First in Missouri

Tax-deductible

Saint Louis, MO501(c)(3)Youth DevelopmentEIN 85-4204282

First in missouri provides science, technology, engineering and math (stem) learning opportunities for the children of missouri primarily within the first global robotics community.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
88¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 460 volunteers and 1 employee.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · People: Part I, lines 5–6

Before you give

FY2025 · 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 4
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $61K a year · 17% of revenue · last 4 filings
Worth a look: a surplus in 1 of the last 4 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 4 filings
Spent on programs
88%
of spending
Looks good: 88% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$62K
to officers and key staff · 19% of spending
Top officer’s pay higher than 52% of similar orgs
Fine: pay to officers and key staff is 19% of spending; 15% to 20%.
Pt VII · Sec A
Cash reserves
10 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 9.6 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
5
named funders · $87K
Looks good: 5 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
6
of 6 voting members
Looks good: 6 of 6 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$311K
+35% vs prior year
Spent
$334K
To programs
88%
Net assets
$267K
By yearFY2022–FY2025
Revenue
$311K
FY2025▲ +35%
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2022$589K
FY2023$331K
FY2024$231K
FY2025$311K
Expenses
$334K
FY2025▲ +16%
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2022$247K
FY2023$349K
FY2024$287K
FY2025$334K
Net assets
$267K
FY2025▼ -8%
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2022$363K
FY2023$345K
FY2024$289K
FY2025$267K

From the FY2025 Form 990 (year ending June 2025) · see the original

Give Claim

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in Nov 2021.

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

Where the money goes

88 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 88% · $293K Management & general 11% · $38K Fundraising 1% · $3K

Form 990 Part IX, line 25, columns B–D. Every line is in By the numbers.

Who runs it and what they're paid

7 people listed on the 990; $62K 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
Executive Director
$62,000Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Secretary
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Laura Roth’s $62K as Executive Director is at the 52nd percentile of top reported officer pay among 1993 $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

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022
Laura Roth$62,000$60,000$60,000$55,000

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 First in Missouri executive salaries →

Are you one of these people? Claim this org to confirm your role

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

Offers STEM learning through robotics for Missouri children.

Provided by the organization

This section is blank until First in Missouri claims this page.

Know this organization? Claim it to add your story

3 program services account for $259K of program spending, described in the organization's own filed words · FY2024.
01

FIRST Robotics Competition is for students in grades 9-12. They are guided by adult mentors to design, program, and build industrial-sized robots to play an action-packed game. They compete on a themed field as part of a three-team alliance in the spirit of Coopertition. We hosted the St. Louis Regional 4-day event at Chaifetz Arena.

$160Kprogram expense
02

FIRST Tech Challenge is for students in grades 7-12. Teams program classroom-scale robots to follow autonomous commands before student drivers take control in two-on-two matches. On and off the field, students develop STEM skills, engage in community outreach, practice engineering innovation, and build confidence to help them succeed.

$61Kprogram expense
03

FIRST LEGO League introduces STEM to children through fun, exciting hands-on learning. Participants gain real-world problem-solving experiences through a guided, global robotics program using LEGO technology, helping todays students and teachers build a better future together.

$37Kprogram expense

Run this program? Claim this org to tell your story

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 5 funders →

By the numbers

The FY2025 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$311K
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$204K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$97K
Investment incomeLn 3$10K
Money outPt IX
$334K
Ln 25
Programscol B$293K
Managementcol C$38K
Fundraisingcol D$3K
Owns and owesPt X
$267K
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$267K
Total assetsLn 16$267K
LiabilitiesLn 26$0
PeoplePt VI, VII
7
listed · VII A
PaidVII A1
Voting boardVI 1a6
IndependentVI 1b6
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$204K
Noncash giftsLn 1g$9K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$97K
Investment incomeLn 3$10K
Gains on assetsLn 7$4K
Total revenueLn 12$311K
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$60K
SavingsLn 2$206K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$267K
Total assetsLn 16$267K
LiabilitiesLn 26$0
Net assetsLn 32$267K
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 51
VolunteersI 6460
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 FY25End FY25
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$291K$267K
Total assetsLn 16$291K$267K
LiabilitiesLn 26$2K$0
Net assetsLn 32$289K$267K
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$62K$46K$14K$2K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$10K$7K$2K$396
Payroll taxesLn 10$5K$4K$1K$221
Accounting feesLn 11c$2K$0$2K$0
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$102K$102K$0$0
Advertising and promotionLn 12$2K$2K$0$0
Office expensesLn 13$10K$0$10K$0
OccupancyLn 16$18K$18K$0$0
TravelLn 17$10K$10K$0$0
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$1K$1K$0$0
InsuranceLn 23$5K$0$5K$0
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$40K$40K$0$0
All other expensesLn 24e$66K$64K$3K$0
Total functional expensesLn 25$334K$293K$38K$3K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest Viewing $311K$334K−$23K$267K 990 PDF
FY2024 $231K$287K−$56K$289K 990 PDF
FY2023 $331K$349K−$18K$345K 990 PDF
FY2022 $589K$247K$342K$363K 990 PDF

