Is it real?
Yes. Exemption reinstated (2018-05-15). Per the IRS revocation list. Latest filing on record: FY2024. IRS ruling in Nov 2019.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS Auto-Revocation List · IRS Business Master File
Where the money goes
80 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.
Form 990 Part IX, line 25, columns B–D. Every line is in By the numbers.
Something off? Claim to add context
Who runs it and what they're paid
5 people listed on the 990; $85K paid to officers and key staff.
Rafael Garcia’s $106K as Executive Dir. is at the 76th percentile of top reported officer pay among 1708 $100K–1M community development 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
| Name | FY2024 | FY2023 | FY2022 | FY2021 | FY2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rafael Garcia | $106,000 | $90,583 | $96,605 | $98,059 | $85,000 |
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 Community First INC executive salaries →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
Builds safe, affordable homes for people in need.
Questions for Community First INC
Your first name shows with your question. Community First INC answers here, for everyone.
Community first completed 18 structures in 2020 for the city of milwaukee, helping our families to avoid foreclosure and stay in their homes. We do this by providing substantial home REPAIRS.COMMUNITY first completed 15 structures in 2020 for the city of wauwatosa, helping our families to avoid foreclosure and stay in their homes.
Funders
Who pays for it.
From grant filings on record. Receipts are incomplete: individual donors are never listed.
Grants
Federal money
The auditor reported: doubt the group can keep going, a weakness in money controls.
The auditor reported: a weakness in money controls.
By the numbers
The FY2020 990, line by line.
Download 990
| Line | Start FY20 | End FY20 |
|---|---|---|
| Cash and savingsLn 1–2 | $42K | |
| Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c | $0 | $0 |
| Total assetsLn 16 | $534K | $118K |
| LiabilitiesLn 26 | $680K | $332K |
| Net assetsLn 32 | −$145K | −$214K |
| Line | Total | Programs | Management | Fundraising |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5 | $106K | $53K | $53K | |
| Other salaries and wagesLn 7 | $23K | $11K | $11K | |
| Other employee benefitsLn 9 | $617 | $309 | $308 | |
| Payroll taxesLn 10 | $8K | $4K | $4K | |
| Accounting feesLn 11c | $16K | $16K | ||
| Other fees for servicesLn 11g | $302K | $302K | $125 | |
| Advertising and promotionLn 12 | $1K | $520 | $520 | |
| Office expensesLn 13 | $6K | $3K | $3K | |
| OccupancyLn 16 | $3K | $1K | $1K | |
| TravelLn 17 | $68 | $35 | $33 | |
| InterestLn 20 | $24 | $12 | $12 | |
| InsuranceLn 23 | $3K | $2K | $2K | |
| Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24 | $470 | $27 | $443 | |
| Total functional expensesLn 25 | $470K | $378K | $92K | $0 |
Filing history
| Year | Money in | Money out | In minus out | Net assets | Download |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2024 LatestFiled with the IRS Nov 14, 2025 | $935K | $905K | $30K | −$110K | 990 PDF |
| FY2023Filed with the IRS Oct 30, 2024 | $868K | $734K | $134K | −$140K | 990 PDF |
| FY2022Filed with the IRS Nov 7, 2023 | $390K | $466K | −$76K | −$274K | 990 PDF |
| FY2021Filed with the IRS Nov 9, 2022 | $1.0M | $962K | $40K | −$174K | 990 PDF |
| FY2020 ViewingFiled with the IRS Oct 25, 2021 | $401K | $470K | −$69K | −$214K | 990 PDF |
Schedules filed Part IV
See the full FY2020 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $400,945 revenue, 12 lines filed
Part VI · Governance 5 of 5 board members independent, no flags
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $400,945 across 5 lines filed
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $469,589 across 13 lines filed
Part X · Balance sheet $117,806 assets, 11 lines filed
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets −$213,945 net assets at year end
Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2020 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File
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