Firstspark Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
PROMOTE QUALITY EARLY CHILDHOOD CARE AND EDUCATION FOR YOUNG CHILDREN AGES BIRTH TO 5 AND PROVIDE PRENATAL RESOURCES FOR EXPECTANT WOMEN.
- Income
- $5.2 million
- Spending
- $5.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 98%
- Reserves
- 1.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 92%
- Employees
- 29
- Volunteers
- 17
- Highest pay
- $102,548, executive director - ended 12/24
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 57 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 1.4 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 33% of what it owns.
Living within its means
12 of 15Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 1% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1598% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2519 of 20 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (2)
- $4.8 million spent. CHILD CARE QUALITY: TO PREPARE ALL CHILDREN FOR KINDERGARTEN AND IN RESPONSE TO STATE LAW, VIRGINIA CREATED THE UNIFIED VIRGINIA QUALITY BIRTH TO FIVE SYSTEM (VQB5) TO MEASURE AND IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF ALL PUBLICLY-FUNDED BIRTH-TO-FIVE CLASSROOMS AND SUPPORT FAMILIES IN SELECTING QUALITY PROGRAMMING ACROSS PROGRAM TYPES. THIS ORGANIZATION OVERSEES AND IMPLEMENTS THE PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS FOR VQB5 IN THE REGION. EDUCATORS AND LEADERS HAVE ACCESS TO SUPPORT, TRAINING, AND RESOURCES TO HELP IMPROVE TEACHER-CHILD INTERACTIONS. OUR ORGANIZATION ALSO ADMINISTERS THE MIXED DELIVERY PROGRAM IN PUBLICLY FUNDED LICENSED (NON-FAITH-BASED) AND PRIVATE EARLY CHILDHOOD CARE AND EDUCATION (ECCE) SETTINGS FOR ELIGIBLE CHILDREN. MIXED DELIVERY FUNDS FULL-DAY, YEAR-ROUND SERVICES FOR INFANTS, TODDLERS, AND PRESCHOOLERS, MEETING GROWING DEMAND FOR PUBLICLY FUNDED ECCE AT PRIVATE SITES THAT MEET THE VARIED NEEDS AND PREFERENCES OF FAMILIES. THE ORGANIZATION ALSO PROVIDES TRAINING FOR CHILD CARE EDUCATORS FROM ALL SETTINGS TO BUILD A STRONG BASE OF KNOWLEDGE IN ALL AREAS OF EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT SO CHILDREN ARE READY TO ENTER KINDERGARTEN WITH THE TOOLS THEY NEED TO SUCCEED. TRAINING IS ALIGNED WITH CRITERIA FROM THE VQB5 ASSESSMENT SYSTEM AND VIRGINIA'S EARLY LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS.
- $218,776 spent. PRENATAL RESOURCES: WHEN BABIES ARE BORN HEALTHY, THEY HAVE A STRONG START FOR OPTIMAL CHILD GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT. WORKING WITH OB-GYNS, HOSPITAL SYSTEMS, CLINICS, AND OTHER HUMAN SERVICES PROVIDERS, A PRENATAL RESOURCE SPECIALIST TALKS ONE-ON-ONE WITH PREGNANT WOMEN ABOUT THEIR NEEDS AND CONCERNS. A VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH VERIFIED, COMPREHENSIVE SCREENING IS CONDUCTED AND WOMEN ARE CONNECTED TO HOME VISITATION AND MANY OTHER PRENATAL AND PARENT EDUCATION SERVICES TO SUPPORT A HEALTHY PREGNANCY.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 10, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since February 2005.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 7, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.