Passes our checks

South Carolina First Steps to School Readiness Board of Trustees

EIN 57-1097786 · Greenwood, SC

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

What it says it does

OUR VISION IS THAT EVERY SOUTH CAROLINA CHILD WILL BE PREPARED FOR SUCCESS IN SCHOOL.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Fair: 60 out of 100. Higher than 26% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

Reserves
10 of 35
Spendable reserves would cover 2.1 months of spending.
Debt
5 of 20
It owes 62% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15
Income exceeded spending by 5% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15
Income rose 38% 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, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Fair: 64 out of 100. Higher than 42% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

Independent board
25 of 25
12 of 12 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.
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, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (4)

$92,934 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.
$111,333 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.
$21,054 spent. COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS AND COMMUNITY EDUCATION - IN ADDITION TO PROVIDING SERVICES TO FAMILIES AND SUPPORT FOR CHILD CARE PROVIDERS, CHESTER COUNTY FIRST STEPS MOBILIZES PARTNERS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO ENSURE ALL CHILDREN IN CHESTER COUNTY BEGIN SCHOOL READY TO SUCCEED.
$16,636 spent. CORE FUNCTIONS

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

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? 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.
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 April 2000.
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.

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.