Provide families and children experiencing housing instability with a safe, nurturing educational environment to ensure children enter kindergarten ready to learn and parents become self-sufficient.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
85¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 100 volunteers and 127 employees.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · People: Part I, lines 5–6

Before you give

FY2025 · Form 990Independent: from IRS data, not the org
Download 990
IRS status
501(c)(3)
not on the IRS revocation list
Looks good: listed by the IRS and not on the revocation list.
IRS BMF · Auto-Revocation List
Tax-deductible gifts
Yes
Donations are tax-deductible
Looks good: the IRS lists gifts to it as deductible.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS BMF
Latest return
FY2025
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2025, 1 tax year back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
5 of 6
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $2.1M a year · 19% of revenue · last 6 filings
Fine: a surplus in 5 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 filings
Spent on programs
85%
of spending
Looks good: 85% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$566K
to officers and key staff · 5% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 5% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
4 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 3.5 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
9
named funders · $240K
Looks good: 9 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$2.6M
16% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 16% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
15
of 15 voting members
Looks good: 15 of 15 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$12.1M
-36% vs prior year
Spent
$12.0M
To programs
85%
Net assets
$13.5M
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$12.1M
FY2025▼ -36%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$9.9M
FY2021$9.3M
FY2022$8.4M
FY2023$8.5M
FY2024$18.9M
FY2025$12.1M
Expenses
$12.0M
FY2025▲ +22%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$8.3M
FY2021$7.6M
FY2022$8.1M
FY2023$8.7M
FY2024$9.8M
FY2025$12.0M
Net assets
$13.5M
FY2025▲ +1%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$9.9M
FY2021$11.7M
FY2022$12.0M
FY2023$11.9M
FY2024$13.3M
FY2025$13.5M

From the FY2025 Form 990 (year ending September 2025) · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in Jan 1991.

IRS Pub. 78 · IRS Auto-Revocation List · IRS Business Master File

Where the money goes

85 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 85% · $10.2M Management & general 10% · $1.2M Fundraising 4% · $529K

Form 990 Part IX, line 25, columns B–D. Every line is in By the numbers.

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Who runs it and what they're paid

20 people listed on the 990; $566K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2024); the FY2025 filing did not itemize Part VII
Chief Executive Officer
$222,957Pt VII · Sec A
Development Director
$120,602Pt VII · Sec A
Director of Operations & Compliance
$113,921Pt VII · Sec A
Director of HR
$108,380Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 8 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Erin Fisher$222,957$193,003$176,350$138,456$117,873—
Dr Marla Dean———$168,995$178,472$163,087
Anthony Sims—————$121,693
Hillary Garner—————$121,217
Rebecca Rorke$120,602$112,013$107,770$102,087——
Renee Sally$113,921—————
Darin Allen————$106,794$109,946
Willie Gray$108,380—————

Total reportable compensation (Form 990 Part VII column D / Schedule J column E) by filing year, matched by name within this organization. The Schedule J base / bonus / deferred breakdown is not parsed into this dataset.

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Questions the 990 asks

The form asks each of these directly. These are the filed answers.

  • Family or business ties among officersPt VI · Ln 2No
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aNo

Programs and updates

Offer safe, nurturing education for children and support parents toward self-sufficiency.

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Provided by the organization

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3 programs · $7.9M · in their own filed words · FY2024
01

Bright beginnings, inc's center-based program is a year-round program for children six weeks to five years old who are experiencing housing instability. The program supports children's progress and development through comprehensive services for children and families in early learning, health, and family well-being.

$6.9Mprogram expense
02

Health & Wellness

Bright beginnings knows that health and wellness are critical in preparing children to learn and helping parents achieve their educational and career goals to transition out of poverty. Thus, bright beginnings offers a comprehensive health and wellness program that focuses on ensuring that the families we serve are in the best position…

$810Kprogram expense
03

Home Based

Bright beginnings' home-based program offers early head start services to children (birth to three) and their families in whatever environment they call home. During a 90-MINUTE weekly visit, home visitors meet with parents and children in the family's home environment, coaching parents on strategies to be the child's first teacher…

$191Kprogram expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

From grant filings on record. Receipts are incomplete: individual donors are never listed.

