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Passes our checks

First Bridge

EIN 84-1894671 · Petal, MS

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood70 out of 100GovernanceGood75 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF FIRST BRIDGE IS TO CONNECT PEOPLE IN THE PETAL COMMUNITY WITH RESOURCES, RELATIONSHIPS, AND THE HOPE OF THE GOSPEL.

Income
$39,668
Spending
$58,928
Spent on programs
100%
Reserves
40.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
0
Volunteers
330

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

Good: 70 out of 100. Higher than 47% of charities in its peer group (youth development, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 40.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 49% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 51% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    100% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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: 75 out of 100. Higher than 73% of charities in its peer group (youth development, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    5 of 25

    0 of 11 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.

  • 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 (3)
  1. $36,653 spent. FOOD BACKPACKS MINISTRY AN AVERAGE OF 135 FOOD BACKPACKS ARE PACKED WEEKLY WITH A VARIETY OF FOOD ITEMS AND SENT HOME EACH WEEKEND WITH K-2ND GRADE STUDENTS AT PETAL PRIMARY SCHOOL WHO OTHERWISE WOULD NOT HAVE FOOD TO EAT ON THE WEEKEND. AN AVERAGE OF 135 STUDENTS AT PETAL PRIMARY SCHOOL RECEIVED WEEKLEY FOOD BAGS IN 2025
  2. $18,390 spent. UNIFORM MINISTRY UNIFORMS ARE SUPPLIED TO K-12TH GRADE STUDENTS IN THE PETAL SCHOOL DISTRICT. UNIFORMS ARE DISTRIBUTED THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL YEAR AND AT OUR ANNUAL FAMILY HEALTH AND RESOURCE FAIR. ABOUT 548 STUDENTS RECEIVED UNIFORM RESOURCES. 421 STUDENTS RECEIVED UNIFORM RESOURCES AT THE HEALTH FAIR AND 127 STUDENTS RECEIVED RESOURCES DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR IN 2025 ESTIMATED VALUE OF UNIFORMS GIVEN OUT AT HEALTH RESOURCE FAIR $56,943.50
  3. $3,885 spent. ANNUAL FAMILY HEALTH AND RESOURCE FAIR IN JULY, FIRST BRIDGE HOSTS THE ANNUAL PETAL FAMILY HEALTH AND RESOURCE FAIR AT PETAL FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH. WE PARTNER WITH THE PETAL EXCEL BY 5, THE COLEMAN CENTER FOR FAMILIES AND CHILDREN, AND THE PETAL SCHOOL DISTRICT TO HOST THIS EVENT EVERY YEAR. THE FAIR IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES TO GATHER INFORMATION ABOUT COMMUNITY EFFORTS AND TO RECEIVE THE NECESSARY AND FREE RESOURCES BEFORE THE START OF THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR. THESE ARE SOME OF THE RESOURCES FAMILIES HAVE ACCESS TO DURING THE FAIR: SCHOOL UNIFORMS, UNDERGARMENTS, NEW SHOES, BACKPACKS, VISION, SPEECH, AND HEARING SCREENINGS, HAIRCUTS AND MANICURES, TALK TO VENDORS WITH INFORMATION ABOUT MULTIPLE COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND THEIR SERVICES.

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 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 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 July 2019.

    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.

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