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Firstrepair

EIN 86-3191322 · Evanston, IL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

FIRSTREPAIR ENVISIONS A JUST SOCIETY WHERE BLACK PEOPLE ARE LIBERATED, THRIVING, AND REPAIRED. FIRSTREPAIR ADVANCES LOCAL REPARATIONS, NATIONALLY BY SUPPORTING COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND OTHER RELEVANT INSTITUTIONS AND BODIES IN SUCCESSFULLY IMPLEMENTING TANGIBLE REPARATIONS THROUGH LOCAL EFFORTS.TOGETHER WITH OUR PARTNERS, WE HELP LOCAL LEADERS EXPLORE, PLAN, AND TAKE CONCRETE STEPS TO ADVANCE REPARATIONS. WE ARE THE PRIMARY RESOURCE FOR LEGISLATIVE BODIES, COMMITTEES, TASKFORCES AND COMMISSIONS, ELECTED LEADERS, REPARATIONS PRACTITIONERS, SEEKING INFORMATION, SUPPORT, AND COMMUNITY FOR POLICY SOLUTIONS THAT ADVANCE A REPAIRED WORLD. WE ARE ALSO THE GO-TO PARTNER FOR COMMUNITY ADVOCATES, INTERFAITH AND LAY LEADERS, ACADEMICS AND RESEARCHERS, ACTIVISTS AND RACIAL JUSTICE LEADERS COMMITTED TO REPARATORY JUSTICE. OUR SERVICES INCLUDE: (1) STRATEGIC ADVISING, BOTH ONE-ON-ONE STRATEGIC ADVISING IN CLOSED SESSIONS FOR ELECTED LEADERS AND TESTIMONY FOR PUBLIC SESSIONS, ADV

Income
$1.2 million
Spending
$1.2 million
Spent on programs
73%
Reserves
5.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 98%
Employees
9
Volunteers
25
Highest pay
$208,211, executive director & board 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

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 57% of charities in its peer group (civil rights, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 7% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 3% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    73% 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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 59% of charities in its peer group (civil rights, $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 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 (5)
  1. $324,179 spent. THE NATIONAL SYMPOSIUM FOR STATE AND LOCAL REPARATIONS IS THE SIGNATURE EVENT FOR THE LOCAL REPARATIONS MOVEMENT. IN 2025 THE SYMPOSIUM BROUGHT TOGETHER MORE THAN 275 ATTENDEES FROM OVER 60 LOCALITIES AND MORE THAN 80 REPARATIONS INITIATIVES TO HEAR FROM OVER 50 SPEAKERS IN 30 SESSIONS ON TOPICS INCLUDING POLICY DESIGN, INTERFAITH PARTNERSHIPS, TECHNOLOGY, COMMUNICATION, LEGAL STRATEGIES AND ALLYSHIP. THE 2025 KEYNOTE SPEAKER WAS MACARTHUR FELLOW TONIKA LEWIS JOHNSON. ATTENDEES ALSO PARTICIPATED IN A BUS TOUR, A TOWN HALL SESSION, LIVE TOOLKIT SESSIONS, REPORTS FROM EACH OF THE FOUR REGIONS, AND AN AWARDS DINNER RECOGNIZING 11 SIGNIFICANT LEADERS AND ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE PAST YEAR.
  2. $171,060 spent. THE NATIONAL RESOURCE CENTER FOR STATE AND LOCAL REPARATIONS IS A HOME FOR THE LOCAL REPARATIONS MOVEMENT. THE RESOURCE CENTER HOSTS REPARATIONS-CENTERED EXHIBITS, ARTIST TALKS, EXPERT PANELS AND PUBLIC VIEWINGS OF ART AND DATA TO ENGAGE AND INFORM THE DIALOGUE AROUND RACIAL HEALING AND REPAIR. THE RESOURCE CENTER LIBRARY HOUSES FOUNDATIONAL MATERIALS ON REPARATIONS. IN 2025, FIRSTREPAIR HOSTED 12 EVENTS, PLUS 6 ADDITIONAL EVENTS HOSTED BY COMMUNITY PARTNERS; AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2025 THE RESOURCE CENTER LIBRARY INCLUDES 585 TOTAL ITEMS, INCLUDING BOOKS, HARM REPORTS, AND TOOLKITS.
  3. $110,721 spent. MONTHLY STRATEGY SESSIONS BUILD A NETWORK OF INFORMED AND EMPOWERED LOCAL LEADERS EQUIPPED TO ADVOCATE FOR REPARATIONS POLICIES IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. STRATEGY SESSIONS COVER THE PRINCIPLES OF REPARATIONS, DEMOCRACY AND REPARATIONS, WOMEN IN THE REPARATIONS MOVEMENT, LEGAL AND COMMUNICATION STRATEGIES, ARTS AND CULTURE, AND MORE. IN 2025 9 NATIONAL STRATEGIES, ARTS AND CULTURE, AND MORE. IN 2025, 9 NATIONAL STRATEGY SESSIONS AND 43 REGIONAL STRATEGY SESSIONS WERE HELD.
  4. $245,232 spent. FIRSTREPAIR CURATES A RANGE OF COMMISSIONED ARTS AND CULTURE PROGRAMMING THAT SHOWCASES LIFE WITH REPAIR INCLUDING EXHIBITS AND SHOWCASES, PUBLIC ART, MUSIC, DOCUMENTARIES, BOOKS, AND DIGITAL MEDIA. IN 2025, FIRSTREPAIR RELEASED THE RECKONING, A FULL-LENGTH ALBUM CELEBRATING BLACK LIBERATION AND REPARATIONS. FIRSTREPAIR MADE PRESENTATIONS AT CONFERENCES, HEARINGS, PANELS, AND OTHER SPEAKING EVENTS, INCLUDING THE UN PERMANENT FORUM FOR PEOPLE OF AFRICAN DESCENT IN NEW YORK CITY.
  5. FIRSTREPAIR CURATES A RANGE OF COMMISSIONED ARTS AND CULTURE PROGRAMMING THAT 245232. 0. 51138.

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 May 2022.

    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.