Form 990 for tax year 2024

Totals

Total revenue

$42,200,134

Total expenses

$41,599,725

Contributions and grants received

$40,169,870

Grants paid

$28,495,335

Program service revenue

$1,792,509

Investment income

$153,640

Other revenue

$84,115

Total assets, end of year

$12,531,920

Total liabilities, end of year

$3,690,163

Net assets or fund balances, end of year

$8,841,757

Program services expenses (Part IX)

$38,889,892

Management and general expenses

$2,605,818

Fundraising expenses

$104,015

Program service expenses (Part III)

$38,889,892

Program services were 93.5% 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 · 2024

• CHILD CARE WAGE$THE KEY GOAL OF THE CHILD CARE WAGE$ PROGRAM IS TO IMPROVE EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION SERVICES. THROUGH INCREASED COMPENSATION, WAGE$ HELPS ATTRACT AND RETAIN EDUCATED EARLY CHILDHOOD PROFESSIONALS, AND ENCOURAGES PARTICIPANTS TO REACH HIGHER LEVELS OF EDUCATION THROUGH A GRADUATED SUPPLEMENT SCALE. THE PROGRAM'S PRIMARY GOAL FOR FY25 WAS THAT THE TURNOVER RATE OF WAGE$ PARTICIPANTS FOR THE YEAR WOULD BE LESS THAN 25%. RESULTS: OUTCOME MET. THE TURNOVER RATE FOR WAGE$ PARTICIPANTS WAS ONLY 13%, WELL BELOW THE BENCHMARK OF 25%. THIS REPRESENTS INCREASED STABILITY FOR CHILDREN IN THE YEARS WHEN IT IS MOST NEEDED.IN ADDITION TO INCREASED RETENTION, WAGE$ PARTICIPANTS ALSO HAD OR OBTAINED HIGHER LEVELS OF EDUCATION. EIGHTY-NINE PERCENT (89%) WHOSE COUNTIES HAD PARTICIPATED AT LEAST TWO YEARS HAD AN ASSOCIATE DEGREE IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION, ITS EQUIVALENT OR HIGHER BASED ON THE WAGE$ SCALE OR SUBMITTED DOCUMENTATION DURING THE YEAR TO VERIFY THEIR PURSUIT OF ADDITIONAL COURSEWORK. WAGE$ PAID 4,075 EARLY EDUCATORS, SURPASSING THE EXPECTED OUTPUT. THESE PARTICIPANTS WORKED IN 1,806 FACILITIES SERVING APPROXIMATELY 85,855 CHILDREN AND THEY RECEIVED AN AVERAGE SIX-MONTH SUPPLEMENT OF $1,227. NEARLY 100% OF EVALUATION RESPONDENTS REPORTED SATISFACTION WITH WAGE$.INFANT-TODDLER EDUCATOR AWARD$ PLUSINFANT-TODDLER EDUCATOR AWARD$ PLUS PROVIDES EDUCATION-BASED SALARY SUPPLEMENTS TO LOW-PAID TEACHERS AND FAMILY CHILD CARE PROVIDERS WORKING AT LEAST 30 HOURS PER WEEK WITH CHILDREN BIRTH THROUGH AGE TWO. THE PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO BETTER COMPENSATE AND RETAIN PROFESSIONALS WORKING WITH OUR YOUNGEST CHILDREN. THE PRIMARY GOAL FOR FY25 WAS THAT THE TURNOVER RATE OF AWARD$ PLUS PARTICIPANTS WOULD BE LESS THAN 25%. THE OUTCOME WAS ACHIEVED; THE TURNOVER RATE OF AWARD$ PLUS PARTICIPANTS WAS 14%. BRAIN DEVELOPMENT IS AT ITS PEAK IN THESE YOUNGER YEARS, AND STABILITY IS KEY TO SUCCESSFUL OUTCOMES FOR CHILDREN. NINETY-NINE (99%) OF EVALUATION RESPONDENTS STATED THAT AWARD$ PLUS SUPPLEMENTS HELP TO EASE FINANCIAL STRESS, WHICH IS ANOTHER KEY GOAL FOR THE INITIATIVE.SEVENTY-SEVEN PERCENT (77%) HAD AN ASSOCIATE DEGREE IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION, ITS EQUIVALENT OR HIGHER BASED ON THE AWARD$ PLUS SCALE OR SUBMITTED DOCUMENTATION DURING THE YEAR TO VERIFY THEIR PURSUIT OF ADDITIONAL COURSEWORK. AWARD$ PLUS PAID 1,588 INFANT-TODDLER EDUCATORS. THESE PARTICIPANTS WORKED IN 908 FACILITIES SERVING APPROXIMATELY 21,774 CHILDREN BIRTH THROUGH AGE TWO. PARTICIPANTS RECEIVED AN AVERAGE SIX-MONTH SUPPLEMENT OF $1,132. NINETY-NINE PERCENT (99%) OF EVALUATION RESPONDENTS REPORTED SATISFACTION WITH AWARD$ PLUS.

