Children First recognized as one of top 50 nonprofits to work for nationwide

Sarasota County Head Start and Early Head Start provider also wins 2021 Platinum Seal of Transparency from GuideStar.org

This is one of the banners on Children First’s website. Image courtesy Children First

Children First recently was recognized in the 2021 Best Nonprofits to Work For competition as one of the top 50 nonprofit organizations to work for nationwide, Children First has announced.

“The exclusive provider of Head Start and Early Head Start services for Sarasota County ranked 24th overall in the medium-sized category,” a news release points out.

“Created by The NonProfit Times, the leading national business publication for nonprofit managers, this survey and awards program is designed to identify, recognize, and honor the top 50 best employers in the nonprofit industry, benefiting the industry’s economy, workforce and businesses through a two-part competitive process,” the release explains.

To qualify, Children First’s more than 200 staff members were asked to complete a confidential Employee Engagement & Satisfaction Survey, the release notes. “Worth 75% of the overall score, this process was crucial to securing a place on the list,” the release adds. At least a 40% response rate was necessary to qualify, the release says.

“Children First could not be more humbled and honored to be recognized as a top nonprofit employer in the United States while simultaneously celebrating our 60th anniversary,” CEO Philip Tavill said in the release. “This national accolade has only been made possible by our incredible staff who remain laser-focused on our mission each and every day, as well as our committed Board of Directors, volunteers, and community members who help to guide the crucial work that we do,” Tavill added in the release.

“In addition to earning a spot on the list of nationally ranked nonprofit employers, Children First received international recognition for earning the 2021 Platinum Seal of Transparency from GuideStar.org, the world’s largest resource for nonprofit information, helping to inform charitable decisions,” the release points out.

“By earning a Platinum Seal of Transparency, the agency provides context for the IRS information already in Children First’s GuideStar profile, giving potential donors and funders better insight into its critical work and allowing them to make educated, charitable decisions,” the release explains.

Founded in 1961 and ranked in the top 1% out of more than 1,800 Head Starts nationwide, “Children First strengthens children and families by improving the quality of their lives through a comprehensive approach to development, education, health, and well-being,” the release says.

For more information, call 941-953-3877 or go to childrenfirst.net.