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Higher Horizons Day Care Center Inc

EIN 54-0736355 · Falls Church, VA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak40 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

HIGHER HORIZONS PROVIDES QUALITY EARLY CHILD DEVELOPMENT AND FAMILY SERVICES FOR LOW-INCOME FAMILIES TO HELP CHILDREN AND FAMILIES GROW IN MEANINGFUL WAYS. WE SUPPORT AND EMPOWER CHILDREN, PARENTS, AND STAFF AS THEY GROW TO THEIR FULLEST POTENTIAL THROUGH EDUCATION INFORMATION, RESOURCES, AND ADVOCACY.WE OFFER CONSISTENT SERVICES THAT SUPPORT THE CORE ELEMENTS OF HEAD START, BELIEVING THAT EVERYONE HAS GIFTS AND TALENTS TO OFFER WITHIN OUR LEARNING COMMUNITY. IT IS OUR GOAL TO ASSIST CHILDREN TO DEVELOP SOCIALLY, COGNITIVELY, PHYSICALLY, AND EMOTIONALLY WHILE FOSTERING A POSITIVE SELF-IMAGE AND A LOVE FOR LEARNING. WE ARE DEDICATED TO ENSURING A SIGNIFICANT HEAD START EXPERIENCE THROUGH SUPPORT AND PARTNERSHIP WITH COMMUNITY AND STAFF, EMPHASIZING POSITIVE CHILD OUTCOMES THROUGH FAMILY PARTICIPATION.

Income
$5.8 million
Spending
$5.9 million
Spent on programs
88%
Reserves
-0.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 100%
Employees
87
Volunteers
50
Highest pay
$139,939, 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

Weak: 40 out of 100. Higher than 9% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    2 of 20

    It owes 86% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 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 June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 48% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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 (4)
  1. $2.1 million spent. EARLY HEAD START - EARLY HEAD START PROVIDES NO-COST QUALITY CHILDCARE SERVICES, EXTENDED SOCIAL SERVICES, PREVENTATIVE HEALTH AND PRENATAL EDUCATION SERVICES TO 128 INFANTS TODDLERS AND EXPECTANT MOTHERS ENROLLED IN OUR PROGRAM. EACH DEDICATED STAFFER RECEIVES OVER 20 HOURS ANNUALLY OF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TRAINING TO STAY PREPARED TO PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL AND SPECIALIZED SERVICES. THIS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TRANSLATES TO ONGOING SUPPORT OF YOUNGEST LEARNERS' OVERALL DEVELOPMENT. HIGHER HORIZONS EARLY HEAD START HAS CREATED AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE INFANTS AND TODDLERS CAN FLOURISH AND DEVELOP IMPORTANT SKILLS SUCH AS SELF-AWARENESS, INDEPENDENCE, AND SELF-EXPRESSION. FAMILIES ARE BETTER PREPARED AND INFORMED ABOUT THEIR CHILDREN'S DEVELOPMENTAL MILESTONES AND OPPORTUNITIES TO BE ENGAGED IN THE PROGRAM. DATA FROM CHILD ASSESSMENTS HAVE SHOWN GROWTH ON A CONTINUUM DUE TO THE INDIVIDUALIZED SUPPORT PROVIDED IN THE EARLY HEAD START PROGRAM. IN ADDITION TO THE CLASSROOM, EARLY HEAD START EXTENDS SERVICES TO CHILDREN AND PARENTS IN THE HOME. STAFF MAKE HOME VISITS, ESPECIALLY TO THE HOMES OF PARENTS WITH NEWBORNS AND OLDER INFANTS, TO HELP STRENGTHEN PARENTING SKILLS AND TO HEAR AND RESPOND TO PARENTAL CONCERNS. DESCRIPTION OF PROGRAM SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS - THE ABILITY TO PROVIDE QUARTERLY DIAPER DISTRIBUTIONS FOR OUR FAMILIES, RETENTION STIPENDS IN EFFORTS TO RETAIN OUR QUALITY STAFFING WERE DISTRIBUTED. EDUCATION CONSULTANTS WERE HIRED TO PROVIDE HANDS-ON SUPPORT FOR ALL TEACHING STAFF IN SUPPORT OF FIDELITY TO THE CREATIVE CURRICULUM, CLASS OBSERVATION SUPPORT IN LANGUAGE MODELING AND WELLNESS SESSIONS WERE PROVIDED TO THE STAFF DURING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT DAYS. STAFF WERE ABLE TO TAKE A YEARLONG CONSCIOUS DISCIPLINE COURSE CATERED AROUND SELF -REGULATION.
  2. $1.6 million spent. LOCAL HEAD START - LOCAL HEAD START PROGRAMMING ALLOWS 84 CHILDREN TO HAVE A VARIETY OF LEARNING EXPERIENCES IN PREPARATION FOR SCHOOL READINESS. CHILDREN ARE OFFERED ONGOING OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPRESS THEMSELVES THROUGH ART, MUSIC, MOVEMENT, AND STORYTELLING. THEY PARTICIPATE IN INDOOR AND OUTDOOR PLAY, AND LEARN ABOUT BOOKS, WORDS, NUMBERS, AND THE WORLD AROUND THEM. THEY ARE ENCOURAGED TO COMMUNICATE THEIR IDEAS AND FEELINGS, AND TO DEVELOP SELF-CONFIDENCE AND SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL SKILLS. FAMILIES OF ENROLLED CHILDREN ARE SUPPORTED IN UNDERSTANDING THEIR CHILD'S DEVELOPMENT AND ARE ENCOURAGED TO BE ENGAGED IN THE PROGRAM. EACH DEDICATED STAFFER RECEIVES OVER 20 HOURS ANNUALLY OF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TRAINING TO STAY PREPARED TO PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL AND SPECIALIZED SERVICES.
  3. $1.2 million spent. HEAD START - HEAD START PROGRAMMING ALLOWS 88 CHILDREN TO HAVE A VARIETY OF LEARNING EXPERIENCES IN PREPARATION FOR SCHOOL READINESS. CHILDREN ARE OFFERED OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPRESS THEMSELVES THROUGH ART, MUSIC, MOVEMENT, AND STORYTELLING. THEY PARTICIPATE IN INDOOR AND OUTDOOR PLAY, AND LEARN ABOUT BOOKS, WORDS, NUMBERS, AND THE WORLD AROUND THEM. THEY ARE ENCOURAGED TO COMMUNICATE THEIR IDEAS AND FEELINGS, AND TO DEVELOP SELF-CONFIDENCE AND SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL SKILLS. THE HEAD START PROGRAM ALSO WORKS WITH THE CHILDREN AND PARENTS TO HELP THEM MAKE A SUCCESSFUL TRANSITION TO KINDERGARTEN. EACH DEDICATED STAFFER RECEIVES OVER 20 HOURS ANNUALLY OF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TRAINING TO STAY PREPARED TO PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL AND SPECIALIZED SERVICES.
  4. $294,323 spent. USDA PROGRAM

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 March 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.