  Expenses $13,575,284 · Grants $12,142,859

• TEACH EARLY CHILDHOOD:THE TEACH EARLY CHILDHOOD NORTH CAROLINA SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM PROVIDES UNIQUE EDUCATIONAL SCHOLARSHIPS TO CHILD CARE PROFESSIONALS AS A STRATEGY TO IMPROVE THE EDUCATION, COMPENSATION AND RETENTION OF NORTH CAROLINA'S EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION WORKFORCE. SCHOLARSHIPS ARE STRUCTURED USING FOUR COMPONENTS (SCHOLARSHIP, EDUCATION, COMPENSATION AND COMMITMENT) AND ARE AVAILABLE TO FACILITY BASED EARLY EDUCATORS INCLUDING PROGRAM ADMINISTRATORS AND HOME BASED PROFESSIONALS WORKING IN NORTH CAROLINA AND TO INDIVIDUALS WHO PERFORM NON-DIRECT SERVICE FUNCTIONS ON BEHALF OF YOUNG CHILDREN AND FAMILIES THROUGHOUT THE STATE'S EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION SYSTEM. THESE SCHOLARSHIPS ENABLE ELIGIBLE PERSONNEL WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO COMPLETE COURSEWORK LEADING TOWARDS CREDENTIALS AND DEGREES AT 56 OF NORTH CAROLINA'S 58 COMMUNITY COLLEGES AND 20 COLLEGES/UNIVERSITIES. PARTICIPANTS ARE EXPECTED TO INCREASE THEIR EDUCATION BY COMPLETING A MINIMUM NUMBER OF CREDITS ANNUALLY AND IN TURN ARE GIVEN RAISES OR BONUSES IN RECOGNITION OF THEIR ACHIEVEMENT. MORE IMPORTANTLY, PARTICIPANTS ARE REQUIRED TO COMMIT TO THE EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION FIELD, THEIR EMPLOYING SPONSORING PROGRAM OR SPONSORING ORGANIZATION FOR SIX MONTHS TO ONE YEAR. DURING FY 2024-25 THE TEACH EARLY CHILDHOOD SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM MET ITS GOALS FOR IMPROVING THE EDUCATION, COMPENSATION AND RETENTION AMONG ITS PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS IN NORTH CAROLINA AND PRODUCED POSITIVE OUTCOMES AS WERE PROPOSED. THE TEACH EARLY CHILDHOOD SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM PROVIDED CORE, COMPREHENSIVE SCHOLARSHIPS TO 2,239 EARLY EDUCATORS, PROGRAM ADMINISTRATORS, HOME BASED PROFESSIONALS AND EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION SYSTEM SPECIALISTS IN 91 OF THE STATE'S 100 COUNTIES. SUCCESSFUL OUTCOMES WERE PRODUCED IN THE AREAS OF INCREASED EDUCATION, INCREASED COMPENSATION AND RETENTION. FOR EXAMPLE, ON AVERAGE, TEACHERS WHO PARTICIPATED ON THE PROGRAM'S MOST UTILIZED SCHOLARSHIP MODEL, THE ASSOCIATE DEGREE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM AND SUCCESSFULLY MET CONTRACT REQUIREMENTS, COMPLETED ON AVERAGE 16.5 CREDIT HOURS OF FORMAL EDUCATION, EXPERIENCED A 21.2% INCREASE IN EARNINGS AND HAD A 5.9% TURNOVER RATE. 65,438 CHILDREN WERE CARED FOR IN A SETTING THAT SUPPORTED AT LEAST ONE RECIPIENT ON A TEACH EARLY CHILDHOOD SCHOLARSHIP. THE PROVISION OF SCHOLARSHIPS ENABLED TEACH RECIPIENTS TO ENROLL IN 20,267 CREDIT HOURS OF EDUCATION AT THE STATE'S COMMUNITY COLLEGES AND SELECTED UNIVERSITIES.

