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Smart From the Start Inc

EIN 45-4952663 · Mattapan, MA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak30 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PREVENT THE ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT GAP AMONG YOUNG CHILDREN LIVING IN THE LOWEST INCOME FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES. SMART EMPOWERS PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS IN UNDER-SERVED COMMUNITIES WITH THE TOOLS, RESOURCES AND SUPPORT THEY NEED TO BREAK CYCLES OF CHRONIC SCHOOL UNDERACHIEVEMENT AND GENERATIONAL POVERTY.

Income
$2.6 million
Spending
$4.6 million
Spent on programs
73%
Reserves
1 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 55%
Employees
50
Volunteers
73
Highest pay
$253,316, ceo

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

Weak: 30 out of 100. Higher than 3% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 53% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 72% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 52% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    73% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 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

    10 of 11 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 (2)
  1. $3.2 million spent. TO EMPOWER AND PROVIDE LOW INCOME FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES WITH THE TOOLS, RESOURCES AND SUPPORT NECESSARY TO BREAK CYCLES OF CHRONIC UNDERACHIEVEMENT IN EDUCATION AND GENERATIONAL POVERTY THROUGH INITIATIVES, PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO (I) PARENTING WORKSHOPS, (II) FAMILY SUPPORT PROGRAMS, (III) ADULT EDUCATION AND FAMILY LITERACY COURSES, AND (IV) SCHOOL READINESS ACTIVITIES.
  2. $149,188 spent. OVER THE LAST TWO SUMMERS, 50 OF OUR YOUTH, FAMILY LEADERS AND THEIR CHILDREN, ALONG WITH OUR STAFF TEAM AND SOME BOARD MEMBERS, EMBARKED ON A CIVIL RIGHTS SUMMER PILGRIMAGE. TOGETHER, WE JOURNEYED THROUGH 18 STATES FROM BOSTON ALL THE WAY DOWN TO LOUISIANA, ENDING OUR JOURNEY IN TENNESSEE. IT WAS NOTHING SHORT OF LIFE CHANGING FOR THE YOUTH AND FAMILY LEADERS. THEY RETURNED HOME WITH NEW PERSPECTIVES, IDEAS, ACTION PLANS AND ENTHUSIASM AND OUR YOUTH, IN PARTICULAR, WITH A NEW SENSE OF PATRIOTISM AND COMMITMENT. WE VISIT HISTORICALLY RELEVANT SITES; MEET PEOPLE WITH GREAT KNOWLEDGE TO SHARE; AND LEARN ABOUT THE STORIES, STRUGGLES, TRIALS, AND TRIUMPHS OF POWERFUL, BRILLIANT AND GIFTED ENSLAVED, OPPRESSED AND PERSECUTED AMERICANS WHO HELPED BUILD THIS COUNTRY WHILE STUDYING HOW THEIR FIGHT FOR EQUALITY INFORMS OUR OWN.

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 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? 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.

  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 September 7, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since August 2012.

    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.