Nyc First Inc

What it reported doing in 2024

See Schedule O.Through its STEM Centers, NYC FIRST creates an array of empowering, innovative and accessible educational opportunities throughout the year. Its STEM Centers serve as a high-impact programmatic platform that empowers students, educators and mentors through district-wide school-day programs, after-school robotics leagues, credit-bearing STEM courses, pathways support, professional development for teachers, collaborative curriculum design, hands-on workshops, and open hours for design and fabrication. At its STEM Centers, staff lead credit-bearing, immersive courses, with three-hour-long, school-day sessions each week. Year-long courses allow students to immerse themselves in robotics, while also providing them with the opportunity to apply their knowledge to create projects and solutions that seek to solve problems in their communities. NYC FIRST operates four STEM Centers, at Cornell Tech on Roosevelt Island, the Andrew Freedman Home in the Bronx, in the New York Public Library's Washington Heights branch, and in Downtown Brooklyn. NYC FIRST manages all three FIRST robotics programs (FIRST LEGO League, FIRST Tech Challenge and FIRST Robotics Competition) serving students ages 4 to 18 in the five boroughs of NYC. Each of the programs is designed to provide innovative skill building in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math through hands-on, team-based activities. The programs take place both during the school day and as after school programs.NYC FIRST works with NYC school districts to weave robotics programs at scale into the school day. NYC FIRST provides a range of supports, including professional development, classroom site visits and field trips to NYC FIRST STEM Centers.NYC FIRST coordinates events throughout New York City where students compete with their robots and present to judging panels. In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, NYC FIRST conducted over 20 events, with approximately 10,000 students participating in all NYC FIRST programs.NYC FIRST has a close connection to FIRST, a separate not-for-profit organization that is considered unrelated for tax purposes. NYC FIRST is the official representative of all FIRST programs in New York City. NYC FIRST enters into agreements with FIRST that outline its roles and responsibilities to further the mission of FIRST. Through these various agreements, the two organizations participate in various transactions, including grants.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 85.4%; rating input score 85
• Program expense ratio: 89%; rating input score 89
• Fundraising efficiency: $14.35 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 49; 49th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 4 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 67
  • Compensation committee: Missing
  • Independent consultant: Missing
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Pass
  • Written employment contract: Pass
  • Compensation survey or study: Pass
  • Board or committee approval: Pass
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: 99.7%; rating input score 100; 40th percentile among comparable filings
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 77.8%; rating input score 78; 14th percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 9 of 9 controls in place; rating input score 100
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: Pass
  • Other executive compensation review process: Pass
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 4.2%; rating input score 48; 48th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 0.78; rating input score 29; 29th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.61; rating input score 16; 16th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 15.3%; rating input score 18; 18th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 16.7% per year; rating input score 100; 81st percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 17.6% per year; rating input score 100; 86th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 22.5% per year; rating input score 100; 87th percentile among comparable filings