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DOWN EAST PARTNERSHIP FOR CHILDREN

EIN 56-1859313 ROCKY MOUNT, NC

Revenue 2024
$7,119,753
Expenses 2024
$7,009,297

Program services were 89.9% of total expenses calculated — Part IX's program-services column over total expenses, both as filed.

As filed

Subsection
03
NTEE code
B012
Classification
1000
Street
PO BOX 1245

These codes are the IRS's own and are shown exactly as filed. What each one means is in the Business Master File documentation (opens in a new tab).

Mission and programs · 2024

Mission

Launch every child as a healthy, lifelong learner by the end of the third grade. This is accomplished through working across the four building blocks of early education. 1) Health and development are on track beginning before birth 2) Families are engaged and supported by coordinated communities 3) Early care and education environments are high quality and 4) Ready Schools - Teaching and learning environments for K-3 students are effective inside and outside, 365 days a year.

Activities or mission (Part I)

The organization's mission is to launch every child as a healthy, lifelong learner by the end of the third grade.

  • Smart Start supports the following primary programs of DEPC: Child Care Resource & Referral including provider, family, and subsidy services (POC & Admin); NC Pre-K Quality; Family Resource Center, Community Collaboratives; Research & Development; Dolly Parton Imagination Library and Reach Out and Read. In addition, DEPC funds and provides technical assistance, monitoring, and support to 3 activities in 3 partnering agencies (WAGES, Nash County Public Schools Kindergarten Transition, Edgecombe County Public Schools Kindergarten Transition). All together, these programs provided a variety of services, including parent education/support, referrals to high quality child care, general parenting resources, child development information, and access to subsidized child care. Through Consumer Education services, 697 children ages birth to five received consumer education, 79 caregivers/parents received information and assistance regarding finding quality child care through referrals, and 407 parents/guardians received consumer education about child care through consultations. A total of 20 out of 20 families responding to a referral survey indicated selecting 3-star or higher child care, and 42 out of 43 families reported using quality indicators in their child care search. Through the Family Resource Center, 420 parents/guardians accessed Family First for general parenting, child development information, and referrals. A total of 420 parents received at least one service referral, and 130 out of 151 parents referred reported using at least one referred service. A total of 62 out of 68 families reported that the information provided increased their knowledge of services available based on their needs. Kaleidoscope Play & Learn Groups served 64 children and 63 caregivers, and 35 children received an ASQ-3 and/or ASQ-SE2 screening completed by their parent/caregiver. Through evidence-based family programming, 7 parents/caregivers completed the Incredible Years Basic Preschool Series, impacting 33 children. Circle of Parents served 38 parents/caregivers and 54 children, with 21 parents/caregivers completing at least one Circle of Parents series within the year. Triple P Level 4 Group Series served 33 parents/caregivers and impacted 69 children. Dual Subsidy Administration provided subsidized child care scholarships for 136 children. Scholarship providers participating in professional development included 20 programs related to physical activity, nutrition education, and/or social/emotional health and 31 programs participating in professional development on other areas. All scholarship providers serving scholarship children had a site visit completed, and 100% of parents whose child scored below age level on the developmental screening were referred to Family Services for follow-up. The average star rating for subsidized children in the most recent year with data available was 4.75, and 98% of subsidized children were in 4- and 5-star care. Community outreach and engagement efforts included 327 total volunteers providing 1,208.29 total volunteer hours, 10,934 visits to Discovery Park, and 1,340 sign-in visitors to the Family Resource Center. Community Outreach activities tracked 46,573 website views, 722,977 social media interactions, 32 newsletters produced, 8,423 contacts on the newsletter distribution list, 152 outreach presentations, and 58 outreach events. Research and Development activities tracked 136 total donors, including 31 new donors and 21 recurring donors, and raised $594,550 in FY25.

    Expenses $2,203,495 · Grants $89,214 · Revenue $2,203,495

  • The North Carolina Pre-Kindergarten Program is a 4-year-old preschool program for at-risk children, based on income or other criteria, to attend high quality programs in public preschool classrooms, Head Start facilities, or private child care facilities meeting the quality criteria. In FY25, 439 children were funded through NC Pre-K. A total of 5 NC Pre-K Advisory meetings were held. Support services were provided to 9 child care staff and 5 child care facilities through Other ECE Supports, and 5 child care staff and 2 child care facilities received technical assistance with ECERS-R. In addition, 8 child care staff from licensed facilities in counties listed in Fabrik participated in DCDEE-approved training. Program outcomes indicated that 84% of classroom teachers who participated in technical assistance services demonstrated growth or improvement on their initial areas of weakness following completion of a technical assistance plan. A total of 9 out of 9 NC Pre-K sites completed the practices and procedures inventory at the beginning of the year, 100% of NC Pre-K providers demonstrated that they implemented transition strategies in conjunction with parents and elementary schools, and 100% demonstrated implementation of family engagement activities during annual site visits.

    Expenses $3,248,338 · Revenue $3,248,338

  • Regional Child Care Resource and Referral Services included consumer education and referral services, professional development, technical assistance, mentoring, and data collection. In FY25, 78 child care staff received Other ECE Support and 50 child care facilities received Other ECE Support. Start-up technical assistance was provided to 4 child care facilities. ECERS-R technical assistance was provided to 5 child care staff and 2 child care facilities. Mentoring services included 3 child care staff in child care centers and 1 child care facility with at least one staff person participating. DCDEE-approved training reached 267 child care staff in licensed facilities, representing 58 licensed child care facilities. In addition, 16 child care centers received one-time grants, awards, or bonuses designed to support quality. Program outcomes indicated that 62% of early childhood educators receiving TA on Level 1 and Level 2 completed at least one strategy on their action plan, and 62% increased their use of developmentally appropriate practices and implementation of best practices after completion of TA. The average ECERS-R score increased from 5.44 pre to 6.03 post among classrooms with results.

