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← FOR INSPIRATION AND RECOGNITION OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY FIRST

Form 990 for tax year 2023

Filed by FOR INSPIRATION AND RECOGNITION OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY FIRST.

Totals

Total revenue
$84,820,628
Total expenses
$82,281,294
Contributions and grants received
$44,488,652
Grants paid
$28,806,782
Program service revenue
$37,445,824
Investment income
$2,284,483
Other revenue
$601,669
Total assets, end of year
$77,043,564
Total liabilities, end of year
$8,322,517
Net assets or fund balances, end of year
$68,721,047
Program services expenses (Part IX)
$71,018,059
Management and general expenses
$8,815,250
Fundraising expenses
$2,447,985
Program service expenses (Part III)
$71,018,059

Program services were 86.3% of total expenses calculated — Part IX's program-services column over total expenses, both as filed.

Line items

Every line the filer filed in Parts VIII, IX and X, as filed and in filed order. Blank columns are left out, and the lines are not forced to add up to the totals above.

Revenue

Part VIII, the statement of revenue.

  • 1c · Fundraising events

    $578,971

  • 1e · Government grants (contributions)

    $4,535,857

  • 1f · All other contributions, gifts and grants

    $39,373,824

  • 1g · Noncash contributions included above

    $5,251,258

  • 2a · Program service revenue: Team Participation Fees

    total $36,649,498 · related or exempt $36,649,498

  • 2b · Program service revenue: Hotel Commissions

    total $796,326 · excluded $796,326

  • 3 · Investment income

    total $2,284,615 · excluded $2,284,615

  • 6a · Gross rents

    real property $77,172

  • 6b · Less rental expenses

    real property $49,344

  • 6c · Rental income or loss

    real property $27,828

  • 6d · Net rental income or loss

    total $27,828 · excluded $27,828

  • 7a · Gross sales of assets other than inventory

    securities $193,560

  • 7b · Less cost or other basis and sales expenses

    securities $193,692

  • 7c · Gain or loss

    securities -$132

  • 7d · Net gain or loss

    total -$132 · excluded -$132

  • 8a · Fundraising events: gross income

    $49,985

  • 8a · Fundraising events: contributions included on line 1c

    $578,971

  • 8b · Fundraising events: direct expenses

    $423,246

  • 8c · Net income from fundraising events

    total -$373,261 · excluded -$373,261

  • 11a · Other revenue: Consignment Sales & Misc. Income

    total $947,102 · excluded $947,102

  • 11e · Other revenue, total

    $947,102

Functional expenses

Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.

  • 1 · Grants to domestic organizations and governments

    total $26,067,300 · program services $26,067,300

  • 2 · Grants to domestic individuals

    total $224,950 · program services $224,950

  • 3 · Grants to foreign organizations and individuals

    total $2,514,532 · program services $2,514,532

  • 5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees

    total $2,677,700 · program services $1,823,068 · management and general $497,825 · fundraising $356,807

  • 7 · Other salaries and wages

    total $16,510,645 · program services $12,934,987 · management and general $2,453,509 · fundraising $1,122,149

  • 8 · Pension plan contributions

    total $729,911 · program services $568,596 · management and general $111,350 · fundraising $49,965

  • 9 · Other employee benefits

    total $2,041,174 · program services $1,559,480 · management and general $310,679 · fundraising $171,015

  • 10 · Payroll taxes

    total $1,385,644 · program services $1,072,640 · management and general $207,338 · fundraising $105,666

  • 11b · Fees: legal

    total $127,090 · program services $93,463 · management and general $32,201 · fundraising $1,426

  • 11c · Fees: accounting

    total $48,484 · program services $34,700 · management and general $13,255 · fundraising $529

  • 11d · Fees: lobbying

    total $212,840 · program services $152,329 · management and general $58,187 · fundraising $2,324

  • 11g · Fees: other

    total $2,042,828 · program services $1,473,028 · management and general $446,815 · fundraising $122,985

  • 12 · Advertising and promotion

    total $1,726,506 · program services $1,249,476 · management and general $368,591 · fundraising $108,439

  • 13 · Office expenses

    total $530,484 · program services $409,491 · management and general $108,547 · fundraising $12,446

  • 14 · Information technology

    total $1,314,991 · program services $945,453 · management and general $340,067 · fundraising $29,471

  • 16 · Occupancy

    total $485,704 · program services $354,286 · management and general $126,371 · fundraising $5,047

  • 17 · Travel

    total $1,703,005 · program services $1,315,229 · management and general $327,701 · fundraising $60,075

  • 19 · Conferences, conventions and meetings

    total $417,381 · program services $308,341 · management and general $93,072 · fundraising $15,968

