Form 990 for tax year 2022

Totals

Total revenue

$121,733,617

Total expenses

$121,304,943

Contributions and grants received

$121,482,658

Grants paid

$113,567,481

Program service revenue

$241,375

Investment income

$9,584

Other revenue

$0

Total assets, end of year

$19,071,119

Total liabilities, end of year

$17,115,107

Net assets or fund balances, end of year

$1,956,012

Program services expenses (Part IX)

$117,479,850

Management and general expenses

$3,723,987

Fundraising expenses

$101,106

Program service expenses (Part III)

$117,479,850

Program services were 96.8% of total expenses calculated — Part IX's program-services column over total expenses, both as filed.

Line items

Every line the filer filed in Parts VIII, IX and X, as filed and in filed order. Blank columns are left out, and the lines are not forced to add up to the totals above.

Mission and programs · 2022

• SMART START: NORTH CAROLINA'S NATIONALLY-RECOGNIZED EARLY CHILDHOOD INITIATIVE, SMART START, MEASURABLY INCREASES THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF YOUNG CHILDREN, BUILDING THE FOUNDATION FOR ALL FUTURE LEARNING BY:- IMPROVING CHILDREN'S EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS SO THAT THEY ARE SAFE, HEALTHY AND PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR CHILDREN TO LEARN SKILLS THEY NEED FOR SUCCESS IN SCHOOL.- ENSURING THAT CHILDREN ARE SCREENED FOR DEVELOPMENTAL DELAYS. - PROVIDING PARENTS WITH TOOLS THAT SUPPORT THEM IN RAISING HAPPY, HEALTHY SUCCESSFUL CHILDREN. FOR A STRONG FOUNDATION, CHILDREN NEED HIGH QUALITY EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS THAT ARE SAFE AND PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR LEARNING: AND STRONG FAMILIES AND ENVIRONMENTS THAT SUPPORT HEALTHY OUTCOMES. HIGH QUALITY EARLY EDUCATION YIELDS HIGHER GRADUATION RATES, REDUCED CRIME, HIGHER EARNINGS, LESS RELIANCE ON SOCIAL SERVICES, AND BETTER JOBS.SMART START IS A NETWORK OF 75 NONPROFIT LOCAL PARTNERSHIPS THAT SERVE ALL 100 NORTH CAROLINA COUNTIES. THIS NETWORK IS LED BY THE NORTH CAROLINA PARTNERSHIP FOR CHILDREN (NCPC) THAT ENSURES FISCAL AND PROGRAMMATIC ACCOUNTABILITY AND SUPPORTS THE STATEWIDE NETWORK TO CREATE BETTER OUTCOMES FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES. NCPC ESTABLISHES MEASURABLE STATEWIDE GOALS AND COMMUNITIES DETERMINE THE BEST APPROACH TO ACHIEVING THEM. NCPC ALSO ENSURES THAT SMART START LOCAL PARTNERSHIPS FULLY MEET ALL LEGISLATIVELY MANDATED REQUIREMENTS AND OPERATE TO THE HIGHEST STANDARDS OF EFFECTIVENESS, ACCOUNTABILITY, EFFICIENCY AND INTEGRITY. NCPC MAINTAINS A FISCAL ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEM THAT INCLUDES MONITORING LOCAL PARTNERSHIPS TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH STATE AND FEDERAL LAWS, LEGISLATIVE MANDATES AND STATE POLICIES, AND LOCAL PARTNERSHIP FINANCIAL AUDITS. THE SMART START NETWORK CONTINUES TO IMPROVE THE LANDSCAPE OF EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION IN THE PANDEMIC'S AFTERMATH REGARDLESS OF THESE DELAYS IN ASSESSMENTS. IN THE PAST YEAR, 1,654 CHILD CARE FACILITIES OR 28% OF ALL NORTH CAROLINA'S FACILITIES PARTICIPATED IN SMART START TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO IMPROVE CHILD CARE QUALITY. 1,102 CHILD CARE FACILITIES RECEIVED TEACHER SUPPORT IN THE FORM OF TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, MENTORING, AND EDUCATION TO INCREASE STAR RATINGS.ADDITIONAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS INCLUDE:- SMART START LOCAL PARTNERSHIPS COLLABORATE WITH NC PRE-K PROVIDERS AND SERVE AS CO-CHAIRS ON LOCAL NC PRE-K COMMITTEES. 46 PARTNERSHIPS ADMINISTER THE NC PRE-K PROGRAM IN 55 COUNTIES THROUGH SEPARATE CONTRACTS WITH DCDEE, PROVIDING AN ADDITIONAL $8,193,401 IN FUNDING FOR NC PRE-K CLASSROOM SUPPORT. THIS COLLABORATION AND FUNDING ACROSS THE STATE HELPS TO ENSURE HIGH QUALITY SERVICES AND INCREASE ACCESS FOR CHILDREN.-THE SMART START NETWORK HAS SUCCESSFULLY IMPLEMENTED STRATEGIES TO IMPROVE RECRUITMENT, RETENTION, AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT FOR PROFESSIONALS THROUGHOUT THE STATE. ONE WAY SMART START INCREASES WORKFORCE RETENTION IS THROUGH SUPPLEMENTAL COMPENSATION THROUGH SCHOLARSHIPS AND INCENTIVES. IN 2022-2023, 4,534 CHILD CARE TEACHERS RECEIVED AN EDUCATION-BASED SALARY SUPPLEMENT. OF THESE TEACHERS, OVER 84% REMAINED IN THEIR POSITIONS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.- 65 SMART START LOCAL PARTNERSHIPS PROVIDE AT LEAST ONE FAMILY SUPPORT PROGRAM OR SERVICE TO SUPPORT CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES. FAMILY SUPPORT PROGRAMS SUPPORTED AND ADMINISTERED BY THE SMART START NETWORK INCLUDE PARENTS AS TEACHERS, KALEIDOSCOPE PLAY AND LEARN, POSITIVE PARENTING PROGRAM (TRIPLE P), CIRCLE OF PARENTS, NURTURING PARENTING PROGRAM, AND NURSE-FAMILY PARTNERSHIP AMONG OTHERS. THESE PROGRAMS MAY TAKE THE FORM OF PLAYGROUPS, HOME VISITING AND PARENT EDUCATION, AND MORE.

