SOUTH CAROLINA FIRST STEPS TO SCHOOL READINESS BOARD OF TRUSTEES Charity Report

Public IRS 990 nonprofit record

SOUTH CAROLINA FIRST STEPS TO SCHOOL READINESS BOARD OF TRUSTEES

EIN 57-1087576 · Education (B012)

What they do

PER SOUTH CAROLINA CODE SECTION 59-152-30: "THE GOALS for SOUTH CAROLINA FIRST STEPS to SCHOOL READINESS ARE TO: (1) PROVIDE PARENTS WITH ACCESS to THE SUPPORT THEY MIGHT SEEK and WANT to STRENGTHEN THEIR FAMILIES and to PROMOTE THE OPTIMAL DEVELOPMENT of THEIR PRESCHOOL CHILDREN; (2) INCREASE COMPREHENSIVE SERVICES SO CHILDREN HAVE REDUCED RISK for MAJOR PHYSICAL, DEVELOPMENTAL, and LEARNING PROBLEMS; (3) PROMOTE HIGH-QUALITY PRESCHOOL PROGRAMS THAT PROVIDE A HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT THAT WILL PROMOTE NORMAL GROWTH and DEVELOPMENT; (4) PROVIDE SERVICES SO ALL CHILDREN RECEIVE THE PROTECTION, NUTRITION, and HEALTH CARE NEEDED to THRIVE IN THE EARLY YEARS of LIFE SO THEY ARRIVE AT SCHOOL READY to SUCCEED; and (5) MOBILIZE COMMUNITIES to FOCUS EFFORTS ON PROVIDING ENHANCED SERVICES to SUPPORT FAMILIES and THEIR YOUNG CHILDREN SO AS to ENABLE EVERY CHILD to REACH SCHOOL HEALTHY and READY to SUCCEED."

Before you give

Should I give to this charity?

Easy charity check

Look at where the money went

Of every $100 spent, about $96.30 was reported for mission work. Use the spending picture below and ask what results that work produced.

Plain answer: A tax form cannot prove that a charity is doing good. It can show how the charity says it spent its money—and point out questions you should ask.

Basic facts we verified

IRS warning checkNo IRS revocation warning appears in this data.

Money report from 2024The charity has a recent tax report to read.

They explain their jobThe charity tells us what it is trying to do.

They name their leaders31 people are listed in the latest report.

You can reach themThey list contact information, so you can ask questions.

Money made simple

96.76%of revenue went to mission work96.3% of expenses · Program services

0.10%of revenue went to fundraising0.1% of expenses

$100.43spent for every $100 of revenueSpending was higher than revenue this year.

3.58%of revenue went to management and office costs3.6% of expenses

$0.48in assets for every $1 spent this yearSome assets cannot be spent right away.

99.8%of its money came from giftsOther money may come from services or investments.

Ask these three easy questions

Who did you help? Ask for a recent story or report that shows real results.
What will my money do? Ask exactly what your gift will pay for.
Is this really the charity? Give only through its official website or confirmed phone number.

Worth asking: Expenses exceeded revenue by $314,294 this year. Ask whether that was planned or caused by a one-time event.

Pay context: The highest compensation shown in this filing is $122,935 for MARK BARNES (DIRECTOR-ADM). Compare pay with organizations of similar size and complexity.

Bottom line: Do not decide from a name, mission statement, or tax status alone. Look at where the money went, then ask what changed, who was helped, and what your gift will do. YouCanGiveBack does not endorse or grade organizations.

Money

Financial picture

Tax year 2024

A plain-language look at the latest Form 990 figures available. These numbers help you ask better questions; they do not, by themselves, rate whether a charity is good or bad.

$100revenue

How each $100 of revenue was used

The large number compares each expense with revenue. The smaller number shows its share of total expenses.

Total reported revenue$72,391,847

Mission workProgram services$70,044,61996.76% of revenue96.3% of expenses

ManagementOffice and general costs$2,589,8553.58% of revenue3.6% of expenses

FundraisingAsking for donations$71,6670.10% of revenue0.1% of expenses

Total expenses$72,706,141100.43% of revenue

Expenses were greater than revenue, so the colored ring fills the available $100 and the total above 100% is shown below.

Has the pattern changed?

Colored bars = expense mix: how each year’s expenses were divided. Total expenses vs. revenue shows whether the charity spent less or more than it received. The current filing is first.

