Firstline Schools INC: Nonprofit Profile, Financials & Form 990 (EIN 72-1409800)

Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020	$49.5M
FY2021	$47.5M
FY2022	$60.4M
FY2024	$55.9M
FY2025	$56.6M

Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020	$44.4M
FY2021	$42.7M
FY2022	$51.2M
FY2024	$51.2M
FY2025	$60.3M

Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020	$7.3M
FY2021	$12.0M
FY2022	$21.3M
FY2024	$43.2M
FY2025	$39.7M

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in May 1998.

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

Where the money goes

90 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

90%

Program services 90% · $54.0M Management & general 10% · $6.0M Fundraising 0% · $247K

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

23 people listed on the 990; $1.4M paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2024); the FY2025 filing did not itemize Part VII

Sabrina Pence

Chief Executive Officer

$217,028Pt VII · Sec A

Rebekah Cain

Chief Operating Officer

$133,382Pt VII · Sec A

Sivi Domango

Chief Experience Officer

$133,014Pt VII · Sec A

Ava Lee

School Director

$129,077Pt VII · Sec A

Lashanda Gentry

Chief Academic Officer

$127,033Pt VII · Sec A

Scott Shirey

Chief People Officer

$124,210Pt VII · Sec A

Kirsten Feil

Executive Director of Teaching

$122,722Pt VII · Sec A

Carrie Bevans

School Director

$115,548Pt VII · Sec A

Sabrina Pence’s $217K as Chief Executive Officer is at the 43rd percentile of top reported officer pay among 3683 $10–100M education 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 · 8 named individuals · Part VII

Name	FY2025	FY2024	FY2022	FY2021	FY2020
Sabrina Pence	$217,028	$199,078	$191,394	$164,832	$136,118
Jay Altman	—	—	—	—	$146,257
Claudia Barker	—	$140,458	$135,088	$127,081	$126,366
Tom Shepley	—	$138,595	—	$128,151	—
Tom V Shepley	—	—	$136,001	—	—
Rebekah Cain	$133,382	$131,893	—	—	—
Sivi Domango	$133,014	$129,067	$126,625	—	—
Ava Lee	$129,077	$125,557	—	$112,461	—

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.

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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

Builds and inspires open-admissions public schools preparing New Orleans students for college and careers.

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Provided by the organization

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1 program · $54.0M · in their own filed words · FY2024

01

Firstline schools, inc. (firstline) is a nonprofit organization formed in 1998 to serve as the chartering group for arthur ashe charter school (ashe) formerly known as new orleans charter middle school (nocms).

$54.0Mprogram expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

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

Grants

Schedule I · received and paid

Grants received · FY2024

New Schools for New Orleans INCFY2024$400K

The Octavia FoundationFY2024$75K

Donor Advised Charitable Giving INCFY2024$57K

Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift FundFY2024$40K

The Greater New Orleans FoundationFY2024$25K

Pro Bono Publico FoundationFY2024$25K

New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and Foundation INCFY2024$15K

New Orleans Theatre Association INCFY2024$10K

Total grants receivedfrom 10 funders$653K

See all 10 funders →

Grants paid · 3 grants · $6.6M · 2023–2024

Friends of FirstlineLA · FY2024$6,500,000

Educators for Quality Alternatives INCLA · FY2024$40,204

Educators for Quality Alternatives INCLA · FY2023$44,859

By the numbers

The FY2025 990, line by line.

Download 990

from philanthropy.org

1The main four

Money inPt VIII

$56.6M

Ln 12

Gifts and grantsLn 1h$53.7M

Fees for servicesLn 2g$1.6M

Investment incomeLn 3$1.4M

Money outPt IX

$60.3M

Ln 25

Programscol B$54.0M

Managementcol C$6.0M

Fundraisingcol D$247K

Owns and owesPt X

$39.7M

net assets · Ln 32

Cash and savingsLn 1–2$27.5M

Total assetsLn 16$42.4M

LiabilitiesLn 26$2.7M

PeoplePt VI, VII

23

listed · VII A

PaidVII A11

Voting boardVI 1a12

IndependentVI 1b12

2In more detail

Revenue in detailPt VIII

Gifts and grantsLn 1h$53.7M

Government grantsLn 1e$53.3M

Fundraising eventsLn 1c$146K

Fees for servicesLn 2g$1.6M

Investment incomeLn 3$1.4M

Total revenueLn 12$56.6M

Assets in detailPt X, end of year

CashLn 1$6.2M

SavingsLn 2$21.3M

Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$27.5M

InvestmentsLn 11–13$10.3M

Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$1.0M

Other assetsLn 15$173K

Total assetsLn 16$42.4M

LiabilitiesLn 26$2.7M

Net assetsLn 32$39.7M

OperationsPt I, VI

EmployeesI 5601

VolunteersI 60

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

Line	Start FY25	End FY25
Cash and savingsLn 1–2	$24.2M	$27.5M
InvestmentsLn 11–13	$19.2M	$10.3M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c	$1.8M	$1.0M
Total assetsLn 16	$50.2M	$42.4M
LiabilitiesLn 26	$7.0M	$2.7M
Net assetsLn 32	$43.2M	$39.7M

