Partnership for Children of Cumberland County Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE PARTNERSHIP'S MISSION IS TO BE THE DRIVING FORCE TO ENGAGE PARTNERS TO ACHIEVE LASTING POSITIVE OUTCOMES FOR ALL CHILDREN, BEGINNING AT BIRTH.
- Income
- $13.9 million
- Spending
- $14.3 million
- Spent on programs
- 94%
- Reserves
- 0.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 99%
- Employees
- 65
- Volunteers
- 71
- Highest pay
- $146,463, president
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
Fair: 52 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
4 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 0.8 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 11% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 3% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 15% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1594% 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 50% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2512 of 19 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 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)
- $9.2 million spent. EARLY CARE & EDUCATION CAPACITY INCREASED -THE NORTH CAROLINA PRE-K (PRE-KINDERGARTEN) PROGRAM OFFERS CHILDREN A HIGH-QUALITY PRESCHOOL EXPERIENCE AT NO CHARGE TO PARENTS, WITH SMOOTHER PRE-K TO KINDERGARTEN TRANSITIONS. THE PROGRAM IS A STATE-FUNDED, COMMUNITY-BASED PRE-KINDERGARTEN PROGRAM DESIGNED TO PROVIDE 4-YEAR-OLD CHILDREN, WHO MAY NOT OTHERWISE BE SERVED, WITH A VALUABLE EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE. THE NORTH CAROLINA PRE-K PROGRAM PROVIDED ACCESS TO HIGH-QUALITY PRESCHOOL PROGRAMS FOR 1,248 CHILDREN, INCLUDING 52 SITES WITH 88 CLASSROOMS SUPPORTED BY APPROXIMATELY 191 TEACHERS.
- $372,860 spent. CHILD CARE & EDUCATION AFFORDABILITY -SUBSIDIES OFFSET THE COST OF EARLY LEARNING PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN FROM LOW-INCOME WORKING FAMILIES, INCREASING THE LIKELIHOOD THAT PARENTS WILL BE PRODUCTIVE WORKFORCE MEMBERS.IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CUMBERLAND COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES, $2,531,000 IN SMART START FUNDS WERE PROVIDED TO LOW-INCOME FAMILIES TO ALLOW THEM ACCESS TO HIGH-QUALITY CHILD CARE BY OFFSETTING THE COST OF 3-5 STAR-RATED CHILD CARE FACILITIES THROUGH CHILD CARE SUBSIDIES FOR AN ESTIMATED 448 CHILDREN. AN ADDITIONAL $176,000 IN ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT FUNDS WAS PROVIDED, FOR A TOTAL OF $2,707,000. THE SMART START INVESTMENT IN SUBSIDY REPRESENTS AN ESTIMATED 10% OF THE TOTAL $24.75 MILLION SPENT ON SUBSIDY SUPPORT BY THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES IN CUMBERLAND COUNTY.THE PARENTS FOR HIGHER EDUCATION PROGRAM ALSO INCREASED THE ABILITY OF 40 PARENTS AT FAYETTEVILLE TECHNICAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE TO OFFSET CHILD CARE COSTS BY PROVIDING SUBSIDIES FOR 53 CHILDREN TO HELP THEM MEET EDUCATIONAL GOALS. DURING FISCAL YEAR 2024-2025, THE PROGRAM EXPANDED FOR THE FIRST TIME TO SUPPORT PARENTS IN APPROVED SHORT-TERM CONTINUING EDUCATION PROGRAMS.
- $1.6 million spent. CHILD CARE & EDUCATION QUALITY - ACROSS CUMBERLAND COUNTY, 203 CHILD CARE SITES RECEIVED AT LEAST ONE SERVICE OR TRAINING TOTALING 289 SERVICES THROUGH ECE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND COACHING. SERVICES INCLUDED ASSESSMENTS IN VARIOUS QUALITY SCALES TO IMPROVE STAR RATINGS, TRAINING IN DCDEE-APPROVED CURRICULUM, AND ADDITIONAL SUPPORT SERVICES. THE PARTNERSHIP PROVIDED 19 CHILD CARE FACILITIES WITH ONE-TIME INCENTIVES TO SUPPORT STARS AVERAGING $5,333 PER SITE. ADDITIONALLY, 995 DIRECT TEACHING STAFF ATTENDED NON-CREDIT BASED EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION TRAINING OR WORKSHOPS FROM 166 LICENSED CHILD CARE FACILITIES ACROSS THE REGION.THE CHILD CARE HEALTH CONSULTANT PROGRAM TRAINED 43 CHILD CARE STAFF IN 16 CHILD CARE CENTERS AND 25 CLASSROOMS IN CUMBERLAND COUNTY ON THE NORTH CAROLINA HEALTH AND SAFETY ASSESSMENT AND ENCOUNTER TOOL (HEALTH-RELATED TOPICS) IN COLLABORATION WITH THE CUMBERLAND COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT. SEVEN CHILD CARE FACILITIES RECEIVED TRAINING IN GO NAP SACC, WHILE 218 CHILD CARE STAFF FROM 74 FACILITIES ACROSS THE STATE PARTICIPATED IN DCDEE-APPROVED TRAINING.THE PARTNERSHIP ALSO ADVANCED THE HIGHER EDUCATION PROGRESS OF 235 CHILD CARE PROFESSIONALS REPRESENTING 108 CHILD CARE FACILITIES OR FAMILY PROVIDERS BY ISSUING EDUCATION-BASED SALARY SUPPLEMENTS THROUGH THE WAGE$ PROGRAM. BECAUSE THESE SUPPLEMENTS REWARD TEACHER EDUCATION AND CONTINUITY OF CARE, 4,376 CHILDREN AGES BIRTH TO FIVE BENEFITED FROM MORE STABLE RELATIONSHIPS WITH BETTER-EDUCATED TEACHERS. 88% OF WAGE$ PARTICIPANTS REMAINED AT THEIR CHILD CARE FACILITIES COMPARED TO THE STATE GOAL OF 75%, AND 100% OF EVALUATION RESPONDENTS INDICATED THAT RECEIVING A WAGE$ SUPPLEMENT HELPS EASE FINANCIAL STRESS.THE PARTNERSHIP REOPENED THE LENDING LIBRARY IN FEBRUARY 2025 AFTER CLOSING DURING THE PANDEMIC IN 2020. A TOTAL OF 385 DUPLICATED VISITS OCCURRED OVER A FIVE-MONTH PERIOD, INVOLVING 45 PARENTS/CAREGIVERS, 24 ECE CHILD CARE STAFF, AND 22 OTHER ADULTS, INCLUDING TA COACHES FOR FAMILIES AND EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATORS WHO BORROWED BOOKS, TOYS, AND LEARNING MATERIALS. ECE COACHES TRAINED STAFF AT 12 CHILD CARE SITES USING MATERIALS PROVIDED BY THE LENDING LIBRARY.
