Ky FIRST Robotics Inc
Nonprofit profile at a glance
- EIN
- 834717186
- IRS 990 coverage
- 2024–2024
- Forms available
- Form 990 2024, Form 990-EZ 2023, Form 990-N 2021
- Location
- Nicholasville, KY, USA
- Phone
- 8593547678
- Rating
- 76
- Verdict
- SUPPORTED
- Rating confidence
- Moderate
- Sector
- Management & Technical Assistance
Reported finances
- Revenue
- $250,743
- Expenses
- $177,425
- Assets
- $121,449
- Liabilities
- $6,641
Source: IRS Form 990. Selected filing: tax year 2024. Amounts in USD.
Leadership & pay
14 people listed
Executive titles in this filing
- Heather Smith (Assistant Executive Director)
- Kelli Gowan (Executive Director)
- Robert Toole (Vice President)
Highest reported compensation
- Kelli Gowan (Executive Director): $25,063 total reported compensation
- Heather Smith (Assistant Executive Director): $19,527 total reported compensation
- Jeff Slaton (Board Member): $600 total reported compensation
Source: IRS Form 990. Selected filing: tax year 2024. Names and roles reflect this filing, not necessarily current officeholders.
Overview
Mission
KY FIRST Robotics mission is to build a strong sustainable robotics program for Kentuckys K-12 students based on the belief that every student can succeed when provided with the tools mentorship and hands-on experiences needed to see themselves as innovators and leaders. The organizations vision is to inspire the next generation of problem solvers and leaders. To achieve this mission KY FIRST Robotics supports the implementation and growth of FIRST robotics programs across the state including programs that serve students from elementary through high school. The organizations primary activities include organizing and hosting robotics competitions and events supporting teams and coaches throughout the season and coordinating opportunities for students to participate in hands-on STEM learning experiences. During the tax year KY FIRST Robotics provided program support through event planning and execution communication and coordination with teams and volunteers and collabo
What it reported doing in 2024
KY FIRST Robotics supports the implementation and growth of FIRST Tech Challenge FTC programs serving middle and high school students across Kentucky. During the reporting period the organization expanded its program offerings by launching an international premier FTC event in Kentucky bringing teams from beyond the state to participate in a high-level competitive experience. In addition the organization provided coordination resources and guidance to teams and coaches and hosted multiple events throughout the season. These efforts resulted in significant growth in the number of participating teams and events. Students engaged in hands-on STEM learning through designing building and programming robots while developing skills in teamwork problem-solving and engineering design.
Operating model
- Revenue model
- Mixed. Its operating money came from several sources; no one source provided a clear majority.
- Distribution model
- Direct operator. The filing allocates 100% of reported program-service expenses outside its grant, affiliate-payment, and member-benefit lines. This expense classification does not rule out separately announced grant awards.
The verdict
SUPPORTED - The filed numbers largely add up and a large share of available resources goes toward mission work. Some filing-based governance responses are negative or unanswered and total assets are small relative to annual expenses; liquid coverage is unknown.
Rating breakdown
- Financial Efficiency: 66
- Transparency & Controls: 100
- Accountability: 72
- Sustainability: 53
- Growth: 60
Detailed rating inputs
Financial Efficiency
- Mission deployment rate: 64.3%; rating input score 64
- Program expense ratio: 90.9%; rating input score 91
- Fundraising efficiency: Limited
Transparency & Controls
- Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 64th percentile among comparable filings
- Pay-setting controls: Limited
- Foreign activity oversight: Limited
- Grant itemization coverage: Limited
- Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
- Related-party transparency: Limited
Accountability
- Independent voting board: 83.3%; rating input score 83; 22nd percentile among comparable filings
- Governance controls: 5 of 9 controls in place; rating input score 56
- Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
- Whistleblower policy: Pass
- Document-retention policy: Pass
- CEO compensation review process: Fail
- Other executive compensation review process: Fail
- Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
- Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
- Audit committee oversight: Missing
- Independent financial-statement audit: Fail
Sustainability
- Operating margin: 29.2%; rating input score 82; 82nd percentile among comparable filings
- Total-asset coverage ratio: 0.68; rating input score 31; 31st percentile among comparable filings
- Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.05; rating input score 31; 31st percentile among comparable filings
- Officer compensation ratio: 25.4%; rating input score 14; 14th percentile among comparable filings
Growth
- Program expense growth: Limited
- Revenue growth: 53% per year; rating input score 100; 97th percentile among comparable filings
- Asset growth: 90.5% per year; rating input score 100; 99th percentile among comparable filings
Details
- Where the money goes: 64.3% of revenue deployed · 90.9% of spending went to programs
- Governance: 10 of 12 board members independent · 5 of 9 filing controls reported
- Programs: 3 filed program accomplishments · $161K in reported program spending
- Leadership: top reported pay $25K · 14 people listed
- Consistency: 42 of 42 current checks pass
- Schedules: 4 filed schedules · includes major donors
- Contacts: How to reach this organization
- Money network: 4 filed money-flow records
- Related organizations: Filed and resolved organization relationships.
- Grant readiness: Federal tax and exclusion status, award history, and grant-maker relationships.
- People: Everyone the filings name, and which of them the filings identify by more than a name.
Key Signals
Signals prioritize questions for review. They are not findings of misconduct.
- Review — Accountability: Governance controls: 3 of 8 not reported.
- Moderate — Sustainability: Total-asset coverage ratio scored 31/100.
- High — Sustainability: Officer compensation ratio scored 14/100.
- Moderate — Sustainability: Liabilities to assets ratio scored 31/100.