Smart Start of Forsyth County is a public charity based in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. It supports early childhood education and services for children and families, with a stated commitment to helping children from birth to age five build a foundation for school and life.
Key facts about Smart Start of Forsyth County
In short: Smart Start of Forsyth County gave $7.0M across 54 grants in 2025 (avg $129K), mostly in North Carolina. 17% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- EIN
- 56-1899564
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $6,951,665
- Grants made (2025)
- 54
- Average grant
- $128,735
- Median grant
- $39,688
- New grantees (estimate)
- 17% first-time grantees (9 of 54, 2025)
- Total assets
- $93,145
- Primary geography
- North Carolina (96% 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
$93K
-50.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$7.0M
-5.3% YoY
Grant Count
54
+3.8% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$129K
-8.8% YoY
Is Smart Start of Forsyth County open to new grantees?
17%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 9 of 54 grantees (17%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $14K; repeat grants $152K. How we count
Medians: $14K first-time, $60K repeat.
- 80% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−1%). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2020–2025). 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
The organization’s stated mission is “to promote equitable access to quality, comprehensive early childhood development and education in response to the needs of our community.” Its website also says it seeks to ensure that children have access to quality education and opportunities to be healthy and reach their potential.
Its 2023 filing describes programs including NC Pre-K for children considered at risk; financial assistance for eligible families through child-care subsidy programs; and training, coaching, assessments, and other quality-improvement support for early-childhood educators and providers. The filing says NC Pre-K served 805 four-year-old children in Forsyth County across public schools, Head Start, and private child-care centers.
The 2025 grant list includes schools, Head Start, child-care providers, and community organizations. Among the grantees described in their own words, Work Family Resource Center says its mission is to help parents find quality child care and support the professional development of early-childhood educators. IMPRINTS Cares says it strengthens families through services and partnerships to prepare children for life. Quality Education Institute describes itself as a school specializing in daycare and providing an educational curriculum. Forsyth Futures says it provides action-oriented data and reporting services to support local problem-solving.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, Smart Start of Forsyth County reported 54 grants totaling $6,951,665. Grant amounts ranged from $5,062 to $1,670,049, with a median of $39,688.
The largest reported grants included $1,670,049 to WinstonSalem Forsyth County Schools, $786,972 to Family Services Head Start, $429,251 to Work Family Resource Center, $388,804 to North Point Academy, and $335,771 to Bethlehem Community Center. Other notable grants included $297,502 to Childcare Network Lewisville, $269,511 to Church Child Care Plus, and $234,165 to IMPRINTS Cares.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Smart Start of Forsyth County
Ready to take the next step with Smart Start of Forsyth County?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The organization’s programs and stated community service are centered on Forsyth County, North Carolina. Its 2025 grant dollars went to recipients in North Carolina (96%) and Illinois (4%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 54 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $6.4M (2023) to $11.7M (2020). In 2025 it made 54 grants totaling $7.0M.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was WinstonSalem Forsyth County Schools ($1.7M). Together the top 10 received $4.8M.
Grant Size Distribution
270 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 141 grants of 270 (52%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| WinstonSalem Forsyth County Schools Winston-Salem, NC | — | $1,670,049 |
| Family Services Head Start Winston-Salem, NC | — | $786,972 |
| Work Family Resource Center Winston-Salem, NC | — | $429,251 |
| North Point Academy Winston-Salem, NC | — | $388,804 |
| Bethlehem Community Center Inc Winston-Salem, NC | — | $335,771 |
| Childcare Network Lewisville Lewisville, NC | — | $297,502 |
| Church Child Care Plus Walkertown, NC | — | $269,511 |
| IMPRINTS Cares Winston-Salem, NC | — | $234,165 |
| Child Care Network Reynolds Road Winston-Salem, NC | — | $216,053 |
| La Petite Academy Inc Chicago, IL | — | $214,642 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $93,145 | $10,751,011 | $10,714,064 |
| 2024 | $186,255 | $11,127,230 | $11,274,542 |
| 2023 | $455,004 | $9,447,237 | $9,690,275 |
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $93,145 | $186,255 | $455,004 |
| Revenue | $10,751,011 | $11,127,230 | $9,447,237 |
| Expenses | $10,714,064 | $11,274,542 | $9,690,275 |
| Net Investment Income | $2,058 | $4,813 | $1,277 |
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 13, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS October 27, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 12, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 1, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 8, 2025)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS March 31, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Louis Finney as Chief Executive Officer and Elizabeth Wallace as Chief Financial Officer. Directors listed on that filing are Martha Wood, Denise Hartsfield, Vivien Stearns, Effie McMillan, Brian Hart, Dorothy Pearce Brady, Tonya McDaniel, and Shana Heilbron.
