Child Start Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE MISSION OF CHILD START, INC. IS TO PROVIDE EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT SERVICES THAT PREPARE CHILDREN FOR LIFELONG SUCCESS.
- Income
- $13.9 million
- Spending
- $14.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 89%
- Reserves
- 0.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 99%
- Employees
- 261
- Volunteers
- 926
- Highest pay
- $160,079, finance director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending April 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Weak: 42 out of 100. Higher than 13% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
4 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 0.5 months of spending.
Debt
5 of 20It owes 68% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 1% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 5% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1589% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending April 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 35% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2513 of 13 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 April 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 (4)
- $11.6 million spent. EARLY CHILDCARE EDUCATION:0-5 EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAM: THE 0-5 EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAM SERVES PARENTS, PREGNANT AND PARENTING TEENS, AND THEIR CHILDREN FROM BIRTH UNTIL KINDERGARTEN-ENTRY WITH PRENATAL SUPPORT, PARENTING CLASSES, HOME VISITS, GROUP CHILD CARE AND EDUCATION, PRESCHOOL, AND HEALTH CARE.OUR EARLY HEAD START PROGRAM, WHICH PROVIDES RESOURCES THAT HELP ELIGIBLE PARENTS SUPPORT THEIR CHILDREN'S DEVELOPMENT, ENROLLED 313 CHILDREN AGED NEWBORN TO THREE.OUR HEAD START PROGRAM ASSURED PRESCHOOL EXCELLENCE FOR 457 DISADVANTAGED CHILDREN AGED THREE TO FIVE.
- $502,020 spent. EARLY CHILDHOOD CONNECTIONS PROGRAM:CHILD START HAS BEEN DELIVERING CHILD CARE RESOURCE AND REFERRAL (CCR&R) SERVICES FOR OVER FIVE DECADES AND CURRENTLY DELIVERS THESE SERVICES IN FIVE KANSAS COUNTIES: BUTLER, COWLEY, HARVEY, SEDGWICK, AND SUMNER. SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE IN BOTH ENGLISH AND SPANISH BY PHONE, ON-LINE AND IN PERSON. LOCALLY, OUR GOALS FOR CCR&R SERVICES ARE: (1) TO INCREASE THE QUALITY OF EARLY LEARNING PROGRAMS TO MEET FAMILIES AND CHILDREN'S NEEDS AND (2) TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF FAMILIES WHO BENEFIT FROM INFORMATION ABOUT EARLY EDUCATION PROGRAM CHOICES AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT ISSUES. CCR&R SERVICES ARE BASED ON THE THEORIES THAT: (1) CHILD CAREGIVERS WHO FOCUS ON PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION AND PROGRAM QUALITY IMPROVEMENT PROVIDE BETTER EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES FOR YOUNG CHILDREN; AND (2) FAMILIES WHO UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF EARLY EDUCATION AND HOW TO RECOGNIZE QUALITY PROGRAMS MAKE BETTER CHOICES FOR THEIR CHILDREN. IN EFFECT, CCR&R SERVICES HELP BRIDGE THE GAPS BETWEEN FAMILIES' NEEDS AND COMMUNITY RESOURCES.
- $341,335 spent. FOOD PROGRAMS:REIMBURSEMENT FOR NUTRITIOUS MEALS AND SNACKS SERVED TO OVER 770 CHILDREN ENROLLED IN HEAD START AND EARLY HEAD START.
- $43,672 spent. OTHER OUTREACH:CHILD START'S OTHER OUTREACH SERVICES INCLUDE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT MEMBERSHIP SERVICES.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending April 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 October 13, 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 November 6, 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 October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending April 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since May 1972.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 November 4, 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.