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Invest in

2025 Sponsorship Guide

Brighter Futures

Make a Difference Today

SmartStartOfMeck.org


Ready to

thrive by Five

TOGETHER

IN EVERY

EARLY STEP

INVESTING IN EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT THROUGH SMART

START IS A LASTING COMMITMENT TO OUR COMMUNITY.

We prioritize kindergarten readiness, knowing it

shapes lifelong academic success — fifth-grade

reading scores are directly correlated with early

education milestones. By providing essential

resources to all families, we help every child

thrive, fostering a caring community that values

their potential and sowing seeds for a brighter,

inclusive society.

THIS YEAR, WE WILL

INVEST OVER $35 MILLION

IN EARLY CHILDHOOD

PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT

THE COMMUNITY.

Make a Difference Today

SmartStartOfMeck.org

Make a Difference Today

SmartStartOfMeck.org


what we do

1

2

Smart Start of Mecklenburg County is

recognized as a leader in the community

regarding all issues related to children

from birth to age five.

We administer five internal programs and

campaigns in addition to funding more

than 20 other programs in the community

that focus on early care and education,

family support, health, and literacy. ​

drive innovation

invest in the

community

COLLABORATE

3

In

4

Smart

order to effectively meet the

mission of the organization, Smart

Start must build the capacity to lead

people and processes through a

strong team of professionals. ​We do

this by investing in the community,

collaborating and convening with

other experts, and driving innovation

in the early childhood space. ​

Start of Mecklenburg County

will invest over $35 million in early

childhood programs throughout

the community this year. ​

Make a Difference Today

SmartStartOfMeck.org


Our work in

The community

At Smart Start of Mecklenburg County, we’re committed to ensuring

every child enters kindergarten ready to succeed. By mobilizing

resources, forging partnerships, and supporting families, we’re paving

the way for a brighter future for our community’s youngest learners.

ALL CHILDREN SHOULD TURN FIVE READY TO THRIVE!

Building strong foundations

INVEST IN THEIR FUTURE

Experiences during a child’s first 2,000

days—from birth to kindergarten—

have lifelong impacts. Smart Start

of Mecklenburg County invests in

evidence-based initiatives for early

care, education, family support, health,

and literacy to holistically support

children from birth to age five.

COLLABORATE & CONVENE

Smart Start of Mecklenburg County is

a hub for research and collaboration to

improve lives of young children and their

families. We promote an aligned early

childhood system through information

sharing, discussion, and advocacy, and

partner with other childhood organizations

to champion our mission further.

DRIVE INNOVATION

Founded in 1993 by Governor Jim

Hunt, Smart Start of Mecklenburg

County funds and incubates

innovative ideas to prepare

children for school, serving on the

organization’s founding mission

of ensuring children go to

kindergarten ready to learn.

how you can help

IN ORDER TO MEET THE ONGOING NEEDS OF

CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN OUR COMMUNITY,

Smart Start relies on the generosity of individuals,

businesses, and foundations to support our efforts.

Financial, tax-deductible contributions enable us to

expand our services and partnerships and reach

even more children throughout Mecklenburg County.

Make a Difference Today

SmartStartOfMeck.org


impact the

next generation

Smart Start integrates a variety of programs to build a

comprehensive early childhood development system. Our

programming is just the start. We support programs to boost

early literacy and equip caregivers with essential parenting skills.

By linking families to critical services and personalized support,

we create a unified network that prepares every child for

success in kindergarten and beyond.

Our shared vision

guides our dedication

and commitment

to continuous

improvement and

meaningful impact.

By The Numbers FY23

600+ CHILDREN

served by

Guiding Parents to

Services to receive

developmental support

370,303 BOOKS

mailed to families

enrolled in the

Dolly Parton

Imagination Library

178,000 TEXTS

sent by

ParentPowered to

provide early childhood

development support

to families

285 CAREGIVERS

who received

education on

The Basics

1,790 STUDENTS

enrolled in

MECK Pre-K

Make a Difference Today

SmartStartOfMeck.org


our vision,

your impact

BY BECOMING AN ANNUAL SPONSOR, YOU UNLOCK A

YEAR-ROUND COMMITMENT TO INVEST IN BRIGHTER FUTURES.

You’ll also enjoy continuous visibility, promotion at key events, and the opportunity

to align your brand with our mission. With various packages and custom

opportunities, our annual sponsorships provide lasting impact and recognition.

Sponsorship

Packages

COMMUNITY

CHAMPION

TRANSFORMATION

ADVOCATE

RELATIONSHIP

BUILDER

CONNECTION

CATALYST

BUILDING

BLOCK

SPONSOR

Opportunity to provide

handout or branded item

for swag bags given to

families and providers

across all events.

(Opportunity to reach up

to 1,500 individuals.)

Feature article, interview,

or spotlight in one 2024

Smart Start eNewsletter

Logo recognition on

Smart Start’s website

and at all 2024 Smart

Start hosted events

One 45-minute Lunch

& Learn providing an

overview of Smart Start

and key Early Childhood

initiatives

Acknowledgment in the

FY24 Impact Report,

spring eNewsletter(s)

and Smart Start social

media channels

Name listing on

Smart Start Website

INVESTMENT $7,500 $5,000 $2,500 $1,000

SmartStartOfMeck.org

Make a Difference Today

$250

- $999


What direct impact can

my sponsorship make?

$10,000

could provide a Basics

workshop and infant car

seat for 100 families

$2,500

could provide essential

health and safety

training for 15 Early

Childhood Educators

$6,000

could provide enough

books to stock 21 Little

Library locations for 1 year

$1,000

could provide a

1-year supply of

diapers for 4 families

$500

could provide

1 book per

month for

4 children

until their 5th

birthday

Presenting sponsor

$10,000

Our exclusive PRESENTING SPONSORSHIP

includes all Community Champion level benefits

in addition to the unique benefits listed below.

One exclusive team volunteer event for up to

10 individuals with Smart Start or one of our

supported partner programs

Option to provide up to three minutes of

remarks (live or recorded) during Smart

Start’s Partner Powered Conference

Logo recognition as a Smart Start supporter in

one Spectrum television ad campaign

Invitation to attend Smart Start hosted

stewardship and ciltivation events in 2025

Logo recognition on Smart Start’s

21 Little Library boxes spread across Mecklenburg

County

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SmartStartOfMeck.org


2025 events

PARTNER POWERED

CONFERENCE 2025

March 14, 2024 • 8AM – 4PM

UNC Charlotte Marriott

Conference Center

A SMART START TO MECK PRE-K

Screening Dates TBD

Ascend Nonprofit Solutions Center

For more upcoming events and

opportunities to connect with us, please visit

SmartStartOfMeck.org/Events

Make a Difference Today

SmartStartOfMeck.org


Contact us

MIKE BLACKWELDER

Chief Executive Officer

704.943.9492

mblackwelder@smartstartofmeck.org

TENILLE ALEXANDER-BANNER

Philanthropy & Outreach Director

704.943.9403

tbanner@smartstartofmeck.org

JO BOYD

Community Partnerships Coordinator

704.943.9477

jboyd@smartstartofmeck.org

Make a Difference Today

SmartStartOfMeck.org


SmartStartOfMeck.org

Make a Difference Today

SmartStartOfMeck.org

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