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Ready for School Ready for Life

EIN 82-3893055 · Greensboro, NC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood71 out of 100GovernanceStrong93 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF READY FOR SCHOOL, READY FOR LIFE IS TO CREATE, DESIGN, AND IMPLEMENT A COLLABORATIVE SYSTEM OF CARE FOR GUILFORD COUNTY'S YOUNGEST CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES, FOSTERING NOT ONLY THEIR ACADEMIC DEVELOPMENT BUT ALSO THEIR SOCIO-EMOTIONAL GROWTH. OUR ORGANIZATION IS COMMITTED TO ESTABLISHING A COMPREHENSIVE SYSTEM OF CARE THAT SUPPORTS ALL CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN GUILFORD COUNTY, ENSURING THEY HAVE ACCESS TO PROGRAMS THAT EMPOWER PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS AND PROVIDE EVERY BABY WITH AN EQUITABLE AND STRONG START IN LIFE.

Income
$4.0 million
Spending
$4.1 million
Spent on programs
81%
Reserves
8.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 66%
Employees
24
Volunteers
30
Highest pay
$167,072, chief operating officer

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 71 out of 100. Higher than 55% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 8.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 11% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 72% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    81% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 63% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    30 of 30 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

    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

    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 December 31, 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 (3)
  1. $1.8 million spent. BUILDING A SYSTEM OF CARETHIS PROGRAM AIMS TO CREATE A COORDINATED NETWORK OF SERVICES THAT ENSURES ALL FAMILIES HAVE ACCESS TO THE RESOURCES THEY NEED. THE CENTRAL INITIATIVE OF THIS PROGRAM IS ROUTES TO READY, WHICH USES NAVIGATORS, CHILD DEVELOPMENT SPECIALISTS, AND NURSES IN HEALTH CARE AND COMMUNITY SETTINGS TO UNIVERSALLY REACH, ASSESS, AND CONNECT FAMILIES TO COMMUNITY RESOURCES. ROUTES TO READY: IN THIS MULTI-ORGANIZATION COLLABORATION, NON-MEDICAL STAFF WORK IN HEALTHCARE SETTINGS, LIKE OBSTETRICIANS AND PEDIATRICIANS' OFFICES, AND NURSE HOME VISITORS WORK IN BROADER COMMUNITY SPACES TO REACH AND ASSESS FAMILIES. THEY HELP IDENTIFY NEEDS (INCLUDING SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH) AND DIRECT FAMILIES TO THE APPROPRIATE LOCAL RESOURCES, SUCH AS PARENTING SUPPORT, EARLY INTERVENTION PROGRAMS, AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. ALL OF THESE PARTNERS ALSO PROVIDE DIRECT EDUCATION, INFORMATION, AND SUPPORT TO VARYING DEGREES. ACROSS ROUTES TO READY PARTNERS, 86% OF FAMILIES WITH IDENTIFIED NEEDS WITH A KNOWN REFERRAL STATUS HAVE RECEIVED AT LEAST ONE SECURED REFERRAL (MEANING THEY HAVE RECEIVED THE SERVICE).INTEGRATED DATA SYSTEM (IDS): THE IDS SUPPORTS ROUTES TO READY BY USING TECHNOLOGY TO GATHER, TRACK, AND ANALYZE DATA ACROSS PROGRAMS (WITH CONSENT OF THE CLIENT OR PARENT/GUARDIAN). THE IDS HELPS LEADERS AT BOTH THE COLLABORATIVE AND COMMUNITY LEVELS MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS, RESULTING IN IMPROVED SERVICE DELIVERY ACROSS ROUTES TO READY PARTNERS FOR INDIVIDUAL FAMILIES AND IMPROVED SYSTEM FUNCTION FOR FAMILIES ACROSS THE COMMUNITY. THIS INCLUDES HELPING COMMUNITY LEADERS IDENTIFY AND FILL RESOURCE GAPS. 3 OF 4 ROUTES TO READY PARTNERS HAVE ALREADY BEEN ONBOARDED TO THE IDS.
