Firstworks' mission is to enrich the cultural, educational, and economic fabric of rhode island by engaging diverse audiences with world-class performing arts and education.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
78¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$109K paid to officers and key staff.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · Pay: Part VII

Before you give

FY2022 · Form 990Independent: from IRS data, not the org
Download 990
IRS status
501(c)(3)
not on the IRS revocation list
Looks good: listed by the IRS and not on the revocation list.
IRS BMF · Auto-Revocation List
Tax-deductible gifts
Yes
Donations are tax-deductible
Looks good: the IRS lists gifts to it as deductible.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS BMF
Latest return
FY2025
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2025, 1 tax year back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
3 of 6
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $27K a year · 2% of revenue · last 6 filings
Worth a look: a surplus in 3 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 filings
Spent on programs
78%
of spending
Looks good: 78% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$109K
to officers and key staff · 6% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 6% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
3 mo
of spending, in cash
Fine: 2.7 months of spending in cash; 1 to 3.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
5
named funders · $163K
Looks good: 5 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$490K
59% of total assets
Fine: liabilities are 59% of assets; 50% to 65%.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
17
of 17 voting members
Looks good: 17 of 17 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$2.0M
+82% vs prior year
Spent
$1.8M
To programs
78%
Net assets
$345K
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$2.0M
FY2022▲ +82%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$876K
FY2021$1.1M
FY2022$2.0M
FY2023$1.3M
FY2024$1.8M
FY2025$1.5M
Expenses
$1.8M
FY2022▲ +94%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$879K
FY2021$949K
FY2022$1.8M
FY2023$1.3M
FY2024$1.9M
FY2025$1.6M
Net assets
$345K
FY2022▲ +84%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$37K
FY2021$187K
FY2022$345K
FY2023$357K
FY2024$292K
FY2025$204K

From the FY2022 Form 990 (year ending June 2022) · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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You’re viewing the FY2022 filing — not the latest on file. See the latest (FY2025) →

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in Sep 1985.

IRS Pub. 78 · IRS Auto-Revocation List · IRS Business Master File

Where the money goes

78 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 78% · $1.4M Management & general 12% · $217K Fundraising 10% · $180K

Form 990 Part IX, line 25, columns B–D. Every line is in By the numbers.

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Who runs it and what they're paid

24 people listed on the 990; $109K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2021); the FY2022 filing did not itemize Part VII
$109,072Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Secretary Through 6/30/22
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Advisor
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Trustee Through 1/20/22
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Kathleen Pletcher’s $98K as Ex Officio is at the 31st percentile of top reported officer pay among 3924 $1–10M arts & culture nonprofits. Peer set: organizations in the same NTEE major field of work and revenue-size band, compared on each org’s own highest-paid officer/key-employee, from Form 990 Part VII / 990-PF Part VIII. Descriptive placement, not a verdict on whether the pay is appropriate.

Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 1 named individual · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021
Kathleen Pletcher$97,783$96,278$111,974$109,072$94,072

Total reportable compensation (Form 990 Part VII column D / Schedule J column E) by filing year, matched by name within this organization. The Schedule J base / bonus / deferred breakdown is not parsed into this dataset.

See Firstworks executive salaries →

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Questions the 990 asks

The form asks each of these directly. These are the filed answers.

  • Family or business ties among officersPt VI · Ln 2No
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aYes

Programs and updates

Enriches Rhode Island's fabric through world-class performing arts and education.

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Provided by the organization

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1 program · $1.4M · in their own filed words · FY2021
01

Across our 2021-2022 season we have focused on nurturing partnerships, creating access for rhode islanders, and lifting voices in our local community. We presented 140 artists and provided over 100 employment opportunities for creatives.

$1.4Mprogram expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

From grant filings on record. Receipts are incomplete: individual donors are never listed.

