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South Carolina First Steps to School Readiness Board of Trustees

EIN 57-1097815 · Greenwood, SC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair59 out of 100GovernanceGood70 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SECTION 59-152-10 OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE ESTABLISHED THE SOUTH CAROLINA FIRST STEPS TO SCHOOL READINESS PROGRAM, WHICH IS A COMPREHENSIVE, RESULTS- ORIENTED 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
$414,555
Spending
$394,727
Spent on programs
93%
Reserves
0.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
6
Highest pay
$77,800, 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: 59 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 42% 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 21% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    93% 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: 70 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    14 of 14 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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 (4)
  1. $258,529 spent. PARENTING SUPPORT: PARENTS AS TEACHERS-A PARENT EDUCATOR VISITS YOUR HOME AND PROVIDES GUIDANCE AND RESOURCES TO ENABLE YOU TO SUPPORT YOUR CHILD'S DEVELOPMENT AND SCHOOL READINESS. PAT AIMS TO INCREASE YOUR KNOWLEDGE OF EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT AND IMPROVE PARENTING PRACTICES, PROVIDE EARLY DETECTION OF DEVELOPMENTAL DELAYS AND HEALTH ISSUES, PREVENT CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT, AND INCREASE CHILDREN'S SCHOOL READINESS AND SCHOOL SUCCESS. FATHERHOOD INITIATIVE-THE REAL FATHERS ARE DADS FATHERHOOD INITIATIVE WORKS TO INCLUDE THE ENTIRE FAMILY. THE FATHER HAS BEEN THE MISSING COMPONENT FOR MANY YEARS WITH OUR PROGRAMS, AND WE HAVE FOUND THE MISSING COMPONENT. BY USING THE HOLISTIC APPROACH AND WORKING WITH THE ENTIRE FAMILY, WE ARE STARTING TO SEE CHANGE HAPPEN. OTHER AGENCIES AND PARTNERS IN OUR COMMUNITY ARE STARTING TO SEE CHANGE AND WANT TO BE A PART OF THIS INITIATIVE. STRENGTHENING FAMILIES PROGRAM-AN INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED PARENTING AND FAMILY STRENGTHENING PROGRAM THAT FOCUS ON PARENTING SKILLS, CHILDREN'S SOCIAL SKILLS AND FAMILY LIFE SKILLS TRAINING. THIS 14-SESSION PROGRAM IS SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED FOR HIGH-RISK AND GENERAL POPULATION FAMILIES. PARENTING SUPPORT: PARENTS AS TEACHERS-A PARENT EDUCATOR VISITS YOUR HOME AND PROVIDES GUIDANCE AND RESOURCES TO ENABLE YOU TO SUPPORT YOUR CHILD'S DEVELOPMENT AND SCHOOL READINESS. PAT AIMS TO INCREASE YOUR KNOWLEDGE OF EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT AND IMPROVE PARENTING PRACTICES, PROVIDE EARLY DETECTION OF DEVELOPMENTAL DELAYS AND HEALTH ISSUES, PREVENT CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT, AND INCREASE CHILDREN'S SCHOOL READINESS AND SCHOOL SUCCESS. FATHERHOOD INITIATIVE-THE REAL FATHERS ARE DADS FATHERHOOD INITIATIVE WORKS TO INCLUDE THE ENTIRE FAMILY. THE FATHER HAS BEEN THE MISSING COMPONENT FOR MANY YEARS WITH OUR PROGRAMS, AND WE HAVE FOUND THE MISSING COMPONENT. BY USING THE HOLISTIC APPROACH AND WORKING WITH THE ENTIRE FAMILY, WE ARE STARTING TO SEE CHANGE HAPPEN. OTHER AGENCIES AND PARTNERS IN OUR COMMUNITY ARE STARTING TO SEE CHANGE AND WANT TO BE A PART OF THIS INITIATIVE. STRENGTHENING FAMILIES PROGRAM-AN INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED PARENTING AND FAMILY STRENGTHENING PROGRAM THAT FOCUS ON PARENTING SKILLS, CHILDREN'S SOCIAL SKILLS AND FAMILY LIFE SKILLS TRAINING. THIS 14-SESSION PROGRAM IS SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED FOR HIGH-RISK AND GENERAL POPULATION FAMILIES.
  2. $47,089 spent. CHILD CARE: CHILD CARE QUALITY-FIRST STEPS ASSITS 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.
  3. $33,189 spent. FAMILY CAF - PARENT DISCUSSION GROUPS THAT PROMOTE SOCIAL CONNECTIONS WITH OTHER PARENTS, SUPPORT IN TIMES OF NEED, LEARNING ABOUT PARENTING AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT, AND EMOTIONAL AWARENESS.
  4. $29,625 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

  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 2025.

    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.

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