Smart Bus Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
SMART BUS strengthens the economic educational and overall well-being of women and children through the arts therapeutic support mentorship and community partnerships.
- Income
- $211,681
- Spending
- $320,190
- Spent on programs
- 90%
- Reserves
- 0.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 96%
- Employees
- 4
- Volunteers
- 10
- Highest pay
- $90,000, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 54 out of 100. Higher than 25% of charities in its peer group (youth development, under $250k).
Reserves
4 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 0.8 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 51% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 13% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1590% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 92% of charities in its peer group (youth development, under $250k).
Independent board
25 of 258 of 8 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 (3)
- $204,192 spent. Emergency Housing Therapy and Human Trafficking Education SMART BUS under the SMART Transitions program provided emergency housing licensed therapeutic services and supportive assistance for homeless women and families including those fleeing abuse violence exploitation and unsafe circumstances. Services focused on safety emotional well-being housing stability referrals and connections to community resources. The organization also created and completed Baited and Betrayed an educational film addressing human trafficking grooming online safety and exploitation. The film was developed for use with a human trafficking prevention curriculum in schools and other educational settings to help youth recognize warning signs understand risks and promote prevention and safety.
- $45,000 spent. STEAM Youth Arts Therapy and Human Trafficking Prevention Education SMART BUS provided STEAM education youth arts literacy filmmaking mentorship and summer enrichment programs designed to strengthen academic achievement creativity leadership and overall well-being. Programs included licensed therapist services and therapeutic support. SMART BUS also completed the human trafficking prevention film Baited and Betrayed.
- $40,000 spent. Educational Partnerships Documentary and Community History SMART BUS partnered with Wake County Public School System and community organizations to provide educational and arts-based programming for youth. The organization completed Preserving Our Voices a documentary project supported by a North Carolina Humanities grant that engaged students and community members in preserving and sharing stories related to school segregation integration and community history
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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? 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.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 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 October 2020.
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.