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WALDORF EARLY CHILDHOOD ASSN OF NORTH AMERICA
SPRING VALLEY, NY · EIN 521841089 · Form 990 · FY2024 · Small ($100K-$1M) · waldorfearlychildhood.org
revenue
$669K
expenses
$740K
net assets
$179K
employees
9
volunteers
10
program ratio
84%
mission · from form 990

The mission of the Waldorf Early Childhood Association of North America (and of the International Association for Steiner / Waldorf Early Childhood Education, of which it is a member) is to nurture a new cultural impulse for the work with the young child from pre-birth to age seven, based on an understanding of the healthy development of the child in body, soul and spirit, and on a commitment to protect and nurture childhood as the foundation for a truly human culture

profile · synthesized from sources

Waldorf Early Childhood Association of North America (WECAN) supports early childhood education based on Steiner/Waldorf principles for children from pre-birth to age seven. It serves as a membership and resource network for affiliated schools and initiatives across North America, promoting holistic development in body, soul, and spirit. The organization operates through regional chapters and provides professional development, advocacy, and school accreditation services.

named programs · 3 · from sources

What they call their work

Membership Support
Provides accreditation, networking, and advocacy services for affiliated Waldorf early childhood programs
Professional Development
Offers training and resources for early childhood educators in Waldorf methods
WECAN School Directory
Directory of member early childhood programs across North America that follows Waldorf/Steiner educational principles
activities · 10 groups

What they do

  • Teacher Professional Development 2 activities
    • Provides public and professional education on Waldorf philosophy
      Offers education to the public and professionals about Rudolf Steiner’s educational philosophy through lectures, seminars, conferences, and publications, including the Conscious Parenting Guide website which shares curated articles on child development and parenting.
    • Supports training and professional development of Waldorf educators
      Supports the training of Waldorf early childhood educators by convening trainers, establishing a Path to Membership for teacher education institutes, and developing guidelines on mentoring and teacher review. Facilitates collaboration among teacher trainers and disseminates best practices.
  • SDG Advancement & Global Advocacy 1 activity
    • Advances global Waldorf education through international representation
      Participates in the global Waldorf early childhood movement through membership in IASWECE and designates board representatives to its council, supporting international coordination and advocacy.
  • Education Policy Research and Analysis 1 activity
    • Conducts and supports research in early childhood education
      Convenes research groups focused on key issues such as birth-to-three care, mentoring, and school transitions. Encourages and supports research on Waldorf early childhood education and child development, with publication of findings.
  • Professional Conference & Symposium Organization 1 activity
    • Hosts conferences and online events
      Organizes and hosts online events, regional gatherings, and conferences including annual and spring meetings. Offers discounted registration fees for members.
  • Nonprofit Retail and Merchandise Sales 1 activity
    • Operates online bookstore and member resource access
      Runs an online bookstore (WECAN Books) offering books, educational materials, and resources for Waldorf early childhood educators and the public. Provides members with a 10% discount on purchases and access to exclusive resources and email subscriptions.
  • Educator Conferences & Professional Development Events 1 activity
    • Organizes regional and international educator gatherings
      Organizes continental, regional, and international conferences and workshops for Waldorf early childhood educators to foster professional collaboration and knowledge exchange.
  • Play-Based Early Childhood Education 1 activity
    • Provides Waldorf-based early childhood education programs
      Offers early childhood education programs grounded in Waldorf/Steiner principles for children from pre-birth to age seven, promoting development through body, soul, and spirit. Maintains a directory of Waldorf early childhood programs across North America to support access.
  • Organizational Governance & Leadership Development 1 activity
    • Provides regional and committee-based organizational support
      Appoints regional representatives to support membership development and regional collaboration. Maintains active board committees including Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Access; Outreach; Publications; and others to guide organizational operations and policy.
  • Professional Membership and Association Benefits 1 activity
    • Supports membership and professional community development
      Offers individual and organizational memberships, supports a network of 1,000 members, and provides a Community Hub with specialized subgroups. Facilitates information sharing among practitioners and offers structured progression pathways for programs and teacher education institutes toward Full Member status.
  • Uncategorized 2 activities
    • Distributes educational resources and publications
      Produces and distributes original and translated materials, including the Gateways newsletter (twice yearly), research articles, and resources such as "Essentials of Waldorf Early Childhood Education" and guidance on school readiness and inclusive practices. Offers downloadable resources and a curated list of multicultural storybooks.
    • Funds participation in international education initiatives
      Raises and allocates funds to support North American Waldorf early childhood educators’ participation in international conferences and to advance early childhood projects worldwide.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$669K
Contributions & grants$180K27%
Program service revenue$388K58%
Investment income$2K0%
Other revenue$99K
expenses
Total expenses$740K
Program expenses84%
Admin / overhead16%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$336K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$265K
Cash$144K
Investments$0
Liabilities$86K
Net assets$179K
Liquid reserves2.3 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue -5.2%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

paid leadership · 1
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
SUSAN HOWARD CO-DIRECTOR 20 $95K
board members · 7
  • ANJUM MIR — VICE CHAIR
  • GABRIELA NUNEZ PLATA — Trustee
  • HEATHER CHURCH — CO-DIRECTOR
  • KEELAH HELWIG — Secretary
  • LAURA MASON — Trustee
  • LOUISE DE FOREST — CHAIR
  • RUTH KER — Treasurer
relationships · 41

