Burke County Smart Start Inc
To reach out, bring together and empower families, churches, schools, businesses, and government to improve the lives of young children
Burke County Smart Start Inc at a glance
In short: Burke County Smart Start Inc gave $4.1M across 8 grants in 2026 (avg $507K), mostly in North Carolina. Source: 2026 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2026)
- $4,056,111
- -10.3% vs 2025
- Grants made (2026)
- 8
- +14.3% vs 2025
- Average grant
- $507,014
- -21.5% vs 2025
- Median grant
- $183,674
- Total assets
- $1,260,526
- +841.0% vs 2025
- Primary geography
- North Carolina (100% of itemized 2026 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2026 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2026; updated November 2026.
Who Burke County Smart Start Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 8 recipients in 2026
The largest 2026 recipient was Burke County Public School ($1.6M). Together the top 8 received $4.1M.
Grant Size Distribution
36 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $1–5M range: 10 grants of 36 (28%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2026 grant dollars across all 8 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Burke County Smart Start Inc gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2023 to 2026 (+8%). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2026, annual grant giving ranged from $3.4M (2020) to $4.5M (2025). In 2026 it made 8 grants totaling $4.1M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Burke County Public School Morganton, NC | Part Time Program-Steps, NC Pre-K Classrooms | $1,579,437 |
| Child Care Connections of Burke County Inc Morganton, NC | Child care resource & referral; child care quality; dual subsidy - affordability | $1,481,054 |
| Blue Ridge Community Action Morganton, NC | Nc pre-k classrooms; hh loss wages/revenue; hurricane recovery; disaster relief | $505,636 |
| Creative Beginnings LLC Morganton, NC | Nc pre-k classrooms; hh loss wages/revenue; hurricane recovery; disaster relief | $252,660 |
| Giggles & Grins Childcare Learning Center Morganton, NC | NC Pre-K Classroom | $114,688 |
| Giggles & Grins 3 Child Care & Learning Center Morganton, NC | NC Pre-K Classroom | $79,411 |
| Burke County Literacy Council Inc Morganton, NC | Family Literacy Program - Early Childhood Education | $33,225 |
| Partnership of the Foothills Forest City, NC | Community Outreach | $10,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $1,260,526 | $5,721,154 | $4,589,313 | $4,056,111 | 8 | $12,893 |
| 2025 | $133,963 | $5,035,112 | $4,995,439 | $4,522,543 | 7 | $5,548 |
| 2024 | $92,408 | $4,379,239 | $4,354,960 | $3,858,801 | 7 | $1,507 |
| 2023 | $67,373 | $4,093,722 | $4,131,330 | $3,748,400 | 7 | $3,137 |
| 2022 | $107,218 | $4,120,775 | $4,124,716 | $3,749,804 | 7 | $2,978 |
| 2021 | $112,195 | $4,299,524 | $4,289,977 | $3,896,129 | 7 | $2,404 |
| 2020 | $128,146 | $3,942,902 | $3,936,195 | $3,388,488 | 8 | $2,737 |
About Burke County Smart Start Inc
Based on IRS filings
Burke County Smart Start Inc is a public charity focused on Education, based in Morganton, NC. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2026. As of 2026, the organization holds $1.3M in total assets. In 2026, it awarded 8 grants totaling $4.1M. Net investment income was $13K.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Burke County Smart Start Inc is led by Kathy Smith, Executive Director on every filing since 2020; 1 of 19 officers listed in 2026 is compensated.
Officers on the 2026 filing
Kathy Smith
Executive Director
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$63K (2020) → $80K (2026)
Joset Taylor
Board Chair
Director → Board Chair, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Denise Hudson
Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jim Wilson
Director
Vice Chair → Director, 2025
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kasey Gardner
Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Rebecca McLeod
Director
Chair → Director, 2022
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Tina Mosley
Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Valerie Shook
Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jacquie Grady
Director
On filings since 2024
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Miranda Smith
Director
On filings since 2024
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Thadd Hodge
Director
On filings since 2024
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Brian Barrier
Director
On filings since 2025
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kay Milton
Director
On filings since 2025
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jessica James
Director
New on the 2026 filing
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Charles M. Schlein
Secretary
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
David L. Rust Jr.
Board Member
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jasper Hemphill
Vice Chair
Director → Vice Chair, 2025
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sally Sandy
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Stephanie Ashley
Board Member
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (8)
- Former: Brandon Collins (2020–2025) — Director
- Former: Phil Smith (2023–2024) — Director
- Former: David Burleson (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Julia Terrell (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Mike Swan (2022–2023) — Director
- Former: Chae Moore (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Scott Mulwee (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Larry Putnam (2020) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2026. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2026 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2026 filing was $80K, to Kathy Smith (Executive Director).
Frequently asked questions about Burke County Smart Start Inc
How much does Burke County Smart Start Inc give each year?
Burke County Smart Start Inc gave $4.1M across 8 grants in 2026, according to its 2026 IRS Form 990. In 2025 it gave $4.5M across 7 grants.
What is Burke County Smart Start Inc's typical grant size?
Burke County Smart Start Inc's median grant in 2026 was $183,674, and its average grant was $507,014, across 8 grants on its 2026 IRS Form 990.
Where does Burke County Smart Start Inc give grants?
Burke County Smart Start Inc gives mostly in North Carolina: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2026 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Morganton, NC (7 grants).
Does Burke County Smart Start Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2026: none of the 8 grants with a stated purpose on Burke County Smart Start Inc's 2026 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support.
Who are Burke County Smart Start Inc's largest grantees?
Burke County Smart Start Inc's largest 2026 grantees include Burke County Public School ($1,579,437), Child Care Connections of Burke County Inc ($1,481,054) and Blue Ridge Community Action ($505,636), according to its 2026 IRS Form 990. Together they received 88% of its itemized 2026 grant dollars.
How large is Burke County Smart Start Inc?
Burke County Smart Start Inc reported $1.3M in total assets on its 2026 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $5.7M.
What is Burke County Smart Start Inc?
Burke County Smart Start Inc is a public charity focused on Education, based in Morganton, NC. It holds $1.3M in total assets as of 2026.
What is Burke County Smart Start Inc's EIN?
Burke County Smart Start Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 56-1852721. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2026.
Data last updated November 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2026 (received by the IRS September 23, 2026)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS February 1, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS December 9, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 29, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS February 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS February 10, 2025)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS November 7, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
Live grants for the work Burke County Smart Start Inc funds
Education Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Burke County Smart Start Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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