Ballad Health Center for Early Learning
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It owes more than it owns.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
To create high quality, accessible, and affordable early childhood care and learning environments for team members and our community.
- Income
- $4.0 million
- Spending
- $7.7 million
- Spent on programs
- 86%
- Reserves
- -19.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 77%
- Employees
- 95
- Volunteers
- 400
- Highest pay
- $4.1 million, director, pres & chair
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
Weak: 18 out of 100. Higher than 0% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
0 of 20It owes 131% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 90% of income.
Spending floor
15 of 1586% 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: 75 out of 100. Higher than 26% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
5 of 250 of 5 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
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
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 (1)
- $6.6 million spent. During FY25, Ballad Health successfully operated eight early learning centers and partnered with the YWCA on a ninth. These Centers for Early Learning are available to Ballad Health employees as well as the community. Our goal is to provide high-quality childcare that is accessible and affordable, enabling families to be gainfully employed while feeling confident that their children are cared for in a safe, nurturing environment. Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia are childcare deserts, meaning there are not enough quality childcare slots for the number of children under the age of five. Ballad Health has significantly helped by providing over 1,000 slots for team members and the general public. These early learning centers care for children from six weeks of age to age five and, in Virginia, may include school age children during the summer. Ballad Health has managed to create accessible childcare by offering extended hours and an expanded number of days open per year. All Centers for Early Learning are open Monday through Friday from 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., and offer care on most holidays, closing only on Christmas Day and Thanksgiving Day. It has been made affordable by participating in state subsidy programs to assist families with tuition expenses. An emphasis on kindergarten readiness is evident in all Ballad Health early learning programs. A high-quality, research-based curriculum is used across the system and teachers create lesson plans that focus on brain development, social/emotional skills, and early literacy foundations. Parents/Guardians are vital to the success of the centers. Monthly family engagement events are held to give parents and guardians opportunities to be on site with their children to gain insight as to what the children are doing while they are away being productive in the workforce.
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 November 6, 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 April 2024.
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 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.