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Region a Partnership for Children

EIN 56-1869575 · Sylva, NC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood80 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR YOUNG CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA BY ENCOURAGING ADVOCCY, COLLABORATION AND FUNDING SERVICES THAT FOCUS ON PREVENTION AND EARLY INTERVENTION.

Income
$5.0 million
Spending
$4.9 million
Spent on programs
92%
Reserves
4.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 88%
Employees
14
Volunteers
163
Highest pay
$134,753, executive di

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

Good: 80 out of 100. Higher than 66% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 4% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 1% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    92% 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 74% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 of 13 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 (5)
  1. $3.1 million spent. NORTH CAROLINA PRE-KINDERGARTEN PROGRAM (NC PRE-K) PROVIDES HIGH-QUALITY EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES TO ENHANCE SCHOOL READINESS FOR OVER 600 ELIGIBLE FOUR-YEAR-OLD CHILDREN IN 46 CLASSROOMS IN CHEROKEE, CLAY, GRAHAM, HAYWOOD, JACKSON, MACON, AND SWAIN COUNTIES AS WELL AS THE QUALLA BOUNDARY (REGION A). RISK FACTORS AND ELIGIBILITY ARE DETERMINED BY THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA. NC PRE-K PROVIDES LICENSED TEACHERS AND STANDARDIZED CURRICULUM IN THE CLASSROOM OVER A TEN-MONTH PROGRAM PREPARING CHILDREN FOR KINDERGARTEN. NC PRE-K QUALITY AND CAPACITY BUILDING FUNDS ARE USED TO PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TO PRE-K TEACHERS AND CLASSROOM MATERIALS FOR HIGH QUALITY INSTRUCTION. NC PRE-K FUNDS ARE ALSO USED TO CONTINUE TRAUMA INFORMED TRAINING FOR EDUCATORS IN THOSE CLASSROOMS.
  2. $887,848 spent. SMART START PROGRAMMING. A NORTH CAROLINA STATE-WIDE EARLY CHILDHOOD AND EDUCATION INITIATIVE PROVIDES THE FOLLOWING FAMILY-CENTERED PROGRAMMING. PARENTS AS TEACHERS (PAT) PARENT EDUCATORS WHO PROVIDE HOME VISITS, GROUP CONNECTIONS, AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT ASSESSMENTS TO 89 FAMILIES IN REGION A. SMART START DOLLARS WERE USED TO SUPPORT THE REGION'S DOLLY PARTON'S IMAGINATION LIBRARY PROGRAM WITH A DISTRIBUTION OF 45,240 BOOKS TO OVER 3,770 CHILDREN IN REGION A. THROUGH SMART START, REGION A STAFF ALSO BEGAN PROVIDING TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOR QRIS MODERNIZATION AND THE PATHWAYS TO THE STARS IN 22 CHILDCARE CENTERS. OPPORTUNITIES FOR HELPING SITES NAVIGATE THE PATHWAYS, LEARN MORE ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT RATING SCALES (ERS), PERFORMING MOCK ERS ASSESSMENTS, ASSISTING WITH CHALLENGING BEHAVIORS MANAGEMENT, CREATING AND PROVIDING TRAINING FOR TEACHERS AND CHILDCARE STAFF, AS WELL AS ASSISTING SITES WITH THE SELF-STUDY PROCESS ARE NEW SUPPORT SERVICES PROVIDED. SMART START FUNDS CONTINUE TO PROVIDE SUPPORT TO REGION A'S NORTH CAROLINA CHILDCARE SUBSIDY PROGRAM, FAMILY SUPPORT NETWORK, OVERALL PROJECT MANAGEMENT, AND PROGRAM EVALUATION. SMART START PROGRAMMING. A NORTH CAROLINA STATE-WIDE EARLY CHILDHOOD AND EDUCATION INITIATIVE PROVIDES THE FOLLOWING FAMILY-CENTERED PROGRAMMING. PARENTS AS TEACHERS (PAT) PARENT EDUCATORS WHO PROVIDE HOME VISITS, GROUP CONNECTIONS, AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT ASSESSMENTS TO 89 FAMILIES IN REGION A. SMART START DOLLARS WERE USED TO SUPPORT THE REGION'S DOLLY PARTON'S IMAGINATION LIBRARY PROGRAM WITH A DISTRIBUTION OF 45,240 BOOKS TO OVER 3,770 CHILDREN IN REGION A. THROUGH SMART START, REGION A STAFF ALSO BEGAN PROVIDING TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOR QRIS MODERNIZATION AND THE PATHWAYS TO THE STARS IN 22 CHILDCARE CENTERS. OPPORTUNITIES FOR HELPING SITES NAVIGATE THE PATHWAYS, LEARN MORE ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT RATING SCALES (ERS), PERFORMING MOCK ERS ASSESSMENTS, ASSISTING WITH CHALLENGING BEHAVIORS MANAGEMENT, CREATING AND PROVIDING TRAINING FOR TEACHERS AND CHILDCARE STAFF, AS WELL AS ASSISTING SITES WITH THE SELF-STUDY PROCESS ARE NEW SUPPORT SERVICES PROVIDED. SMART START FUNDS CONTINUE TO PROVIDE SUPPORT TO REGION A'S NORTH CAROLINA CHILDCARE SUBSIDY PROGRAM, FAMILY SUPPORT NETWORK, OVERALL PROJECT MANAGEMENT, AND PROGRAM EVALUATION.
  3. $69,149 spent. LITERACY SERVICES. REGIONAL LITERACY SERVICES THAT FALL OUT OF THE PARAMETERS OF SMART START. FUNDS WERE USED TO PROVIDE OVER 143 VISITS TO PEDIATRIC MEDICAL PRACTICES IN WHICH LITERACY RESOURCE MATERIALS WERE DISTRIBUTED BASED UPON NEEDS IDENTIFIED BY THE PRACTICE.
  4. $385,628 spent. FAMILY SUPPORT SERVICES. ADDITIONAL PROGRAM SUPPORT FOR PARENTS AS TEACHERS GROUP CONNECTIONS AND SUPPORT TO OVER 350 FAMILIES THROUGH THE FAMILY SUPPORT NETWORK OF REGION A. TOTAL EXPENSES: 32,347 (INCL GRANTS OF 998) HURRICANE HELENE RECOVERY. RECOVERY GRANTS PROVIDED TO 38 CENTERS FOR REPAIR OF FACILITIES, REPLACEMENT OF DAMAGED MATERIALS, REPLACEMENT OF LOST REVENUE, AND SUSTAINING OPERATIONS DURING STORM RECOVERY. TOTAL EXPENSES: 353,281 (INCL GRANTS OF 324,332)
  5. FAMILY SUPPORT SERVICES. ADDITIONAL PROGRAM SUPPORT FOR PARENTS AS TEACHERS GROUP CONNECTIONS AND SUPPORT TO OVER 350 FAMILIES THROUGH THE FAMILY SUPPORT NETWORK OF REGION A. TOTAL EXPENSES: 32,347 (INCL GRANTS OF 998) HURRICANE HELENE RECOVERY. RECOVERY GRANTS PROVIDED TO 38 CENTERS FOR REPAIR OF FACILITIES, REPLACEMENT OF DAMAGED MATERIALS, REPLACEMENT OF LOST REVENUE, AND SUSTAINING OPERATIONS DURING STORM RECOVERY. TOTAL EXPENSES: 353,281 (INCL GRANTS OF 324,332)

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 September 1994.

    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.