Smart Start of Forsyth County is a nonprofit early childhood education organization based in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Operating as a public-private partnership corporation, the organization enriches young lives through educational activities and support services for families, caregivers, and children from birth through age five. The organization is nationally recognized for its work in early childhood development and education.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$186K
-59.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$7.3M
+15.2% YoY
Grant Count
52
+0.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$141K
+15.2% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission Statement: To promote equitable access to quality, comprehensive early childhood development and education in response to the needs of our community.
The organization operates with a commitment to equity, believing that all children deserve access to quality and equal education, the opportunity to be happy and healthy, and the chance to reach their full potential. Smart Start of Forsyth County serves families across all races, ethnicities, cultures, religions, genders, sexual orientations, gender identities or expressions, abilities, and other demographic categories.
Primary Service Areas:
- Family Support: Educational activities and resources for families with young children, particularly those in underserved and marginalized communities
- Early Childhood Professional Development: Professional development training, educator resources, coaching, and mentoring opportunities for early childhood professionals
- Childcare Facility Support: Assistance with establishing new childcare facilities, improving quality at existing centers, preparing for licensing, understanding childcare star rating systems, and incorporating NC Pre-K classrooms
- Parent Education & Support: Parent support groups focused on child development, age-appropriate expectations, and positive discipline
- Resource Distribution: Health information, advocacy, and skill-building classes for families
Grantmaking
Smart Start of Forsyth County is a grant recipient rather than a grantmaking organization. However, the organization administers funding for early childhood initiatives:
Ready to take the next step with Smart Start of Forsyth County?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Smart Start of Forsyth County operates within Forsyth County, North Carolina, with particular emphasis on underserved and marginalized communities. Recent initiatives have specifically targeted zip code 27105 through the Place Matters strategy.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $186,255 | $455,004 | $812,037 |
| Revenue | $11,127,230 | $9,447,237 | $9,865,432 |
| Expenses | $11,274,542 | $9,690,275 | $9,532,139 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $4,813 | $1,277 | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
250 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Smart Start of Forsyth County
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Louis Finney | Chief Executive Officer | 40 | $145,124 |
| Elizabeth Wallace | Chief Financial Officer | 40 | $88,362 |
| Martha Wood | Board Member | 1 | — |
| Deborah Best | Board Member | 1 | — |
| Denise Hartsfield | Board Member | 1 | — |
| Theressa Stephens | Board Member | 1 | — |
| Vivien Stearns | Board Member | 1 | — |
| Effie McMillan | Board Member | 1 | — |
| Jessica McCrory | Secretary | 1 | — |
| Linda Jackson Barnes | Vice Chair | 1 | — |
| Brian Hart | Board Member | 1 | — |
| Dorothy Pearce Brady | Board Member | 1 | — |
| Tonya McDaniel | Board Member | 1 | — |
| Emily Rector | Board Member | 1 | — |
| Shana Heilbron | Board Member | 1 | — |
| Jessica Ijames | Board Member | 1 | — |
| Takeisha Redd | Board Member | 1 | — |
| Wilson Weaver | Board Member | 1 | — |
| Dr Alfred McQueen | Board Member | 1 | — |
| Reggie McCaskill | Board Member | 1 | — |
| Tembila Covington | Board Chair | 1 | — |
| Bennett Bruff | Treasurer | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
**August 2024:** Launched the S.T.A.R. Family Resource Center to support marginalized families with preschool-aged children
Smart Start of Forsyth Supports Family Child Care | Smart Start**September 2024:** Pre-K Model Cohort Classroom Pilot completed successfully, serving 540 children across 30 classrooms in collaboration with six partner organizations
**May 2025:** Announced search for strategic planning consultant to guide the organization's next five years, with proposals due June 12, 2025 and planning timeline from June to October 2025
**August 2025:** Announced enrollment opportunities at My Little Genius Child Development Center
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
What could you do with Smart Start of Forsyth County on Grantable?
- Assess strategic fit with your organization
- Draft a tailored letter of inquiry
- Find open RFPs from this funder
- Monitor for new funding opportunities