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Local Start Dental Inc

EIN 83-3397388 · Durham, NC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak28 out of 100GovernanceGood82 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

RESTORING SMILES AND CONFIDENCE FOR OUR UNDERSERVED NEIGHBORS WHILE ADVANCING THE CLINICAL SKILLS OF DENTAL PROFESSIONALS.

Income
$2.1 million
Spending
$2.8 million
Spent on programs
67%
Reserves
2.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 88%
Employees
37
Volunteers
9
Highest pay
$420,638, clinical director

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

Weak: 28 out of 100. Higher than 5% of charities in its peer group (health care, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 50% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 30% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 14% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    67% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 44 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

Good: 82 out of 100. Higher than 35% of charities in its peer group (health care, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    8 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

    7 of 7

    Has a 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

    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. $1.6 million spent. LOCAL START DENTAL PROVIDES PRO BONO AND DISCOUNTED DENTAL SERVICES TO NORTH CAROLINA RESIDENTS, MOST OF WHOM HAVE NO INSURANCE OR FINANCIAL RESOURCES. THE PRIMARY SERVICES FOCUS ON TOOTH REPLACEMENT, INCLUDING EXTRACTIONS, DENTURES, PARTIAL DENTURES, AND DENTAL IMPLANTS. MAJOR EXPENSES INCLUDE STAFF WAGES, BENEFITS, OCCUPANCY, LAB FEES, AND DENTAL SUPPLIES.
  2. $2,790 spent. LOCAL START DENTAL ALLOWS DENTAL STUDENTS FROM THE UNC ADAMS SCHOOL OF DENTISTRY TO PARTICIPATE IN SUPERVISED CLINICAL ROTATIONS, GIVING THEM REAL-WORLD PATIENT EXPERIENCE BEFORE LAUNCHING THEIR CAREERS. THE ORGANIZATION ALSO CONDUCTS CONTINUING EDUCATION COURSES FOR LICENSED GENERAL DENTISTS, ENABLING THEM TO EXPAND THEIR SKILL SETSPARTICULARLY IN THE AREA OF ORAL SURGERY.
  3. $230,794 spent. LOCAL START DENTAL FABRICATES HIGH-QUALITY DENTAL PROSTHETICS ONSITE USING STATE-OF-THE-ART DONATED EQUIPMENT. MOST OF THESE PROSTHETICS ARE PLACED IN LOCAL START PATIENTS, THOUGH A SMALL NUMBER ARE SOLD TO UNIVERSITY CLINICS.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since August 2019.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 October 7, 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.