Smart Start of Forsyth County is led by Louis Finney, Chief Executive Officer since 2021 (on filings since 2020); 2 of 21 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Louis Finney
Chief Executive Officer
Chief Executive Officer From January → Chief Executive Officer, 2021
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$91K (2021) → $157K (2025)
Tembila Covington
Board Chair
Secretary → Vice Chair, 2023
Vice Chair → Board Chair, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Elizabeth Wallace
Chief Financial Officer
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$29K (2023) → $94K (2025)
Bennett Bruff
Treasurer
Finance Committee Chair & Treasurer → Treasurer, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Denise Hartsfield
Board Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Reggie McCaskill
Board Member
Board Vice Chair → Chair, 2023
Chair → Board Member, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Vivien Stearns
Board Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Wilson Weaver
Board Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Brian Hart
Board Member
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Dorothy Pearce Brady
Board Member
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Effie McMillan
Board Member
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jessica McCrory
Secretary
Board Member → Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Linda Jackson Barnes
Vice Chair
Board Member → Vice Chair, 2024
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tonya McDaniel
Board Member
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jessica Ijames
Board Member
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Martha Wood
Board Member
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Shana Heilbron
Board Member
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Alfred McQueen
Board Member
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Dennette Bailey
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kizzy Lea
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Stephanie Spencer
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (28)
- Former: Deborah Best (2020–2024) — Board Member
- Former: Theressa Stephens (2020–2024) — Board Member
- Former: Emily Rector (2021–2024) — Board Member
- Former: Takeisha Redd (2023–2024) — Board Member
- Former: Sabrina Hinton (2020–2023) — Secretary
- Former: Anna Miller Fitzwater (2020–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Cleopatra Morrison (2020–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Deborah Reynolds (2020–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Diana Santos Johnson (2020–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Doug Punger (2020–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Elizabeth Perkins Lee (2020–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Joan Troost (2020–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Katrina Tucker (2020–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Sabrina Simpson (2020–2022) — Chief Financial Officer
- Former: Sheryll Strode (2020–2022) — Board Chair
- Former: Kristin Toruno (2021–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Victor Isler (2021–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Thomas Long (2022) — Chief Financial Officer
- Former: Anthony Jones (2020) — Board Member
- Former: Eric Sadler (2020) — Board Member
- Former: Ginger Gallagher (2020) — Board Member
- Former: Heather Egan (2020) — Board Member
- Former: Jacqueline K Lofton (2020) — Chief Executive Officer
- Former: Kelley Bendheim (2020) — Board Member
- Former: Lawrence D Vellani (2020) — Chief Executive Officer - Former
- Former: Matt Britt (2020) — Board Member
- Former: Susanne Wilkinson (2020) — Board Member
- Former: Trey Howe (2020) — Board Member
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "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 $157K, to Louis Finney (Chief Executive Officer). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Contact
Mailing address: 7820 North Point Blvd Suite 200, Winston Salem, NC 27106
Phone: (336) 725-6011
Website: https://smartstart-fc.org
Frequently asked questions about Smart Start of Forsyth County
How much does Smart Start of Forsyth County give each year?
Smart Start of Forsyth County gave $7.0M across 54 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $7.3M across 52 grants.
What is Smart Start of Forsyth County's typical grant size?
Smart Start of Forsyth County's median grant in 2025 was $39,688, and its average grant was $128,735, across 54 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Smart Start of Forsyth County that year got $14K on average.
Where does Smart Start of Forsyth County give grants?
Smart Start of Forsyth County gives mostly in North Carolina: 96% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Winston-Salem, NC (43 grants), Kernersville, NC (4 grants), Chicago, IL (2 grants) and Clemmons, NC (2 grants).
Who are Smart Start of Forsyth County's largest grantees?
Smart Start of Forsyth County's largest 2025 grantees include WinstonSalem Forsyth County Schools ($1,670,049), Family Services Head Start ($786,972) and Work Family Resource Center ($429,251), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 42% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Smart Start of Forsyth County?
Smart Start of Forsyth County reported $93K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $10.8M.
What does Smart Start of Forsyth County fund?
The organization’s stated mission is “to promote equitable access to quality, comprehensive early childhood development and education in response to the needs of our community.” See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Smart Start of Forsyth County?
Smart Start of Forsyth County has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check smartstart-fc.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Smart Start of Forsyth County's EIN?
Smart Start of Forsyth County's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 56-1899564. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Here's the math on researching Smart Start of Forsyth County by hand.
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