To improve young children’s lives in Wake County by supporting early learning, family support, quality child care and community partnerships that prepare children for school and life.
Wake County Smart Start Inc funds early childhood services in Wake County through a mix of NC Pre-K classroom support, financial assistance contracts, and quality-improvement work with local providers. Recent grant records show repeated seven-figure awards to Childcare Network Inc in Columbus, Georgia for NC Pre-K and Wake ThreeSchool, alongside large contracts with Wake County Public Schools in Raleigh for NC Pre-K and financial assistance. The pattern points to a funder that uses both direct program funding and contracted service delivery to support young children and families. Their grantmaking reaches child care centers, public schools, and partner organizations that host or deliver early learning services. Among the named recipients, Creative Schools Inc in Raleigh has received funding for NC Pre-K and Wake ThreeSchool, while Bright Beginnings of Cary Inc has been funded for NC Pre-K, Wake ThreeSchool, and quality enhancement. The foundation also supports parent-facing services and family support efforts through its active programs, linking classroom access with home-based and community-based supports. Wake County Smart Start Inc’s focus is narrowly defined around early childhood education, early learning, and family support, with an emphasis on school readiness and provider capacity in Wake County.
A central theme in the grant record is NC Pre-K, where Wake County Smart Start Inc has funded both classroom delivery and related financial assistance contracts. Primary Beginnings Child Development in Raleigh appears as a recurring recipient for NC Pre-K support, showing that the foundation works with established local providers to place and sustain pre-K services. They also invest in the Wake ThreeSchool model. The Happy Face Preschool in Raleigh, Academically Based Child in Raleigh, and Kids First Academy Inc in Raleigh each received support tied to NC Pre-K and Wake ThreeSchool, indicating a multi-site approach to early education delivery. Quality improvement is another visible area. Bright Beginnings of Cary Inc received grants that combine NC Pre-K, Wake ThreeSchool, and quality enhancement, which aligns with the foundation’s child care facility improvement support work. Family support shows up as well through Wake County Human Services, funded under financial assistance contracts.
$21.8M
$4.4M
$27.9M
$27.2M
Most grants fall between $99K and $566K, with a median of $273K.
25th Percentile
$99K
Median
$273K
75th Percentile
$566K
GAYLE E HEADEN
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Typical grants are substantial rather than small: the 25th percentile is $98,628, the median is $273,112, and the 75th percentile is $566,482. The recent record also shows multiple awards to the same recipients across 2024 and 2025, including repeated funding for several NC Pre-K and Wake ThreeSchool partners, which suggests ongoing contract-style relationships rather than one-time gifts. Wake County Smart Start Inc is a regular funder, not a donor-advised fund, and it does not make program-related investments. Its active funding opportunities include public RFP processes and funded partner pathways, with some opportunities accepting unsolicited proposals. The grant record is highly concentrated in North Carolina, matching the organization’s local giving scope.
Grantmaking is overwhelmingly local: 95% of grants go to recipients in North Carolina. Raleigh is the most common city in the recent grant list, with additional awards to Cary, Wendell, and other Wake County locations. The largest non-North Carolina recipient in the recent grants is Childcare Network Inc in Columbus, Georgia, reflecting a small share of out-of-state activity within an otherwise in-state portfolio. The recipient-country distribution is entirely U.S.-based.
Its active programs and recent grants focus on early childhood education, NC Pre-K, Wake ThreeSchool, family support, child care quality improvement, early literacy, and early parent support. The record also includes financial assistance contracts and quality enhancement support for child care sites in Wake County.
The foundation uses contracted funding, RFPs, and funded partner arrangements. Typical grant sizes are $98,628 at the 25th percentile, $273,112 at the median, and $566,482 at the 75th percentile. The same recipients often appear in multiple years, especially for NC Pre-K and Wake ThreeSchool support.
Most grants go to North Carolina recipients, and 95% of grants are directed to organizations in the foundation’s HQ state. Raleigh appears most often in the recent grant list, with other Wake County cities such as Cary and Wendell also represented.