- $2.3 million spent. HEALTH & SAFETY - THE FAMILY CONNECTS PROGRAM, IN CONJUNCTION WITH CAROLINA COMMUNITY COLLABORATIVE CARE, SERVED CUMBERLAND COUNTY ELIGIBLE BIRTHS THAT OCCURRED AT CAPE FEAR REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER. FROM JULY 1, 2024 TO JUNE 30, 2025, 1,630 FAMILIES COMPLETED THE PROGRAM, WHICH INCLUDED UP TO 12 WEEKS OF SUPPORT, AND RECEIVED NEWBORN HOME VISITS. ADDITIONALLY, 633 PARTICIPANTS RECEIVED BABY BUNDLES AS INCENTIVES FOR COMPLETING THE PROGRAM. NURSES AND SUPPORTING STAFF MADE REFERRALS FOR SERVICES TO 453 PARENTS, AND 351 USED AT LEAST ONE OF THE SERVICE REFERRALS, RESULTING IN A PARENT USE OF SERVICE RATE OF 77%.FAMILY SUPPORT - THE KALEIDOSCOPE PLAY AND LEARN PROGRAM SERVED 129 CHILDREN AND 93 CAREGIVERS THROUGH FACILITATED PLAYGROUPS IN VARIOUS COMMUNITY SETTINGS. IN COLLABORATION WITH THE UNITED WAY, 11,647 CHILDREN BIRTH THROUGH AGE 5 IN CUMBERLAND COUNTY RECEIVED MONTHLY AGE-APPROPRIATE BOOKS THROUGH THE DOLLY PARTON'S IMAGINATION LIBRARY PROGRAM. CHILDREN AVERAGED 44 MONTHS IN THE PROGRAM FROM INITIAL ENROLLMENT, AND BILINGUAL SPANISH/ENGLISH BOOKS WERE PROVIDED MONTHLY FOR THE FIRST TIME THIS YEAR.THE PARTNERSHIP PROVIDED SERVICES TO 826 PARENTS/GUARDIANS TO INCREASE THEIR KNOWLEDGE IN IDENTIFYING QUALITY CHILD CARE BY PROVIDING BEST PRACTICE CHILD CARE CONSULTATION GROUNDED IN A PARENTAL CHOICE MODEL; 301 PARENTS/GUARDIANS RECEIVED CHILD CARE REFERRALS. COMMUNITY COLLABORATION - COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT OUTREACH HAD 73 OUTREACH EVENTS, 57 COMMUNITY PRESENTATIONS, AND PARTICIPATED IN 76 EXTERNAL MEETINGS ADDRESSING EARLY CHILDHOOD INDICATORS DURING FISCAL YEAR 2024-2025. THE LARGEST COMMUNITY EVENT, LITTLE LAND: BIG PLAY FOR FAMILIES, INCLUDED OVER 1,500 CHILDREN AND FAMILIES. THROUGH THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT (CED) PROGRAM, THE PARTNERSHIP LEVERAGED 71 COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS CONTRIBUTING 659 HOURS, VALUED AT $20,149.PROGRAM SUPPORT, COORDINATION, AND EVALUATION - PROGRAM MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES INCLUDED CONDUCTING ON-SITE FISCAL AND PROGRAMMATIC MONITORING OF ALL FUNDED PROJECTS, AS WELL AS THE ONGOING COORDINATION OF PROJECTS AND ACTIVITIES, TO DETERMINE IF SHORT-TERM AND LONG-TERM GOALS WERE BEING ACHIEVED. THE PARTNERSHIP FOR CHILDREN SUPPORTED 9 IN-HOUSE AND EXTERNAL DIRECT SERVICE PROVIDERS THROUGH ON-SITE MONITORING VISITS, PLANNING SESSIONS, IN-SERVICE CONSULTATIONS, AND AN INTENSIVE SUPPORT SYSTEM FOR SEVERAL PROGRAMS. IN ADDITION, THE PARTNERSHIP SUPPORTED MULTIPLE COUNTIES WITH ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING SHARED SERVICES: MULTI-PARTNERSHIP ACCOUNTING AND CONTRACTING (MAC) SERVICES, REGION 5 CHILD CARE RESOURCE AND REFERRAL, EVALUATION AND MONITORING, AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SERVICES. THE PARTNERSHIP'S INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SERVICES PROVIDED RELIABLE AND AFFORDABLE TECHNOLOGY SERVICES FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD ORGANIZATIONS TO ENHANCE OR IMPROVE THE SERVICES PROVIDED TO FAMILIES AND CHILDREN IN THE COMMUNITY.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since January 1994.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 2026.
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