Research and Evaluation
IFF provides data and analysis to help nonprofits, foundations, and government agencies make better decisions about resource allocation and real estate investment. Many of our reports are available for free download below.
Early Child Care and Education
IFF’s broader research and public policy work grew out of our efforts — more than two decades ago — to understand, invest in, and increase the availability of quality child care options for low-income families. No issue is closer to our hearts or speaks more directly to our mission. Our research can help you understand the landscape for programs serving children from birth to school age. We measure the supply and demand for each program type (e.g., child care, infant and toddler care, Head Start, Early Head Start, and pre-kindergarten), analyze where the highest need for each of these services is, and can work with stakeholders to close the gaps identified.
Schools
At IFF, we believe every child deserves the opportunity to attend a good school near where they live — and, with hard data and a neighborhood focus, we are working to make that happen. Our research focuses on the location, enrollment, and academic performance of all schools — be they public, public charter, or private — and pinpoints the geographic areas where new quality schools, more resources, and public policy changes will have the most impact. Foundations, school districts, and charter school authorizers have used our research to support data-driven education reform strategies, including in Chicago, Cleveland, Denver, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Milwaukee, St. Louis, and Washington, D.C.
Nonprofit Sector
IFF conducts independent research for and about the nonprofit sector, helping foundations, government agencies, and nonprofits themselves make better decisions about programs and services, resources, and public policy. Research projects include: needs assessments by service and geography; assessment of organizational capacity for existing or new services; analysis of population and economic trends; data to support strategic planning; and mapping and analysis of program data.
To learn more about IFF’s policy and research services, email or call us at 866 629 0060.
Our Studies
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A Seat at the Table: Ensuring Equitable Access to Early Childhood Education in Milwaukee
Research Type: Early Care and Education · Published: 2020
A Seat at the Table: Ensuring Equitable Access to Early Childhood Education in Milwaukee culminates IFF’s needs assessment findings and aims to inform strategic investments to create equitable access to high-quality, affordable ECE services throughout the city. This interactive report highlights recommendations to strengthen the system for all Milwaukee children, as well as specific strategies to promote equitable ECE access at the community-level.
The First Step to Equity: Building a Better Future Through Early Childhood Education in St. Louis
Research Type: Early Care and Education · Published: 2019
The First Step to Equity: Building a Better Future for Early Childhood Education in St. Louis examines access to quality early childhood education programs, identifies gaps in service, and pinpoints other early childhood education infrastructure needs in the St. Louis region. This action-driven report also provides key recommendations on where to start, targeted neighborhood-based strategies, and ideas on how funders can support these efforts.
Access and Quality for Illinois Children: Illinois Early Childhood Education Needs Assessment
Research Type: Early Care and Education · Published: 2019
This statewide needs assessment examines access to quality early childhood education (ECE) services across the State of Illinois, including both home- and center-based care and preschool programs. The goal of this report is to inform stakeholders of the disparities in access across communities in the hopes of serving the greatest number of children in need of care with the highest quality of care. Stakeholders can use the information presented to create a comprehensive, high-quality, equitable strategy for children throughout Illinois as well as reflect on targeted geographic strategies.
A System for All Children: An Early Childhood Education Needs Assessment in Grand Rapids
Research Type: Early Care and Education · Published: 2018
A System for All Children: An Early Childhood Education Needs Assessment in Grand Rapids examines access to quality early childhood education programs in the city of Grand Rapids, Michigan. Stakeholders can use the information presented to create a comprehensive, high-quality, equitable strategy for the community. The report highlights the programs and neighborhoods with the largest gaps of services in order for investments and improvements to reach the greatest number of children. Some significant findings include:
- Only 30% of the need for subsidized and Head Start early childhood education programs is being met in Grand Rapids, putting an undue burden on low-income children and families.
- The city needs about 4,000 additional licensed and registered early childhood education slots – and two-thirds of that need is concentrated in just one-third of the city’s neighborhoods. Five of those seven neighborhoods are those with the highest levels of children in poverty.