  • 20 · Interest

    total $18,187 · program services $18,187

  • 22 · Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    total $837,669 · program services $707,893 · management and general $87,767 · fundraising $42,009

  • 23 · Insurance

    total $534,804 · program services $473,204 · management and general $59,234 · fundraising $2,366

  • 24a · Other expenses: Add'l Robot/Event Costs

    total $17,543,681 · program services $14,638,802 · management and general $2,713,193 · fundraising $191,686

  • 24b · Other expenses: Volunteer Related Costs

    total $1,583,748 · program services $1,201,557 · management and general $367,514 · fundraising $14,677

  • 24c · Other expenses: Other Costs & Expenses

    total $1,002,036 · program services $877,067 · management and general $92,034 · fundraising $32,935

Balance sheet

Part X, book values.

  • 1 · Cash, non-interest-bearing

    beginning of year $11,080,899 · end of year $12,097,399

  • 2 · Savings and temporary cash investments

    beginning of year $36,592,590 · end of year $40,477,534

  • 3 · Pledges and grants receivable

    beginning of year $15,013,490 · end of year $12,355,154

  • 4 · Accounts receivable

    beginning of year $4,478,557 · end of year $3,496,481

  • 8 · Inventories for sale or use

    beginning of year $1,781,173 · end of year $1,132,055

  • 9 · Prepaid expenses and deferred charges

    beginning of year $1,376,307 · end of year $1,595,137

  • 10a · Land, buildings and equipment: cost or other basis

    $20,105,257

  • 10b · Land, buildings and equipment: accumulated depreciation

    $14,589,032

  • 10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net

    beginning of year $3,956,671 · end of year $5,516,225

  • 15 · Other assets

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $373,579

  • 17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses

    beginning of year $6,760,999 · end of year $5,920,782

  • 19 · Deferred revenue

    beginning of year $1,512,349 · end of year $2,028,156

  • 25 · Other liabilities

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $373,579

  • 27 · Net assets without donor restrictions

    beginning of year $33,420,564 · end of year $36,650,253

  • 28 · Net assets with donor restrictions

    beginning of year $32,585,775 · end of year $32,070,794

Mission and programs · 2023

Mission

See Mission statement on Schedule O, pg. 155.The mission of FIRST is to inspire young people to be science and technology leaders and innovators, by engaging them in exciting mentor-based programs that build science, engineering, and technology skills, that inspire innovation, and that foster well-rounded life capabilities including self-confidence, communication, and leadership.

Activities or mission (Part I)

To inspire youth to become science and technology leaders and innovators.

  • FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) directly served 87,000 youths on approximately 3,500 teams worldwide. Working with mentors, each team builds a robot starting with a kit of parts, designing it to meet this year's music-themed game challenge "CRESCENDO." Each team participated in one or more 2 to 3-day events at 181 locations, competing for awards for game scores, safety practices, teamwork, and other qualitative achievements, stressing the FIRST ethos of Coopertition and Gracious Professionalism. Award-winning teams participated in the annual international FIRST Championship event in Houston. The FRC Program provided students with the experience of applying engineering and technology to achieve a specific challenge under a time constraint. (Narrative continued on Schedule O, pg. 155). This experience developed students' technical skills, teamwork, and the ability to deal with the satisfactions and disappointments of a real engineering project. Participation in FIRST Robotics Competition has inspired many students to go on to college and careers in fields related to STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math). Many coaches and mentors work in these fields and help the students develop bonds within their communities and connections to the workforce development pipeline. Students and alumni of the program gain access to education and career discovery opportunities, connections to exclusive scholarships and employers, and a place in the FIRST community for life.

    Expenses $56,724,654 · Grants $24,816,779 · Revenue $21,384,382

  • FIRST LEGO League (FLL), for which there are three divisions, Discover, Explore and Challenge, reached 597,000 youths aged 4-16, on approximately 65,600 teams worldwide. This year's challenge was called "MASTERPIECE." Participants imagined and innovated new ways to create and communicate art across the globe. Discover and Explore students built a LEGO model and tracked what they learned in an Engineering Notebook. Explore teams used code to bring their model to life. Challenge teams also built and programmed an autonomous LEGO robot to play the themed MASTERPIECE Robot Game. In addition to participating in local events, teams from around the world met in Houston in April 2024 as part of the FIRST Championship competition and celebration. (Narrative continued on Schedule O, pg. 155).Participation in Discover, Explore and Challenge has engaged students in a comprehensive experience developing confidence in their ability to address real world issues facing their communities, builds their STEM literacy and social-emotional learning, and exposes them to STEM careers. By progressing through each division and on to high-school level FIRST programs, students gain a full suite of technical skills and ongoing encouragement, making it more likely that they will pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and math.