YearExpense mixDetails

2024CurrentExpense mix: 96.3% mission · 3.6% management · 0.1% fundraisingTotal expenses: 100.43% of revenue

2023Expense mix: 96.5% mission · 3.4% management · 0.1% fundraisingTotal expenses: 104.36% of revenue

2022Expense mix: 95.9% mission · 4.0% management · 0.1% fundraisingTotal expenses: 96.83% of revenue

2021Expense mix: 96.3% mission · 3.7% management · 0.0% fundraisingTotal expenses: 82.36% of revenue

2020Expense mix: 96.1% mission · 3.9% management · 0.0% fundraisingTotal expenses: 83.19% of revenue

2019Expense mix: 96.6% mission · 3.4% management · 0.0% fundraisingTotal expenses: 108.20% of revenue

2018Expense mix: 96.6% mission · 3.4% management · 0.0% fundraisingTotal expenses: 100.68% of revenue

2017Expense mix: 97.4% mission · 2.6% management · 0.0% fundraisingTotal expenses: 97.85% of revenue

Money in and money out

Revenue$72,391,847

Expenses$72,706,141

Annual shortfall $314,294 Expenses were higher than revenue for this filing year.

Reported spending amounts

Mission work means the Form 990 category called program services. These are reported accounting categories—not an independent measurement of results.

Mission work (program services)$70,044,619 · 96.3% of expenses

Management and office costs$2,589,855 · 3.6% of expenses

Fundraising$71,667 · 0.1% of expenses

See all reported dollar amounts

Revenue$72,391,847

Expenses$72,706,141

Assets$34,656,167

Income$72,391,847

Contributions$72,280,922

Mission work (program services)$70,044,619

Fundraising$71,667

Grants given$339,166,771

Average grant$712,535

Management and general$2,589,855

Accounting fees$921,747

People

Leadership and board

Tax year 2024

Names, titles, time, and compensation below are reported by the organization on its Form 990.

People reported as paid

Person and titleCompensation

MARK BARNESDIRECTOR-ADM · 40 hrs/week $122,935

MARTHA STRICKLAND4K STATE DIR · 40 hrs/week $109,189

BETTY GARDNERDIRECT-GRANT · 40 hrs/week $101,026

DAVID OKELLYCHIEF FINAN · 40 hrs/week $99,692

DEREK CROMWELLCHIEF PARTNE · 40 hrs/week $96,957

TRACY ANN VANDERVLIETEXEC DIR-EFF · 40 hrs/week $23,960

Compensation alone does not tell whether pay is reasonable. Consider the charity’s size, work, location, and results.

See everyone listed on the board or leadership roster (31)

MARK BARNESDIRECTOR-ADM

MARTHA STRICKLAND4K STATE DIR

BETTY GARDNERDIRECT-GRANT

DAVID OKELLYCHIEF FINAN

DEREK CROMWELLCHIEF PARTNE

TRACY ANN VANDERVLIETEXEC DIR-EFF

TERRY ALEXANDERHOUSE REPRES

SUE WILLIAMSCHILDRENS T

SHANNON ERICKSONHOUSE REPRES

ROGER PRYOR JRCHILD CARE P

ROBERT KERRDHHS DIRECTO

ROBERT BANKDMH-ACTING D

MICHAEL LEACHDSS, DIRECTO

MATTHEW FERGUSONSUP EDUC DES

MARY LYNNE DIGGSHEAD START C

MARY ANNE SCOTTEAR EDUCATO

AMY WILLIAMSMEDICAL PROV

WES WOOTENCHILD CARE P

JOHN HAYESEARLY CHILDH

JESICA MACKEYPARENT-TERM

JANIE NEELEYPARENT - YOU

JACQUE CURTINBUSINESS COM

JACK MCBRIDEBUSINESS CO

GREG HEMBREESENATE

GERALD MALLOYSENATE

EDWARD SIMMERDHEC DIRECTO

DOROTHY PRIESTERLOCAL PSHIP

DAVID LISKLOCAL PSHIP

DAVE MORLEYGOVERNOR DES

CONSTANCE HOLLOWAYDDSN, DIRECT

BRENDA WILLIAMSMEDICAL PROV

About this charity

Recognized since: January 2000
Location: 636 ROSEWOOD DRIVE, COLUMBIA, SC 29201-4683
County: Richland
In care of: TRACY ANN VANDERVLIET
Primary officer: TRACY ANN VANDERVLIET, EXEC DIR-EFF10/17/24

How to reach them

WebsiteVisit the charity’s website Phone(803) 734-0479 Officer phone(803) 734-8079

Filing and classification

Latest tax year: 2024
Tax period began: July 1, 2024
Return type: 990
Tax preparer: UHY ADVISORS MID-ATLANTIC INC
NTEE classification: Education (B012)
Grant-giving organization: Yes