- There is a dramatic lack of access to early childhood education slots for infants and toddlers, with just 16 percent of children aged birth to two having access to licensed and registered providers. That number drops to just 8 percent for children aged birth to two in the highest-need neighborhoods.
The System We Need: A Neighborhood Snapshot of Early Education in Detroit
Research Type: Early Care and Education · Published: 2015
This report estimates that in 2015 nearly 28,000 of Detroit children needed but did not have access to quality early childhood care. The study compares the number of slots available at licensed and registered facilities with the number of children in need of care, and breaks down the supply-and-demand estimate by individual neighborhoods and program types.
Building a Better System: The Need for Early Childhood Education in Macomb, Oakland, and Out Wayne Counties
Research Type: Early Care and Education · Published: 2015
This new study estimates that in 2015 about 41,000 of the Tri-county region’s children needed but did not have access to quality early childhood care. The report compares the number of slots available at licensed and registered facilities with the number of children in need of care, and breaks down the supply-and-demand estimate by community, county, and program type.
Early Care and Education: The Top 10 Counties, Municipalities, and Chicago Community Areas in Need of Care
Research Type: Early Care and Education · Published: 2011
Modeled on IFF’s 2003 statewide needs assessment for early care and education (ECE), Moving Towards A System, this report finds significant gaps for all types of care and ranks counties, larger municipalities, and Chicago community areas according to their overall need, as well as to their need of specific programs, such as general child care, Head Start and Early Head Start, and PreK.
Early Childhood Needs Assessment:
Research Type: Early Care and Education · Published: 2007
The Building Blocks reports were completed by IFF, with support from the Grand Victoria Foundation, to help local Illinois communities establish a strong infrastructure of community providers that deliver and support early education programs and a plan to accommodate future growth.
Early Childhood Needs Assessment: Woodridge
Research Type: Early Care and Education · Published: 2007
The Building Blocks reports were completed by IFF, with support from the Grand Victoria Foundation, to help local Illinois communities establish a strong infrastructure of community providers that deliver and support early education programs and a plan to accommodate future growth.
Early Childhood Needs Assessment: Willowbrook Corner
Research Type: Early Care and Education · Published: 2007
The Building Blocks reports were completed by IFF, with support from the Grand Victoria Foundation, to help local Illinois communities establish a strong infrastructure of community providers that deliver and support early education programs and a plan to accommodate future growth.
Early Childhood Needs Assessment: Wheeling
Research Type: Early Care and Education · Published: 2007
The Building Blocks reports were completed by IFF, with support from the Grand Victoria Foundation, to help local Illinois communities establish a strong infrastructure of community providers that deliver and support early education programs and a plan to accommodate future growth.
Early Childhood Needs Assessment: West Chicago
Research Type: Early Care and Education · Published: 2007
The Building Blocks reports were completed by IFF, with support from the Grand Victoria Foundation, to help local Illinois communities establish a strong infrastructure of community providers that deliver and support early education programs and a plan to accommodate future growth.
Early Childhood Needs Assessment: Round Lake
Research Type: Early Care and Education · Published: 2007
The Building Blocks reports were completed by IFF, with support from the Grand Victoria Foundation, to help local Illinois communities establish a strong infrastructure of community providers that deliver and support early education programs and a plan to accommodate future growth.
Early Childhood Needs Assessment: LaSalle County
Research Type: Early Care and Education · Published: 2007
The Building Blocks reports were completed by IFF, with support from the Grand Victoria Foundation, to help local Illinois communities establish a strong infrastructure of community providers that deliver and support early education programs and a plan to accommodate future growth.
Early Childhood Needs Assessment: Joliet
Research Type: Early Care and Education · Published: 2007
The Building Blocks reports were completed by IFF, with support from the Grand Victoria Foundation, to help local Illinois communities establish a strong infrastructure of community providers that deliver and support early education programs and a plan to accommodate future growth.