    Expenses $7,249,403 · Grants $1,969,810 · Revenue $10,615,980

  • FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) served 100,000 youths from ages 12-18 on approximately 7,800 teams worldwide. Like FIRST Robotics Competition, FIRST Tech Challenge teams design and build a robot to compete on a themed playing field but using a smaller robot kit and game challenge field. In this year's arts-themed game, "CENTERSTAGE," each team built a robot and participated in local events. This program provides an experience for a broad audience of educators and students at a low cost. The experience simulates the excitement as well as the pressure of a real-life engineering project, developing not only the students' technical know-how, but also leadership, cooperation, ability to plan, patience, and teamwork. (Narrative continued on Schedule O, pg. 156).FIRST Tech Challenge enriches the participating students' ability to deal with the satisfactions and disappointments of a real engineering project. The experience expands students' interest and skills in STEM and inspires many to go on to higher education and careers in those fields. Students and alumni of the program gain access to education and career discovery opportunities, connections to exclusive scholarships and employers, and a place in the FIRST community for life.

    Expenses $7,044,002 · Grants $2,020,193 · Revenue $5,445,462

As filed on the 2023 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here.

Listed in Part VII

  • Christopher Moore

    Secretary, CEO

    Total calculated
    $506,258
    From this org
    $444,118
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $62,140
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $377,680
    Bonus
    $66,300
    Other
    $138
    Deferred
    $12,280
    Nontaxable benefits
    $49,860
    Filer's total
    $506,258
  • Dr Laurie Leshin

    Chair

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    4
  • Dr Donald E Bossi

    Vice Chair

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Rick Clemmer

    Vice Chair

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Dr Vincent Wilczynski

    Treasurer

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    6
  • Dean Kamen

    Founder & Board Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    12
  • Ursula Burns

    Board Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Leanne Caret

    Past Board Member (termed 4/2024)

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Dr Robin N Coger

    Board Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Karen Horting

    Board Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Dr Paul E Jacobs

    Board Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Scott McKay

    Board Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Blake Moret

    Board Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Kelly Ortberg

    Board Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • David Siegel

    Board Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Dr Melissa Smith

    Board Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Rajesh Subramaniam

    Board Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Robert M Tuttle

    Board Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Dr Emily Van Dunk

    Board Member (started 4/2024)

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Grace Jinliu Wang

    Board Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Dantaya Williams

    Board Member (started 4/2024)

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • General Janet Wolfenbarger

    Board Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Martine Rothblatt

    Board Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • William Potter Saxe

    VP, Risk Mgmt/Gen Cnsl (DOH 5/24)

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    40
  • Michael C Shea

    Vice President, Program Delivery

    Total calculated
    $117,282
    From this org
    $113,454
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $3,828
    Hours/week
    40
  • Janell Nicole Catlin

    VP, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion

    Total calculated
    $194,044
    From this org
    $173,224
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $20,820
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $156,334
    Bonus
    $16,800
    Other
    $90
    Deferred
    $5,613
    Nontaxable benefits
    $15,207
    Filer's total
    $194,044
  • Amy Lynn Hunt

    Chief People Officer

    Total calculated
    $197,288
    From this org
    $188,362
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $8,926
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $169,911
    Bonus
    $18,391
    Other
    $60
    Deferred
    $7,800
    Nontaxable benefits
    $1,126
    Filer's total
    $197,288
  • Brooke Blew

    VP, Marketing & Communications

    Total calculated
    $211,432
    From this org
    $175,444
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $35,988
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $158,584
    Bonus
    $16,800
    Other
    $60
    Deferred
    $5,760
    Nontaxable benefits
    $30,228
    Filer's total
    $211,432
  • Danielle M Pliska

    Vice President, Finance

    Total calculated
    $214,261
    From this org
    $204,861
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $9,400
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $184,957
    Bonus
    $19,850
    Other
    $54
    Deferred
    $8,586
    Nontaxable benefits
    $814
    Filer's total
    $214,261
  • Mark S Giordono

    Vice President, Development

    Total calculated
    $235,145
    From this org
    $221,706
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $13,439
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $199,968
    Bonus
    $21,600
    Other
    $138
    Deferred
    $9,746
    Nontaxable benefits
    $3,693
    Filer's total
    $235,145
  • Pedro L Diaz

    Chief Information Officer

    Total calculated
    $264,157
    From this org
    $240,178
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $23,979
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $222,946
    Bonus
    $17,142
    Other
    $90
    Deferred
    $8,672
    Nontaxable benefits
    $15,307
    Filer's total
    $264,157
  • Christopher Rake

    Executive VP & COO

    Total calculated
    $360,498
    From this org
    $314,414
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $46,084
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $275,837
    Bonus
    $38,487
    Other
    $90
    Deferred
    $14,036
    Nontaxable benefits
    $32,048
    Filer's total
    $360,498
  • Ronald Falcone

    Chief Sourcing Officer

    Total calculated
    $195,613
    From this org
    $186,834
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $8,779
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $169,896
    Bonus
    $16,800
    Other
    $138
    Deferred
    $7,743
    Nontaxable benefits
    $1,036
    Filer's total
    $195,613
  • Linda Tenda

    Past Sir Dir, Planning & Admin.

