licensed child care center
Bright Beginnings Early Learning Center
Watertown, NY
Youth and community nonprofits / New York / Watertown
Child day care
First Step Day Care Inc
A tax-exempt nonprofit in Watertown, New York, classified by the IRS as child day care. For the year ending Aug 2023 it reported $548,962 in revenue and $548,592 in expenses.
What it says it does
“To provide a safe, stimulating environment for children in a day care setting.”From the organization's Form 990 for the year ending Aug 2023, as written (including spelling); all-capital text shown in normal capitalization.
IRS facts
Type: Child day care (IRS activity code P33Z)
Mailing city (IRS): Watertown, New York 13601
EIN: 16-1378934
Tax status: 501(c)(3), eligible to receive tax-deductible donations; IRS-recognized as tax-exempt since 1992, per IRS records posted October 13, 2026.
Revenue on its latest IRS filing: $548,962 (year ending Aug 2023)
Check its status on IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search · Filings on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer
First Step Day Care Inc finances
From the annual returns the group files with the IRS (Form 990, or the shorter Form 990-EZ for smaller groups), 2 filed years. Net assets are what it owns minus what it owes; management and general is office, admin and insurance cost. A dash means not reported (the short form does not ask for employees or volunteers). Each figure links to that year's return. A year is left out when no return is in the IRS e-file data; that does not mean the group was inactive.
| Year ending | Aug 2021 | Aug 2023 |
|---|---|---|
| Total revenue | $588,853 | $548,962 |
| Total expenses | $513,921 | $548,592 |
| Total assets | $219,526 | $306,101 |
| Liabilities | $23,451 | $15,866 |
| Net assets | $196,075 | $290,235 |
| Employees | 26 | 25 |
| IRS form | Form 990 | Form 990 |
Where the money goes, year ending Aug 2023
Where the money comes from, year ending Aug 2023
- Gifts and grants $128,668 (23%)
- Program fees $415,570 (76%)
- Investment income $2,655 (0%)
- Other $2,069 (0%)
People: 25 employees reported for the year ending Aug 2023. Counts only; BackPR does not publish names of officers or staff.
Revenue trend: Steady. Revenue went from $588,853 (year ending Aug 2021) to $548,962 (Aug 2023), about -3% a year.
Growth label: we compare total revenue on the oldest and the newest return shown above. Growing means revenue rose by more than 10% a year on average, Shrinking means it fell by more than 10% a year, and Steady means a change between -10% and +10% a year. The rate is the compounded yearly average between the two returns, so it hides ups and downs in between (see the table). We only label groups with returns at least a year apart and at least $5,000 of revenue on the oldest one. This is our own calculation, not an IRS rating or a judgment of quality.
Source: IRS Form 990 Series Downloads (the returns open on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer, which republishes the IRS files). Figures are as the organization filed them. New York nonprofit.
How it compares
The only child care nonprofit in Watertown in our directory.
Size: revenue of $548,962 is higher than roughly 20 to 30% of the 167 child care nonprofits in New York that report revenue to the IRS (the city count above also includes groups with none). The median is $1,082,346.
Our analysis of the IRS Business Master File (posted October 13, 2026), using each group's latest reported revenue. Groups are sorted by revenue and split into ten equal bands, using all New York groups of this type (Child care, which covers several IRS activity codes). Size only, not a rating.
Around Watertown and its county
Jefferson County, New York: the Census Bureau estimates about 27,310 children under 18 (July 1, 2024). This directory lists 10 youth and community nonprofits with a mailing ZIP code in the county, about 0.4 per 1,000 children. The count includes PTAs, arts and day care groups, so it is not a measure of places for kids.
This group's ZIP code is matched to the county that holds most of its area, so counts are approximate. County figures come from the Census Bureau's Vintage 2024 population estimates.
Licensed programs in Watertown
12 school-age programs, 9 licensed child care centers are in state licensing records and listed in the BackPR finder. The examples below are not related to this organization.
licensed child care center
Community Action Planning Council of Jefferson County, Inc.
Watertown, NY
licensed child care center
Community Action Planning Council of Jefferson County, Inc.
Watertown, NY
licensed child care center
First Step Day Care, Inc.
Watertown, NY
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Jefferson Campus Care
Watertown, NY
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New Day Children's Center
Watertown, NY
New York licensing rules · How BackPR works for child care nonprofits
Questions about First Step Day Care Inc
What is First Step Day Care Inc's EIN?
First Step Day Care Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 16-1378934. It is the nine-digit number the IRS uses to identify the organization. Source: IRS Exempt Organizations Business Master File posted October 13, 2026.
Is First Step Day Care Inc a nonprofit?
Yes. The IRS lists First Step Day Care Inc in Watertown, New York as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3), recognized since 1992. This is from the IRS Business Master File posted October 13, 2026. Status can change, so check its current status on the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search before you donate.
Are donations to First Step Day Care Inc tax-deductible?
Yes, the IRS lists gifts to First Step Day Care Inc as tax-deductible (IRS Business Master File posted October 13, 2026). How much you can deduct depends on your own taxes, and this is not tax advice. Check its current status on the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search before you donate.
What does First Step Day Care Inc do?
In its own words on its Form 990 for the year ending Aug 2023: "To provide a safe, stimulating environment for children in a day care setting." The IRS classifies it as: Child day care.
How much money does First Step Day Care Inc take in?
For the year ending Aug 2023, First Step Day Care Inc reported total revenue of $548,962 and total expenses of $548,592 on its Form 990 (IRS Form 990 e-file data).
Do you run this organization?
You can add your programs, season dates, ages, prices, registration link and logo to this page, or ask us to remove it. BackPR's free plan for 501(c)(3)s handles online registration, payments, waivers and attendance. No subscription and no BackPR fee on what families pay (card processing fees from Stripe still apply).
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Free forms for child care nonprofits
Source: IRS Exempt Organizations Business Master File, posted October 13, 2026. We list 501(c)(3) organizations whose IRS activity code is youth development, amateur sports, camps and recreation, parent-teacher groups, children's services, child day care or arts education. We show the city and ZIP code only, never a street address or contact person. A listing is not an endorsement.
Data as of November 8, 2026. Sources: IRS Business Master File (posted October 13, 2026), IRS Form 990 series e-file data, U.S. Census Bureau population estimates (July 1, 2024), state child care licensing records in the BackPR finder. Growth labels, ranks and percentiles are BackPR's own calculations.
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