  Expenses $5,459,144 · Grants $3,821,362 · Revenue $422,281

• FEDERAL, STATE & LOCAL INITIATIVES:100% OF REGIONAL LEAD CCR&R AGENCIES INDICATED THAT ASSISTANCE RECEIVED FROM THE R&R COUNCIL WAS HELPFUL AND INDICATED THAT THE CCR&R COUNCIL HAS ENABLED THE IMPROVEMENT OF R&R SERVICES. ALL 14 REGIONAL LEAD AGENCIES SUCCESSFULLY IMPLEMENTED THE FOLLOWING THREE CCR&R CORE SERVICES: CONSUMER EDUCATION AND REFERRAL, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE. THE BIRTH-TO-THREE QUALITY INITIATIVE ACHIEVED 107% OF ITS THREE YEAR (FY23-FY25) GOAL OF REACHING 700 STATEWIDE PRACTICE BASED COACHING PARTICIPANTS BY PROVIDING 234 INDIVIDUALS PBC IN FY23, 250 INDIVIDUALS PBC IN FY24, AND 265 INDIVIDUALS IN FY25. UNDER THE B-3 QUALITY INITIATIVE, 2394 CHILD CARE PROVIDERS PARTICIPATED IN TRAINING SESSIONS REPRESENTING 120% OF THE ESTABLISHED GOAL OF 2000 PARTICIPANTS FOR FY 25. UNDER THE STATEWIDE CORE SERVICES DURING FY25, 94% OF PARENTS RESPONDING TO FOLLOW-UP SURVEYS INDICATED THAT THEY CHOSE 3, 4, OR 5 STAR CARE. EIGHT OF THE 14 REGIONS REPORTED THAT AT LEAST 89% OF THE CUSTOMERS SURVEYED RESPONDED THAT THEY CHOSE 3, 4, OR 5 STAR CARE, WITH SEVEN OF 14 REPORTING THAT AT LEAST 97% OF PARENTS INDICATED THEY CHOOSE THIS LEVEL OF CARE. STATEWIDE 89% OF PARENTS RESPONDING TO FOLLOW-UP SURVEYS DURING FY25 INDICATED THAT THEY USED QUALITY INDICATORS IN THEIR SEARCH FOR CARE. NINE OF 14 REGIONS REPORTED THAT AT LEAST 90% OF THE CUSTOMERS SURVEYED RESPONDED THAT THEY USED QUALITY INDICATORS IN THEIR CHILD CARE SEARCH. STATISTICAL DATA FROM DCDEE INDICATES THAT 74% OF ALL CHILDREN ENROLLED IN LICENSED CARE IN THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA WERE ENROLLED IN 4- AND 5- STAR CARE. THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT PERCENTAGE OF THE STATE'S CHILDREN IN HIGHER QUALITY CARE. FURTHERMORE, AT THE CONCLUSION OF FY25, ONLY 4% OF CHILDREN ENROLLED IN LICENSED CHILD CARE IN NORTH CAROLINA REMAIN ENROLLED IN 1- OR 2-STAR CARE.CHILD AND ADULT CARE FOOD PROGRAM (CACFP):EARLY YEARS SERVES AS A SPONSOR FOR CACFP, A FEDERALLY-FUNDED PROGRAM WHICH PROVIDES FINANCIAL REIMBURSEMENT, TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO CHILD CARE INSTITUTIONS FOR THE PROVISION OF NUTRITIOUS FOODS FOR CHILDREN IN THEIR CARE. - CACFP SERVED 36 CHILD CARE HOMES IN THE TRIANGLE AREA. - THERE WERE 133,028 NUTRITIOUS MEALS AND SNACKS SERVED THIS YEAR MEETING THE USDA MEAL PATTERNS TO AN AVERAGE OF 226 CHILDREN PER MONTH FROM DIVERSE POPULATIONS. - THERE WERE 99 MONITORING VISITS MADE TO CHILD CARE PROGRAMS TO REVIEW RECORDS, OBSERVE MEALS AND PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AS NEEDED.TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND SUPPORT SERVICES: - THE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TEAM MEMBERS PROVIDED SUPPORT, COACHING, AND EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES TO 667 EARLY CHILDHOOD TEACHERS SERVING A TOTAL OF 1273 CHILDREN FROM BIRTH TO AGE 5. - THERE WERE 225 PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS CONDUCTED FOR 1,733 (UNDUPLICATED) 3,149 (DUPLICATED) CHILD CARE PROFESSIONALS IN THE TRIANGLE AREA. - THERE WERE 471 IN-SERVICE HOURS RECEIVED BY THE ATTENDEES. - THERE WERE 55 EARLY EDUCATORS TRAINED IN CEU TOPICS COMPLETING A TOTAL OF 630 CONTINUING EDUCATION HOURS (CEUS)/67.5 IN-SERVICE CREDIT HOURS. - 95% OF EDUCATORS ATTENDING WORKSHOPS REPORTED FEELING CONFIDENT IN THEIR ABILITY TO APPLY THE KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS GAINED THROUGH TRAINING.CHILD CARE PROGRAM SCHOLARSHIP SERVICES:ALL DURHAM COUNTY SMART START CONTRACTED SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS WERE FULLY UTILIZED, FOR A TOTAL OF $2,821,710.00. - SCHOLARSHIPS SUPPORTED 626 CHILDREN IN CHILD CARE FACILITIES WITH AN AVERAGE STAR RATING OF 4.8, AND 90% OF CHILDREN WERE ENROLLED IN 5-STAR LICENSED FACILITIES. - 392 CHILDREN WERE JOINTLY FUNDED THROUGH THE DURHAM COUNTY NC PREK PROGRAM. - 1 CHILDREN RECEIVED SCHOLARSHIPS THROUGH THE EARLY HEAD START SET-ASIDE FUND. - 0 CHILDREN RECEIVING SERVICES HAD DOCUMENTED DEVELOPMENTAL