Want to add your own materials alongside these filings? Claim this org

Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs I · Grants R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons A · Public support F · Foreign M · Noncash
See the full FY2025 990 (4 parts)
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $311,398 across 7 lines filed
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$204,459
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$8,610
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$204,459
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $0$96,527
VIII-3 Investment incomeUnrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $6,492$6,492
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsRelated to mission $0 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $3,920$3,920
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $96,527 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $10,412$311,398
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $333,999 across 13 lines filed
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $45,500 · Management $14,000 · Fundraising $2,500$62,000
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $7,206 · Management $2,217 · Fundraising $396$9,819
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $4,032 · Management $1,241 · Fundraising $221$5,494
IX-11c Accounting feesPrograms $0 · Management $2,400 · Fundraising $0$2,400
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $101,924 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$101,924
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $1,511 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$1,511
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $0 · Management $10,351 · Fundraising $0$10,351
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $17,800 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$17,800
IX-17 TravelPrograms $10,198 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$10,198
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $1,300 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$1,300
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $0 · Management $5,057 · Fundraising $0$5,057
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $39,680 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$39,680
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $63,771 · Management $2,694 · Fundraising $0$66,465
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $292,922 · Management $37,960 · Fundraising $3,117$333,999
Part X · Balance sheet $266,814 assets, 8 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $291,043$60,322
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investments$206,492
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $291,043$266,814
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $1,628$0
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $249,421$228,082
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $39,994$38,732
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $289,415$266,814
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $291,043$266,814
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $266,814 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$311,398
XI-2 Total expenses$333,999
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$22,601
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$289,415
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$266,814

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

Similar organizations you could support · Compare with another nonprofit

Names, privacy, and removal requests More

The names, titles, and compensation shown on this page are reproduced from IRS Form 990 filings, which are public records.

Philanthropy.org does not alter the content of those filings. All information appears exactly as reported by the filing organization for the tax year shown.

We publish only information contained in the public IRS filing — and less than the filing contains. Our profile pages do not display street addresses, telephone numbers, personal email addresses, or other personal contact information, even where the filing includes them.

Many people share the same name. A name shown on this page reflects only what one organization reported in one IRS filing for one tax year. It should not be interpreted as identifying any other individual with the same or a similar name.

If you are no longer affiliated with the organization, your name will generally stop appearing in future IRS filings once the organization no longer reports you. Pages for tax years in which you were reported remain published because those filings remain part of the public record.

Philanthropy.org does not alter or remove IRS filing records. Removing a page from this website would not remove the underlying IRS filing, which remains publicly available from the IRS and other publishers of the same information.

If you believe the IRS filing itself is inaccurate, corrections must be made by the filing organization or the IRS directly.

If you ARE the filing organization, claim this org and add context

Made it to the end? Claim this organization

Keep this kind of thing free
Keep public charity data easy to read.

Free to the public, because obviously. Like this? Pay it forward. Don't like this? Help us get better.

Card, Apple Pay or Google Pay through Stripe. One time.
Keep this kind of thing free
Keep public charity data easy to read.

Free to the public, because obviously. Like this? Pay it forward. Don't like this? Help us get better.

Card, Apple Pay or Google Pay through Stripe. One time.

All figures are derived from public IRS Form 990 filings and are presented without evaluation of any organization. philanthropy.org does not rate, score, or rank organizations, including the pay comparisons above.