South Carolina First Steps to School Readiness Board of Trustees
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
SECTION 59-152-10 OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE E ESTABLISHED THE SOUTH CAROLINA FIRST STEPS TO SCHOOL READINESS PROGRAM, WHICH IS A COMPREHENSIVE, RESULTS-OREIENTED INITIATIVE FOR IMPROVING EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT BY PROVIDING, THROUGH LOCAL PARTNERSHIPS, PUBLIC AND PRIVATE FUNDS, AND SUPPORT FOR HIGH-QUALITY EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT AND EDUCATION SERVICES FOR CHILDREN BY PROVIDING SUPPORT FOR THEIR FAMILIES' EFFORTS TOWARD ENABLING THEIR CHILDREN TO REACH SCHOOL READY TO SUCCEED. OUR MISSION IS THAT EVERY SOUTH CAROLINA CHILD WILL ARRIVE AT KINDERGARTEN READY TO SUCCEED.
- Income
- $349,431
- Spending
- $325,073
- Spent on programs
- 95%
- Reserves
- 1.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 100%
- Employees
- 2
- Highest pay
- $54,884, 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
Fair: 65 out of 100.
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 1.7 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 34% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 7% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 38% 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
Fair: 61 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 2514 of 14 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
0 of 10Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
6 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 (4)
- $239,694 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.
- $31,230 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.
- $23,737 spent. SCHOOL TRANSITION DEVELOPED BY SOUTH CAROLINA FIRST STEPS - AND IDENTIFIED AS A PROMISING STATE PRACTICE BY THE NATIONAL GOVERNOR'S ASSOCIATION IN 2005 - COUNTDOWN TO KINDERGARTEN IS A HOME VISITATION PROGRAM PAIRING THE FAMILIES OF HIGH- RISK RISING KINDERGARTNERS WITH THEIR FUTURE TEACHERS DURING THE SUMER BEFORE SCHOOL ENTRY. TEACHERS COMPLETE SIX VISITS WITH EACH FAMILY, CENTERED UPON CLASSROOM AND CONTENT EXPECTATIONS.
- $14,916 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
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? 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.