4Every line

Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line

Line	Total	Programs	Management	Fundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1	$8.2M	$8.2M
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5	$1.2M	$1.1M	$91K	$9K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7	$24.5M	$22.5M	$1.9M	$189K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8	$1.2M	$1.1M	$84K	$12K
Other employee benefitsLn 9	$2.6M	$2.4M	$212K	$10K
Payroll taxesLn 10	$1.9M	$1.7M	$131K	$19K
Legal feesLn 11b	$577K	$385K	$191K	$716
Accounting feesLn 11c	$709K	$473K	$235K	$880
Other fees for servicesLn 11g	$7.9M	$6.2M	$1.7M	$6K
Advertising and promotionLn 12	$9K	$4K	$4K
Office expensesLn 13	$2.5M	$2.1M	$355K
Information technologyLn 14	$730K	$366K	$364K
OccupancyLn 16	$2.8M	$2.7M	$115K
TravelLn 17	$156K	$75K	$81K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22	$158K		$158K
InsuranceLn 23	$1.2M	$911K	$311K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24	$4.0M	$3.9M	$98K	$0
All other expensesLn 24e	$49K	$24K	$26K
Total functional expensesLn 25	$60.3M	$54.0M	$6.0M	$247K

Filing history

Year	Money in	Money out	In minus out	Net assets	Download
FY2025 Latest Viewing	$56.6M	$60.3M	−$3.7M	$39.7M	990 PDF
FY2024	$55.9M	$51.2M	$4.7M	$43.2M	990 PDF
FY2023	Not on file
FY2022	$60.4M	$51.2M	$9.3M	$21.3M	990 PDF
FY2021	$47.5M	$42.7M	$4.7M	$12.0M	990 PDF
FY2020	$49.5M	$44.4M	$5.1M	$7.3M	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 J · Pay O · Explanations

See the full FY2025 990 (6 parts)

Part I · Summary $56,637,622 revenue, 12 lines filed

I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $55,695,559$53,651,836

I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $69,358$1,551,567

I-10 Investment incomePrior year $94,208$1,448,624

I-11 Other revenuePrior year $59,496−$14,405

I-12 Total revenuePrior year $55,918,621$56,637,622

I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $44,859$8,165,934

I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0

I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $29,628,881$31,415,663

I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0

I-17 Other expensesPrior year $21,501,776$20,716,944

I-18 Total expensesPrior year $51,175,516$60,298,541

I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $4,743,105−$3,660,919

Part VI · Governance 12 of 12 board members independent, no flags

VI-1a Voting members of the governing body12

VI-1b Independent voting members12

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 $56,637,622 across 8 lines filed

VIII-1c Fundraising events$145,827

VIII-1e Government grants$53,295,656

VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$210,353

VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$53,651,836

VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $1,551,567$1,551,567

VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $1,448,624$1,448,624

VIII-8 Net income from fundraising eventsExcluded from tax −$14,405−$14,405

VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $1,551,567 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $1,434,219$56,637,622

Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $60,298,541 across 18 lines filed

IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $8,165,934$8,165,934

IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $1,086,031 · Management $90,536 · Fundraising $9,121$1,185,688

IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $22,464,570 · Management $1,872,730 · Fundraising $188,676$24,525,976

IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $1,108,393 · Management $83,768 · Fundraising $12,240$1,204,401

IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $2,399,140 · Management $211,953 · Fundraising $10,408$2,621,501

IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $1,727,849 · Management $131,467 · Fundraising $18,781$1,878,097

IX-11b Legal feesPrograms $384,955 · Management $191,272 · Fundraising $716$576,943

IX-11c Accounting feesPrograms $473,161 · Management $235,099 · Fundraising $880$709,140

IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $6,164,806 · Management $1,698,461 · Fundraising $6,290$7,869,557

IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $4,151 · Management $4,456$8,607

IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $2,136,535 · Management $355,180$2,491,715

IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $366,044 · Management $364,014$730,058

IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $2,654,581 · Management $114,658$2,769,239

IX-17 TravelPrograms $75,143 · Management $80,658$155,801

IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationManagement $157,514$157,514

IX-23 InsurancePrograms $911,130 · Management $311,370$1,222,500

IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $3,878,123 · Management $98,417 · Fundraising $0$3,976,540

IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $23,792 · Management $25,538$49,330

IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $54,024,338 · Management $6,027,091 · Fundraising $247,112$60,298,541

Part X · Balance sheet $42,417,310 assets, 16 lines filed

X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $8,711,610$6,220,208

X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $15,497,074$21,286,138

X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $4,449,061$2,985,595

X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $219,514$43,728

X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $90,380$416,264

X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $1,828,629$1,015,699

X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $19,188,998$10,277,113

X-15 Other assetsStart of year $230,677$172,565

X-16 Total assetsStart of year $50,215,943$42,417,310

X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $6,669,526$2,485,062

X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $133,017$27,863

X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $234,511$176,808

X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $7,037,054$2,689,733

X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $43,178,889$39,727,577

X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $43,178,889$39,727,577

X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $50,215,943$42,417,310

Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $39,727,577 net assets at year end

XI-1 Total revenue$56,637,622

XI-2 Total expenses$60,298,541

XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$3,660,919

XI-4 Net assets at start of year$43,178,889

XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$209,607

XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0

XI-10 Net assets at end of year$39,727,577

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2025 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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