Disable all preview features

Education : Youth Education Programs and Services

FIRST

For inspiration and recognition of science and technology

four stars

95.87

200 Bedford Street Manchester, NH 03101
tel: (800) 871-8326   Web Site
EIN: 22-2990908

Board Leadership
Kelly Ortberg & Robert M. Tuttle
Co-Chairs

CEO
Lawrence Cohen
President

 
 
  Score
(out of 100) 		Rating
Overall Score & Rating 95.87 four stars
  Financial 95.00 four stars
  Accountability & Transparency 97.00 four stars
This rating was published 07/01/2020 and includes data from FY2019, the most recent 990 received at that time.
Why isn't this based on more recent data?

FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) was founded in 1989 to inspire young people's interest and participation in science and technology. FIRST designs accessible, innovative programs that motivate young people to pursue education and career opportunities in science, technology, engineering, and math, while building self-confidence, knowledge, and life skills. Since its beginning, FIRST has had a positive impact on students and academic communities.

FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) was founded in 1989 to inspire young people's interest and participation in science and technology. FIRST designs accessible, innovative programs that motivate young people to pursue education and career opportunities in science, technology, engineering, and math, while building self-confidence, knowledge, and life skills. Since its beginning, FIRST has had a positive impact on students and academic communities.

Impact Information

data icon
GlobalGiving is a trusted Impact Information provider for Charity Navigator. GlobalGiving has vetted this charity. GlobalGiving also further provides further information about each charity's commitment to learning and improvement. GlobalGiving's statuses and badges, below, provide information about this charity's effectiveness.  Learn More about Impact Information.
GlobalGiving Status
Partner Status
This organization holds GlobalGiving Partner Status. GG Rewards is the system GlobalGiving uses to reward nonprofits that demonstrate listening to the people they serve, learning, and improving their impact. Organizations receive points which translate into their Status: 52% of organizations are Partner, 22% are Leader, and the top 26% of organizations are Superstar. GlobalGiving is a trusted Impact Information partner of Charity Navigator.
Additional Badges from GlobalGiving
Vetted
This organization has been vetted by GlobalGiving.
GlobalGiving is the largest global crowdfunding community connecting nonprofits, donors, and companies in nearly every country. For donors, GlobalGiving provides an additional layer of vetting and due diligence for each of its nonprofit partners every two years, which may include site visit verification. For nonprofits, GlobalGiving works to provide nonprofits access to the tools, training, and support they need to be more effective. GlobalGiving's aim is to drive more donations to more effective, community-led organizations. GG Rewards is the system that GlobalGiving uses to recognize and reward its nonprofit partners for their efforts to learn, improve, and grow their impact. Within the GG Rewards system, organizations receive points for their Effectiveness (commitment to learning) and Engagement (participation on the GlobalGiving community). These points will translate into the GG Rewards Status (Partner, Leader, or Superstar). GlobalGiving's nonprofit partners also receive badges (visible on their Charity Navigator profile) when they are verified by a GlobalGiving site visit, when they have demonstrated exceptional efforts to learn from feedback, improve, and grow their impact, or when they have been named as an exceptional nonprofit through GlobalGiving's Project of the Month program.
Learn more about GG Rewards.
This impact information is current as of March 2019, when it was provided to us by GlobalGiving. At this time, Impact information published on this organization's page has no effect on its rating per our methodology. Further, the availability of GG Rewards information for charities on our site has no effect on Charity Navigator's evaluation of GlobalGiving.

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

Financial

four stars

95.00

Accountability & Transparency

four stars

97.00

This rating was published 07/01/2020 and includes data from FY2019, the most recent 990 received at that time.
Why isn't this based on more recent data?
Overall Rating Chart
  Program Expenses
(Percent of the charity's total expenses spent on the programs
and services it delivers)		 86.4%
  Administrative Expenses 10.5%
  Fundraising Expenses 3.0%
  Fundraising Efficiency $0.04
  Working Capital Ratio (years) 0.70
  Program Expenses Growth 9.4%
  Liabilities to Assets 12.6%
All data for Financial Performance Metrics calculations was provided by FIRST on recent 990s filed with the IRS.
All data for Financial Performance Metrics calculations was provided by FIRST on recent 990s filed with the IRS.
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

