Brightspark Early Learning Services
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
To nurture and sustain child-centered, antiracist early learning communities.Our work is to:1) Help families access high quality childcare and after-school care.2) Increase the availability of high-quality care through coaching and training ofchildcare providers.3) Advocate for childcare solutions that strengthen communities.BrightSpark understands the devastating effects of racism on our youngest learners, their families and communities. As a result, BrightSpark holds antiracism as a critical missional and value responsibility of each and every one of our staff.
- Income
- $40.5 million
- Spending
- $40.8 million
- Spent on programs
- 91%
- Reserves
- 1.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 97%
- Employees
- 151
- Volunteers
- 25
- Highest pay
- $258,488, executive off.
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: 53 out of 100. Higher than 33% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 1.2 months of spending.
Debt
5 of 20It owes 60% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 1% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 4% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1591% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 35% of charities in its peer group (human services, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2512 of 12 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.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited 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 (3)
- $37.3 million spent. A young child, even an infant, is learning every moment of every day. A babys brain grows to 90% of its adult size during the first 3 years of life. Young children learn through observing and exploring their world, by using their senses, and most importantly, in nurturing relationships with their caregivers. We partner with families with young children to help them find and access high quality early learning programs and resources offered statewide. We also partner with early learning teachers who provide high quality care for all children in King and Pierce Counties.BrightSpark helps families find childcare that supports a child's unique needs, thefamilys values, and culture, and fits their work or other activities. Parents have many options for care, including care by a family member, care in the home by a family friend or nanny, licensed childcare, private preschools and Head Start or ECEAP. Staff at BrightSpark talk with the family about their needs and wishes for care; explain what quality care looks like, and then help in the childcare search. If the choice is licensed childcare, BrightSpark provides a customized list of options. Licensed childcare is expensive, so we help families find resources to pay for care. Children who get safe, nurturing play and learning experiences are ready for school; those who dont are most often the ones who start behind and stay behind. In fact, 55% of children in WA are not prepared to enter kindergarten and the percentage rises to 75% among low-income children. Based in King and Pierce Counties, Washington working locally and state-wide, BrightSpark helps build quality childcare and early learning access for all children. BrightSpark is a respected leader in forging and honoring collaborations and building
- Working with Families: Since 1990, BrightSpark has served over 200,000 families. BrightSpark has direct contact with families of all income levels and works with all types of childcare providers as well as informal caregivers. A strong partner with non-profits, government, foundations, businesses, and individuals, BrightSpark raises awareness about early learning, promotes best practices, and advocates for increased investments to ensure quality. BrightSpark empowers families to make the best possible choices for their childrens care. For FY 22-23, BrightSpark made a significant impact:- BrightSpark provided childcare referral and information by phone and online forover 16,774 families statewide- 854 families were supported through childcare subsidies and servicecoordination support in our Homeless Child Care Program. 83 families from King and Pierce Counties received a childcare subsidy from BrightSpark.- BrightSpark offers services in the familys home language, helps families find culturally relevant care, assists families that need weekend or after-hours care,or care for children with special needs, as well as afterschool care.- More than 7,417 FFN caregivers and parents participated in BrightSparksupported Kaleidoscope Play & Learn groups statewide. More than 44% spoke a language other than English at home. Our coaches and trainers supported over 2,000 childcare professionals in their pathway to high quality.- 47 childcare programs benefited from the expertise of an Infant/Toddler coach,improving the quality of care given to our youngest learners.
- Working with Child Care Providers and Capacity Building: Research confirms that for every $1 invested in quality early learning for all children, $7 or more is saved in costs of remedial learning, teen pregnancy, incarceration, and rehabilitation. As a result, we see more graduates, gainful employment, and more stable communities. BrightSpark supports all types of childcare professionals as they provide quality early learning experiences for children. We know that the role they play for children is significant and we are committed to providing answers to questions,coaching and technical assistance to improve the quality of the childcare program, and professional development opportunities to increase skills and knowledge through the Early Achievers Quality Rating Improvement System. From January June 2022, BrightSpark hosted 91 professional development trainings hosted by BrightSpark staff trainers for childcare providers in King and/or Pierce County. BrightSpark hosted aSpring Professional Development Institute for 143 childcare providers. This week-long virtual event helped our childcare providers obtain their required training hours.
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? 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 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 March 1990.
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.