The organizations primary exempt purpose and mission is to support services that provide opportunities for every child to grow into his or her potential as a person. The Local Partnership will provide Smart Start services as approved by The North Carolina Partnership for Children, Inc. The approved services to be purchased or provided under this contract are limited to those indicated and described below.
Key facts about Smart Start of Pender County
In short: Smart Start of Pender County gave $233K across 1 grant in 2025 (avg $233K), mostly in North Carolina. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- EIN
- 56-2044085
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $233,250
- Grants made (2025)
- 1
- Average grant
- $233,250
- Median grant
- $233,250
- Total assets
- $32,071
- Primary geography
- North Carolina (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990 · View filing
Total Assets
$32K
-28.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$233K
+0.0% YoY
Grant Count
1
+0.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$233K
+0.0% YoY
About Smart Start of Pender County
Based on IRS filings
Smart Start of Pender County is a public charity focused on Education, based in Burgaw, NC. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $32K in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 1 grant totaling $233K.
Focus Areas
Open Grants
3 open opportunities from Smart Start of Pender County
Professional Development Financial Incentive
Smart Start of Pender County
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Quality Improvement Incentive Grant (0-3 Star Facilities)
Smart Start of Pender County
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Quality Maintenance Bonus Incentive Grant (4-5 Star Facilities)
Smart Start of Pender County
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of the 2025 grant dollars on its one itemized grant.
States
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2022 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $2K (2022) to $233K (2025). In 2025 it made 1 grant totaling $233K.
Hatched bars: grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top recipient in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Pender County Department of Social Services ($233K).
Grant Size Distribution
2 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $100–250K range: 2 grants of 2 (100%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Pender County Department of Social Services Burgaw, NC | Cash Grant | $233,250 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $32,071 | $44,636 | $22,849 |
| Revenue | $498,216 | $472,747 | $492,217 |
| Expenses | $514,556 | $458,837 | $493,887 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 12, 2023)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Smart Start of Pender County is led by Connie CarrCostin, Executive Director on every filing since 2020; 1 of 19 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Connie CarrCostin
Executive Director
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$66K (2020) → $86K (2025)
Leslie Green
Board Chair
Vice Chair → Board Chair, 2022
On filings since 2020
0.4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Angela Beacham
Board Member
On filings since 2020
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Dean Walker
Board Member
On filings since 2020
0 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Donald Hall
Vice President
Treasurer → Vice President, 2022
On filings since 2020
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Edith Meza
Board Member
On filings since 2020
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
James T Robbins
Former Chairman
Board Chair → Chairman, 2021
Chairman → Former Chairman, 2022
On filings since 2020
0 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sharon Willoughby
Treasurer
Secretary → Treasurer, 2022
On filings since 2020
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Stacie Poulin
Board Member
On filings since 2020
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Allen Phillips-Bell
Secretary
On filings since 2022
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Avery Ellington
Board Member
On filings since 2022
0 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sandra Sarmiento
Board Member
On filings since 2022
0 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Tandra Henderson Shepard
Board Member
On filings since 2022
0 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jerry Groves
Board Member
On filings since 2023
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sandra Morrison
Board Member
On filings since 2023
0 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Amie Watson Green
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
0 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Daisy Lee
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
0 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Donna VanVliet
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
0 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Dorothy Beatty
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
0 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (15)
- Former: William Marshburn (2020–2024) — Board Member
- Former: Kimberli Trotman (2022–2024) — Board Member
- Former: Brianna Moore (2024) — Board Member
- Former: Eugene Jordan (2020–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Cathy Guidry (2020–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Charles Aiken (2020–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Cindy Fontana (2020–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Joan Taylor (2020–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Liz Peterson (2020–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Rachel Williams (2020–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Shontel Kirby (2020–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Tonya Hooks (2020–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Samantha Murphy (2020) — Board Member
- Former: Steven Hill (2020) — Board Member
- Former: Tasha Mickens Shepard (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 $86K, to Connie CarrCostin (Executive Director).
Frequently asked questions about Smart Start of Pender County
How much does Smart Start of Pender County give each year?
Smart Start of Pender County gave $233K across 1 grant in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $233K across 1 grant.
How large is Smart Start of Pender County?
Smart Start of Pender County reported $32K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $498K.
What is Smart Start of Pender County?
Smart Start of Pender County is a public charity focused on Education, based in Burgaw, NC. It holds $32K in total assets as of 2025.
Where does Smart Start of Pender County operate?
Smart Start of Pender County has awarded grants in North Carolina.
What is Smart Start of Pender County's EIN?
Smart Start of Pender County's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 56-2044085. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Here's the math on researching Smart Start of Pender County by hand.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Smart Start of Pender County's focus areas in our free grants database
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Smart Start of Pender County down — hundreds of funders to go?