F I R S T
Only null% goes to programs Growing revenue
F I R S T is a 501(c)(3) organization based in Asheville, North Carolina, registered in 2002, with $2,794,279 in FY2022 revenue. CharityIndex grades it C+.
Po Box 802, Asheville, NC, 28802 EIN 56-2278402 Since 2002
Revenue (FY2022)
$2.8M
▲ 18.8% vs prior year
Human Services median: $293K
Expenses (FY2022)
$2.9M
Net assets
$661K
Employees
—
CharityIndex rating
One independent A+ to F grade from four published criteria, each scored separately from IRS filings and combined by weight.
C+
—Program efficiency40% of the ratingNo expense breakdown in filings
Measures how much of every dollar spent actually reaches programs, plus what it costs to raise $100 of donations. The worse of the two measures sets the letter (85%+ to programs is an A; under $15 to raise $100 is an A), averaged over the three most recent filings. Not scored for F I R S T— this filing type doesn't report it, and the rating simply skips it (never counts it against the organization). See the exact thresholds →
BFinancial health25% of the rating3 mo reserves · -2% margin
Measures whether the organization is built to last: how many months its reserves would cover expenses (3+ months earns an A-range score, but hoarding 5+ years of budget is capped) and whether it runs a surplus or a deficit. For F I R S T: 3 mo reserves · -2% margin earns a B on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
—Governance25% of the ratingNot reported in this filing type
Checks how the organization is run, from its own Form 990: an independent board majority, a board of five or more, conflict-of-interest, whistleblower and document-retention policies, and independently audited financials. The share of disclosed checks that pass sets the letter. Not scored for F I R S T— this filing type doesn't report it, and the rating simply skips it (never counts it against the organization). See the exact thresholds →
DTransparency10% of the rating1 of 5 disclosure signals
Counts five disclosure signals: a recent filing, a mission statement, program descriptions, a listed website, and the full expense breakdown. More disclosure, better letter. For F I R S T: 1 of 5 disclosure signals earns a D on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
Show this grade on your website
A live seal — it updates automatically when the grade changes and links donors to this verified profile.
Contact & location
- Address
- Po Box 802, Asheville, NC, 28802
- City
- Asheville
- State
- North Carolina
- Category
- Human Services
- Subcategory
- Services for Specific Populations
- Website
- …
Financial trends
Revenue grew from $343K (FY2009) to $2.8M (FY2022) across 11 reported years.
Financial snapshot
Financial health & position (FY2022)
Liabilities $816KNet assets $661K
Operating margin
-2.1%
Spent more than it raised in the latest fiscal year.
Total assets
$1.5M
Total liabilities
$816K
Net assets
$661K
Financials by year
| Fiscal year | Revenue | Expenses | Net assets | Total assets | Form |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | $2,794,279▲18.8% | $2,853,059▲35.3% | $661,469▼14.7% | $1,477,294▲83.7% | 990 |
| 2021 | $2,351,252▼1.3% | $2,108,254▲2.0% | $775,181▲45.7% | $804,206▲47.9% | 990 |
| 2020 | $2,382,201▲22.1% | $2,066,822▲16.9% | $532,183▲145% | $543,901▲122% | 990 |
| 2019 | $1,951,308▲34.8% | $1,767,378▲19.0% | $216,804▲559% | $245,417▲299% | 990 |
| 2018 | $1,447,316▲43.6% | $1,485,604▲44.3% | $32,874▼38.3% | $61,487▲15.4% | 990 |
| 2017 | $1,008,226▲35.1% | $1,029,386▲43.7% | $53,274▼33.7% | $53,274▼33.7% | 990 |
| 2016 | $746,542▲59.6% | $716,102▲46.5% | $80,391▲31.7% | $80,391▲29.8% | 990 |
| 2015 | $467,762▲8.5% | $488,827▲13.0% | $61,023▼31.6% | $61,943▼31.3% | 990 |
| 2014 | $431,162▲6.1% | $432,664▲16.1% | $89,266▲43.2% | $90,186▲43.3% | 990 |
| 2013 | $406,425 | $372,551▲7.8% | $62,348▲158% | $62,957▲143% | 990 |
| 2012 | — | $345,494▲38.6% | $24,211▼66.6% | $25,943▼65.4% | 990 |
| 2011 | — | $249,244▼1.9% | $72,560▼20.9% | $74,880▼19.2% | 990 |
| 2010 | — | $253,951▼18.7% | $91,770▲129% | $92,690▲128% | 990 |
| 2009 | $343,499 | $312,256 | $40,019 | $40,634 | 990EZ |
Original Form 990 PDFs (the Form column) are served by ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer, as filed with the IRS. Create a free account to download the CSV report.
Grants received · $24K total
3 grants to F I R S T totaling $24K, reported by foundations on their Schedule I filings.
| Grantmaker | Purpose | Year | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rural Economic Development Center Inc | Faith in rural communities connect implementation grant | 2024 | $13,401 |
| Good360 | To assist those in need. | 2021 | $5,412 |
| Easter Seals Inc | Disability services | 2017 | $5,000 |
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Frequently asked questions
- Is F I R S T a legitimate nonprofit?
- Yes. F I R S T is a 501(c)(3) organization registered with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service under EIN 56-2278402, based in Asheville, North Carolina. Donations are tax-deductible.
- What is F I R S T's EIN?
- F I R S T's Employer Identification Number (EIN) is 56-2278402.
- How much revenue does F I R S T report?
- F I R S T reported $2,794,279 in total revenue on its fiscal year 2022 IRS Form 990 filing.
- What financial grade does F I R S T have?
- CharityIndex grades F I R S T C+, based on financial health (reserves and operating margin).
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Data for F I R S T (EIN 56-2278402) comes from the IRS Business Master File and e-filed Form 990 returns, via CharityIndex. Figures reflect what the organization reported to the IRS for each fiscal year.