	Score (out of 100)	Rating
Overall Score & Rating	93.90
Financial	91.38
Accountability & Transparency	100.00

This rating was published 12/21/2018 and includes data from FY2017, the most recent 990 received at that time.

Why isn't this based on more recent data?

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Bright by Three's mission is to help all families give kids a bright beginning so they can grow into healthy, happy and successful adults.

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Impact Information

GuideStar is Charity Navigator's trusted partner in sharing information on how this organization seeks impact. GuideStar has recognized this organization with a Platinum Seal of Transparency for voluntarily and publicly sharing information about how they measure their progress and results. Learn More about Impact Information.

Reported Results

Showing 3 of 4

Total in 2017

This organization has earned a GuideStar's Platinum Seal of Transparency by voluntarily sharing the measures of progress and results they use to pursue their mission. Organizations earn Platinum Seals by selecting from a catalog of over 900 expert recognized metrics or by creating a new metric that best fits their work. This information is reported by the organization and displayed publicly on their GuideStar Nonprofit Profile. With over 1.6 million Nonprofit Profiles, 9 million annual visitors and over 200 data partners, GuideStar is the world's leading source of information about nonprofit organizations. A nonprofit itself, GuideStar is dedicated to providing better data for better decisions for a better world.

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This impact information is current as of March 2019, when it was provided to us by GuideStar. At this time, Impact information published on this organization's page has no effect on its rating per our methodology.

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Learn more about how we calculate the overall score and rating.

Financial

91.38

Accountability & Transparency

100.00

This rating was published 12/21/2018 and includes data from FY2017, the most recent 990 received at that time.

Why isn't this based on more recent data?

Learn more about how we calculate the overall score and rating.

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	Program Expenses (Percent of the charity's total expenses spent on the programs and services it delivers)	81.1%
	Administrative Expenses	5.9%
	Fundraising Expenses	12.9%
	Fundraising Efficiency	$0.12
	Working Capital Ratio (years)	1.36
	Program Expenses Growth	13.3%
	Liabilities to Assets	13.5%

All data for Financial Performance Metrics calculations was provided by Bright by Three on recent 990s filed with the IRS.

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Information Provided on the Form 990
	Independent Voting Board Members
	No Material diversion of assets
	Audited financials prepared by independent accountant
	Does Not Provide Loan(s) to or Receive Loan(s) From related parties
	Documents Board Meeting Minutes
	Provided copy of Form 990 to organization's governing body in advance of filing
	Conflict of Interest Policy
	Whistleblower Policy
	Records Retention and Destruction Policy
	CEO listed with salary
	Process for determining CEO compensation
	Board Listed / Board Members Not Compensated
Is the following information easily accessible on the charity's website?
	Donor Privacy Policy
	Board Members Listed
	Audited Financials
	Form 990
	Key staff listed

Charity Name & State	Overall Score	Overall Rating
Bright by Three (CO)	93.90
Think Small (MN)	88.29
Christel House International (IN)	94.15
Arkansas Baptist Children's Homes and Family Ministries (AR)	86.71
The Centers for Exceptional Children (NC)	89.30

REVENUE
Contributions
Contributions, Gifts & Grants	$1,280,915
Federated Campaigns	$0
Membership Dues	$0
Fundraising Events	$92,918
Related Organizations	$0
Government Grants	$0
Total Contributions	$1,373,833
Program Service Revenue	$30,000
Total Primary Revenue	$1,403,833
Other Revenue	$2,286
TOTAL REVENUE	$1,406,119

EXPENSES
Program Expenses	$1,141,673
Administrative Expenses	$78,899
Fundraising Expenses	$193,401
TOTAL FUNCTIONAL EXPENSES	$1,413,973

Payments to Affiliates	$0
Excess (or Deficit) for the year	$-7,854

Net Assets	$1,742,583

Program names and associated costs are listed for the top programs as reported on the charity's most recently filed Form 990. The top programs displayed will include the largest three programs, or those programs covering at least 60% of the charity's total expenses, whichever comes first.

Program Name	Amount Spent	% of Program Expenses
Bright By Three	$655,500	57.4%
Bright by Text	$486,173	42.6%

Ratings History
Bright by Three has received 3 consecutive 4-star ratings from Charity Navigator.

Form 990 FYE	Date Published	Overall Score
CN 2.1
2017-12	12/21/2018	93.90
2017-12	12/01/2018	93.28
2016-12	02/01/2018	92.08
2015-12	05/01/2017	92.36

The data displayed on this tab is provided by the IRS in the form of Publication 78 and the Business Master File (BMF).

EIN	84-1382420
Name in IRS Master File	BRIGHT BEGINNINGS
NTEE Code	P99
NTEE Classification	Human Services - Multipurpose and Other N.E.C.
NTEE Type	Human Services - Multipurpose and Other
Classification	Educational Organization
Subsection	501(c)(3) (View the list of codes)
Activities	(994) Described in section 170(b)1)(a)(vi) of the Code (125) Giving information or opinion (see also Advocacy)
Foundation Status	Organization which receives a substantial part of its support from a governmental unit or the general public 170(b)(1)(A)(vi)
Deductibility	Contributions are deductible
Affiliation	Independent - the organization is an independent organization or an independent auxiliary (i.e., not affiliated with a National, Regional, or Geographic grouping of organizations).
Group Name	[Not Applicable]
Ruling Date	April, 1997
Filing Requirement	990 (all other) or 990EZ return
Fiscal Year End	December
IRS Forms 990 (provided courtesy of Foundation Center)	(Log In or Register Now to View Forms 990!) December, 2017 December, 2016 December, 2015 December, 2014 December, 2013

Compensation	% of Expenses	Paid to	Title
$113,388	8.01%	Jean McSpadden	President & CEO

Charity Name & State	Overall Score	Overall Rating
Bright by Three (CO)	93.90
Thornwell Home for Children (SC)	96.11
Community Storehouse (TX)	91.69
Neighborhood House, Louisville (KY)	92.17
Teammates for Kids Foundation (CO)	94.24

This charity has an official representative registered with Charity Navigator.

Bright by Three

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Mission

Mission

Impact Information

Impact Information

Rating Overview

Financial

Accountability & Transparency

Financial Performance Metrics

Accountability & Transparency Performance Metrics

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Highly Rated

Income Statement (FYE 12/2017)

Financial Charts

Programs (FYE 12/2017)

Ratings History

Ratings History Bright by Three has received 3 consecutive 4-star ratings from Charity Navigator.

Detailed side-by-side report

IRS Data/Forms 990

Compensation of Leaders (FYE 12/2017)

Charities Performing Similar Types of Work

Highly Rated

Charity Representative Login

Charity Contact Info

Board Leadership

CEO

Rating Profile Table of Contents

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Accountability & Transparency
Performance Metrics

Income Statement
(FYE 12/2017)

Ratings History
Bright by Three has received 3 consecutive 4-star ratings from Charity Navigator.

Compensation of Leaders
(FYE 12/2017)