NEEDS. - 26% OF CHILDREN LIVED IN FAMILIES WHERE SPANISH WAS REPORTED AS THE PRIMARY LANGUAGE. $29,496.85 WAS PROVIDED THROUGH THE ORANGE COUNTY SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM, SUPPORTING FIVE CHILDREN ATTENDING 5-STAR CHILD CARE FACILITIES RESULTING IN 100% ENROLLMENT IN 5-STAR LICENSED CARE. - 40% OF CHILDREN LIVED IN FAMILIES WHERE SPANISH WAS REPORTED AS THE PRIMARY LANGUAGE. - 100% OF CHILDREN WERE FROM FAMILIES WHOSE ELIGIBILITY WAS BASED ON EMPLOYMENT. $703,073.84 WAS PROVIDED THROUGH THE ARPA BUILD BABIES DURHAM. $692,567.86 SUPPORTED 104 CHILDREN ATTENDING CHILD CARE FACILITIES WITH AN AVERAGE STAR RATING OF 4.8, WITH 75% ENROLLED IN 5-STAR LICENSED FACILITIES. - 7% OF CHILDREN LIVED IN FAMILIES WHERE SPANISH WAS REPORTED AS THE PRIMARY LANGUAGE. - 96% OF CHILDREN WERE FROM FAMILIES WHOSE ELIGIBILITY WAS BASED ON EMPLOYMENT. UNC CHILD CARE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM - $85,769.67 SUPPORTED 11 CHILDREN OF EMPLOYEES. - 91% OF CHILDREN ATTENDED 5-STAR LICENSED FACILITIES FOR AN AVERAGE STAR RATING OF 4.9. - $45,890.00 SUPPORTED 3 CHILDREN OF STUDENTS. - 100% OF CHILDREN ATTENDED 5-STAR LICENSED FACILITIES FOR AN AVERAGE STAR RATING OF 5.0. UNC STUDENTS FOR CHILD CARE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM: - $342,112.44 SUPPORTED 40 CHILDREN. - 95% OF CHILDREN ATTENDED 5-STAR LICENSED FACILITIES FOR AN AVERAGE STAR RATING OF 4.9. 109 FAMILIES AND 62 CHILD CARE PROGRAMS PARTICIPATED IN THE EARLY YEARS, FORMERLY CHILD CARE SERVICES ASSOCIATION, ANNUAL SURVEY OF SCHOLARSHIP SERVICES. - AMONG FAMILIES RECEIVING AN EARLY YEARS SCHOLARSHIP: - 48% OF FAMILIES REPORTED THEIR CHILDREN WERE NOT IN LICENSED CARE BEFORE ACCESSING SCHOLARSHIPS. - 100% OF FAMILIES REPORTED THAT SCHOLARSHIPS ENABLED THEM TO SECURE OR MAINTAIN EMPLOYMENT. - 100% OF FAMILIES EXPRESSED OVERALL SATISFACTION WITH EARLY YEARS SERVICES. - 97% OF FAMILIES EXPRESSED THAT THE SCHOLARSHIP MADE BUDGETING OR PAYING FOR OTHER FAMILY NEEDS EASIER. AMONG CHILD CARE PROGRAMS THAT SERVED EARLY YEARS SCHOLARSHIP CHILDREN: - 100% RECOGNIZED THE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM AS AN IMPORTANT SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY. - 100% UNDERSTOOD THE PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS AND POLICIESCHILD CARE REFERRAL SERVICES: 3,498 FAMILIES WERE SERVED THROUGH THE CHILD CARE REFERRAL CENTRAL PROGRAM TOTAL OF 1,370 FAMILIES RECEIVED CHILD CARE CONSUMER EDUCATION AND REFERRAL (CER) SERVICES THROUGH CHILD CARE REFERRAL CENTRAL, THE REGIONAL CALL CENTER OPERATED BY EARLY YEARS FORMALLY CHILD CARE SERVICES ASSOCIATION. - 688 FAMILIES RECEIVED CONSULTATION SERVICES - 1646 WERE DURHAM COUNTY RESIDENTS OR CLIENTS - 241 WERE ORANGE COUNTY RESIDENTS OR CLIENTS - 1,296 WERE WAKE COUNTY RESIDENTS OR CLIENTS - 328 WERE RESIDENTS OF ALAMANCE, CASWELL, FRANKLIN, GRANVILLE, PERSON AND VANCE COUNTIES - A TOTAL OF 2,565 CHILDREN WERE IMPACTED BY THESE SERVICES. 48% (1,693 OF 3,498) OF FAMILIES ACCESSED SERVICES THROUGH THE AGENCY'S ONLINE REFERRAL SYSTEM. - ENHANCED REFERRAL SERVICES WERE PROVIDED TO 45% (507) OF FAMILIES SERVED. - 23% OF CER SERVICES WERE TO FAMILIES EARNING LESS THAN $20,000 PER YEAR. - CER SERVICES WERE PROVIDED IN SPANISH TO 235 FAMILIES, 6 FAMILIES RECEIVED SERVICES IN OTHER LANGUAGES (11% OF ALL COUNSELOR-ASSISTED REFERRALS & CONSULTATIONS) AND 17% OF ALL FAMILIES REPORTED BEING OF LATINO/A DESCENT.IN THE DEPARTMENT'S ANNUAL EVALUATION OF FAMILIES SERVED, 294 FAMILIES WERE SURVEYED. 96.9% OF ALL FAMILIES REPORTED BEING SATISFIED WITH SERVICES, 98.3% REPORTED FEELING RESPECTED IN THEIR INTERACTIONS WITH STAFF, AND OVER 100% REPORTED USING THREE OR MORE QUALITY INDICATORS IN THEIR SEARCH FOR CHILD CARE. THE AVERAGE STAR-RATING OF CHILD CARE SELECTED BY FAMILIES RECEIVING REFERRAL SERVICES WAS 4.4 OUT OF 5.83.7% INDICATED THEY SELECTED A PROGRAM WITH A 3, 4, OR 5 STAR RATED LICENSE.CHILD CARE REFERRAL CENTRAL STAFF ALSO CONDUCTED 19 WEBINARS/SEMINARS AND 16 INFORMATION SESSIONS AND PARTICIPATED IN 31 COMMUNITY EVENTS THROUGHOUT EARLY YEARS' SERVICE AREA.

