WAKE COUNTY SMART START INC

EIN: 561949415 501(c)(3) Education

RALEIGH, NC

Total Revenue
$27,914,896
Total Expenses
$27,249,271
Total Assets
$4,446,723
Net Assets
$4,246,811
🔒

Financial Vulnerability Assessment (Tuckman-Chang)

4 risk indicators measuring financial stability and operational resilience

Sign in with your work email to view Tuckman-Chang indicators

Sign In — Free (10 views/day)

Financial Trends

Organization Details

Formation Year
1994
Legal Domicile
NC
Principal Officer
GAYLE E HEADEN
Phone
9198519550
Tax Period
2024-07-01 to 2025-06-30

WAKE COUNTY SMART START INC, founded in 1994, is a mid-sized nonprofit in the Education sector that reported $27.9M in total revenue in fiscal year 2024. Revenue grew 11% year-over-year, indicating healthy expansion.

Mission

WAKE COUNTY SMART START INVESTS IN YOUNG CHILDREN, THEIR FAMILIES, AND A CONNECTED EARLY CHILDHOOD SYSTEM THAT SUPPORTS AND PREPARES THEM FOR SCHOOL AND LIFE AHEAD.

Program Service Accomplishments

Program 1
Expenses: $15,299,359

NC 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...

Read more

NC 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.

Program 2
Expenses: $4,208,572

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...

Read more

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 START FAMILY SUPPORT OR HEALTH AND SAFETY ACTIVITY. PROGRAMS ARE SUPPORTED BY STATE AND PRIVATE GRANTS .

Program 3
Expenses: $4,541,902

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...

Read more

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 START PROGRAMS. FOR THE 2024-2025 FISCAL YEAR, 333 CHILDREN PARTICIPATED IN THE PROGRAM. THE PROGRAM IS SUPPORTED BY A LOCAL GOVERNMENT GRANT.

🔒

Trantor Score

Financial Health Score (300–850) · Liquidity · Solvency · Sustainability · Efficiency

Sign in to view Trantor Score and financial metrics

Liquidity (40%) • Solvency (30%) • Sustainability (20%) • Efficiency (10%)

Sign In — Free (10 views/day)

Financial Overview (2024)

Revenue Breakdown

Contributions & Grants $27,699,186
Program Service Revenue $0
Investment Income $183,388
Other Revenue $32,322
TOTAL REVENUE $27,914,896

Expense Breakdown

Grants Paid $21,763,190
Salaries & Benefits $3,853,338
Fundraising Expenses $93,861
Program Expenses $25,559,501
Other Expenses $1,632,743
TOTAL EXPENSES $27,249,271

Year-over-Year Comparison

2024 2023 Change
Revenue $27,914,896 $25,102,327 +0.1%
Expenses $27,249,271 $25,028,627 +0.1%
Net Income $665,625 $73,700 +8.0%
Key Indicators
Grants to Organizations Grants to Individuals Lobbying Political Activity Foreign Activities Donor Advised Fund Schedule B Required
🔒

Financial Health Indicators

Comprehensive financial analysis: Altman Z-Score, liquidity, solvency, sustainability, efficiency, and growth metrics

Financial Distress Indicator

Liquidity & Cash Position

Sign in to view all financial metrics

Altman Z-Score • Liquidity Ratios • Solvency Analysis • Growth Indicators • Efficiency Metrics

Sign In

Governance

Voting Members
17
Independent Members
16
Employees
49
Volunteers
150

Governance Policies

Conflict of Interest Policy
Whistleblower Policy
Document Retention Policy

Special Practices & Reported Activities

Operated a School
Operated a Hospital
Provided First Class Travel
Reported Conflict of Interest
Reported Asset Diversion
Excess Benefit Transaction
Made Political Expenditures
Engaged in Lobbying
Operated Donor Advised Fund
Maintained Art Collections
Filed Form 720

Compensation of Officers, Directors & Key Employees

Total Officers
6
$339,441
Total Directors
21
$339,441
Key Employees
0
$0
Highest Compensated
1
reported
Name Title Hours/Week Role Reportable Comp Other Comp Total
GAYLE HEADEN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 40.00
Officer Director
$155,915 $15,445 $171,360
GARY CARR DIRECTOR OF FINANCE 40.00
Officer Director
$151,239 $16,842 $168,081
KATHERINE WILLIAMS CHAIR 1.00
Officer Director
$0 $0 $0
NIKIA COATES VICE CHAIR 1.00
Officer Director
$0 $0 $0
MATTHEW ELLINWOOD SECRETARY 1.00
Officer Director
$0 $0 $0
MATTHEW GLOVA TREASURER 1.00
Officer Director
$0 $0 $0
ANDRE ANTHONY DIRECTOR 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
VERONICA CREECH DIRECTOR 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
HEATHER DRENNAN DIRECTOR THR FEB 2025 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
SUSAN EVANS DIRECTOR 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
ARIEL FORD DIRECTOR FR OCT 2024 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
SHERRY HEUSER DIRECTOR 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
MICKEY HOLT DIRECTOR 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
NIKKI LEONARD DIRECTOR 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
RONETTA PEARSALL DIRECTOR 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
ANTONIA PEDROZA DIRECTOR 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
STEPHANIE SHELL DIRECTOR 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
CHERYL STALLINGS DIRECTOR 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
TONYA VENABLE DIRECTOR 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
JOE WHITE DIRECTOR 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
STACEY WILSON-NORMAN DIRECTOR THR FEB 2025 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
CAROL C ORJI DIRECTOR OF ECI 40.00
Highest
$115,142 $14,973 $130,115
Note: Compensation data is self-reported by the organization on their Form 990. "Reportable Comp" includes salary, bonuses, and other reportable compensation from the organization and related organizations. "Other Comp" includes benefits, deferred compensation, and non-taxable benefits.

Historical Data

Year Revenue Expenses Assets Net Income
2025 $27,914,896 $27,249,271 $4,446,723 $665,625
2024 $25,102,327 $25,028,627 $3,982,549 $73,700
2023 $22,907,110 $22,422,941 $4,304,569 $484,169
2022 $19,658,248 $19,257,264 $3,415,796 $400,984
2021 $20,107,224 $19,616,807 $2,918,473 $490,417
Explore More Nonprofits
Top 100 Nonprofits in North Carolina Largest U.S. Nonprofits Best Rated Nonprofits Most Efficient Nonprofits

Compare WAKE COUNTY SMART START INC with other nonprofits in North Carolina and across the country.