Head Start of Washington County Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
DEDICATED TO MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH COMPREHENSIVE CHILD AND FAMILY DEVELOPMENT SERVICES. OUR MISSION IS TO PROVIDE ALL CHILDREN WITH NURTURING EXPERIENCES, A STRONG FOUNDATION FOR DEVELOPMENTAL GROWTH, AND OPPORTUNITIES TO ACHIEVE SCHOOL READINESS. WE STRIVE TO UNDERSTAND AND EMPOWER FAMILIES TO TAKE AN ACTIVE ROLE IN THEIR CHILD'S DEVELOPMENT AND TO REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL.
- Income
- $8.2 million
- Spending
- $8.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 92%
- Reserves
- -1.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 93%
- Employees
- 152
- Volunteers
- 447
- Highest pay
- $126,735, executive di
Source: Form 990 for the year ending January 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 52 out of 100. Higher than 32% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 42% of what it owns.
Living within its means
12 of 15Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 2% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1592% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending January 31, 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 2510 of 10 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 January 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 (5)
- $6.8 million spent. HEAD START AND EARLY HEAD START PROGRAMS SERVE CHILDREN FROM BIRTH TO AGE 5. THESE PROGRAMS SPECIALIZE IN A COMPREHENSIVE FAMILY APPROACH TO EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION WITH AN EMPHASIS ON SCHOOL READINESS. OUR PROGRAM SERVES AROUND 375 CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES EACH YEAR. HEAD START IS A MULTI-GENERATIONAL PROGRAM, SERVING LOW INCOME OR OTHERWISE AT-RISK CHILDREN, PREGNANT WOMEN, AND FAMILIES FROM A VARIETY OF BACKGROUNDS. HEAD START AGENCIES ARE MANDATED TO REDUCE THE IMPACT OF RISK FACTORS BY PROVIDING HEALTHY CHILD DEVELOPMENT SERVICES TO INCLUDE EDUCATION, FAMILY SUPPORTS, HEALTH, NUTRITION AND REFERRALS TO COMMUNITY SERVICES. STRENGTHENING FAMILIES AS THE PRIMARY NURTURERS OF THEIR CHILDREN IS A HALLMARK OBJECTIVE OF THE HEAD START PROGRAM. PERFORMANCE STANDARDS REQUIRE A HIGH QUALITY OF CARE AND OVERALL CULTURE OF CONTINUOUS QUALITY IMPROVEMENT. CLASSROOM TEACHERS VISIT FAMILIES IN THEIR HOMES TWICE PER SCHOOL YEAR. EVERY FAMILY IS ALSO ASSIGNED A FAMILY ADVOCATE TO HELP THEM IDENTIFY AND REACH GOALS RELATED TO PROVIDING A SAFE AND NURTURING HOME ENVIRONMENT. FAMILIES ARE LINKED TO ANY COMMUNITY RESOURCES THAT MAY BE NECESSARY TO MAKE THIS POSSIBLE. RESEARCH HAS SHOWN THAT CHILDREN MAKE SIGNIFICANT INCREASES IN THEIR SCHOOL READINESS SCORES WITH INCREASED TIME IN A STRUCTURED CLASSROOM SETTING. TO CONTINUE TO RECEIVE OUR FUNDING, THE AGENCY IS REQUIRED TO RAISE A 25% MATCH TO ALL FEDERAL DOLLARS RECEIVED. AT OUR CURRENT FUNDING LEVEL, THE 25% EQUATES TO 1,702,950 THROUGH INDIVIDUAL, COMPANY AND/OR FOUNDATION DONATIONS. FOR THIS REPORTING YEAR A 16% WAIVER WAS GRANTED BY THE AWARDING AGENCY. WE HAVE CONTINUED TO LOOK AT NEW AND CREATIVE WAYS TO INCREASE OUR IN-KIND CONTRIBUTIONS AND HAVE SEEN SUCCESS WITH THESE EFFORTS. CONTRIBUTIONS OF ANY SIZE ARE ALWAYS WELCOME AND ALLOW US TO REACH OUR REQUIRED MATCH AND ENABLE US TO REQUEST ADDITIONAL FUNDS IN THE FUTURE WE HUMBLY ASK FOR YOUR HELP TO CONTINUE SERVING THE NEEDIEST CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN OUR COMMUNITY. HEAD START AND EARLY HEAD START PROGRAMS SERVE CHILDREN FROM BIRTH TO AGE 5. THESE PROGRAMS SPECIALIZE IN A COMPREHENSIVE