  2. $979,497 spent. EXPAND AND IMPROVE PROGRAMSTHIS EFFORT SEEKS TO ASSESS AND SCALE UP PROVEN PROGRAMS, ENHANCING THEIR ABILITY TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE FAMILIES IDENTIFIED BY ROUTES TO READY. IT EMPHASIZES STRENGTHENING BOTH EXISTING PROGRAMS AND ORGANIZATIONS, ENSURING THEY ARE WELL-EQUIPPED TO SERVE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES EFFECTIVELY.EXPANDING EVIDENCE-BASED AND EVIDENCE-INFORMED PROGRAMS: READY READY WORKS TO EXPAND PROGRAMS THAT HAVE A PROVEN TRACK RECORD OF SUCCESS IN SUPPORTING FAMILIES AND YOUNG CHILDREN. EVIDENCE-BASED PROGRAMS ARE THOSE THAT HAVE BEEN RIGOROUSLY EVALUATED, WHILE EVIDENCE-INFORMED PROGRAMS INCORPORATE THE BEST AVAILABLE RESEARCH AND PRACTICE KNOWLEDGE. FROM 2017 TO 2024 READY READY MORE THAN TRIPLED THE SERVICE UNITS AVAILABLE THROUGH FUNDED EVIDENCE-BASED OR EVIDENCE-INFORMED PROGRAMS FOR PRENATAL - 3 YEAR OLDS.IMPLEMENTATION SUPPORT: READY READY PROVIDES PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS WITH TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO HELP THEM SUCCESSFULLY IMPLEMENT THESE PROGRAMS. THIS MAY INCLUDE PROVIDING GUIDANCE ON BEST PRACTICES, FACILITATING ACCESS TO RESOURCES, OR OFFERING TRAINING TO STAFF.BUILDING LOCAL CAPACITY: IN ADDITION TO EXPANDING PROGRAMS, READY READY FOCUSES ON STRENGTHENING THE CAPACITY OF LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS. THIS INVOLVES EQUIPPING PARENTS, FAMILIES, AND EXISTING COMMUNITY GROUPS WITH THE TOOLS, KNOWLEDGE, AND RESOURCES NEEDED TO DELIVER HIGH-QUALITY SERVICES AND RESPOND TO NEEDS EFFECTIVELY.
  3. $515,845 spent. CHANGE SYSTEMS AND BUILD PUBLIC WILLTHIS PROGRAM FOCUSES ON CREATING LONG-TERM SYSTEMIC CHANGE BY BUILDING PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR I NCREASING ACCESS TO QUALITY SERVICES, OFTEN VIA PUBLIC POLICY CHANGES. CREATING AWARENESS OF THESE ISSUES AND COALESCING SUPPORT BEHIND THESE STRATEGIES HELPS ENSURE THEIR SUSTAINABILITY.SUPPORTING SYSTEMS CHANGE: READY READY WORKS WITH PUBLIC SYSTEMS (E.G., HEALTHCARE, EDUCATION, AND SOCIAL SERVICES) TO IDENTIFY AND REMOVE BARRIERS THAT PREVENT FAMILIES FROM ACCESSING HIGH-QUALITY CARE AND SERVICES. THIS COULD INVOLVE ADVOCATING FOR POLICY CHANGES, IMPROVING SERVICE DELIVERY MODELS, OR ENHANCING COORDINATION BETWEEN AGENCIES.BUILDING PARTNERSHIPS: THE ORGANIZATION SEEKS TO BUILD STRONG PARTNERSHIPS WITH PUBLIC SYSTEMS AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS TO CREATE A MORE INTEGRATED APPROACH TO EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT.SECURING LONG-TERM SUSTAINABILITY: BY ADVOCATING FOR SYSTEMIC CHANGE AND BUILDING BROAD PUBLIC SUPPORT, READY READY AIMS TO SECURE THE FINANCIAL AND POLICY FOUNDATIONS NEEDED TO SUSTAIN COMMUNITY PROGRAMS OVER THE LONG TERM.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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? 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 October 13, 2026.

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

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 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 October 2018.

    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.