Wake County Smart Start
Wake County Smart Start reported $27.9 million in revenue and $27.2 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $93.80 went to program services, $5.86 to management and general costs and $0.34 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 99.2% of the total. Government grants made up 96.9%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $171,360 (EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR). 3 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 39% between FY2021 and FY2025. Source: Form 990, FY2025.
Where $100 of spending went
The fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $27MFor 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 June 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $28MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 93.8% | 84.4% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 5.9% | 13.4% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 0.3% | 0.8% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.00 | $0.04 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 99.2% | 19.1% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 96.9% | 1.1% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 69.9% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $171,360 | $331,578 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 0.63% | 1.28% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 3 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 1.9 | 13.3 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 16 of 17 | 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 expenseNc pre-kindergarten programthe nc pre-kindergarten program is designed to provide high-quality educational experiences to enhance school readiness for eligible four-year-olds. Children in pre-k attend a full school day in a school-year program. Children participating in the program are served in licensed classrooms in public schools, private child care facilities, or head start programs. For the 2024-2025 fiscal year, 1,705 children participated in the program. A state grant and a local government grant supported the program
Family support/health and safetywake County Smart Start funds family support, and health and safety activities that benefit families and children in Wake County. Family support provides parenting skills training, ongoing parent education, family literacy initiatives, transportation, community outreach, and family navigation. Health and safety provides training, technical assistance, counseling, nutrition, physical activities, and referrals to address healthcare, mental health needs, and preventative services. Approximately 890 children directly benefited from at least one Wake County Smart…
Wake threeschoolthis program provides early education to young children in a play-based, dynamic environment, like the nationally recognized nc pre-k program. Research shows that when three-year-old children receive support for learning early, they learn better, gain stronger skills, and are better prepared for success in pre-k and kindergarten. This program leverages the rapid brain growth and development that happens at age three. This "framework" is what all future learning is built upon. Children participating in the program are served in licensed private child care facilities and head…
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Director/trustee, officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $155,915 | $0 | $15,445 | $171,360 |
| DIRECTOR OF FINANCE Director/trustee, officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $151,239 | $0 | $16,842 | $168,081 |
| DIRECTOR OF ECI Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $115,142 | $0 | $14,973 | $130,115 |
3 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Wake County Smart Start (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $367K (Part IX, line 5).
5 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–1b17 · 16 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 4Yes
- 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 549
- Volunteers Part I, line 6150
Private foundation grants it received
3 private foundations reported grants to Wake County Smart Start totaling $610K 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 Wake County Smart Start's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Wake County Smart Start, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Wake County Smart Start spent in FY2025, $93.80 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Schools in ActionLos Angeles, CA · revenue $28M · programs 84.9% · FY2025
- Cornell University FoundationIthaca, NY · revenue $28M · programs 93.8% · FY2025
- Houston Gateway AcademyHouston, TX · revenue $28M · programs 63.7% · FY2025
- Forsyth Country Day SchoolLewisville, NC · revenue $28M · programs 82.9% · FY2025
- The Freedom Academy FoundationProvo, UT · revenue $28M · programs 87.5% · FY2025
All education charities · Largest charities in North Carolina
Questions people ask
How much of Wake County Smart Start's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, Wake County Smart Start reported that 93.8% of its $27.2 million in expenses went to program services, 5.9% to management and general and 0.3% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Wake County Smart Start pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Wake County Smart Start reported for one person in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 was $171,360, for the role of EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Wake County Smart Start get its money?
Of $27.9 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, 99.2% came from contributions and grants (including 96.9% from government grants) and 0.0% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Wake County Smart Start a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 56-1949415 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 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 June 30, 2025, object 202502959349301550 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, object 202413099349302416 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, object 202400299349300620 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, object 202203069349301220 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, object 202143069349302574 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 56-1949415: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.