Early Childhood Needs Assessment: Glendale Heights
Research Type: Early Care and Education · Published: 2007
The Building Blocks reports were completed by IFF, with support from the Grand Victoria Foundation, to help local Illinois communities establish a strong infrastructure of community providers that deliver and support early education programs and a plan to accommodate future growth.
Early Childhood Needs Assessment: Franklin Park and Melrose Park
Research Type: Early Care and Education · Published: 2007
The Building Blocks reports were completed by IFF, with support from the Grand Victoria Foundation, to help local Illinois communities establish a strong infrastructure of community providers that deliver and support early education programs and a plan to accommodate future growth.
Early Childhood Needs Assessment: Addison
Research Type: Early Care and Education · Published: 2007
The Building Blocks reports were completed by IFF, with support from the Grand Victoria Foundation, to help local Illinois communities establish a strong infrastructure of community providers that deliver and support early education programs and a plan to accommodate future growth.
By Any Measure: A Report to the Community on IFF’s Work in the Field of Nonprofit Child Care in Illinois
Research Type: Early Care and Education · Published: 2007
A detailed report of IFF’s leadership role in the area of research, planning, financing, and design of child care facilities.
Getting Ready: Preparing to House Your Pre-Kindergarten Program
Research Type: Early Care and Education · Published: 2006
An interactive, online tool to help applicants for ISBE pre-kindergarten grants plan ahead for housing their program. In three steps, the tool will help an organization assess its space needs, evaluate the fit of any facility with its program goals, and identify any renovation or modification needs.
The Economic Impact of the Early Care and Education Industry in Illinois
Research Type: Early Care and Education · Published: 2005
A study conducted by the National Economic Development and Law Center, and reported by IFF, Action for Children and Chicago Metropolis 2020. This report demonstrates for the first time the direct economic benefits of the early care and education industry as well as its long-term impact on the Illinois economy.
The Building Blocks of Design: A Handbook for Early Childhood Development Facilities
Research Type: Early Care and Education · Published: 2004
A guide and reference tool for early childhood development providers who want to improve or expand their centers. The handbook covers everything from choosing a paint color for a simple cosmetic enhancement to planning a major construction project.
Moving Towards A System: The Community Profiles Fact Book
Research Type: Early Care and Education · Published: 2003
A collection of profiles that summarize the demographic, supply, and demand data for each of the 168 communities assessed.
Moving Towards A System: Tools, Benchmarks and Standards
Research Type: Early Care and Education · Published: 2003
The full report on the Statewide Early Childhood Needs Assessment that presents findings on the highest-need communities and in each area of care and education assessed.
Moving Towards A System: Preview
Research Type: Early Care and Education · Published: 2003
A preview of the full report on the Statewide Early Childhood Needs Assessment that summarizes the study’s scope, highlights findings, and provides examples of how the data can be used.
We Need More Day Care Centers
Research Type: Early Care and Education · Published: 2003
A planning tool for community organizations and government agencies, our study shows that Latina mothers want preschool child care centers in their neighborhoods.
Early Childhood Care and Education Fact Book: Planning for Chicago’s Children in the New Century
Research Type: Early Care and Education · Published: 2002
This book is a community-planning document focusing on the top 20 Chicago communities needing additional licensed child care resources.
Great Spaces, Fresh Places
Research Type: Early Care and Education · Published: 2001
Documentation of three classroom makeovers, a collaboration between IFF and The Chicago MOST Initiative.
A Century of Caring for Children
Research Type: Early Care and Education · Published: 2000
A history of federal and state child care legislation and programs for low-income children in Illinois.
The Chicago Early Childhood Care and Education Needs Assessment
Research Type: Early Care and Education · Published: 1999
This study, the first of its kind, ranked Chicago’s 77 communities in terms of need for full-day, licensed child care services.