Smart Start Rowan Inc
Smart Start Rowan Inc is a public charity based in Salisbury, North Carolina, formed in 1998. It works with community partners to plan, fund, and implement early childhood education, health, and family support initiatives.
Smart Start Rowan Inc at a glance
In short: Smart Start Rowan Inc gave $2.3M across 14 grants in 2025 (avg $167K), mostly in North Carolina. 0% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $2,338,594
- -3.7% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 14
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $167,042
- -3.7% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $146,370
- Total assets
- $286,815
- -7.0% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 0% first-time grantees (0 of 14, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- North Carolina (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Smart Start Rowan Inc
- Contact
Mailing address: 1329 S Jake Alexander Blvd, Salisbury, NC 28146
Phone: (704) 630-9085
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Smart Start Rowan Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Rowan-Salisbury Schools ($543K). Together the top 10 received $2.3M.
Grant Size Distribution
68 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $100–250K range: 32 grants of 68 (47%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
All grant dollars reported for 2025 went to recipients in North Carolina.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 14 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Smart Start Rowan Inc open to new grantees?
0%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 0 of 14 grantees (0%) were first-time recipients. With only 14 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 7 points. How we count
- 100% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+3%). 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.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $2.2M (2020) to $2.4M (2024). In 2025 it made 14 grants totaling $2.3M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Rowan-Salisbury Schools Salisbury, NC | NCPK | $542,850 |
| Partners in Learning Child Development Center Salisbury, NC | NCPK, SLE | $394,967 |
| Cornerstone Child Development Center Salisbury, NC | NCPK, SLE | $277,248 |
| Kiddie Land Kindergarten Salisbury, NC | NCPK, SLE | $218,737 |
| St John's Child Development Center Salisbury, NC | NCPK, SLE | $199,523 |
| Rowan County Health Department Salisbury, NC | Healthy Beginnings, CCHC | $155,351 |
| Kannapolis City Schools Kannapolis, NC | NCPK | $149,520 |
| Salisbury-Rowan Community Action Agency Salisbury, NC | NCPK | $143,220 |
| South Rowan Academy China Grove, NC | NCPK, SLE | $136,576 |
| First United Methodist Church CDC Salisbury, NC | NCPK, SLE | $56,816 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $286,815 | $3,449,756 | $3,456,621 | $2,338,594 | 14 | $168 |
| 2024 | $308,324 | $3,615,994 | $3,542,176 | $2,427,905 | 14 | $221 |
| 2023 | $218,966 | $3,347,854 | $3,452,274 | $2,353,241 | 14 | $196 |
| 2022 | $356,761 | $3,315,234 | $3,321,038 | $2,279,250 | 13 | $191 |
| 2021 | $327,465 | $3,328,625 | $3,279,367 | $2,356,092 | 13 | $192 |
| 2020 | $283,209 | $3,077,393 | $3,116,161 | $2,244,018 | 14 | $169 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The organization’s stated mission is: “In collaboration with our community partners, we plan, fund and implement quality early childhood education, health, and family support initiatives.”
Its reported programs include North Carolina Pre-K, child care subsidy assistance, child care quality improvement, and family support. In its 2024 filing, the organization reported that 377 children were served through North Carolina Pre-K across 17 sites and 28 classrooms. It also reported that 179 children received child care subsidy assistance through Rowan County Department of Social Services; 58 child care facilities or family child care homes received technical assistance; and 340 parents and caregivers participated in family support programs.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, SMART START ROWAN reported 14 grants totaling $2,338,594. Grant amounts ranged from $5,103 to $542,850, with a median of $146,370. The largest reported grants included $542,850 to Rowan-Salisbury Schools for NCPK; $394,967 to Partners in Learning Child Development Center for NCPK and SLE; and $277,248 to Cornerstone Child Development Center for NCPK and SLE.
Other notable grants included $218,737 to Kiddie Land Kindergarten, $199,523 to St John’s Child Development Center, and $149,520 to Kannapolis City Schools. The filing also lists $155,351 to Rowan County Health Department for Healthy Beginnings and CCHC, and $45,000 to Terrie Hess Child Advocacy Center for Triple P. Salisbury-Rowan Community Action Agency received $143,220 for NCPK.