Grants

Schedule I · funders on record
Grants received · FY2024
See all 9 funders →

By the numbers

The FY2025 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$12.1M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$9.5M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$2.5M
Investment incomeLn 3$91K
Money outPt IX
$12.0M
Ln 25
Programscol B$10.2M
Managementcol C$1.2M
Fundraisingcol D$529K
Owns and owesPt X
$13.5M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$3.4M
Total assetsLn 16$16.1M
LiabilitiesLn 26$2.6M
PeoplePt VI, VII
20
listed · VII A
PaidVII A4
Voting boardVI 1a15
IndependentVI 1b15
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$9.5M
Government grantsLn 1e$6.7M
Noncash giftsLn 1g$102K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$2.5M
Investment incomeLn 3$91K
Total revenueLn 12$12.1M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$485K
SavingsLn 2$3.0M
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$3.4M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$9.9M
Other assetsLn 15$1.7M
Total assetsLn 16$16.1M
LiabilitiesLn 26$2.6M
Net assetsLn 32$13.5M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 5127
VolunteersI 6100
Fiscal year endsHeaderSeptember
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13Yes
Records policyVI 14Yes
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY25End FY25
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$3.6M$3.4M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$9.5M$9.9M
Total assetsLn 16$13.9M$16.1M
LiabilitiesLn 26$609K$2.6M
Net assetsLn 32$13.3M$13.5M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$243K$170K$49K$24K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$6.7M$6.0M$339K$328K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$624K$565K$28K$31K
Payroll taxesLn 10$615K$554K$29K$31K
Legal feesLn 11b$180K$65K$110K$5K
Accounting feesLn 11c$245K$101K$139K$5K
Investment management feesLn 11f$427$427
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$797K$578K$209K$11K
Office expensesLn 13$427K$269K$121K$36K
Information technologyLn 14$128K$97K$15K$16K
OccupancyLn 16$622K$540K$60K$22K
TravelLn 17$35K$24K$9K$1K
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$99K$68K$27K$5K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$272K$236K$25K$10K
InsuranceLn 23$103K$37K$63K$3K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$879K$878K$742$188
Total functional expensesLn 25$12.0M$10.2M$1.2M$529K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest Viewing $12.1M$12.0M$140K$13.5M 990 PDF
FY2024 $18.9M$9.8M$9.2M$13.3M 990 PDF
FY2023 $8.5M$8.7M−$151K$11.9M 990 PDF
FY2022 $8.4M$8.1M$349K$12.0M 990 PDF
FY2021 $9.3M$7.6M$1.7M$11.7M 990 PDF
FY2020 $9.9M$8.3M$1.6M$9.9M 990 PDF

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Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons I · Grants A · Public support M · Noncash J · Pay O · Explanations
See the full FY2025 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $12,094,505 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $15,851,969$9,533,784
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $1,726,379$2,469,759
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $167,078$90,962
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $1,187,450$0
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $18,932,876$12,094,505
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $0$0
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $6,634,801$8,166,569
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $3,132,745$3,787,546
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $9,767,546$11,954,115
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $9,165,330$140,390
Part VI · Governance 15 of 15 board members independent, 1 to look at
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body15
VI-1b Independent voting members15
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payNo
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsNo
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyYes
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $12,094,505 across 7 lines filed
VIII-1e Government grants$6,682,932
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$2,850,852
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$101,874
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$9,533,784
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $2,469,759$2,469,759
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $90,962$90,962
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $2,469,759 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $90,962$12,094,505
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $11,954,115 across 16 lines filed
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $169,809 · Management $48,517 · Fundraising $24,258$242,584
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $6,018,163 · Management $339,451 · Fundraising $328,024$6,685,638
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $564,874 · Management $27,771 · Fundraising $31,073$623,718
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $554,266 · Management $29,163 · Fundraising $31,200$614,629
IX-11b Legal feesPrograms $65,036 · Management $110,166 · Fundraising $4,548$179,750
IX-11c Accounting feesPrograms $101,169 · Management $138,754 · Fundraising $5,094$245,017
IX-11f Investment management feesManagement $427$427
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $577,769 · Management $208,688 · Fundraising $11,001$797,458
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $269,169 · Management $121,260 · Fundraising $36,244$426,673
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $97,403 · Management $14,630 · Fundraising $16,120$128,153
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $540,198 · Management $59,748 · Fundraising $22,060$622,006
IX-17 TravelPrograms $24,319 · Management $9,462 · Fundraising $1,129$34,910
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $68,186 · Management $26,596 · Fundraising $4,666$99,448
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $235,988 · Management $25,427 · Fundraising $10,373$271,788
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $37,272 · Management $63,136 · Fundraising $2,606$103,014
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $877,972 · Management $742 · Fundraising $188$878,902
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $10,201,593 · Management $1,223,938 · Fundraising $528,584$11,954,115
Part X · Balance sheet $16,065,294 assets, 15 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $497,160$485,427
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $3,118,396$2,951,476
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $481,381$665,468
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $214,000$262,077
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $105,415$100,062
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $9,467,035$9,929,544
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $50,118$1,671,240
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $13,933,505$16,065,294
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $583,239$954,903
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $25,827$1,645,562
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $609,066$2,600,465
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $12,780,955$13,053,295
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $543,484$411,534
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $13,324,439$13,464,829
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $13,933,505$16,065,294
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $13,464,829 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$12,094,505
XI-2 Total expenses$11,954,115
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$140,390
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$13,324,439
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$13,464,829

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2025 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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