To inspire the next generation of engineers, computer scientists and stem leaders. Our goal is to strengthen the school to stem career connection by implementing the First progression of programs in every school and school district, prek through grade 12. First North Carolina wants students to thrive in a high tech world with an unbridled passion for skilled trades, engineering, computer science, and corporate problem-solving. First's hands-on approach enables students to "test drive" these areas to see where their interests and aptitudes fit.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
92¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$80K 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

FY2021 · 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
1 of 5
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $9K a year · 1% of revenue · last 5 filings
Worth a look: a surplus in 1 of the last 5 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 5 filings
Spent on programs
92%
of spending
Looks good: 92% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$80K
to officers and key staff · 34% of spending
Concern: pay to officers and key staff is 34% of spending; over 30%.
Pt VII · Sec A
23 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 23.2 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
8
named funders · $775K
Looks good: 8 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$0
0% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 0% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
19
of 19 voting members
Looks good: 19 of 19 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$390K
Spent
$237K
To programs
92%
Net assets
$480K
By yearFY2021–FY2025
Revenue
$390K
FY2021
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2021$390K
FY2022$874K
FY2023$1.2M
FY2024$1.1M
FY2025$992K
Expenses
$237K
FY2021
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2021$237K
FY2022$875K
FY2023$1.2M
FY2024$1.1M
FY2025$1.1M
Net assets
$480K
FY2021
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2021$480K
FY2022$480K
FY2023$475K
FY2024$460K
FY2025$474K

From the FY2021 Form 990 (year ending June 2021) · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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You’re viewing the FY2021 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 Feb 2013.

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

Where the money goes

92 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 92% · $218K Management & general 5% · $11K Fundraising 3% · $8K

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

20 people listed on the 990; $80K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2020); the FY2021 filing did not itemize Part VII
$79,945Pt VII · Sec A
Board Co-Chair
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Secretary
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Marie E Hopper’s $92K as President is at the 83rd percentile of top reported officer pay among 1992 $100K–1M youth 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

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021
Marie E Hopper$92,208$88,181$88,181$81,144$79,945

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 First North Carolina 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

Inspires students with hands-on STEM programs, connecting school to future careers.

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Provided by the organization

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3 programs · $218K · in their own filed words · FY2020
01

The first robotics competition (FRC) program directly served approximately 2380 students working with approximately 300 mentors on 57 high school robotics teams in north carolina. During the winter build season, teams designed, proto-typed, built, tested and programmed robots to compete in the first "infinite recharge" at-home game and…

$208Kprogram expense
02

The first lego league explore (fll-e) program directly served approximately 3180 students in grades k-4 working with approximately 800 mentors in north carolina. Teams learned about their communities during the "playmakers" season and built models and show-me posters to highlight their learning and work.

$9Kprogram expense
03

The first lego league discover (FLL-D) program directly served approximately 690 students in grades pre-k to 1 working with classroom teachers in schools and youth centers. This program engages students in play-based learning to build excitement for stem.

$391program 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
See all 8 funders →

By the numbers

The FY2021 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$390K
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$383K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$5K
Other incomeLn 4–11$2K
Money outPt IX
$237K
Ln 25
Programscol B$218K
Managementcol C$11K
Fundraisingcol D$8K
Owns and owesPt X
$480K
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$459K
Total assetsLn 16$480K
LiabilitiesLn 26$0
PeoplePt VI, VII
20
listed · VII A
PaidVII A1
Voting boardVI 1a19
IndependentVI 1b19
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$383K
Government grantsLn 1e$70K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$5K
Investment incomeLn 3$25
Other incomeLn 4–11$2K
Total revenueLn 12$390K
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$208K
SavingsLn 2$251K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$459K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$15K
Total assetsLn 16$480K
LiabilitiesLn 26$0
Net assetsLn 32$480K
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 56
VolunteersI 6600
Fiscal year endsHeaderJune
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13Yes
Records policyVI 14Yes
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY21End FY21
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$343K$459K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$22K$15K
Total assetsLn 16$376K$480K
LiabilitiesLn 26$48K$0
Net assetsLn 32$328K$480K
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$82K$73K$5K$5K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$48K$42K$3K$2K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$2K$1K$248$206
Payroll taxesLn 10$10K$10K
Accounting feesLn 11c$9K$9K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$653$653
Office expensesLn 13$2K$1K$50$352
OccupancyLn 16$8K$8K
TravelLn 17$4K$3K$143$430
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$7K$7K
InsuranceLn 23$5K$4K$850
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$54K$54K
All other expensesLn 24e$6K$4K$2K$170
Total functional expensesLn 25$237K$218K$11K$8K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest $992K$1.1M−$86K$474K 990 PDF
FY2024 $1.1M$1.1M−$15K$460K 990 PDF
FY2023 $1.2M$1.2M−$5K$475K 990 PDF
FY2022 $874K$875K−$776$480K 990 PDF
FY2021 Viewing $390K$237K$152K$480K 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 FY2021 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $389,555 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $588,766$382,688
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $20,770$5,127
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $887$25
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $10,324$1,715
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $620,747$389,555
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 $202,785$141,673
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $333,579$95,522
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $536,364$237,195
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $84,383$152,360
Part VI · Governance 19 of 19 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body19
VI-1b Independent voting members19
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsNo
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyYes
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyYes
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $389,555 across 7 lines filed
VIII-1e Government grants$69,551
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$313,137
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$382,688
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $5,127$5,127
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $25$25
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising eventsExcluded from tax $1,715$1,715
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $5,127 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $1,740$389,555
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $237,195 across 13 lines filed
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $72,750 · Management $4,797 · Fundraising $4,797$82,344
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $42,313 · Management $3,456 · Fundraising $2,080$47,849
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $1,274 · Management $248 · Fundraising $206$1,728
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $9,752$9,752
IX-11c Accounting feesPrograms $8,664$8,664
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $653$653
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $1,438 · Management $50 · Fundraising $352$1,840
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $8,400$8,400
IX-17 TravelPrograms $3,013 · Management $143 · Fundraising $430$3,586
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $7,171$7,171
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $3,874 · Management $850$4,724
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $54,324$54,324
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $4,291 · Management $1,699 · Fundraising $170$6,160
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $217,917 · Management $11,243 · Fundraising $8,035$237,195
Part X · Balance sheet $480,413 assets, 11 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $192,004$208,268
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $150,872$250,872
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $5,208$975
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $5,278$5,278
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $22,191$15,020
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $375,553$480,413
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $47,500$0
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $237,435$411,655
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $90,618$68,758
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $328,053$480,413
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $375,553$480,413
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $480,413 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$389,555
XI-2 Total expenses$237,195
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$152,360
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$328,053
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$480,413

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2021 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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