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Nonprofit · EIN 84-1382420

BRIGHT BEGINNINGS

Also known as BRIGHT BY THREE

Tax-exempt · DENVER, CO 80207

Financials

$1.2M$2M2023$1.2M$2.2M2024$1.3M$1.8M2025
Revenue Expenses · by fiscal year end
Financials of BRIGHT BEGINNINGS by year, from its e-filed returns
Year endedFormRevenueExpensesNet incomeTotal assetsLiabilitiesNet assets
December 31, 2025990$1,316,845$1,831,781-$514,936$2,615,453$325,153$2,290,300
December 31, 2024990$1,225,712$2,166,208-$940,496$3,284,299$481,271$2,803,028
December 31, 2023990$1,221,581$2,004,545-$782,964$4,049,925$306,401$3,743,524
Financial details: 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025

Revenue

Contributions, gifts and grants
$495,417
of which government grants
$302,809
Program service revenue
$729,622
Investment income
$91,806
Other revenue
$0

Expenses

Grants and similar amounts paid
$0
Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
$212,084
Other salaries and wages
$392,620
Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
$677,678
Professional fundraising fees
$0
Accounting fees
$53,375
Depreciation
$31,053
Program services (functional)
$1,539,992
Management and general (functional)
$212,310
Fundraising (functional)
$79,479

Balance sheet and other

Total assets, start of year
$3,284,299
Total assets, end of year
$2,615,453
Total liabilities, end of year
$325,153
Net assets, end of year
$2,290,300
Land, buildings and equipment
$306
Net assets without donor restrictions
$2,109,241
Net assets with donor restrictions
$181,059
Gross receipts
$1,323,706
Employees
6
Volunteers
35
Year formed
1995
State of legal domicile
CO

From the e-filed returns the IRS publishes as XML (latest three processing years; amended returns replace the original). PDF copies at the IRS.

Officers, directors and key employees

As listed on the 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025, highest compensation first.

NameTitleHours / weekCompensationOther / benefits
KATHERINE S RICHARDSON MDPRESIDENT &
Officer
40$194,540$17,543
JEN DALEVP OF FINANC
Highest-paid employee
40$116,281$10,480
ALLY PACHELLIDIRCT.OF PAR
Highest-paid employee
40$113,333$3,613
AMANDA DEMARESTCHAIR
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0$0
TIM MCCORMACKVICE CHAIR
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0$0
RUBEN BRAVODIRECTOR
Trustee or director
2$0$0
MARISSA DOCKENDORFDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
2$0$0
BEN SEYDENDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
2$0$0
CELIA E VAN LENTENDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
2$0$0
990 for the year ended December 31, 2024: 11 people
NameTitleHours / weekCompensationOther / benefits
KATHERINE S RICHARDSON MDPRESIDENT &
Officer
40$195,823$10,999
BRIGETTE SWARTZVP OF CLIENT
Highest-paid employee
40$117,760$4,584
JODIE FISHMANCONTENT DEVE
Highest-paid employee
40$118,648$0
GREG GOSSETTDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
2$0$0
RUBEN BRAVODIRECTOR
Trustee or director
2$0$0
MARISSA DOCKENDORFDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
2$0$0
BEN SEYDENDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
2$0$0
CELIA E VAN LENTENDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
2$0$0
AMANDA DEMARESTCHAIR
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0$0
TIM MCCORMACKVICE CHAIR
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0$0
DAVE MESKOTREASURER
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0$0
990 for the year ended December 31, 2023: 10 people
NameTitleHours / weekCompensationOther / benefits
KATHERINE S RICHARDSON MDPRESIDENT &
Officer
40$151,999$5,368
JODIE FISHMANCONTENT DEVE
Highest-paid employee
40$129,835$0
JEAN B MCSPADDENCEO 1/2023
Officer
40$117,780$3,230
RACHEL S GUDGELVP OF FINANC
Officer
40$53,421$5,456
AMANDA DEMARESTDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
2$0$0
DAVE MESKODIRECTOR
Trustee or director
2$0$0
RUPEN PATELDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
2$0$0
GREG GOSSETTCHAIR
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0$0
TIM MCCORMACKTREASURER
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0$0
LAUREN KLOSTERMANNSECRETARY
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0$0

Address and contacts

Address (IRS master file)
PO BOX 7038, DENVER, CO 80207-0038
In care of
% FAIRFIELD & WOODS P C
Principal officer (990 for 2025)
KATHERINE S RICHARDSON MD, 7534 S MONACO WAY, CENTENNIAL, CO 80112
Signed the 990
KATHERINE S RICHARDSON MD, PRESIDENT & CEO
Phone
(303) 433-6200
Return prepared by
TAYLOR ROTH AND COMPANY

Mission

LANTERN'S MISSION IS TO PROVIDE A BRIGHT BEGINNING FOR EVERY CHILD TO REALIZE THEIR FULL POTENTIAL. WE ARE COMMITTED TO SUPPORTING FAMILIES WITH TRUSTED INFORMATION AND CONNECTIONS TO THEIR COMMUNITY.