Yes. The foundation lists Request for Proposals and funding allocation processes for community partners, and some active opportunities accept unsolicited proposals. Its funded partner pathways cover programs that deliver early childhood education, parent support, and child care quality services in Wake County.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Current and upcoming funding from Wake County Smart Start that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Provider sites participate in the NC Pre-K program and comply with program requirements and monitoring. Children must be Wake County residents and meet age/income or priority criteria for enrollment.
Deadline: Ongoing enrollment; provider contracting materials are posted for the 2026-2027 cycle.
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Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHILDCARE NETWORK INC | COLUMBUS, GA | $3,082,694 | 2025 | NC PREK, WAKE THREESCHOOL |
| WAKE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS | RALEIGH, NC | $2,684,556 | 2025 | NC PREK/FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE CONTRACT |
| CREATIVE SCHOOLS INC | RALEIGH, NC | $1,305,624 | 2025 | NC PREK, WAKE THREESCHOOL |
| BRIGHT BEGINNINGS OF CARY INC | CARY, NC | $1,223,570 | 2025 | NC PREK, WAKE THREESCHOOL, QUALITY ENHANCEMENT |
| PRIMARY BEGINNINGS CHILD DEVELOPMENT | RALEIGH, NC | $1,068,172 | 2025 | NC PREK |
| THE HAPPY FACE PRESCHOOL | RALEIGH, NC | $882,790 | 2025 | NC PREK, WAKE THREESCHOOL |
| ACADEMICALLY BASED CHILD | RALEIGH, NC | $797,586 | 2025 | NC PREK, WAKE THREESCHOOL |
| KIDS FIRST ACADEMY INC | RALEIGH, NC | $759,528 | 2025 | NC PREK, WAKE THREESCHOOL |
| ABC LAND INC II | WENDELL, NC | $728,374 | 2025 | NC PREK |
| TELAMON CORPORATION | RALEIGH, NC | $680,820 | 2025 | NC PREK, WAKE THREESCHOOL |
| WAKE COUNTY HUMAN SERVICES | RALEIGH, NC | $665,510 | 2025 | FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE CONTRACT |
| WANDA'S LITTLE HANDS EDUCATIONAL CENTER | RALEIGH, NC | $663,726 | 2025 | NC PREK, WAKE THREESCHOOL |
| LUCY DANIELS CENTER FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD | CARY, NC | $630,699 | 2025 | FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE CONTRACT |
| A SAFE PLACE CHILD ENRICHMENT CENTER INC | RALEIGH, NC | $604,716 | 2025 | NC PREK, WAKE THREESCHOOL, QUALITY ENHANCEMENT |
| EARLY PRESCHOOL & LEARNING CENTER LLC | RALEIGH, NC | $559,640 | 2025 | NC PREK, WAKE THREESCHOOL |
| LITTLE HANDS 'N' FEET CHILD CARE CENTER INC | RALEIGH, NC | $525,509 | 2025 | NC PREK, WAKE THREESCHOOL |
| METHOD CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER | RALEIGH, NC | $446,100 | 2025 | NC PREK, WAKE THREESCHOOL |
| KINDERCARE LEARNING CENTER | PORTLAND, OR | $444,385 | 2025 | NC PREK, QUALITY ENHANCEMENT |
| FAMILY RESOURCE CENTER - SOUTH ATLANTIC | RALEIGH, NC | $400,553 | 2025 | FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE CONTRACT |
| BAMBINO'S PLAYSCHOOL | CARY, NC | $364,737 | 2025 | WAKE THREESCHOOL, QUALITY ENHANCEMENT |
| CREATIVE LEARNING ENTERPRISE | APEX, NC | $336,144 | 2025 | NC PREK |