  Expenses $101,190,974 · Grants $101,118,020

• DOLLY PARTON'S IMAGINATION LIBRARY PROMOTES EMERGENT LITERACY SKILLS THROUGH A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE DOLLYWOOD FOUNDATION. LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS SELECT A GEOGRAPHIC AREA TO TARGET ENROLLMENT IN ZIP CODES WITH CHILDREN AGES 0-5. FAMILIES ARE RECRUITED TO PARTICIPATE AND ONCE CHILDREN ARE ENROLLED, THEY RECEIVE AN AGE-APPROPRIATE BOOK IN THE MAIL EACH MONTH UP TO THEIR FIFTH BIRTHDAY. ALL LOCAL PARTNERSHIPS ARE RECEIVING FUNDING TO ADMINISTER THE PROGRAM AND THE PROGRAM IS AVAILABLE IN EVERY NC ZIP CODE. BY JUNE 30, 2023, THE SMART START NETWORK DISTRIBUTED MORE THAN 15 MILLION BOOKS TO NORTH CAROLINA CHILDREN. THE PERCENTAGE OF ELIGIBLE CHILDREN ENROLLED HAS GROWN FROM 8% IN 2017 TO 50% IN 2023.

  Expenses $8,237,511 · Grants $8,203,376

• IN AN EFFORT TO LIVE INTO THE LEGISLATIVE VISION OF SMART START AS A PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP THAT INNOVATES TO STRENGTHEN THE STATE'S EARLY CHILDHOOD SYSTEM, NCPC, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH STATE AGENCIES, PHILANTHROPIC AND OTHER EARLY CHILDHOOD ORGANIZATIONS, HAS PLAYED A LEADING ROLE IN OTHER PROJECTS AND INITIATIVES IN FY 2022-23 AS DESCRIBED BELOW:NCPC CONTINUED DEVELOPING SMART SOLUTIONS: BIRTH-TO-FIVE INVESTMENTS IN FY 2022-2023. SMART SOLUTIONS IS A SEARCHABLE CATALOG OF EFFECTIVE PROGRAMS, INTERVENTIONS, AND STRATEGIES THAT SUPPORT CHILDREN PRENATAL THROUGH-FIVE, THEIR FAMILIES, AND COMMUNITIES. SOLUTIONS ARE FOCUSED ON ENHANCING EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION, FAMILY SUPPORT, LITERACY, AND CHILD AND FAMILY HEALTH OUTCOMES FOR CHILDREN AS WELL AS EARLY CHILDHOOD SYSTEMS-BUILDING AND CAN BE USED RIGHT FROM THE START - IN HOMES, EARLY LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS, AND WITHIN EACH COMMUNITY. SMART START LOCAL PARTNERSHIPS AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS CAN SEARCH SMART SOLUTIONS AND SELECT OPTIONS FOR IMPLEMENTATION BASED ON COMMUNITY NEED. - NCPC SERVED AS THE FIDUCIARY AGENT FOR THE NORTH CAROLINA HOME VISITING & PARENTING EDUCATION (HVPE) SYSTEM THROUGHOUT FY 2022-2023. THE SYSTEM IS LED BY A STATEWIDE COLLABORATIVE BOARD WITH THE GOAL OF ALIGNING HOME VISITING AND PARENTING EDUCATION FUNDS AND RESOURCES, IMPROVING HOME VISITING AND PARENTING EDUCATION SERVICES, AND LINKING PARENTS TO OTHER SUPPORTS. - NCPC IS COMMITTED TO INCREASING INDIVIDUAL, ORGANIZATIONAL, AND COMMUNITY LEVEL RESILIENCE ACROSS THE STATE, SERVING AS THE BACKBONE AGENCY OF THE NC HEALTHY AND RESILIENT COMMUNITIES INITIATIVE (HRCI). COMMUNITY RESILIENCE IS