FAMILY APPROACH TO EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION WITH AN EMPHASIS ON SCHOOL READINESS. OUR PROGRAM SERVES AROUND 375 CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES EACH YEAR. HEAD START IS A MULTI-GENERATIONAL PROGRAM, SERVING LOW INCOME OR OTHERWISE AT-RISK CHILDREN, PREGNANT WOMEN, AND FAMILIES FROM A VARIETY OF BACKGROUNDS. HEAD START AGENCIES ARE MANDATED TO REDUCE THE IMPACT OF RISK FACTORS BY PROVIDING HEALTHY CHILD DEVELOPMENT SERVICES TO INCLUDE EDUCATION, FAMILY SUPPORTS, HEALTH, NUTRITION AND REFERRALS TO COMMUNITY SERVICES. STRENGTHENING FAMILIES AS THE PRIMARY NURTURERS OF THEIR CHILDREN IS A HALLMARK OBJECTIVE OF THE HEAD START PROGRAM. PERFORMANCE STANDARDS REQUIRE A HIGH QUALITY OF CARE AND OVERALL CULTURE OF CONTINUOUS QUALITY IMPROVEMENT. CLASSROOM TEACHERS VISIT FAMILIES IN THEIR HOMES TWICE PER SCHOOL YEAR. EVERY FAMILY IS ALSO ASSIGNED A FAMILY ADVOCATE TO HELP THEM IDENTIFY AND REACH GOALS RELATED TO PROVIDING A SAFE AND NURTURING HOME ENVIRONMENT. FAMILIES ARE LINKED TO ANY COMMUNITY RESOURCES THAT MAY BE NECESSARY TO MAKE THIS POSSIBLE. RESEARCH HAS SHOWN THAT CHILDREN MAKE SIGNIFICANT INCREASES IN THEIR SCHOOL READINESS SCORES WITH INCREASED TIME IN A STRUCTURED CLASSROOM SETTING. TO CONTINUE TO RECEIVE OUR FUNDING, THE AGENCY IS REQUIRED TO RAISE A 25% MATCH TO ALL FEDERAL DOLLARS RECEIVED. AT OUR CURRENT FUNDING LEVEL, THE 25% EQUATES TO 1,702,950 THROUGH INDIVIDUAL, COMPANY AND/OR FOUNDATION DONATIONS. FOR THIS REPORTING YEAR A 16% WAIVER WAS GRANTED BY THE AWARDING AGENCY. WE HAVE CONTINUED TO LOOK AT NEW AND CREATIVE WAYS TO INCREASE OUR IN-KIND CONTRIBUTIONS AND HAVE SEEN SUCCESS WITH THESE EFFORTS. CONTRIBUTIONS OF ANY SIZE ARE ALWAYS WELCOME AND ALLOW US TO REACH OUR REQUIRED MATCH AND ENABLE US TO REQUEST ADDITIONAL FUNDS IN THE FUTURE WE HUMBLY ASK FOR YOUR HELP TO CONTINUE SERVING THE NEEDIEST CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN OUR COMMUNITY.
- $384,080 spent. USDA CHILD CARE FOOD PROGRAM - PROVIDING BREAKFAST, LUNCH, AND SNACKS FOR CHILDREN AGES BIRTH TO AGE 5. DURING THIS PROGRAM YEAR 137,522 MEALS WERE SERVED TO ENROLLED CHILDREN.
- $157,106 spent. MARYLAND HEAD START AND EARLY HEAD START SUPPLEMENTAL GRANT TO ENHANCE THE SCHOOL READINESS OF HS AND EHS CHILDREN BY PROVIDING EXPANDED AND IMPROVED SERVICES TO ELIGIBLE CHILDREN BIRTH TO AGE 5 THROUGH THE EXPANSION OF HOURS AND DAYS OF SERVICES FOR CHILDREN TO ADDRESS THE FULL DAY, YEAR-ROUND NEEDS OF PARENTS WHO ARE WORKING, ATTENDING AN EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM OR ATTENDING JOB TRAINING.
- $161,500 spent. CITY OF HAGERSTOWN FUNDING THROUGH THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT IN RESPONSE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO SUPPORT THE MARTIN LUTHER KING HEAD START SUMMER PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN TRANSITIONING TO KINDERGARTEN IN THE FALL.
- CITY OF HAGERSTOWN FUNDING THROUGH THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT IN RESPONSE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO SUPPORT THE MARTIN LUTHER KING HEAD START SUMMER PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN TRANSITIONING TO KINDERGARTEN IN THE FALL.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending January 31, 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 October 13, 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 January 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 1980.
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 October 21, 2026.
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