Who they work with

  • AWSNA Network — Collaborates with AWSNA by cross-listing member programs in the WECAN directory.
  • Alliance for Childhood (North America) Partner — Collaborative relationship with an organization focused on child development and education advocacy.
  • Alliance for Public Waldorf Education Partner — Collaborates with APWE on shared goals and ideals in service of childhood.
  • Anthroposophical Society in America Partner — Partnership with the organization promoting anthroposophy, the philosophical foundation of Waldorf education.
  • Association for Healing Education Partner — Partnership with an organization dedicated to healing approaches in education.
  • Association for Waldorf Schools in North America Partner — Collaborates with AWSNA and participates on its Leadership Council.
  • Association of Waldorf Music Educators (AWME) Partner — Collaborative relationship focused on music education within the Waldorf framework.
  • Association of Waldorf Schools in North America Partner — Collaborates with AWSNA as a related organization in the North American Waldorf education network.
  • Association of Waldorf Schools in North America (AWSNA) Partner — Partnership with the primary association representing Waldorf schools in North America.
  • Association of Waldorf Schools of North America Partner — Collaborates with AWSNA on shared goals and ideals in service of childhood; WECAN board members represent the organization on AWSNA's Leadership Council and Teacher Education Delegates Circle.
  • Association of Waldorf Schools of North America Partner — Works in close collaboration with AWSNA.
  • Center for Biography and Social Art Partner — Collaborative relationship supporting biographical and social art methods in education.
  • Children’s Screentime Action Network Partner — Partnership focused on reducing children's screen time and promoting healthy development.
  • Conscious Parenting Guide Partner — Shares articles on pregnancy, childbirth, and parenting through the Conscious Parenting Guide website.
  • Defending the Early Years Partner — Collaborative relationship advocating for early childhood education policies aligned with developmental needs.
  • ECSWE – European Council for Steiner Waldorf Education Partner — International collaborative relationship supporting Steiner/Waldorf education in Europe.
  • ELIANT – European Alliance of Initiatives for Applied Anthroposophy Partner — International partnership promoting applied anthroposophy in education and social initiatives.
  • Foundation for Health Creation Partner — Partnership supporting health-focused initiatives in education and community life.
  • Freunde der Erziehungskunst/Friends of Waldorf Education Partner — International partnership providing support for Waldorf education globally.
  • HERMMES – Holistic Education, Resilience and Media Maturity in Educational Settings Partner — Partnership promoting holistic education and media resilience in schools.
  • Hague Circle – International Council for Steiner/Waldorf Education Partner — International collaborative relationship guiding and supporting Steiner/Waldorf education worldwide.
  • Halton Waldorf School Partner — Named as an affiliated early childhood program in Toronto, Canada.
  • Halton Waldorf School Partner — WECAN lists Halton Waldorf School as a location associated with its network of Waldorf early childhood programs.
  • IASWECE Partner — Collaborates with IASWECE by using their Essential Characteristics as a guide for birth-to-three care and education resources.
  • International Association for Steiner / Waldorf Early Childhood Education Network — Member organization within the international network promoting Steiner/Waldorf early childhood education
  • International Association for Steiner Waldorf Early Childhood Education Network — Participates in IASWECE through board representation and collaborative working groups; maintains ongoing involvement in international teacher education forums.
  • International Association for Steiner/ Waldorf Early Childhood Education Network — Full Member Association in IASWECE.
  • International Association for Steiner/Waldorf Early Childhood Education Network — Has active membership in IASWECE with two representatives on its Council.
  • International Association for Steiner/Waldorf Early Childhood Education Network — WECAN is a Full Member of IASWECE and shares research and global movement awareness with North American educators.
  • International Association for Steiner/Waldorf Early Childhood Education Network — WECAN is a full member of the International Association for Steiner/Waldorf Early Childhood Education and sends two representatives to its council.
+ 11 more
strategies · 5

How they approach the work

Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.

  • Child-Led, Developmentally Appropriate Learning
    methodology: child-led-development
    By creating supportive environments that honor childhood as a distinct, unhurried stage and allow for self-directed learning, the organization enables children to develop naturally, because children are seen as active agents whose individual developmental paths lead to deeper engagement and long-term well-being.
  • Community- and Relationship-Based Development
    methodology: community_based_development
    By building collaborative communities among parents, teachers, and children, the organization fosters healthy child development, because strong social relationships and conscious community life are seen as essential to nurturing the child and renewing culture.
  • Learning Through Imitative Role Modeling
    methodology: learning_through_imitation
    By emphasizing emotionally present adults who serve as role models, the organization supports early learning through imitation, because young children from birth to seven learn primarily through sensory experience and mirroring the meaningful actions of trusted caregivers.
  • Nature-Based Sensory Integration
    methodology: nature-based_sensory_development
    By prioritizing unstructured exploration of the natural world, the organization supports foundational sensory and developmental integration, because direct, immersive contact with nature is believed to ground children’s development and support healthy neurological and emotional growth.
  • Steiner-Based Holistic Development
    methodology: anthroposophical_education
    By grounding early childhood education in Rudolf Steiner’s anthroposophical understanding of human development, the organization fosters holistic growth of body, soul, and spirit, because this integrated approach is believed to support healthy development from pre-birth to age seven and serve as a foundation for cultural renewal.