THE CAPACITY TO PROMOTE SAFE, SECURE, AND NURTURING ENVIRONMENTS FOR ALL WITHIN A COMMUNITY. SEVERAL LOCAL PARTNERSHIPS SERVE AS RESILIENCY LEADERS AND EDUCATE, TRAIN, AND ORGANIZE COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO PREVENT ACES.AS PART OF THE NC HRCI, NCPC AND THE SMART START NETWORK LEVERAGES ITS DEEP ROOTS LOCALLY, BRINGING TOGETHER MORE THAN 50 MULTI-SECTOR COMMUNITY COLLABORATIVES TO INCREASE THEIR CAPACITY AND BEST IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES TOWARDS ACHIEVING RESILIENCY ACROSS A PERSON'S LIFESPAN. NC HRCI BUILDS THE LONG-TERM CAPACITY OF THESE COALITIONS TO INCREASE PROTECTIVE FACTORS AND POSITIVE CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES AND ENHANCE RESILIENCE SKILLS. - THROUGH A MULTI-YEAR GRANT FROM THE BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF NORTH CAROLINA FOUNDATION, NCPC IS INVESTING IN A SERIES OF PROJECTS TO INCREASE THE SMART START NETWORK'S CAPACITY FOR SYSTEMS LEADERSHIP, SUPPORTING LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT TOOLS, CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR NETWORKWIDE LEARNING, STRENGTHENING DATA SYSTEMS, AND STREAMLINING CONTRACTING.IN FY 2022-2023, THE SMART START NETWORK FOCUSED INTENTIONALLY ON INNOVATION AND ON BUILDING NETWORK-WIDE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WOULD BETTER LEAD TO SYSTEM-LEVEL CHANGE. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH STATE AGENCIES, PHILANTHROPY, AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS, NCPC COLLABORATED ON STATEWIDE PROJECTS AND INITIATIVES TO ENHANCE THE STATE'S ABILITY TO SUPPORT CHILDREN AND FAMILIESNCPC CONTINUES TO SUPPORT THE SMART START NETWORK IN DEVELOPING TRAINING AND COACHING THAT EMBEDS SYSTEM CHANGE AND ADVOCACY STRATEGIES IN THE PRACTICE OF SMART START LEADERS THROUGH A BLUE CROSS BLUE SHEILD FOUNDATION (BCBSNCF) GRANT. THIS YEAR, THE WATERS CENTER PROVIDED WORKSHOPS FOCUSED ON A DEEPER DIVE INTO THE USE OF SPECIFIC SYSTEM THINKING TOOLS. IN APRIL, THE WATERS CENTER FOR SYSTEM THINKING REPEATED A SIX DAY INTRODUCTION SERIES FOR LOCAL PARTNERSHIP STAFF. ADDITIONALLY, THE CENTER PROVIDED COHORT SESSIONS AND TARGETED SYSTEM THINKING TOOLS WORKSHOPS FOCUSED ON THE APPLICATION OF THEIR SYSTEM THINKING LEARNING TO A SPECIFIC PROBLEM OF PRACTICE FOR LOCAL PARTNERSHIP STAFF. OVER 90 SMART START NETWORK STAFF MEMBERS HAVE PARTICIPATED IN THESE SYSTEM THINKING OPPORTUNITIES. THESE LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES ADVANCE LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES, DEEPEN NETWORK CONNECTIONS, AND ENSURE STAFF ARE BETTER READY TO RESPOND TO COMMUNITY NEEDS.

