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Bright Futures

EIN 20-2169766 · Telluride, CO

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair59 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

BRIGHT FUTURES PROVIDES RESOURCES TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES. BRIGHT FUTURES WORKS TO INCREASE THE QUALITY, ACCESSIBILITY AND AVAILABILITY FOR EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION IN SAN MIGUEL, OURAY, MONTROSE, DELTA AND SAN JUAN COUNTIES. BRIGHT FUTURES OFFERS ALIGNED, COLLABORATIVE AND INTEGRATED SERVICES ACROSS KEY SYSTEMS OF FAMILY SUPPORT AND EARLY CHILDHOOD CARE AND EDUCATION.

Income
$2.6 million
Spending
$2.6 million
Spent on programs
90%
Reserves
1.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 78%
Employees
37
Volunteers
5
Highest pay
$187,043, executive director

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: 59 out of 100. Higher than 30% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 21% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 3% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    90% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 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 65% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    5 of 5 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports 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 (1)
  1. $2.4 million spent. BRIGHT FUTURES IS DEDICATED TO IMPROVING THE LIVES OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN WESTERN COLORADO THROUGH INTEGRATED SERVICES IN EARLY CHILDHOOD CARE, EDUCATION, AND FAMILY SUPPORT. OPERATING AS AN EARLY CHILDHOOD COUNCIL, FAMILY RESOURCE CENTER, AND THE LOCAL COORDINATING ORGANIZATION (LCO) FOR UNIVERSAL PRESCHOOL (UPK), THE ORGANIZATION SERVES DELTA, MONTROSE, OURAY, SAN MIGUEL, AND SAN JUAN COUNTIES.KEY ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN THE PAST FISCAL YEAR:1) EARLY CHILDHOOD QUALITY & WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT: 80% OF LICENSED CHILDCARE PROVIDERS ENGAGED IN QUALITY IMPROVEMENT THROUGH COLORADO SHINES. 93 EARLY CHILDHOOD TEACHERS RECEIVED PYRAMID COACHING, POSITIVELY IMPACTING 1,337 CHILDREN. THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDED 69 PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR EARLY EDUCATORS.2) FAMILY SUPPORT SERVICES: TAILORED PROGRAMS STRENGTHENED FAMILIES AND IMPROVED OUTCOMES FOR VULNERABLE CHILDREN (BIRTH-18). THROUGH PARENTS AS TEACHERS (PAT), 364 HOME VISITS WERE CONDUCTED, AND 243 PARENTS ATTENDED WORKSHOPS. THE INTEGRATED SUPPORT SERVICES TEAM SERVED 39 CHILDREN WITH A HOLISTIC, CHILD-CENTERED APPROACH. $37,589 WAS DISTRIBUTED TO 8 FAMILIES THROUGH A "FLEX FUNDING" PROGRAM TO OFFER BASIC NEEDS SUCH AS HOUSING, FOOD, OR TRANSPORTATION.3) SAN MIGUEL COUNTY EARLY CHILDHOOD SUPPORT: UNDER THE STRONG START PROGRAM, BRIGHT FUTURES ADMINISTERED QUALITY IMPROVEMENT/CAPACITY-BUILDING GRANTS, TEACHER RECOGNITION AWARDS, AND CHILDCARE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. A TOTAL OF $733,785 IN GRANTS AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE WAS AWARDED. 4) UNIVERSAL PRESCHOOL IMPLEMENTATION: AS THE STATE-APPOINTED LCO, THE ORGANIZATION SUPPORTED FAMILIES, SCHOOL DISTRICTS, AND EARLY CHILDHOOD PROVIDERS IN FIVE COUNTIES TO ENSURE UPK ACCESS. 5) EARLY CHILDHOOD INFRASTRUCTURE & EXPANSION: PARTNERING WITH RURAL HOMES EARLY CHILDHOOD INITIATIVE, THE ORGANIZATION SUPPORTS HOMEOWNERSHIP PATHWAYS FOR FAMILY CHILD CARE PROVIDERS IN OURAY COUNTY. TEMPORARY STATE STIMULUS FUNDING ENABLED INITIATIVES SUCH AS FAMILY CHILD CARE HOME NAVIGATION, AND EXPANDED QUALITY IMPROVEMENT GRANTS. 6) AMERICORPS EARLY CHILDHOOD PILOT PROGRAM: RECRUITED 7 AMERICORPS MEMBERS AT 4 CHILDCARE SITES IN TELLURIDE, MONTROSE, DELTA, AND GUNNISON. 5 MEMBERS WERE RECRUITED LAST FISCAL YEAR, AND 1 GRADUATED FROM THE PROGRAM.BRIGHT FUTURES CONTINUES TO ADDRESS THE REGION'S CHILDCARE GAPS, ENHANCE FAMILY RESILIENCE, AND IMPROVE ACCESS TO HIGH-QUALITY EARLY LEARNING, ENSURING LONG-TERM BENEFITS FOR CHILDREN AND COMMUNITIES.

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

  1. 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 October 13, 2026.

  2. 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 October 13, 2026.

  3. 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 October 13, 2026.

  4. 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 October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since August 2005.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. 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 21, 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.