    Total calculated
    $178,039
    From this org
    $149,411
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $28,628
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $137,415
    Bonus
    $11,600
    Other
    $396
    Deferred
    $6,135
    Nontaxable benefits
    $22,493
    Filer's total
    $178,039
  • Clelia Anna Mannino

    Sir Dir, Research & Evaluation

    Total calculated
    $180,173
    From this org
    $173,234
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $6,939
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $161,296
    Bonus
    $11,878
    Other
    $60
    Deferred
    $6,169
    Nontaxable benefits
    $770
    Filer's total
    $180,173
  • Kim R Wierman

    Senior Director, FLL

    Total calculated
    $181,495
    From this org
    $163,097
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $18,398
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $149,139
    Bonus
    $13,700
    Other
    $258
    Deferred
    $7,041
    Nontaxable benefits
    $11,357
    Filer's total
    $181,495
  • Collin C Fultz

    Senior Director, FRC

    Total calculated
    $189,277
    From this org
    $144,161
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $45,116
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $131,147
    Bonus
    $12,960
    Other
    $54
    Deferred
    $5,928
    Nontaxable benefits
    $39,188
    Filer's total
    $189,277
  • Vincent D Rodino

    Sir Dir, School Engagement & Edu.

    Total calculated
    $192,901
    From this org
    $152,348
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $40,553
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $139,252
    Bonus
    $12,700
    Other
    $396
    Deferred
    $6,876
    Nontaxable benefits
    $33,677
    Filer's total
    $192,901

Compensation is as filed in Part VII: reportable pay from this organization and from related organizations, other compensation, and hours per week. The total, marked calculated, is our sum of the three dollar columns, with a blank column counted as $0; the form itself has no total. On a Form 990-EZ the columns are Part IV's instead, and on a Form 990-PF Part VIII's — compensation, contributions to benefit plans, and expense account — and the total sums those. A Schedule J breakdown is as filed: base pay, bonus, other, deferred compensation and nontaxable benefits from this organization, with any from related organizations beside each, and the filer's own total. It is shown with the Part VII listing of the same name on the same return. The form gives no key between the two, so that pairing is ours, and is marked matched by us.

Schedule J

Answered yes

  • 3 · Compensation committee
  • 3 · Independent compensation consultant
  • 3 · Form 990 of other organizations
  • 3 · Compensation survey or study
  • 3 · Approval by the board or compensation committee
  • 7 · Other non-fixed payments

Answered no

  • 4a · Severance or change-of-control payment
  • 4b · Supplemental nonqualified retirement plan
  • 4c · Equity-based compensation arrangement
  • 5a · Pay contingent on this organization's revenues
  • 5b · Pay contingent on a related organization's revenues
  • 6a · Pay contingent on this organization's net earnings
  • 6b · Pay contingent on a related organization's net earnings
  • 8 · Paid under the initial-contract exception

The filer's explanations (Part III)

Part I, Line 7
The Talent and Compensation Committee may grant discretionary performance incentives which, if granted, are determined after the fiscal year-end based on an individual employee's efforts and the overall FIRST financial outlook. Before receiving an incentive award, each Officer or Director's base compensation is reviewed, relative to the Talent and Compensation Committee's recommended parameters. Incentive compensation was paid in fiscal year 2024 (accrued in fiscal year 2023) to members of the leadership team. In June 2023 and December 2023 all FIRST employees, except for the CEO, were granted fiscal year bonuses and holiday gifts (bonuses), respectfully; these are reported on page 2, column B(ii).
Part II, column (C):
Deferred compensation is the contribution made by FIRST to the employee's 401(k) account.
Part II, column (D):
Non-taxable benefits are comprised of health, vision care, dental insurance premiums, and, if applicable, flexible spending accounts for health and dependent care. Some of the employees listed made contributions either towards health, vision care, and dental insurance; some did so for all of these. Some of the employees listed made contributions to a flexible spending account.

Part I's answers as filed. A line not listed was left unanswered; on lines 1a and 3 that means the box was not checked.

Grants on this return

The 10 largest by cash amount. The API serves every itemized grant.

Provenance

Return type
form_990
Tax year
2023
Filed
25 November 2024
IRS schema version
2023v5.1
Source object
202433319349300818

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