  Expenses $8,051,365 · Grants $4,246,085 · Revenue $241,375

As filed on the 2022 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here.

Listed in Part VII

Compensation is as filed in Part VII: reportable pay from this organization and from related organizations, other compensation, and hours per week. The total, marked calculated, is our sum of the three dollar columns, with a blank column counted as $0; the form itself has no total. On a Form 990-EZ the columns are Part IV's instead, and on a Form 990-PF Part VIII's — compensation, contributions to benefit plans, and expense account — and the total sums those. A Schedule J breakdown is as filed: base pay, bonus, other, deferred compensation and nontaxable benefits from this organization, with any from related organizations beside each, and the filer's own total. It is shown with the Part VII listing of the same name on the same return. The form gives no key between the two, so that pairing is ours, and is marked matched by us.

Schedule J

Part I's answers as filed. A line not listed was left unanswered; on lines 1a and 3 that means the box was not checked.

Grants on this return

• WAKE COUNTY SMARTSTART

  $8,381,265

  NC YOUNG CHILDREN

• THE DOLLYWOOD FOUNDATION

  $7,388,868

  EARLY LITERACY

• MECKLENBURG PARTNERSHIP FOR CHILDREN

  $7,113,751

  NC YOUNG CHILDREN

• DURHAM'S PARTNERSHIP FOR CHILDREN

  $5,901,979

  NC YOUNG CHILDREN

• ONSLOW COUNTY PARTNERSHIP FOR CHILDREN INC

  $5,463,939

  NC YOUNG CHILDREN

• PARTNERSHIP FOR CHILDREN OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY INC

  $4,912,135

  NC YOUNG CHILDREN

• SMART START OF FORSYTH COUNTY

  $4,751,804

  NC YOUNG CHILDREN

• GUILFORD COUNTY PARTNERSHIP FOR CHILDREN INC

  $3,418,634

  NC YOUNG CHILDREN

• SMART START OF DAVIDSON COUNTY INC

  $2,733,791

  NC YOUNG CHILDREN

• DOWN EAST PARTNERSHIP FOR CHILDREN

  $2,473,993

  NC YOUNG CHILDREN

The 10 largest by cash amount. The API serves every itemized grant.

Provenance

Return type

form_990

Tax year

2022

Filed

13 May 2024

IRS schema version

2022v5.0

Source object

202411349349308151

Check it against the return as filed: the GivingTuesday Data Lake hosts a public copy of the original XML.

The source document this was parsed from is served over the API, which is where bulk and document access live.