Smart Start of Brunswick County Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Administrator of County Smart Start Funds and NC Pre-Kindergarten in Brunswick County. Mission is to ensure that all young children are healthy and ready for school. The vision of Smart Start of Brunswick County is that the entire community works together to create unlimited opportunities so all children become successful and contributing individuals.
- Income
- $2.5 million
- Spending
- $2.5 million
- Spent on programs
- 95%
- Reserves
- 0.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 99%
- Employees
- 10
- Volunteers
- 20
- Highest pay
- $97,457, 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
Fair: 56 out of 100. Higher than 37% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
4 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 0.4 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
12 of 15Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 12% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1595% 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
Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 47% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2510 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
0 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 (12)
- $1.8 million spent. NCPREK provides PREK services for 236 four year olds who are at risk for school failure due to family economic and/or development challenges. 2348,3323
- $163,553 spent. Early Childhood Connections Early Childhood Connections is an activity aligned with the North Carolina CCR&R System. Services in this activity include technical assistance and grants to child care sites, training for early educators, information and/or education to families about quality child care and child development, and a Lending Library. 3125
- $62,896 spent. The Positive Parenting Program (Triple P) is an evidence-based parenting program which includes various levels of intensity that are aimed at either prevention or intervention. The session can be offered individually or in a group setting - depending on the level and the need (5505-018).
- $43,406 spent. Program Planning, Coordination, and Evaluation: This service includes the following: Planning (conducting needs assessment, strategic planning, researching); Coordination (support to service providers and grantees regarding program management); and Evaluation (developing and measuring goals, monitoring programs for compliance, collecting and analyzing data). 5603
- $4,365 spent. Dolly Parton's Imagination Library is a book-gifting program for all children, birth to age five. The mission is to foster a love of reading and learning while promoting book-sharing, bonding between caregivers and their child, and increased communication skills. 5526
- $63,933 spent. Community Outreach: The Community Outreach and Education project (COE) works to build awareness of early childhood development and will strive to strengthen the early childhood system through relationships that increase cooperation, increasing resources, and supporting access to services that support a happy and healthy community. The COE team will also create and disseminate publications, and participate in community collaborations, events, workshops, etc. (hosted by SSBC and/or community partners). 5517
- $4,001 spent. Little Free Library book-sharing boxes are open seven days a week, 24 hours a day, and are freely accessible to all - removing barriers to book access. Smart Start of Brunswick County, with support of donations, volunteers and special partnerships, currently maintain 13 of the boxes throughout the county - filling them regularly with children's books. 5512
- Child Passenger Safety: This activity will increase access to child passenger safety education to prevent childhood injuries and death through in-person classes, training workshops, community events, and/or one-on-one interactions with families/caregivers. 5506
- $56,247 spent. Parents as Teachers change The Parents as Teachers program will provide the following services to eligible families with children 0-3: (1) personal visits; (2) group connections (3) developmental screenings and a health review that includes a record of hearing, vision, and general health status; and (4) referrals to community resources. 5509
- 3102 Family Day Care Home Improvements
- 3104 Child Care Resource and Referral
- $161,711 spent. Kaleidoscope Play and Learn: Kaleidoscope Play and Learn provides weekly groups for caregivers and children birth to five. Facilitators will offer structured activities, model developmentally appropriate interactions with children and caregivers, and facilitate social exchanges among the caregivers who attend (5505-019).
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 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 June 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 September 1994.
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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