First Steps Kent
First Steps Kent reported $10.8 million in revenue and $11.5 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $97.22 went to program services, $2.02 to management and general costs and $0.76 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 99.7% of the total. Government grants made up 95.8%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $166,461 (PRESIDENT). 1 person received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 201% between FY2020 and FY2025. Source: Form 990, FY2025.
Where $100 of spending went
The fiscal year ending September 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $11MFor context, the median across 5,499 covered education charities: $85.56 programs, $13.59 management, $0.85 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
The fiscal year ending September 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $11MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 97.2% | 84.4% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 2.0% | 13.4% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 0.8% | 0.8% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.01 | $0.04 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 99.7% | 19.1% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 95.8% | 1.1% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 69.9% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $166,461 | $331,578 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 1.45% | 1.28% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 1 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 1.7 | 13.3 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 19 of 20 | 100.0% |
A median is context, not a target: hospitals, universities, food banks and grantmakers spend in very different ways. What these measures can and can't tell you.
What the money paid for, in its own words
FY2025 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseEarly childhood development First Steps Kent administers and oversees the ready by five early childhood millage (the "ready by five millage") for programs that improve the health, school readiness, and wellbeing of children through age five. It allows more children and families from across kent county to participate in programs that are proven to increase their likelihood of success in school and beyond. Community based organizations apply for funding to provide services such as home visiting, play and learn groups, developmental screening, and navigation support to help families access the…
Mainspring early care alliance - increases access to affordable, quality childcare for working families with young children by maximizing early childcare provider capacity. The shared services initiative offers resources to increase business sustainability through supports such as: technical assistance from experts on small business management, professional development webinars and workshops on best practices in quality childcare, and developing a coordinated purchasing system to ensure providers receive volume discounts that will increase their buying power for supplies
Early learning initiatives-First Steps Kent was established to be the systems level organization for early childhood in kent county, born out of planning between community leaders, funders and the kent county administration in 2009. Although terms and the vernacular have shifted over several years, promotion and advocacy for early learning focused on children and families covering the age continuum from prenatal to 5 years of age is a large part of the work of First Steps Kent. The measurable outcomes associated with this work ensures that children are born healthy and are referred to…
Highest reported compensation
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section A · roles as filed; names are in the filing, not here| Role | From this org | From related orgs | Other | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PRESIDENT Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $150,843 | $0 | $15,618 | $166,461 |
1 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from First Steps Kent (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $172K (Part IX, line 5).
6 years of filings
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
FY2025 · the organization's own yes/no answers; explanations, if any, are in Schedule O of the filing · what each means- Voting board members, and how many are independent Part VI, lines 1a–1b20 · 19 independent
- Audited financial statements Part XII 2bYes
- Conflict-of-interest policy Part VI 12aYes
- Whistleblower policy Part VI 13Yes
- Document retention policy Part VI 14Yes
- Independent process for top executive pay Part VI 15aYes
- Board given the 990 before filing Part VI 11aYes
- Family or business ties among insiders Part VI 2No
- Aware of a significant diversion of assets Part VI 5No
- Excess benefit transaction with an insider Part IV 25aNo
- Loans to or from insiders outstanding Part IV 26No
- Lobbying, or a 501(h) election in effect Part IV 4No
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18No
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bNo
- Employees Part I, line 514
- Volunteers Part I, line 621
Private foundation grants it received
7 private foundations reported grants to First Steps Kent totaling $1.1M on their tax year 2023 Form 990-PF returns. See which foundations, on WHOFUNDS.
Source: WHOFUNDS open grant graph, matched from Form 990-PF Part XV.
Correct a figure or respond
Every number above is copied from First Steps Kent's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for First Steps Kent, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 First Steps Kent spent in FY2025, $97.22 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
Embed on your site
Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Northern Kane Educational CorpPingree Grove, IL · revenue $11M · programs 89.9% · FY2024
- PathwayToledo, OH · revenue $11M · programs 91.6% · 2024
- Cheder Toras ZevLakewood, NJ · revenue $11M · programs 83.4% · FY2025
- Georgia Charter Education FoundationFort Lauderdale, FL · revenue $11M · programs 82.7% · FY2025
- Rocketship Education WisconsinSan Jose, CA · revenue $11M · programs 85.1% · FY2025
Questions people ask
How much of First Steps Kent's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025, First Steps Kent reported that 97.2% of its $11.5 million in expenses went to program services, 2.0% to management and general and 0.8% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does First Steps Kent pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation First Steps Kent reported for one person in the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025 was $166,461, for the role of PRESIDENT (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does First Steps Kent get its money?
Of $10.8 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025, 99.7% came from contributions and grants (including 95.8% from government grants) and 0.0% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is First Steps Kent a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 27-0640886 as a 501(c)(3) organization (publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(a)(vi))), and its records show contributions as tax-deductible. Form 990 filings on record here cover tax years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- FY2025: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025, object 202612259349301716 · read the filing
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2024, object 202511639349300616 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2023, object 202422259349302302 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2022, object 202301359349314290 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2021, object 202200919349301505 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2020, object 202101739349300525 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 27-0640886: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.