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.
97¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$88K 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

FY2023 · 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
97%
of spending
Looks good: 97% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$88K
to officers and key staff · 7% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 7% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
4 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 4.5 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
$77K
14% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 14% 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
$1.2M
+39% vs prior year
Spent
$1.2M
To programs
97%
Net assets
$475K
By yearFY2021–FY2025
Revenue
$1.2M
FY2023▲ +39%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2021$390K
FY2022$874K
FY2023$1.2M
FY2024$1.1M
FY2025$992K
Expenses
$1.2M
FY2023▲ +40%
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
$475K
FY2023▼ -1%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2021$480K
FY2022$480K
FY2023$475K
FY2024$460K
FY2025$474K

From the FY2023 Form 990 (year ending June 2023) · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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You’re viewing the FY2023 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

97 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 97% · $1.2M Management & general 2% · $21K Fundraising 1% · $18K

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; $88K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2022); the FY2023 filing did not itemize Part VII
$88,181Pt VII · Sec A
Board Co-Chair
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Secretary
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Treasurer
$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 · $1.2M · in their own filed words · FY2022
01

The first robotics competition (FRC) program directly served approximately 1515 students working with approximately 250 mentors on 76 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 "charged up" season.

$835Kprogram expense
02

The first lego league programs consists of 3 divisions: first lego league discover for PREK-2ND grade, first lego league explore for grades 2-4, and first lego league challenge for grades 4-8.

$299Kprogram expense
03

The first tech challenge class pack program directly served approximately 200 students in grade 7 at 2 middle schools in harnett county, north carolina as part of the eliss grant received through NC dpi. Students built robots using the rev robotics kit and engaged with the first tech challenge class pack curriculum.

$49Kprogram 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 FY2023 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$1.2M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$1.1M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$98K
Investment incomeLn 3$8K
Money outPt IX
$1.2M
Ln 25
Programscol B$1.2M
Managementcol C$21K
Fundraisingcol D$18K
Owns and owesPt X
$475K
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$458K
Total assetsLn 16$552K
LiabilitiesLn 26$77K
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$1.1M
Government grantsLn 1e$244K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$98K
Investment incomeLn 3$8K
Other incomeLn 4–11$8K
Total revenueLn 12$1.2M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$206K
SavingsLn 2$252K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$458K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$26K
Other assetsLn 15$60K
Total assetsLn 16$552K
LiabilitiesLn 26$77K
Net assetsLn 32$475K
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 FY23End FY23
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$448K$458K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$33K$26K
Total assetsLn 16$485K$552K
LiabilitiesLn 26$5K$77K
Net assetsLn 32$480K$475K
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$91K$81K$5K$4K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$137K$120K$9K$8K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$2K$1K$277$230
Payroll taxesLn 10$18K$18K
Accounting feesLn 11c$26K$26K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$33K$33K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$24K$24K
Office expensesLn 13$8K$6K$2K
OccupancyLn 16$31K$31K
TravelLn 17$24K$20K$941$3K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$8K$8K
InsuranceLn 23$7K$5K$1K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$803K$800K$3K$291
All other expensesLn 24e$12K$11K$613
Total functional expensesLn 25$1.2M$1.2M$21K$18K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 LatestFiled with the IRS Jan 13, 2026 $992K$1.1M−$86K$474K 990 PDF
FY2024Filed with the IRS Nov 11, 2024 $1.1M$1.1M−$15K$460K 990 PDF
FY2023 ViewingFiled with the IRS Nov 14, 2023 $1.2M$1.2M−$5K$475K 990 PDF
FY2022Filed with the IRS Nov 14, 2022 $874K$875K−$776$480K 990 PDF
FY2021Filed with the IRS Nov 12, 2021 $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 FY2023 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $1,216,118 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $842,973$1,101,951
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $25,060$97,986
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $25$8,304
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $6,073$7,877
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $874,131$1,216,118
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 $198,660$247,761
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $676,247$973,278
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $874,907$1,221,039
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year −$776−$4,921
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 $1,216,118 across 8 lines filed
VIII-1e Government grants$243,838
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$858,113
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$1,101,951
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $97,986$97,986
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $8,304$8,304
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising eventsExcluded from tax −$3,225−$3,225
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Related to mission $11,102$11,102
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $109,088 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $5,079$1,216,118
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $1,221,039 across 14 lines filed
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $81,126 · Management $5,291 · Fundraising $4,409$90,826
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $120,345 · Management $9,298 · Fundraising $7,749$137,392
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $1,458 · Management $277 · Fundraising $230$1,965
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $17,578$17,578
IX-11c Accounting feesPrograms $25,549$25,549
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $33,297$33,297
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $23,591$23,591
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $5,695 · Fundraising $2,325$8,020
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $30,913$30,913
IX-17 TravelPrograms $19,750 · Management $941 · Fundraising $2,822$23,513
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $7,518$7,518
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $5,356 · Management $1,176$6,532
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $799,524 · Management $2,910 · Fundraising $291$802,725
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $11,007 · Management $613$11,620
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $1,182,707 · Management $20,506 · Fundraising $17,826$1,221,039
Part X · Balance sheet $552,068 assets, 13 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $223,513$205,787
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $224,447$252,038
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $3,644$9,000
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $33,033$25,515
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $0$59,728
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $484,637$552,068
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $5,000$21,158
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $0$56,194
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $5,000$77,352
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $349,430$439,646
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $130,207$35,070
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $479,637$474,716
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $484,637$552,068
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $474,716 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$1,216,118
XI-2 Total expenses$1,221,039
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$4,921
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$479,637
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$474,716

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2023 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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