Grants

Schedule I · funders on record
Grants received · FY2024
Provport INCFY2024$12K
Total grants receivedfrom 5 funders$163K
See all 5 funders →

By the numbers

The FY2022 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$2.0M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$1.3M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$657K
Investment incomeLn 3$330
Money outPt IX
$1.8M
Ln 25
Programscol B$1.4M
Managementcol C$217K
Fundraisingcol D$180K
Owns and owesPt X
$345K
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$408K
Total assetsLn 16$835K
LiabilitiesLn 26$490K
PeoplePt VI, VII
24
listed · VII A
PaidVII A1
Voting boardVI 1a17
IndependentVI 1b17
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$1.3M
Government grantsLn 1e$619K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$657K
Investment incomeLn 3$330
Total revenueLn 12$2.0M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$408K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$408K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$52K
Total assetsLn 16$835K
LiabilitiesLn 26$490K
Net assetsLn 32$345K
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 517
VolunteersI 60
Fiscal year endsHeaderJune
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13No
Records policyVI 14No
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY22End FY22
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$424K$408K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$23K$52K
Total assetsLn 16$766K$835K
LiabilitiesLn 26$579K$490K
Net assetsLn 32$187K$345K
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$109K$66K$27K$16K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$340K$229K$42K$69K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$2K$2K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$20K$11K$5K$4K
Payroll taxesLn 10$38K$25K$6K$7K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$66K$66K
Office expensesLn 13$16K$16K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$14K$14K
InsuranceLn 23$3K$3K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$1.2M$1.0M$103K$84K
Total functional expensesLn 25$1.8M$1.4M$217K$180K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest $1.5M$1.6M−$87K$204K 990 PDF
FY2024 $1.8M$1.9M−$65K$292K 990 PDF
FY2023 $1.3M$1.3M$12K$357K 990 PDF
FY2022 Viewing $2.0M$1.8M$158K$345K 990 PDF
FY2021 $1.1M$949K$150K$187K 990 PDF
FY2020 $876K$879K−$3K$37K 990 PDF

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Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons I · Grants A · Public support O · Explanations
See the full FY2022 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $2,002,777 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $947,097$1,345,906
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $144,935$656,541
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $87$330
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $7,260$0
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $1,099,379$2,002,777
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $0$0
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $461,228$509,055
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $488,210$1,335,883
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $949,438$1,844,938
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $149,941$157,839
Part VI · Governance 17 of 17 board members independent, 2 to look at
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body17
VI-1b Independent voting members17
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyNo
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyNo
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsNo
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $2,002,777 across 6 lines filed
VIII-1e Government grants$618,624
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$727,282
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$1,345,906
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $656,541$656,541
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $330$330
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $656,541 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $330$2,002,777
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $1,844,938 across 10 lines filed
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $65,548 · Management $27,312 · Fundraising $16,387$109,247
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $229,442 · Management $41,904 · Fundraising $68,968$340,314
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsManagement $1,610$1,610
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $11,367 · Management $4,979 · Fundraising $3,696$20,042
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $25,067 · Management $5,537 · Fundraising $7,238$37,842
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $66,305$66,305
IX-13 Office expensesManagement $16,463$16,463
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationManagement $13,645$13,645
IX-23 InsuranceManagement $3,297$3,297
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $1,049,931 · Management $102,717 · Fundraising $83,525$1,236,173
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $1,447,660 · Management $217,464 · Fundraising $179,814$1,844,938
Part X · Balance sheet $834,571 assets, 13 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $424,331$407,577
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $5,000$9,100
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $288,764$327,023
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $24,359$38,821
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $23,258$52,050
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $765,712$834,571
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $73,237$399,990
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $440,917$89,838
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $64,654$0
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $578,808$489,828
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $186,904$344,743
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $186,904$344,743
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $765,712$834,571
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $344,743 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$2,002,777
XI-2 Total expenses$1,844,938
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$157,839
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$186,904
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$344,743

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2022 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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