Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

First Flight Venture Center Inc

EIN 56-1752731 · Durham, NC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair55 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Only 12% of its spending went to programs.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

TO PROPEL EARLY-STAGE SCIENCE COMPANIES THROUGH THE DELIVERY OF COMPREHENSIVE RESOURCES, AND TO EMPOWER INNOVATORS TO TRANSFORM GOOD IDEAS INTO GREAT SUCCESSES.

Income
$1.9 million
Spending
$2.3 million
Spent on programs
12%
Reserves
40.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 48%
Employees
9
Volunteers
100
Highest pay
$188,642, president

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 55 out of 100. Higher than 27% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 40.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 3% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 18% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 84% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    12% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 13 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 39% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    8 of 8 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

    0 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 December 31, 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 (4)
  1. $5,429 spent. SCIENCE INCUBATOR SERVICES IS A PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES FLEXIBLE LEASES TO MORE THAN 30 NORTH CAROLINA TECHNOLOGY COMPANIES. IT CONNECTS THESE COMPANIES WITH POTENTIAL INVESTORS AND SUPPORTS ENTREPRENEURS IN DEVELOPING PATENT STRATEGIES TO EXPAND THEIR INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY PORTFOLIOS.
  2. $39,600 spent. SUBSIDIZED GRANT WRITING SERVICES OFFER NON-DILUTIVE FUNDING STRATEGIES TO ACCEPTED CANDIDATES. THESE SERVICES SUPPORT BOTH PHASE I AND PHASE II SBIR GOVERNMENT GRANT APPLICATIONS, HELPING ENTREPRENEURS SECURE CRITICAL EARLY-STAGE FUNDING.
  3. $183,339 spent. THE ADVANCED PROTOTYPING FACILITY IS A SUBSCRIPTION-BASED COMMUNITY RESOURCE DESIGNED TO SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY PRODUCT PROTOTYPES. IT OFFERS DESIGN CONTRACT SERVICES AND MAINTAINS A WIDE RANGE OF HIGH-TECH PROTOTYPING EQUIPMENT TO ASSIST INNOVATORS IN BRINGING THEIR IDEAS TO LIFE.
  4. $53,465 spent. WHEELSUP ACCELERATOR AND ALL OTHER.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 November 6, 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 December 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 April 1993.

    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 November 4, 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.