Annual Reports
Our future starts here
Excerpts from our most recent annual report, along with a full archive of past annual reports and audited financials, are found below. We will post new ones each year as they become available.
Our children deserve the very best from the very beginning.
Small Magic supports the future stability and prosperity of our community by focusing on our most precious resource: our children. Together, we are ensuring all the children in our community are prepared for kindergarten and a lifetime of economic mobility.
Reach
167
Children served in the past program year through Birmingham Talks for families.
Impact
93%
Increase in conversational turns along with an 89% rise in exposure to adult words for children from the lowest-talk environments.
Experience
94%
Participants who would recommend Birmingham Talks to a friend or family member.
In the home
“Having a free resource to help me and my family has set a great foundation for Major. As he enters preschool, his teacher has been super proud of his growth.”
Meet the Chandlers
If you ask Cornesha about her days, she’ll describe them as full: full of noise, questions, laughter, and a deep love for her children. She’s clear that parenting stretches her and rewards her, often at the same time. Through Birmingham Talks, she’s found ways to turn that fullness into chances to connect deeply with her children, creating a foundation for learning that will help shape their future.
Reach
1,497
Children served in the past program year through Birmingham Talks for childcare providers.
Impact
98%
Increase in conversational turns along with an 80% rise in exposure to adult words for children from the lowest-talk environments.
Experience
87%
Participants who would recommend Birmingham Talks to a friend or family member.
In the classroom
“Small Magic taught us how to understand developmental milestones and build the data we need to make sure that our kids develop properly as they grow.”
Meet New Beginning
New Beginning Child Development Center describes its work as relationship-driven, and you can feel these relationships in every room. Teachers know their children’s habits, worries, and favorite stories, and they use that knowledge to create meaningful interactions throughout the day. Birmingham Talks meets them in that strength, offering tools that enhance the ways they support our community’s littlest learners.
Where the magic happens
As more families, providers, and partners have joined us in this work, we realized the need for a place that brings it all together; a space that reflects the scale of what we’re doing and the care we want people to feel when they walk through the door.
Our new early learning hub does just that: it gives us a shared place to think and plan, to welcome caregivers who need support, and to gather the books, toys, and materials that move through our programs. It gives our work a physical center, connecting the early learning happening in living rooms, childcare centers, and classrooms across Birmingham.
1,200
Books and educational toys housed on these shelves for families and classrooms.
1,625
Children served annually by hosting families in our space and supporting the early learning staff that goes into our community.
100+
Hours spent in meeting rooms holding conversations with national partners, including Results for America, Listen4Good, and the University of Chicago.
Investing in our future
“As a mom, I value support that helps families thrive. Small Magic is thoughtful about the needs of both children and the adults in their lives, and that care shows in their work. A strong start for children is one of the most practical investments Birmingham can make, and I’m grateful to be part of this mission.”
—Andrea Hester, CRA Community Development Manager, First Horizon
“PNC believes deeply in the power of early childhood education, and our support of Small Magic reflects that commitment. Small Magic’s evidence‑based approach and its deep respect for families ensure Birmingham’s youngest learners have the strong foundation they need to thrive. When children start strong, communities grow stronger… and Small Magic is helping make that future possible.”
—Nick Willis, Greater Alabama Regional President, PNC
“I’ve had the privilege of being close to Small Magic’s work for years, as a donor, advocate, partner, and friend. What keeps me committed is the urgency of the mission and the reality of the impact. I’m proud to serve and proud to give because I want this work to reach as many families in our community as possible.”
—Jasmine Kemp, Realtor, eXp Realty