| TRIANGLE ACADEMY PRESCHOOL | CARY, NC | $285,090 | 2025 | WAKE THREESCHOOL |
| LITTLE BELIEVERS ACADEMY II | GARNER, NC | $269,628 | 2025 | NC PREK, WAKE THREESCHOOL |
| PRESTON CHILDREN'S ACADEMY | CARY, NC | $242,280 | 2025 | NC PREK |
| SHAW UNIVERSITY CENTER FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION | RALEIGH, NC | $238,173 | 2025 | NC PREK, QUALITY ENHANCEMENT |
| FRANKIE LEMMON SCHOOL & DEVELOPMENT CENTER | RALEIGH, NC | $213,230 | 2025 | NC PREK, WAKE THREESCHOOL |
| LITTLE DESTINY LITERACY & DISCOVERY CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER | RALEIGH, NC | $205,800 | 2025 | NC PREK |
| DANIEL CENTER FOR MATH AND SCIENCE INC | RALEIGH, NC | $178,500 | 2025 | WAKE THREESCHOOL |
| CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF THE DIOCESE OF RALEIGH INC | RALEIGH, NC | $174,439 | 2025 | FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE CONTRACT |
| LA PETITE ACADEMY INC | NOVI, MI | $167,683 | 2025 | NC PREK, QUALITY ENHANCEMENT |
| VARIOUS CHILD CARE CENTERS AND SERVICE PROVIDERS | — | $167,317 | 2025 | VARIOUS PROGRAMS |
| EARLY YEARS INC | CHAPEL HILL, NC | $156,863 | 2025 | FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE CONTRACT |
| SAFECHILD INC | RALEIGH, NC | $119,360 | 2025 | FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE CONTRACT |
| TRIANGLE AREA PARENTING SUPPORT | APEX, NC | $111,291 | 2025 | FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE CONTRACT |
| BOOK HARVEST | DURHAM, NC | $110,296 | 2025 | FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE CONTRACT |
| FIESTA CRISTIANA | APEX, NC | $106,529 | 2025 | FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE CONTRACT |
| STEP UP MINISTRY | RALEIGH, NC | $98,900 | 2025 | FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE CONTRACT |
| LITTLE ANGELS PREPARATORY | FUQUAYVARINA, NC | $20,140 | 2025 | QUALITY ENHANCEMENT |
| CREATIVE KIDZ ACADEMY | RALEIGH, NC | $13,276 | 2025 | QUALITY ENHANCEMENT |
| TOUCHED BY AN ANGEL | RALEIGH, NC | $9,824 | 2025 | QUALITY ENHANCEMENT |
| DHIC | RALEIGH, NC | $8,920 | 2025 | KALEIDOSCOPE PROJECT |
| RISING STARS JRVERSITY | RALEIGH, NC | $5,218 | 2025 | QUALITY ENHANCEMENT |
| SMART START ADVOCATES | RALEIGH, NC | $5,000 | 2025 | DONATION FOR PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| CHILDCARE NETWORK INC | COLUMBUS, GA | $3,000,740 | 2024 | NC PREK, WAKE THREESCHOOL |
| CHILDCARE NETWORK INC | COLUMBUS, GA | $2,892,937 | 2024 | NC PREK, WAKE THREESCHOOL |
| WAKE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS | RALEIGH, NC | $2,831,115 | 2024 | NC PREK/FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE CONTRACT |
| WAKE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS | RALEIGH, NC | $2,269,391 | 2024 | NC PREK/FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE CONTRACT |
| BRIGHT BEGINNINGS OF CARY INC | CARY, NC | $1,231,771 | 2024 | NC PREK, WAKE THREESCHOOL, QUALITY ENHANCEMENT |
| BRIGHT BEGINNINGS OF CARY INC | CARY, NC | $1,102,229 | 2024 | NC PREK, WAKE THREESCHOOL, QUALITY ENHANCEMENT |
| CREATIVE SCHOOLS INC | RALEIGH, NC | $1,051,180 | 2024 | NC PREK, WAKE THREESCHOOL |
CHILDCARE NETWORK INC
