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First Start Partnerships for Children and Families Inc

EIN 23-1152007 · Chambersburg, PA

Public records raise at least one point you should look into before giving.

LegitimacyCautionRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak39 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

FIRST START PARTNERSHIPS FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, INC. PARTNERS WITH FAMILIES, SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITIES TO ENSURE THAT EACH CHILD ARRIVES READY FOR KINDERGARTEN.

Income
$9.4 million
Spending
$9.4 million
Spent on programs
88%
Reserves
0.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 96%
Employees
141
Volunteers
108
Highest pay
$148,635, president &

Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 39 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    2 of 20

    It owes 85% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 0% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 4% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    88% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    12 of 12 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 July 31, 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)
  1. $5.1 million spent. HEAD START/EARLY HEAD START PROGRAM. THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES A COMPREHENSIVE EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM FOR LOW INCOME CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES IN FRANKLIN COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA. DURING THE FISCAL YEAR, THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDED 321 CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES WITH HIGH QUALITY EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND FAMILY SUPPORTS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO CHILDREN'S READINESS FOR SCHOOL AND THE FAMILY'S ABILITY TO GET EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION AND OTHER GOALS TO BREAK THE POVERTY CYCLE. SERVICES PROVIDED INCLUDE HOME VISITS, HEALTH AND NUTRITION RESOURCES AND REFERRALS, CENTER- BASED AND HOME-BASED EARLY CHILDHOOD INSTRUCTION, AND FAMILY SUPPORTS FOR INDIVIDUAL AND GROUPS OF FAMILIES. HEAD START/EARLY HEAD START ARE FEDERALLY FUNDED PROGRAMS AVAILABLE AT NO COST TO FAMILIES WHO QUALIFY AT 100% OR BELOW OF FEDERAL POVERTY GUIDELINES. HEAD START/EARLY HEAD START PROGRAM. THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES A COMPREHENSIVE EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM FOR LOW INCOME CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES IN FRANKLIN COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA. DURING THE FISCAL YEAR, THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDED 321 CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES WITH HIGH QUALITY EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND FAMILY SUPPORTS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO CHILDREN'S READINESS FOR SCHOOL AND THE FAMILY'S ABILITY TO GET EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION AND OTHER GOALS TO BREAK THE POVERTY CYCLE. SERVICES PROVIDED INCLUDE HOME VISITS, HEALTH AND NUTRITION RESOURCES AND REFERRALS, CENTER- BASED AND HOME-BASED EARLY CHILDHOOD INSTRUCTION, AND FAMILY SUPPORTS FOR INDIVIDUAL AND GROUPS OF FAMILIES. HEAD START/EARLY HEAD START ARE FEDERALLY FUNDED PROGRAMS AVAILABLE AT NO COST TO FAMILIES WHO QUALIFY AT 100% OR BELOW OF FEDERAL POVERTY GUIDELINES.
  2. $3.1 million spent. PRE-K COUNTS PROGRAM. THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES EARLY CHILDHOOD CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION FOR LOW TO MIDDLE INCOME CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES IN FRANKLIN COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA IN PARTNERSHIP WITH FRANKLIN COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICTS. THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDED 316 CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES WITH HIGH QUALITY EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION, ENGAGING FAMLIES AS THEIR CHILD'S FIRST AND FOREVER TEACHER, THAT PREPARES CHILDREN FOR A SUCCESSFUL TRANSITION INTO KINDERGARTEN. THE SCHOOL DISTRICT PARTNERSHIPS ALLOW FOR LOCAL COLLABORATIONS BETWEEN SCHOOLS, FAMILIES, AND EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION PROGRAMS. PRE-K COUNTS ARE STATE FUNDED PROGRAMS AVAILABLE AT NO COST TO FAMILIES WHO QUALIFY AT 300% OR BELOW OF THE FEDEARL PROVERTY GUIDELINES.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 31, 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Caution.

    Not 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.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending July 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since December 1965.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.