named programs · 5 · from sources
What they call their work
Drop-In & Flexible Care
Offers emergency, short-term, and flexible childcare services to support working families and community needs, maintaining the organization’s original mission of accessible care.
Infant Program
Provides nurturing, developmentally appropriate care for infants ages 6 weeks to 18 months, focusing on language, cognitive, motor, and sensory exploration in a safe environment with strong parent-teacher collaboration.
Pre-Kindergarten Program
State-funded Universal Pre-K program for children ages 3 to 5, offering structured and free-choice activities that build problem-solving, social skills, cultural awareness, and school readiness.
Sciencenter Collaborative Program
Partnership with the Sciencenter providing hands-on science exploration for toddler and pre-K classrooms, including regular visits and integrated learning experiences during inclement weather.
Toddler Program
Serves children 18 months to 3 years with learning centers and daily lesson plans that support language development, social interaction, independence, and discovery through play-based exploration.
activities · 5 groups
What they do
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Early Childhood Education & Development Programs 3 activities
- Operating as a Universal Pre-K provider in partnership with the Ithaca City School DistrictDelivers state-funded pre-kindergarten programming in collaboration with the Ithaca City School District to support school readiness for eligible children.
- Operating early childhood education programs for children birth through age fiveProvides comprehensive early childhood programs focused on cognitive, social, emotional, and physical development for children from birth to age five. Includes infant, toddler, and preschool programming with developmentally appropriate curricula.
- Providing licensed daycare and childcare services for children from infancy through age twelveOffers full-time, drop-in, emergency, and short-term daycare services for children aged six weeks to twelve years, including infants, toddlers, and preschool-age children. The facility is licensed and operates with paid full-time staff.
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Early Childhood Education Financial Assistance 1 activity
- Ensuring equitable access through subsidized childcare enrollmentMaintains a policy requiring that at least 50% of enrolled children come from families eligible for subsidized childcare, and does not prioritize waitlist placements based on family financial resources.
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Library and Community Facility Renovation 1 activity
- Expanding childcare capacity through facility improvementsIncreased childcare capacity in 2005 by constructing a new toddler wing, enhancing the organization’s ability to serve more families in the Ithaca community.
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Educator Training in Equity and Inclusion 1 activity
- Implementing culturally responsive teaching and learning environmentsUses culturally responsive teaching practices and intentionally designed learning environments to support inclusive, equitable early childhood development and education.
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CACFP Meal Service and Administration 1 activity
- Providing nutritious daily vegetarian meals as part of childcare programmingSupplies breakfast, lunch, and a snack daily using whole grains, beans, fresh produce, and dairy as part of a vegetarian meal plan for enrolled children.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$1.54M
Contributions & grants$335K22%
Program service revenue$1.20M78%
Investment income$180%
Other revenue$-777
expenses
Total expenses$1.69M
Program expenses82%
Admin / overhead17%
Fundraising1%
Salaries & benefits$1.30M
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$786K
Cash$15K
Investments$0
Liabilities$347K
Net assets$439K
Liquid reserves0.1 mo
3 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +0.9%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 2
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| KRISTA TRIPP | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF OPER | 40 | $89K |
| MEGHAN LYONS | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $43K |
board members · 10
- ALYSSA WEBER — PRESIDENT
- CATHERINE BALDESSARE — MEMBER
- CHELSEA MCNUTT — MEMBER
- DANI RINHOVER — MEMBER
- JESSICA RILEY-JONES — MEMBER
- MARIAH MCNAMARA — MEMBER
- MARIE LANGLOIS — MEMBER
- MELISSA TROIANO — SECRETARY
- MICHELLE WESTFALL — VICE PRESIDENT
- VALENTINA FUIGINITI — TREASURER
relationships · 10
Who they work with
- Amphenol Partner — Alyssa Weber, President of the DICC board, works as a Corporate Stewardship Manager for Amphenol.
- CSP Management Partner — Steven Schapiro, a DICC board member, is the owner of CSP Management, a property management company in Ithaca.
- Cornell University Partner — Catherine Baldessare and Marie B. Langlois, board members of DICC, are affiliated with Cornell University in professional roles.
- GEM Rehab Partner — Melissa Troiano, Secretary of the DICC board, works for GEM Rehab as an Occupational Therapist and Rehabilitation Director.
- Ithaca City School District Partner — Collaborates as a Universal Pre-K provider within the district's framework.
- NY Early Childhood Professional Development Institute Partner — Collaborates with NY Early Childhood Professional Development Institute to expand staff development and continuing education opportunities.
- New York State Office of Children and Family Services Government — Licensing agency for the daycare facility
- QualityStars NY Partner — Participates with QualityStars NY to enhance staff development, materials, and resources.
- Schlather, Stumbar, Parks & Salk, LLP Partner — Jacob McNamara, a DICC board member, is a litigation attorney at Schlather, Stumbar, Parks & Salk, LLP.
- Sciencenter Partner — Collaborates with Sciencenter to provide hands-on science programs and regular class visits for toddler and pre-K classrooms.
strategies · 3
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.
- Parent-Cooperative Modelmethodology: parent-cooperative modelBy involving parents in volunteering and governance, the organization strengthens family investment and collective responsibility, leading to more stable participation and improved child outcomes because shared ownership increases engagement and trust.
- Play-Based and Exploration-Centered Learningmethodology: play-based_learning_with_family_engagementBy using play and exploration as core mechanisms, children develop cognitively, socially, and emotionally because these methods align with natural developmental processes and foster intrinsic motivation to learn.
- Strength-Based and Developmentally Appropriate Practicemethodology: developmentally appropriate practice with parent collaborationBy grounding child development in individual strengths and age-appropriate frameworks like Conscious Discipline, the organization supports holistic growth because it meets children where they are and builds from their existing capacities.