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Nyc First Inc

EIN 46-2754933 · New York, NY

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood70 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

See Schedule O.NYC FIRST's mission is to inspire and empower K-12 students from diverse communities across New York City each year to engage with STEM and robotics in meaningful and joyful ways. It creates learning experiences that encourage young people to think critically and creatively and to persevere. Its programs set young people on pathways to success academically and professionally.

Income
$7.7 million
Spending
$7.4 million
Spent on programs
89%
Reserves
3.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 91%
Employees
39
Volunteers
1,208
Highest pay
$348,776, ceo/executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 70 out of 100. Higher than 43% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 61% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 68% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    89% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 64% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 9 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, 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 (1)
  1. $6.6 million spent. See Schedule O.Through its STEM Centers, NYC FIRST creates an array of empowering, innovative and accessible educational opportunities throughout the year. Its STEM Centers serve as a high-impact programmatic platform that empowers students, educators and mentors through district-wide school-day programs, after-school robotics leagues, credit-bearing STEM courses, pathways support, professional development for teachers, collaborative curriculum design, hands-on workshops, and open hours for design and fabrication. At its STEM Centers, staff lead credit-bearing, immersive courses, with three-hour-long, school-day sessions each week. Year-long courses allow students to immerse themselves in robotics, while also providing them with the opportunity to apply their knowledge to create projects and solutions that seek to solve problems in their communities. NYC FIRST operates four STEM Centers, at Cornell Tech on Roosevelt Island, the Andrew Freedman Home in the Bronx, in the New York Public Library's Washington Heights branch, and in Downtown Brooklyn. NYC FIRST manages all three FIRST robotics programs (FIRST LEGO League, FIRST Tech Challenge and FIRST Robotics Competition) serving students ages 4 to 18 in the five boroughs of NYC. Each of the programs is designed to provide innovative skill building in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math through hands-on, team-based activities. The programs take place both during the school day and as after school programs.NYC FIRST works with NYC school districts to weave robotics programs at scale into the school day. NYC FIRST provides a range of supports, including professional development, classroom site visits and field trips to NYC FIRST STEM Centers.NYC FIRST coordinates events throughout New York City where students compete with their robots and present to judging panels. In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, NYC FIRST conducted over 20 events, with approximately 10,000 students participating in all NYC FIRST programs.NYC FIRST has a close connection to FIRST, a separate not-for-profit organization that is considered unrelated for tax purposes. NYC FIRST is the official representative of all FIRST programs in New York City. NYC FIRST enters into agreements with FIRST that outline its roles and responsibilities to further the mission of FIRST. Through these various agreements, the two organizations participate in various transactions, including grants.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since May 2015.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. 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.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.