Highly Rated

Charity Name & State Overall Score Overall Rating
FIRST (NH) 95.87 four stars
DAPCEP (MI) 88.22 three stars
National Math + Science Initiative (TX) 93.91 four stars
The Ingenuity Project (MD) 86.29 three stars
Technovation (CA) 92.92 four stars

Compare These Charities (Highly Rated)

REVENUE  
Contributions  
   Contributions, Gifts & Grants $53,561,511
   Federated Campaigns $0
   Membership Dues $0
   Fundraising Events $1,454,322
   Related Organizations $0
   Government Grants $4,421,340
Total Contributions $59,437,173
   Program Service Revenue $27,602,992
Total Primary Revenue $87,040,165
   Other Revenue $200,401
TOTAL REVENUE $87,240,566
   
EXPENSES  
   Program Expenses $70,844,731
   Administrative Expenses $8,932,265
   Fundraising Expenses $2,387,833
TOTAL FUNCTIONAL EXPENSES $82,164,829
   
Payments to Affiliates $0
Excess (or Deficit) for the year $5,075,737
   
Net Assets $52,770,137

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
FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) $49,857,823 70.4%
FIRST LEGO League $12,328,521 17.4%
The FIRST Tech Challenge $8,658,387 12.2%

Ratings History
FIRST has received 15 consecutive 4-star ratings from Charity Navigator.

Form 990 FYE Date Published Overall Score Overall Rating
CN 2.1
2019-06 07/01/2020 95.87 four stars
2018-06 07/01/2019 94.98 four stars
2017-06 06/01/2018 95.87 four stars
2016-06 04/01/2017 95.40 four stars
2015-06 06/01/2016 93.35 four stars
 
CN 2.0
2014-06 08/01/2015 93.77 four stars
2013-06 07/01/2014 96.52 four stars
2012-06 05/01/2013 96.54 four stars
2011-06 05/01/2012 96.62 four stars
2010-06 09/20/2011 96.59 four stars
 
CN 1.0
2010-06 04/01/2011 96.23 four stars
2009-06 03/01/2010 96.42 four stars
2008-06 03/01/2009 93.76 four stars
2006-06 03/01/2007 90.15 four stars
2005-06 06/01/2006 93.57 four stars
2004-06 09/01/2005 93.49 four stars

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

EIN 22-2990908
Name in IRS Master File FOR INSPIRATION AND RECOGNITION OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY FIRST
NTEE Code U40
NTEE Classification Engineering and Technology Research, Services
NTEE Type Science and Technology Research Institutes, Services
Classification Charitable Organization
Subsection 501(c)(3)  (View the list of codes)
Activities (60) Museum, zoo, planetarium, etc.
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 May, 1994
Filing Requirement 990 (all other) or 990EZ return
Fiscal Year End June
IRS Forms 990
(provided courtesy of Foundation Center)		 (Log In or Register Now to View Forms 990!)
  • June, 2018
  • June, 2017
  • June, 2016
  • June, 2015
  • June, 2014
Compensation % of Expenses Paid to Title
$368,713 0.44% Donald E. Bossi President

Highly Rated

Charity Name & State Overall Score Overall Rating
FIRST (NH) 95.87 four stars
Society for Science & the Public (DC) 96.58 four stars
MATHCOUNTS (VA) 95.42 four stars
National Math + Science Initiative (TX) 93.91 four stars
Ocean Institute (CA) 87.48 three stars

Compare These Charities (Highly Rated)

Are you the representative for this organization? If so, click here to access the application form. As an official representative you will have the ability to update some of the information on this page.

Charity Contact Info

FIRST
200 Bedford Street
Manchester, NH 03101
tel: (800) 871-8326
fax: (603) 666-3907
EIN: 22-2990908

Visit Web Site

Board Leadership

Kelly Ortberg & Robert M. Tuttle
Co-Chairs

CEO

Lawrence Cohen
President

please wait...

    • I want to donate to FIRST

      $
      next

    • Frequency

      back
      next

    • Would you like us to email someone and CC you?

      This email identifies you as the donor but does not specify the amount of your gift.
      back
    A donation of to has been added to your Giving Basket!

    Basket Total:
    Check Out Now or Continue Researching

Join Our Mailing List

Join over 400,000 other informed givers and get updates on charity ratings, new features, hot topics, and tips for donating.

As seen on