990 for the year ended December 31, 2025

Program accomplishments

  • LANTERN DELIVERS TRUSTED, EVIDENCE-BASED INFORMATION TO PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS THROUGH A FREE TEXT MESSAGING PROGRAM. EACH MESSAGE PROVIDES AGE- AND DEVELOPMENTALLY-APPROPRIATE GUIDANCE, PRACTICAL TIPS, ACTIVITIES, AND CONNECTIONS TO TRUSTED RESOURCES, WITH LINKS TO LANDING PAGES WITH ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, VIDEOS, AND COMMUNITY SERVICES. MESSAGES ARE TAILORED TO THE CHILD'S AGE AND STAGE OF DEVELOPMENT AND CAN ALSO BE CUSTOMIZED BASED ON A FAMILY'S ZIP CODE TO PROVIDE LOCAL RESOURCES, EVENTS, AND PUBLIC HEALTH INFORMATION. IN ADDITION TO ITS CORE AGE-BASED PROGRAM, LANTERN OFFERS SPECIALIZED CONTENT CHANNELS ADDRESSING TOPICS SUCH AS PERINATAL MENTAL HEALTH, FOOD SECURITY, AUTISM, FEEDING, AND SUPPORT FOR FAMILY, FRIEND, AND NEIGHBOR CAREGIVERS. LANTERN SERVES CAREGIVERS IN ALL 50 STATES WITH TRUSTED RESEARCH-BASED CONTENT AND LOCALIZED COMMUNITY INFORMATION. DURING 2025, LANTERN PARTNERED WITH MORE THAN 100 ORGANIZATIONS AND SERVED MORE THAN 565,000 FAMILIES NATIONWIDE.
    Expenses $1,539,992 · revenue $723,622

What it must file and when

IRS records say it files Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N. Its accounting year ends in December, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.

Tax yearYear endedDueIRS public records
2025December 31, 2025May 15, 2026990 on file
2024December 31, 2024May 15, 2025990 on file
2023December 31, 2023May 15, 2024990 on file

IRS record

EIN
84-1382420
Tax-exempt status
501(c)(3): Charitable, religious, educational or scientific organization
Foundation status
Publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(A)(vi))
Donations deductible (Pub 78)
Public charity, 50% deduction limit
Exempt since
1997
Accounting year ends
December
Files
Form 990 or 990-EZ
Category (NTEE)
Human services (P99)
Assets (IRS master file)
$2,615,453
Income (IRS master file)
$1,323,706

Filing history

FormYear endedRevenueExpensesAssetsReturn
990December 2025$1,316,845$1,831,781$2,615,453XML
990December 2024$1,225,712$2,166,208$3,284,299XML
990December 2023$1,221,581$2,004,545$4,049,925XML
990December 2022$1,654,389$1,937,651$4,887,777IRS
990December 2021–––IRS
990December 2020–––IRS
990December 2019–––IRS
990December 2018–––IRS

990-N: the IRS bulk file holds only the latest e-Postcard per organization; earlier years come from archived copies of that file since 2020 and can have gaps (the IRS e-Postcard search lists every one). 990, 990-EZ, 990-PF, 990-T: every e-filed return in the IRS e-file index since 2019; XML for the latest three processing years, amounts from the IRS Statistics of Income extracts before that. PDF copies and determination letters at the IRS (search EIN 84-1382420).

Questions about BRIGHT BEGINNINGS

What is the EIN of BRIGHT BEGINNINGS?
The employer identification number (EIN) of BRIGHT BEGINNINGS is 84-1382420.
Is BRIGHT BEGINNINGS tax-exempt?
Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 1997.
Are donations to BRIGHT BEGINNINGS tax-deductible?
Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
Which annual return does BRIGHT BEGINNINGS file?
Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N.
When is the next return of BRIGHT BEGINNINGS due?
The return for tax year 2026 (the year ending December 31, 2026) is due May 17, 2027. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
When did BRIGHT BEGINNINGS last file with the IRS?
The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended December 2025.
Who is the principal officer of BRIGHT BEGINNINGS?
The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 names KATHERINE S RICHARDSON MD.
Who are the officers and directors of BRIGHT BEGINNINGS?
The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 lists 9 people; 3 received compensation from the organization, the highest $194,540 (KATHERINE S RICHARDSON MD, PRESIDENT &).
How much revenue does BRIGHT BEGINNINGS have?
On its 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 it reported revenue of $1,316,845, expenses of $1,831,781 and total assets of $2,615,453 at year end.

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