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity community engagement program providing volunteer support and educational resources.
• Olin/United Way Board Fellows ProgramminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate governance program providing skilled board members and professional development for nonprofit leaders.
• Champ Assistance DogscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit providing CHAMP certification for Cornerstone's therapy dog Winston, enabling animal-assisted therapy services.
• United Way of Greater St. LouiscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSafety Net Partner Agency status providing funding, volunteer support, and community visibility through United Way's network.
• Green Tree Plastics ABC PartnershipminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to create three benches for Cornerstone's community garden, manufactured with recycled plastic caps.
• Friends of Cornerstone Center (Junior Board)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Junior Board of Cornerstone Center comprising young professionals who make a difference through volunteer projects, supply drives, awareness campaigns, and fundraising events. Led by Chair Becca Langsam with 16 committee members.

Scale indicators20 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• YWCA of Metropolitan St. Louis: Operates Head Start and early childhood education programs in the St. Louis region serving low-income families and foster children. Directly comparable nonprofit ECE peer competing for the same subsidy-reimbursed families, state pre-K dollars, and foundation grants.
• United 4 Children: St. Louis nonprofit focused on early childhood quality and access, named as a Cornerstone partner and as a United Way safety net actor. Comparable as a regional ECE capacity-building and direct-service nonprofit pursuing overlapping mission and funding sources.
• Gateway Early Childhood Alliance: St. Louis-area alliance of early childhood providers and partners (Cornerstone is a listed partner). Comparable as a peer convening body and as one of the direct competitors for STL Pre-K Cooperative seats and policy influence.
• Easterseals Midwest: Nonprofit providing early childhood, autism, and disability services across Missouri. Comparable as a peer nonprofit combining ECE with on-site therapy services — directly mirroring Cornerstone's Early Intervention Program and therapy-dog offering.

Broad incumbents

• Bright Horizons Family Solutions: Largest publicly-traded operator of employer-sponsored childcare centers in the U.S. Comparable as a broad incumbent in the ECE market with deeper capital resources, broader geographic footprint, and employer partnership channels that Cornerstone does not access.
• KinderCare Learning Companies: National for-profit ECE operator with thousands of centers. Comparable as a large-scale incumbent; private-pay tuition model is a useful benchmark for Cornerstone's $220–$380/week private-pay tier.
• Learning Care Group: Operates Childtime, La Petite Academy, Tutor Time, and other ECE brands across the U.S. Comparable as a broad incumbent for benchmarking tuition, staffing ratios, and curriculum standards against Cornerstone's preschool program.
• Primrose Schools: National private ECE franchise with accredited, nature-based curriculum emphasis. Comparable as a benchmark for tuition and curriculum design and as a benchmark competitor for the private-pay segment of Cornerstone's enrollment.
• National Head Start Association: Membership organization for the federal Head Start program serving low-income preschool children. Comparable as the dominant publicly-funded ECE incumbent against which Cornerstone competes for income-eligible families and state pre-K readiness outcomes.

Others

• Variety the Children's Charity of St. Louis: St. Louis children's charity that has formally endorsed Cornerstone's programs. Comparable as a regional nonprofit partner/funder rather than a direct service competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC
• Facebookfacebook.com/cornerstonecenterstl
• Instagraminstagram.com/cornerstonecenterstl
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cornerstone-center-for-early-learning

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about cornerstone center for early learning