  Expenses $19,855,464 · Grants $12,531,114 · Revenue $1,370,228

As filed on the 2024 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

• DURHAM PUBLIC SCHOOLS DBA HILLANDALE ELEM PREK

  $684,113

  CHILD CARE SUBSIDY

• ASKORP INC DBA PRIMARY COLORS EARLY LEARNING CENTER

  $605,521

  CHILD CARE SUBSIDY/ PRE-K SUPPORT

• CHILDCARE NETWORK #57

  $569,052

  CHILD CARE SUBSIDY/ PRE-K SUPPORT

• FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES RISING INC DBA LEATHERS MEACHEM HEADSTART

  $557,717

  CHILD CARE SUBSIDY/ PRE-K SUPPORT

• PERMO CORPORATION DBA KIDS R KIDS RTP

  $545,882

  CHILD CARE SUBSIDY

• CHILDREN'S CAMPUS SOUTHPOINT

  $524,345

  CHILD CARE SUBSIDY/ PRE-K SUPPORT

• MARTIN-PITT PARTNERSHIP FOR CHILDREN

  $457,502

  CHILD CARE RESOURCES AND REFERRAL SEVICES

• SOUTHWESTERN CHILD DEV COM

  $438,831

  CHILD CARE RESOURCES AND REFERRAL SEVICES

• ANB EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION LLC

  $437,529

  CHILD CARE SUBSIDY

• CHILD CARE RESOURCES INC

  $422,405

  CHILD CARE RESOURCES AND REFERRAL SEVICES

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

Provenance

Return type

form_990

Tax year

2024

Filed

16 February 2026

IRS schema version

2024v5.5

Source object

202630499349300303

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.