Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

South Carolina First Steps to School Readiness Board of Trustees

EIN 57-1097778 · Greenwood, SC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair65 out of 100GovernanceFair66 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

OUR MISSION IS TO PROVIDE EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO ENSURE THAT BARNWELL COUNTY CHILDREN ARRIVE AT FIRST GRADE HEALTHY AND READY TO SUCCEED.

Income
$794,402
Spending
$722,204
Spent on programs
96%
Reserves
2.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
11
Highest pay
$44,617, executive di

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 65 out of 100. Higher than 32% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 43% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 9% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 33% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    96% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Fair: 66 out of 100. Higher than 46% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 9 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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, 2024, 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. $308,772 spent. CHILD CARE QUALITY-FIRST STEPS ASSISTS CHILD CARE PROVIDERS THROUGH TRAINING PROGRAMS CERTIFIED THROUGH SC ENDEAVORS AND INCLUDE TOPICS IN THE AREAS OF NUTRITION, HEALTH AND SAFETY, CURRICULUM, CHILD GUIDANCE, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION. ADDITIONALLY, THE CHILD CARE QUALITY ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM AIMS TO PRODUCE MEASURABLE IMPROVEMENTS IN THE QUALITY OF CARE PROVIDED TO YOUNG CHILDREN. ALSO, FIRST STEPS PROVIDES SCHOLARSHIPS TO HIGH QUALITY CHILD CARE PROGRAMS FOR ELIGIBLE FAMILIES SO THEIR FAMILIES CAN RETURN TO WORK OR SCHOOL.
  2. $163,874 spent. EARLY EDUCATION: EARLY HEAD START-A COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAM DESIGNED TO SUPPORT HIGH-QUALITY EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION, PARENTING AND FAMILY SUPPORT AND COMMUNITY-LEVEL SUPPORTS AND SERVICES FOR LOW-INCOME PREGNANT WOMEN WITH CHILDREN AGE 3 AND UNDER, YOUNG CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES. FAMILIES RECEIVE WEEKLY HOME VISITS BY EARLY HEAD START STAFF AND TWO GROUP MEETINGS ARE HELD MONTHLY FOR ENROLLED PARENTS AND FAMILIES.
  3. $150,285 spent. FAMILY STRENGTHENING-FIRST STEPS WORKS TO INCREASE PARENTS' ABILITY TO STIMULATE THEIR CHILD'S INTELLECTUAL, SOCIAL AND PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT THROUGH EVIDENCE-BASED HOME VISITATION AND PARENTING PROGRAMS SUCH AS PARENTS AS TEACHERS.
  4. $72,670 spent. INDIRECT PROGRAM EXPENSES

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2024, 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 October 13, 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 November 6, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Worth knowing.

    Not individually listed by the IRS as eligible, which is usual for local chapters covered by a parent organization's exemption. The master file records contributions to it as deductible.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2024.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since April 2000.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 November 4, 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.