The North Carolina Partnership for Children (NCPC) is a public charity based in Raleigh, North Carolina. Founded in 1993, it serves as the statewide backbone organization for Smart Start, supporting 75 Local Partnerships that serve communities across North Carolina.
Key facts about North Carolina Partnership for Children Inc
In short: North Carolina Partnership for Children Inc gave $126.5M across 77 grants in 2025 (avg $1.6M), mostly in North Carolina. 1% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- EIN
- 56-1850485
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $126,521,530
- Grants made (2025)
- 77
- Average grant
- $1,643,137
- Median grant
- $1,018,253
- New grantees (estimate)
- 1% first-time grantees (1 of 77, 2025)
- Total assets
- $11,662,873
- Primary geography
- North Carolina (94% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990 · View filing
Total Assets
$11.7M
-13.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$126.5M
+9.3% YoY
Grant Count
77
-7.2% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$1.6M
+17.8% YoY
Is North Carolina Partnership for Children Inc open to new grantees?
1%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 1 of 77 grantees (1%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $11M; repeat grants $1.5M. How we count
Medians: $11M first-time, $1M repeat.
- 99% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+18%). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2019–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
NCPC’s stated mission is to lead and strengthen the Smart Start Network by setting statewide vision, policy, and funding priorities, and equipping Local Partnerships with guidance, coordination, tools, and resources. Its work includes maintaining fiscal and programmatic accountability and connecting local organizations to the broader early childhood system.
The organization’s reported program areas include network backbone and capacity-building support; early care and education access, quality, and workforce support; early literacy; and recovery support for Western North Carolina communities affected by Hurricane Helene. Reported activities include child care subsidies and workforce supports, professional development and quality improvement, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library and other literacy strategies, and grants to providers and operators through Local Partnerships.
In 2025, the largest listed grantee, Early Years Inc., received funding associated with child care wages. Early Years describes its work as strengthening access to affordable, quality early care and education through support for families, communities, and the workforce. Other listed recipients include local Smart Start and children’s partnerships. Durham’s Partnership for Children describes its mission as leading community strategies for children from birth to five and their families; Onslow County Partnership for Children says it connects children and families to programs and resources; and Smart Start of Forsyth County describes its work as promoting equitable access to comprehensive early childhood development and education.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, NCPC reported 77 grants totaling $126,521,530. Grant amounts ranged from $177,035 to $11,322,926, with a median of $1,018,253.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
NCPC’s Smart Start Network operates through Local Partnerships serving all 100 North Carolina counties. In 2025, 94% of reported grant dollars went to recipients in North Carolina and 6% to recipients in Tennessee.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 77 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $99.0M (2019) to $126.5M (2025). In 2025 it made 77 grants totaling $126.5M.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Early Years Inc ($11.3M). Together the top 10 received $60.8M.
Grant Size Distribution
392 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $1–5M range: 162 grants of 392 (41%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Early Years Inc Chapel Hill, NC | Child Care Wage$ | $11,322,926 |
| Wake County Smartstart Raleigh, NC | NC Young Children | $8,837,980 |
| The Dollywood Foundation Pigeon Forge, TN | Early Literacy | $7,703,625 |
| Mecklenburg Partnership for Children Charlotte, NC | NC Young Children | $7,110,629 |
| Durham's Partnership for Children Durham, NC | NC Young Children | $5,723,842 |
| Onslow County Partnership for Children Inc Jacksonville, NC | NC Young Children | $5,140,444 |
| Smart Start of Forsyth County Winston-Salem, NC | NC Young Children | $4,614,777 |
| Partnership for Children of Cumberland County Inc Fayetteville, NC | NC Young Children | $3,757,008 |
| Guilford County Partnership for Children Inc Greensboro, NC | NC Young Children | $3,543,641 |
| Buncombe County Partnership for Children Inc Asheville, NC | NC Young Children | $3,055,117 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $11,662,873 | $134,009,549 | $133,592,886 | $126,521,530 |
| 2024 | $13,435,725 | $123,946,896 | $122,917,399 | $115,786,960 |
| 2023 | $19,071,119 | $121,733,617 | $121,304,943 | $113,567,481 |
NCPC reported that Smart Start invested $150 million to strengthen the early childhood system in FY 2024–2025. The filing separately reports $126,521,530 in grants for filing year 2025.
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $11,662,873 | $13,435,725 | $19,071,119 |
| Revenue | $134,009,549 | $123,946,896 | $121,733,617 |
| Expenses | $133,592,886 | $122,917,399 | $121,304,943 |
| Net Investment Income | $29,448 | $13,171 | $9,584 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 12, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 13, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS June 21, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 13, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 13, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS June 30, 2020)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 14, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists the following directors: Rev. Renee B. Bethea, Victoria Brown, Yvonne Copeland, Madison S. Downing, Francesca Gary, Sherry Heuser, Dr. Anthony D. Jackson, Betty Crow Kennedy, Rosa Maria Matthews, and Ashley Neal.
