Kurt Warner First Things First Foundation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
DEDICATED TO IMPACTING LIVES IN A LASTING WAY BY PROMOTING CHRISTIAN VALUES, SHARING EXPERIENCES AND PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES TO ENCOURAGE EVERYONE THAT ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE WHEN PEOPLE SEEK TO PUT "FIRST THINGS FIRST" WITH PROJECTS SUCH AS TRIPS TO DISNEY WORLD FOR ILL CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES, BUILDING RECREATION CENTERS IN CHILDREN'S HOSPITALS, REWARDING SINGLE PARENTS AS THEY ACHIEVE THE DREAM OF HOME OWNERSHIP, ENCOURAGING INCLUSION IN SCHOOL FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION STUDENTS AND MORE. ALL PROJECTS PRIMARILY TARGET CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN GREATER PHOENIX, ST. LOUIS AND IOWA AND ARE CENTERED ON THE WARNERS' LIFE THEME OF PUTTING FAITH AND FAMILY FIRST.
- Income
- $343,174
- Spending
- $292,467
- Spent on programs
- 84%
- Reserves
- 85.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 64%
- Employees
- 1
- Volunteers
- 51
- Highest pay
- $69,914, executive director/secreta
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 79% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 85.9 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 15% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 29% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1584% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Fair: 59 out of 100. Higher than 28% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
18 of 252 of 3 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
0 of 10Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (6)
- $111,416 spent. HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS - TOGETHER WITH AARON'S INC, U-HAUL, BROOKLYN BEDDING, AND SPROUTS THE FOUNDATION REWARDS SINGLE MOTHERS OR FATHERS, WHO HAVE ACHIEVED THE DREAM OF HOMEOWNERSHIP WITH HABITAT FOR HUMANITY BY TURNING A HOUSE INTO A HOME WITH NEW FURNISHINGS AS A SURPRISE FOR FIRST-TIME HOMEOWNERS. IN 2024, TWO SINGLE MOMS AND THEIR SEVEN KIDS WERE SURPRISED IN ARIZONA (2) FOR MOTHER'S DAY AND CHRISTMAS, RESPECTIVELY.
- $91,871 spent. DISNEY WORLD PROGRAM - FOR THE TWENTY-SECOND YEAR, THE FOUNDATION TEAMED WITH DREAM FACTORY AND MAKE-A-WISH TO TREAT CHILDREN FROM ARIZONA AND MISSOURI WITH LIFE-THREATENING ILLNESSES AND THEIR FAMILIES TO THE MAGICAL WORLD OF MICKEY, DONALD AND GOOFY IN ORLANDO, FLORIDA FOR A WEEKLONG VACATION. THE WEEK IS DIRECTED BY THE WARNER FAMILY (KURT, BRENDA AND THEIR SEVEN CHILDREN). SEVEN MAKE-A-WISH AND DREAM FACTORY CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES EXPERIENCED THE LIFE CHANGING TRIP IN 2024. A REUNION WAS ALSO HOSTED IN PHOENIX TO RECONNECT WITH FAMILIES HOSTED IN PREVIOUS YEARS.
- $13,699 spent. CHRISTMAS GIVING PROGRAM - THIS PROGRAM CELEBRATES CHRISTMAS WITH FOSTER KIDS AT SUNSHINE ACRES CHILDREN'S HOME IN MESA, AZ. THIS YEAR EACH CHILD RECEIVED A BRAND NEW PAIR OF NIKE SHOES ALONG WITH SOCKS THANKS TO AN IN-KIND PARTNERSHIP WITH NIKE. ALL OF THE STAFF AND CHILDREN AT SUNSHINE ACRES SPENT AN AFTERNOON PLAYING GAMES WITH THE WARNER FAMILY AND ENJOYING LUNCH DONATED BY CRUST. IN 2024, 72 PAIRS OF SHOES WERE PROVIDED.
- $9,684 spent. WARNERS' WARM-UP IS A PROGRAM HELD ANNUALLY IN THE FALL TO COLLECT WINTER COATS IN GREATER ST. LOUIS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OPERATION FOOD SEARCH, LOCAL POLICE DEPARTMENTS, FEDEX OFFICE, LOOKAFTER HAIR COMPANY, A-MRAZEK MOVING SYSTEMS, BI-STATE CREDIT UNIONS, LION'S CHOICE, AND LOCAL ST. LOUIS MEDIA. ST. LOUISANS ARE ENCOURAGED TO DONATE NEW OR GENTLY-USED WINTER COATS AT DROP OFF LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT THE ST. LOUIS REGION. OPERATION FOOD SEARCH DISTRIBUTES THE COATS TO THOSE WHO NEED THEM VIA LOCAL HOMELESS SHELTERS, SCHOOLS AND SOCIAL SERVICE CENTERS. THE FOUNDATION ALSO PURCHASES NEW COATS AT A REDUCED RATE IN BULK. IN 2024, MORE THAN 7,000 COATS AND WINTER APPAREL ITEMS WERE DISTRIBUTED IN THE BI-STATE AREA.
- $11,362 spent. MISSION: POSSIBLE! SCHOLARSHIPS EASE THE FINANCIAL BURDEN FOR HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE AGE GROUPS (14-22 YEARS OLD) PARTICIPATING IN SERVICE-BASED MISSION TRIPS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES. SERVICE BASED MISSIONS ENLIGHTEN PARTICIPANTS TO THE WORK OF JESUS AND STRENGTHEN THEIR FAITH WHILE MAKING A POSITIVE IMPACT ON THE COMMUNITIES SERVED. IN 2024, ELEVEN GROUPS WERE AWARDED SCHOLARSHIPS FOR THEIR SPRING BREAK AND SUMMER MISSION TRIPS TOTALING $8,500.
- $8,374 spent. THE TICKET PROGRAM HONORS VETERANS WITH TICKETS TO MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL. THE PROGRAM HOSTS MILITARY VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES FROM VETERAN TICKET FOUNDATION AT THE GAMES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY. AUTOGRAPHED KURT WARNER MEMORABILIA ARE ALSO GIVEN TO PARTICIPANTS. TWENTY-SIX PEOPLE ATTENDED A MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL GAME IN 2024.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since August 2001.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.
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