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CHARITY REVIEW
Issued: January 2026 Expires: January 2027

SouthSide Early Childhood Center

Accredited Charity
Accredited Charity

Meets Standards
(314) 865-0322
2101 S Jefferson Ave
Saint Louis, MO, 63104
https://www.southside-ecc.org
📄 Full Report 🖨️ Print 📋 BBB Charity Standards

Standards For Charity Accountability

Governance

  1. Board Oversight
  2. Board Size
  3. Board Meetings
  4. Board Compensation
  5. Conflict of Interest

Measuring Effectiveness

  1. Effectiveness Policy
  2. Effectiveness Report

Finances

  1. Program Expenses
  2. Fundraising Expenses
  3. Accumulating Funds
  4. Audit Report
  5. Detailed Expense Breakdown
  6. Accurate Expense Reporting
  7. Budget Plan

Fundraising & Info

  1. Truthful Materials
  2. Annual Report
  3. Website Disclosures
  4. Donor Privacy
  5. Cause Marketing Disclosures
  6. Complaints

SouthSide Early Childhood Center meets the 20 Standards for Charity Accountability.

Stated Purpose:
"To nurture, educate and inspire children and families with limited resources, fostering healthy development and a strong foundation for success."

Year, State Incorporated:
, MO

Also Known As:
S S D N, South Side Day Nursery

Located in South St. Louis City, SSDN (South Side Day Nursery) was founded in 1886 by 15 Unitarian women to provide young children a safe, nurturing and educational environment while their parents were at work. For more than 120 years, SSDN has continued its mission. Today it serves 125 children, providing high-quality childcare and preschool education that prepares children for success in school, enabling their parents and guardians to work, receive job training, or attend school. Its programs support the emotional, social, cognitive, and physical development needs of children ages six weeks to six years. Licensed by the State of Missouri and accredited by Missouri Accreditation, its educators provide a safe, nurturing learning environment for 125 children in a full-day, year round program. The organization welcomes children with special needs and make sure they get the care and resources they need while including them in classroom activities. Its preschool is a Head Start center offering excellent preparation for kindergarten. It offers holistic services that help a child reach his or her full potential. Its Family and Community Coordinator works with educators and with families to ensure that children learn at their best. Each child's development is monitored through vision, hearing, speech, medical, developmental, and dental screenings. If needed, children receive on-site speech, play, physical and occupational therapy, or are referred to off-site specialists. The organization also works with parents and guardians, providing on-site parent meetings and classes, and connecting them with services in the community.

For the year ended December 31, 2024, SouthSide Early Childhood Center's program expenses were:

Programs $4,131,247
Total Program Expenses $4,131,247

Chief Executive
Leah Hawkins, Executive Director

Chair of the Board
Pat Miller

Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation
St. Louis Community College

Board Size
21

Method(s) Used:
Direct mail appeals, Print advertisements (newspapers, magazines, etc.), Television, Grant proposals, Internet, Cause-related marketing (affinity credit cards, consumer product sales, etc.)

This organization is tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. It is eligible to receive contributions deductible as charitable donations for federal income tax purposes.

The following information is based on SouthSide Early Childhood Center's audited financial statements - consolidated for the year ended December 31, 2024.

Source of Funds
Grants $2,586,531
Contributions $889,635
Program Fees $506,551
Miscellaneous $434,506
Special Events $313,417
United Way $153,180
Endowment Investment Returns $29,439
In Kind Contributions $15,124
Total Income $4,928,383

Programs: 84% Fundraising: 6% Administrative: 10%

Total Income $4,928,383
Total expenses: $4,891,718
  Program expenses $4,131,247
  Fundraising expenses $269,429
  Administrative expenses $491,042
  Other expenses $0
Income in Excess of Expenses $36,665
Beginning Net Assets $6,142,471
Other Changes In Net Assets $0
Ending Net Assets $6,179,136
Total Liabilities $191,433
Total Assets $6,370,569

An organization may change its practices at any time without notice. A copy of this report has been shared with the organization prior to publication. It is not intended to recommend or deprecate, and is furnished solely to assist you in exercising your own judgment. If the report is about a charity and states the charity meets or does not meet the Standards for Charity Accountability, it reflects the results of an evaluation of information and materials provided voluntarily by the charity. The name Better Business Bureau is a registered service mark of the International Association of Better Business Bureaus.

This report is not to be used for fundraising or promotional purposes.

RELATED CONTENT

Report completed by:
BBB of Eastern & Southwest Missouri & Southern Illinois