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.
75¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$96K 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

FY2024 · 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
75%
of spending
Fine: 75% of spending went to programs; 65% to 75%.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$96K
to officers and key staff · 5% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 5% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
3 mo
of spending, in cash
Fine: 2.9 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
$552K
65% of total assets
Fine: liabilities are 65% of assets; 50% to 65%.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
20
of 20 voting members
Looks good: 20 of 20 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$1.8M
+42% vs prior year
Spent
$1.9M
To programs
75%
Net assets
$292K
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$1.8M
FY2024▲ +42%
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
$1.9M
FY2024▲ +48%
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
$292K
FY2024▼ -18%
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 FY2024 Form 990 (year ending June 2024) · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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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

75 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 75% · $1.4M Management & general 16% · $303K Fundraising 9% · $168K

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

25 people listed on the 990; $96K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2023); the FY2024 filing did not itemize Part VII
$96,278Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Advisor
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$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 · FY2023
01

Across our 2023-2024 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 FY2024 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$1.8M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$1.6M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$234K
Investment incomeLn 3$2K
Money outPt IX
$1.9M
Ln 25
Programscol B$1.4M
Managementcol C$303K
Fundraisingcol D$168K
Owns and owesPt X
$292K
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$460K
Total assetsLn 16$844K
LiabilitiesLn 26$552K
PeoplePt VI, VII
25
listed · VII A
PaidVII A1
Voting boardVI 1a20
IndependentVI 1b20
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$1.6M
Government grantsLn 1e$427K
Fundraising eventsLn 1c$89K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$234K
Investment incomeLn 3$2K
Total revenueLn 12$1.8M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$460K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$460K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$11K
Other assetsLn 15$70K
Total assetsLn 16$844K
LiabilitiesLn 26$552K
Net assetsLn 32$292K
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 FY24End FY24
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$575K$460K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$31K$11K
Total assetsLn 16$877K$844K
LiabilitiesLn 26$520K$552K
Net assetsLn 32$357K$292K
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$106K$63K$26K$16K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$390K$216K$56K$117K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$26K$13K$5K$7K
Payroll taxesLn 10$40K$23K$7K$11K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$60K$58K$2K
Office expensesLn 13$55K$55K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$20K$20K
InsuranceLn 23$5K$5K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$1.2M$1.0M$128K$15K
Total functional expensesLn 25$1.9M$1.4M$303K$168K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest $1.5M$1.6M−$87K$204K 990 PDF
FY2024 Viewing $1.8M$1.9M−$65K$292K 990 PDF
FY2023 $1.3M$1.3M$12K$357K 990 PDF
FY2022 $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 FY2024 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $1,820,065 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $1,066,484$1,636,246
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $217,234$233,812
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $2,252$2,263
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $0−$52,256
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $1,285,970$1,820,065
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 $526,778$561,242
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $747,004$1,324,213
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $1,273,782$1,885,455
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $12,188−$65,390
Part VI · Governance 20 of 20 board members independent, 2 to look at
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body20
VI-1b Independent voting members20
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 $1,820,065 across 8 lines filed
VIII-1c Fundraising events$88,780
VIII-1e Government grants$427,040
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$1,120,426
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$1,636,246
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $233,812$233,812
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $2,263$2,263
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising eventsExcluded from tax −$52,256−$52,256
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $233,812 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax −$49,993$1,820,065
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $1,885,455 across 9 lines filed
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $63,419 · Management $26,425 · Fundraising $15,854$105,698
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $216,431 · Management $55,778 · Fundraising $117,353$389,562
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $13,296 · Management $5,189 · Fundraising $7,046$25,531
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $22,525 · Management $7,117 · Fundraising $10,809$40,451
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $57,911 · Fundraising $2,428$60,339
IX-13 Office expensesManagement $55,302$55,302
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationManagement $20,216$20,216
IX-23 InsuranceManagement $5,145$5,145
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $1,040,414 · Management $128,166 · Fundraising $14,631$1,183,211
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $1,413,996 · Management $303,338 · Fundraising $168,121$1,885,455
Part X · Balance sheet $843,653 assets, 15 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $575,297$459,595
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $7,500$0
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $107,160$179,719
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $38,830$123,152
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $31,324$11,109
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $116,430$70,078
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $876,541$843,653
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $34,291$110,599
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $354,438$361,914
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $130,881$79,599
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $519,610$552,112
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $356,931$112,690
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $0$178,851
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $356,931$291,541
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $876,541$843,653
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $291,541 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$1,820,065
XI-2 Total expenses$1,885,455
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$65,390
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$356,931
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$291,541

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2024 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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