Salisbury-Rowan Community Action Agency describes its mission as providing education, child care, and other services to underprivileged residents of Salisbury and two surrounding counties. Terrie Hess Child Advocacy Center describes its mission as serving children and families in Rowan County through a community-based center focused on preventing, identifying, investigating, prosecuting, and treating child abuse.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Billie Burris, Susan Herrington, Meredith Littell, Judy Klusman, Barbara Corriher, Lisa Clevinger, and Sheila Igo as board members; Henry Kluttz as secretary; and Lorie Aldrige as vice chair. Tamara Sheffield is also listed.
Smart Start Rowan Inc is led by Amy Brown, Executive Director on every filing since 2020; 1 of 17 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Amy Brown
Executive Director
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$74K (2020) → $90K (2025)
Jeanne Lemaster
Chair
Board Member → Vice Chair, 2024
Vice Chair → Chair, 2025
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Barbara Corriher
Board Member
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Erik Lipscomb
Board Member
Chair → Vice Chair, 2023
Vice Chair → Board Member, 2025
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lorie Aldrige
Vice Chair
Vice Chair → Chair, 2023
Chair → Vice Chair, 2025
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Melissa Oleen
Board Member
Treasurer → Secretary, 2022
Secretary → Board Member, 2025
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Toi Degree
Treasurer
Secretary → Board Member, 2023
Board Member → Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Henry Kluttz
Secretary
Board Member → Treasurer, 2022
Treasurer → Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Judy Klusman
Board Member
On filings since 2021
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Melonie Thompson
Board Member
On filings since 2021
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Tamara Sheffield
Board Member
On filings since 2021
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Meredith Littell
Board Member
On filings since 2022
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Susan Herrington
Board Member
On filings since 2022
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jerry Miller
Board Member
On filings since 2024
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sheila Igo
Board Member
On filings since 2024
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Billie Burris
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lisa Clevinger
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (12)
- Former: Billie Culp (2020–2024) — Board Member
- Former: Barbara Meidl (2022–2024) — Board Member
- Former: Marisol Marrero (2024) — Board Member
- Former: Mary Ponds (2020–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Timika Peterson (2021–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Flora Calderon - Steck (2020–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Barbara Mallett (2020) — Treasurer
- Former: Carey Swanner (2020) — Board Member
- Former: Charles Drake (2020) — Board Member
- Former: Jim Greene (2020) — Board Member
- Former: Jimmy Greene (2020) — Board Member
- Former: Sue Herrington (2020) — Chair
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 $90K, to Amy Brown (Executive Director).
Frequently asked questions about Smart Start Rowan Inc
How much does Smart Start Rowan Inc give each year?
Smart Start Rowan Inc gave $2.3M across 14 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $2.4M across 14 grants.
What is Smart Start Rowan Inc's typical grant size?
Smart Start Rowan Inc's median grant in 2025 was $146,370, and its average grant was $167,042, across 14 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does Smart Start Rowan Inc give grants?
Smart Start Rowan Inc gives mostly in North Carolina: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Salisbury, NC (10 grants).
Does Smart Start Rowan Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 14 grants with a stated purpose on Smart Start Rowan Inc's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "NCPK, SLE" (6 grants) and "NCPK" (3 grants).
Who are Smart Start Rowan Inc's largest grantees?
Smart Start Rowan Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Rowan-Salisbury Schools ($542,850), Partners in Learning Child Development Center ($394,967) and Cornerstone Child Development Center ($277,248), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 52% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Smart Start Rowan Inc?
Smart Start Rowan Inc reported $287K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $3.4M.
What does Smart Start Rowan Inc fund?
The organization’s stated mission is: “In collaboration with our community partners, we plan, fund and implement quality early childhood education, health, and family support initiatives.” See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Smart Start Rowan Inc?
Smart Start Rowan Inc has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Smart Start Rowan Inc's EIN?
Smart Start Rowan Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 56-1890324. 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.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS April 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 10, 2022)
- 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 February 5, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 20, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS November 24, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Smart Start Rowan Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 14, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/smart-start-rowan-inc-morg_abd41a81c4d3429192ff5734f0328133
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_561890324_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Smart Start Rowan Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/smart-start-rowan-inc-morg_abd41a81c4d3429192ff5734f0328133},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-14. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Smart Start Rowan Inc's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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