    Expenses $298,926 · Revenue $298,926

  • Other program services included Family Nutrition Education, Family Supports and Education, Flex Funds, WAGE$, Transition activities, Community Collaboratives, and Ready Communities/Ready Schools efforts

    Expenses $553,075 · Revenue $553,075

As filed on the 2024 return.

Officers and directors · 2024

As listed in Part VII of the 2024 return, in the order the filer printed them. Each return names its own; this is not a roster the organization keeps with us.

  • Henrietta Zalkind

    Executive Director

    Total calculated
    $137,492
    From this org
    $119,479
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $18,013
    Hours/week
    37.5

  • Dr Trent Mohrbutter

    Chair

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0

  • Benton Moss

    Vice Chair

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0

  • Natalie Bess

    Treasurer

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0

  • Michelle Etheridge

    Secretary

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0

  • Betty Battle

    Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0

  • Patricia Bell-Spruill

    Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0

  • Dr Andrew Bryan

    Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0

  • Melissa Corso

    Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0

  • Ryan Cox

    Designee

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0

  • Melissa Dancy-Smith

    Designee

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0

  • Leigh Daughtridge

    Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0

  • Dr Steve Ellis

    Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0

  • Eric Evans

    Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0

  • Tia Foula

    Designee

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0

  • Tyler Gupton

    Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0

  • Tanya Heath

    Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0

  • Dr Lew Hunnicutt

    Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0

  • Linda Knight

    Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0

  • Gary Lee

    Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0

  • Liz Lord

    Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0

  • Mary Jane Lyonnais

    Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0

  • Durrell Petway

    Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0

  • Stacie Shatzer

    Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0

  • Shermekka Williams

    Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0

The first 25 listed. 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. Earlier years are each on their own filing page.

Filings

  • 2024
    Revenue
    $7,119,753
    Expenses
    $7,009,297
    Contributions
    $7,043,070
    Grants paid
    $196,680
  • 2023
    Revenue
    $7,039,895
    Expenses
    $6,965,488
    Contributions
    $6,990,130
    Grants paid
    $213,226
  • 2022
    Revenue
    $6,545,319
    Expenses
    $6,913,613
    Contributions
    $6,501,507
    Grants paid
    $143,237

The four totals the IRS asks for on Part I of the Form 990, as filed. A dash means the figure was not present on the return — not that it was zero.

Other returns filed

  • 2021 · 990

    Revenue
    $6,638,364
    Expenses
    $6,486,664
    Assets (EOY)
    $901,285

  • 2020 · 990

    Revenue
    $6,689,026
    Expenses
    $6,673,530
    Assets (EOY)
    $738,348

  • 2019 · 990

    Revenue
    $6,648,844
    Expenses
    $6,542,074
    Assets (EOY)
    $723,739

  • 2018 · 990

    Revenue
    $6,429,604
    Expenses
    $6,360,483
    Assets (EOY)
    $540,681

  • 2017 · 990

    Revenue
    $6,120,088
    Expenses
    $6,195,917
    Assets (EOY)
    $676,664

  • 2016 · 990

    Revenue
    $6,151,793
    Expenses
    $6,227,477
    Assets (EOY)
    $556,645

  • 2015 · 990

    Revenue
    $6,213,378
    Expenses
    $6,257,144
    Assets (EOY)
    $635,350

  • 2014 · 990

    Revenue
    $6,013,911
    Expenses
    $6,151,651
    Assets (EOY)
    $688,574

  • 2013 · 990

    Revenue
    $6,249,307
    Expenses
    $6,188,736
    Assets (EOY)
    $817,100

  • 2012 · 990

    Revenue
    not reported
    Expenses
    $6,055,658
    Assets (EOY)
    $756,965

Nonprofiteer parses Forms 990, 990-EZ and 990-PF, in a window of recent tax years. These returns are recorded from the IRS e-file index, so their figures were extracted by that index rather than read from the return here — treat them as a different source from the filings above, not as more of the same record. A dash means the index carries no figure; Form 990-T listings carry none at all. Showing the 10 most recent; the API carries the rest.

Grants made

  • Braswell Memorial Library

    $54,023

    2022 Literacy Program

  • Braswell Memorial Library

    $51,814

    2023 Literacy Program

  • Edgecombe County Public Schools

    $44,607

    2024 Literacy Program

  • Nash County Public Schools

    $44,607

    2024 Early Childhood Transition

  • Edgecombe County Public Schools

    $44,607

    2023 Early Childhood Transition

  • Edgecombe County Public Schools

    $44,607

    2022 Early Childhood Transition

  • Nash Public Schools

    $44,607

    2023 Early Childhood Transition

  • Nash County Public Schools

    $44,607

    2022 Early Childhood Transition

Where these grants went next →

Grants received

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

Other IRS files

Auto-Revocation List

Not listed. The IRS publishes this list for organizations whose exemption was automatically revoked for failing to file for three consecutive years.

Publication 78

Listed as of 13 October 2026, under deductibility PC.

These are two separate IRS files on two separate schedules, shown as published and not reconciled with each other. Neither is a statement about whether a contribution is deductible today: 19,245 organizations appear in Publication 78 while the IRS's own revocation file lists them as currently revoked, more than half of those revoked before 2019. Absence from Publication 78 is evidence of nothing, and presence is not evidence either. Verify current status with the IRS before relying on it.

What this page reflects

The registration facts above come from the IRS Business Master File published 13 October 2026 and read 26 October 2026, for every organization at once. Returns through tax year 2024, the newest we have parsed for this organization.