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Wake County Smartstart

EIN 56-1949415 · Raleigh, NC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood75 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

WAKE COUNTY SMART START INVESTS IN YOUNG CHILDREN, THEIR FAMILIES, AND A CONNECTED EARLY CHILDHOOD SYSTEM THAT SUPPORTS AND PREPARES THEM FOR SCHOOL AND LIFE AHEAD.

Income
$27.9 million
Spending
$27.2 million
Spent on programs
94%
Reserves
1 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 97%
Employees
49
Volunteers
150
Highest pay
$171,360, 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

Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 67% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.0 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 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 11% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    94% 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 25

    16 of 17 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. $15.3 million spent. NC PRE-KINDERGARTEN PROGRAMTHE NC PRE-KINDERGARTEN PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE HIGH-QUALITY EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES TO ENHANCE SCHOOL READINESS FOR ELIGIBLE FOUR-YEAR-OLDS. CHILDREN IN PRE-K ATTEND A FULL SCHOOL DAY IN A SCHOOL-YEAR PROGRAM. CHILDREN PARTICIPATING IN THE PROGRAM ARE SERVED IN LICENSED CLASSROOMS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS, PRIVATE CHILD CARE FACILITIES, OR HEAD START PROGRAMS. FOR THE 2024-2025 FISCAL YEAR, 1,705 CHILDREN PARTICIPATED IN THE PROGRAM. A STATE GRANT AND A LOCAL GOVERNMENT GRANT SUPPORTED THE PROGRAM.
  2. $4.2 million spent. FAMILY SUPPORT/HEALTH AND SAFETYWAKE COUNTY SMART START FUNDS FAMILY SUPPORT, AND HEALTH AND SAFETY ACTIVITIES THAT BENEFIT FAMILIES AND CHILDREN IN WAKE COUNTY. FAMILY SUPPORT PROVIDES PARENTING SKILLS TRAINING, ONGOING PARENT EDUCATION, FAMILY LITERACY INITIATIVES, TRANSPORTATION, COMMUNITY OUTREACH, AND FAMILY NAVIGATION. HEALTH AND SAFETY PROVIDES TRAINING, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, COUNSELING, NUTRITION, PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES, AND REFERRALS TO ADDRESS HEALTHCARE, MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS, AND PREVENTATIVE SERVICES. APPROXIMATELY 890 CHILDREN DIRECTLY BENEFITED FROM AT LEAST ONE WAKE COUNTY SMART START FAMILY SUPPORT OR HEALTH AND SAFETY ACTIVITY. PROGRAMS ARE SUPPORTED BY STATE AND PRIVATE GRANTS .
  3. $4.5 million spent. WAKE THREESCHOOLTHIS PROGRAM PROVIDES EARLY EDUCATION TO YOUNG CHILDREN IN A PLAY-BASED, DYNAMIC ENVIRONMENT, LIKE THE NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED NC PRE-K PROGRAM. RESEARCH SHOWS THAT WHEN THREE-YEAR-OLD CHILDREN RECEIVE SUPPORT FOR LEARNING EARLY, THEY LEARN BETTER, GAIN STRONGER SKILLS, AND ARE BETTER PREPARED FOR SUCCESS IN PRE-K AND KINDERGARTEN. THIS PROGRAM LEVERAGES THE RAPID BRAIN GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT THAT HAPPENS AT AGE THREE. THIS "FRAMEWORK" IS WHAT ALL FUTURE LEARNING IS BUILT UPON. CHILDREN PARTICIPATING IN THE PROGRAM ARE SERVED IN LICENSED PRIVATE CHILD CARE FACILITIES AND HEAD START PROGRAMS. FOR THE 2024-2025 FISCAL YEAR, 333 CHILDREN PARTICIPATED IN THE PROGRAM. THE PROGRAM IS SUPPORTED BY A LOCAL GOVERNMENT GRANT.
  4. $1.0 million spent. CHILD CARE EDUCATION AND QUALITYIN WAKE COUNTY, 33 PERCENT OF THE "BIRTH-TO-FIVE" POPULATION ATTENDED REGULATED CHILD CARE. BECAUSE A CHILD'S EXPERIENCES IN THE FIRST FIVE YEARS ARE OF SUCH A CRITICAL NATURE, WAKE COUNTY SMART START WORKS TO ENSURE THAT QUALITY CHILD CARE IS BOTH ACCESSIBLE AND AVAILABLE TO FAMILIES WHO NEED IT. WAKE COUNTY SMART START INVESTS IN COMMUNITY PARTNERS WHO PROVIDE SUBSIDY PAYMENTS IN REGULATED CHILDCARE, WORK WITH LICENSED CHILD CARE FACILITIES TO MAINTAIN OR IMPROVE QUALITY, AND PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR CHILD CARE PROFESSIONALS TO INCREASE THEIR SKILLS. ADDITIONAL AREAS OF SUPPORT INCLUDE TRAINING, CURRICULUM ENHANCEMENTS, AND MENTORING PROGRAMS. FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024 - 2025, APPROXIMATELY 31 CHILD CARE FACILITIES WERE SERVED. PROGRAMS ARE SUPPORTED BY A STATE GRANT AND PROGRAM SERVICE FEES.
  5. $474,552 spent. PROGRAM COORDINATION AND EVALUATIONWORK WITH COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS TO ACHIEVE GOALS ARTICULATED IN THE STRATEGIC PLAN; WORK WITH PARTNERS TO DEVELOP EVALUATION PLANS AND TRACK IMPLEMENTATION; ASSESS PROGRESS TOWARDS GOALS, PARTICIPATE IN STRATEGIC PLANNING; GATHER AND ANALYZE RELEVANT DATA; COMMUNITY NEEDS ASSESSMENTS; MANAGE REQUESTS FOR PROPOSALS PROCESS AND PARTICIPATE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF FUNDING RECOMMENDATIONS. THE PROGRAM IS SUPPORTED BY A STATE GRANT.

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 1996.

    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.

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