$3,082,694NC PREK, WAKE THREESCHOOL
WAKE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS
$2,684,556NC PREK/FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE CONTRACT
CREATIVE SCHOOLS INC
$1,305,624NC PREK, WAKE THREESCHOOL
BRIGHT BEGINNINGS OF CARY INC
$1,223,570NC PREK, WAKE THREESCHOOL, QUALITY ENHANCEMENT
PRIMARY BEGINNINGS CHILD DEVELOPMENT
$1,068,172NC PREK
THE HAPPY FACE PRESCHOOL
$882,790NC PREK, WAKE THREESCHOOL
ACADEMICALLY BASED CHILD
$797,586NC PREK, WAKE THREESCHOOL
KIDS FIRST ACADEMY INC
$759,528NC PREK, WAKE THREESCHOOL
ABC LAND INC II
$728,374NC PREK
WAKE COUNTY HUMAN SERVICES
$665,510FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE CONTRACT
WANDA'S LITTLE HANDS EDUCATIONAL CENTER
$663,726NC PREK, WAKE THREESCHOOL
A SAFE PLACE CHILD ENRICHMENT CENTER INC
$604,716NC PREK, WAKE THREESCHOOL, QUALITY ENHANCEMENT
EARLY PRESCHOOL & LEARNING CENTER LLC
$559,640NC PREK, WAKE THREESCHOOL
LITTLE HANDS 'N' FEET CHILD CARE CENTER INC
$525,509NC PREK, WAKE THREESCHOOL
METHOD CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER
$446,100NC PREK, WAKE THREESCHOOL
KINDERCARE LEARNING CENTER
$444,385NC PREK, QUALITY ENHANCEMENT
FAMILY RESOURCE CENTER - SOUTH ATLANTIC
$400,553FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE CONTRACT
BAMBINO'S PLAYSCHOOL
$364,737WAKE THREESCHOOL, QUALITY ENHANCEMENT
CREATIVE LEARNING ENTERPRISE
$336,144NC PREK
TRIANGLE ACADEMY PRESCHOOL
$285,090WAKE THREESCHOOL
LITTLE BELIEVERS ACADEMY II
$269,628NC PREK, WAKE THREESCHOOL
PRESTON CHILDREN'S ACADEMY
$242,280NC PREK
NC PREK, QUALITY ENHANCEMENT
LITTLE DESTINY LITERACY & DISCOVERY CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER
$205,800NC PREK
CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF THE DIOCESE OF RALEIGH INC
$174,439FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE CONTRACT
LA PETITE ACADEMY INC
$167,683NC PREK, QUALITY ENHANCEMENT
VARIOUS CHILD CARE CENTERS AND SERVICE PROVIDERS
$167,317VARIOUS PROGRAMS
EARLY YEARS INC
$156,863FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE CONTRACT
TRIANGLE AREA PARENTING SUPPORT
$111,291FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE CONTRACT
FIESTA CRISTIANA
$106,529FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE CONTRACT
LITTLE ANGELS PREPARATORY
$20,140QUALITY ENHANCEMENT
CREATIVE KIDZ ACADEMY
$13,276QUALITY ENHANCEMENT
TOUCHED BY AN ANGEL
$9,824QUALITY ENHANCEMENT
RISING STARS JRVERSITY
$5,218QUALITY ENHANCEMENT
SMART START ADVOCATES
$5,000DONATION FOR PROGRAM SUPPORT
CHILDCARE NETWORK INC
$3,000,740NC PREK, WAKE THREESCHOOL
CHILDCARE NETWORK INC
$2,892,937NC PREK, WAKE THREESCHOOL
WAKE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS
$2,831,115NC PREK/FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE CONTRACT
WAKE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS
$2,269,391NC PREK/FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE CONTRACT
BRIGHT BEGINNINGS OF CARY INC
$1,231,771NC PREK, WAKE THREESCHOOL, QUALITY ENHANCEMENT
BRIGHT BEGINNINGS OF CARY INC
$1,102,229NC PREK, WAKE THREESCHOOL, QUALITY ENHANCEMENT
CREATIVE SCHOOLS INC
$1,051,180NC PREK, WAKE THREESCHOOL