North Carolina Partnership for Children Inc is led by Amy Cubbage, President on every filing since 2021; 4 of 29 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Amy Cubbage
President
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$71K (2021) → $150K (2025)
Charles Bowman
Chair
Director → Chair, 2021
On filings since 2020
0.4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Rebecca Simpkin
Director
On filings since 2019
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Amy Rhyne
Director
Directory → Director, 2021
On filings since 2020
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Anthony D. Jackson
Director
On filings since 2020
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Joseph C. Patterson
Director
Director Secretary → Secretary, 2021
Secretary → Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mary Olvera
Director
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Tina Sherman
Director
On filings since 2020
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Khadijia Tribie Reid
Director
On filings since 2021
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Madison S. Downing
Director
On filings since 2021
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sandy Weathersbee
Director
On filings since 2021
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ashley Neal
Director
Director Fr: → Director, 2024
On filings since 2023
0.4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Betty Crow Kennedy
Director
Director Fr: → Director, 2024
On filings since 2023
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Francesca Gary
Director
Director Fr: → Director, 2024
On filings since 2023
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Rosa Maria Matthews
Director
Director Fr: → Director, 2024
On filings since 2023
0.4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Victoria Brown
Director
Director Fr: → Director, 2024
On filings since 2023
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Elizabeth Hope Star
Director
On filings since 2024
0.4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ereka Williams
Director
Director Fr: → Director, 2025
On filings since 2024
0.4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Laurie S. Urland
Director
Director Fr: → Director, 2025
On filings since 2024
0.4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Renee B. Bethea
Director
Director Fr: → Director, 2025
On filings since 2024
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sherry Heuser
Director
Director Fr: → Director, 2025
On filings since 2024
0.4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Candace Witherspoon
Director
New on the 2025 filing
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Yvonne Copeland
Director
New on the 2025 filing
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Safiyah Jackson
Vice President
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$88K (2021) → $129K (2025)
Jessica Carter
Assistant Secretary
Assistant Secretary Fr: → Assistant Secretary, 2025
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$84K (2024) → $86K (2025)
Joseph Brownlee
CFO & Assistant Treasurer
CFO & Assistant Treasurer Fr: → CFO & Assistant Treasurer, 2025
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$98K (2025)
Cassandra Brooks
Vice Chair
Director → Director & V Ch Fr:, 2023
Director & V Ch Fr: → Vice Chair, 2024
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Laurie Stradley
Treasurer
Director → Treasurer, 2022
On filings since 2021
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Page Ives Lemel
Secretary
Director Fr: → Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2023
0.6 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (37)
- Former: Monika Hostler (2019–2024) — Director Thr:
- Former: Nell Rose (2019–2024) — Director
- Former: Rebecca Ayers (2019–2024) — Director Thr:
- Former: Stanley A. Lewis (2019–2024) — Director Thr:
- Former: Lisa C. Rash (2020–2024) — CFO, Assistant Treasurer & Secretary Thr:
- Former: Ariel Ford (2021–2024) — Director Thr:
- Former: Channah Vanregenmorter (2023–2024) — Director Thr:
- Former: Melissa Cheston (2024) — Assistant Treasurer Fr:
- Former: Cheryl Cavanaugh (2019–2023) — Director Fr: Thr:
- Former: Elizabeth Star Winer (2019–2023) — Director
- Former: Martha Jane Eblen (2019–2023) — Director Thr:
- Former: Patrick Danahy (2019–2023) — Director Thr:
- Former: Paul Popish (2019–2023) — Director Thr:
- Former: Susan Gale Perry (2019–2023) — Director Thr:
- Former: Danielle Gray (2020–2023) — Director Thr: & V Ch Thr:
- Former: Kevin Leonard (2020–2023) — Director Thr:
- Former: Phillip Carper (2021–2023) — Director Thr:
- Former: Donna White (2019–2021) — Interim President
- Former: James Dodson (2019–2021) — Assistant Secretary & Assistant Treasurer
- Former: Anna Carter (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Anna J. Mercer-McLean (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Charles Morris (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Cindy Watkins (2019–2020) — President
- Former: David Edge (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Douglas S. Punger (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: James R. Morrison (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: John Zachary Everhart (2019–2020) — Treasurer
- Former: Lisa Mabe Eads (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Lorie C. Barnes (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Melissa R. Johnson (2019–2020) — Secretary
- Former: Nancy H. Brown (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Robert L. Eagle (2019–2020) — Vice Chair
- Former: Sue Russell (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Terry D. Maybin (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Darlene Ennett (2020) — Director
- Former: Kristi Snuggs (2020) — Director
- Former: Ellen Preston (2019) — Assistant Treasurer
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $150K, to Ms Amy Cubbage (President). 4 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Contact
Mailing address: 1100 Wake Forest Road, Raleigh, NC 27604
Phone: (919) 821-7999
Website: https://smartstart.org
Frequently asked questions about North Carolina Partnership for Children Inc
How much does North Carolina Partnership for Children Inc give each year?
North Carolina Partnership for Children Inc gave $126.5M across 77 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $115.8M across 83 grants.
What is North Carolina Partnership for Children Inc's typical grant size?
North Carolina Partnership for Children Inc's median grant in 2025 was $1,018,253, and its average grant was $1,643,137, across 77 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from North Carolina Partnership for Children Inc that year got $11M on average.
Where does North Carolina Partnership for Children Inc give grants?
North Carolina Partnership for Children Inc gives mostly in North Carolina: 94% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The next largest state was Tennessee (6%). The most frequent recipient cities were Chapel Hill, NC (2 grants).
Does North Carolina Partnership for Children Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 77 grants with a stated purpose on North Carolina Partnership for Children Inc's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "NC Young Children" (75 grants).
Who are North Carolina Partnership for Children Inc's largest grantees?
North Carolina Partnership for Children Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Early Years Inc ($11,322,926), Wake County Smartstart ($8,837,980) and The Dollywood Foundation ($7,703,625), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 22% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is North Carolina Partnership for Children Inc?
North Carolina Partnership for Children Inc reported $11.7M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $134.0M.
What does North Carolina Partnership for Children Inc fund?
NCPC’s stated mission is to lead and strengthen the Smart Start Network by setting statewide vision, policy, and funding priorities, and equipping Local Partnerships with guidance, coordination, tools, and resources. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from North Carolina Partnership for Children Inc?
North Carolina Partnership for Children Inc has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check smartstart.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is North Carolina Partnership for Children Inc's EIN?
North Carolina Partnership for Children Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 56-1850485. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
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