First Book
First Book reported $77.1 million in revenue and $75.0 million in expenses for calendar year 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $93.51 went to program services, $4.19 to management and general costs and $2.30 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 81.9% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $258,540 (CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER). 19 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue fell 19% between 2019 and 2025. Source: Form 990, 2025.
Where $100 of spending went
Calendar year 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $75MFor context, the median across 5,499 covered education charities: $85.56 programs, $13.59 management, $0.85 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
Calendar year 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $77MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | 2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 93.5% | 84.4% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 4.2% | 13.4% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 2.3% | 0.8% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.03 | $0.04 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 81.9% | 19.1% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 1.1% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 18.1% | 69.9% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $258,540 | $331,578 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 0.34% | 1.28% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 19 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 4.6 | 13.3 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 11 of 12 | 100.0% |
A median is context, not a target: hospitals, universities, food banks and grantmakers spend in very different ways. What these measures can and can't tell you.
What the money paid for, in its own words
2025 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseFirst Book is building a world where every child has access to a quality education. We work to remove barriers to education and level the playing field for kids in need. At the heart of our work are the 600,000+ members of the First Book network, the largest online community of individual educators, professionals and volunteers dedicated to supporting children living in low-income communities across north america. This network is the key to creating lasting change. Through our research arm, First Book research & insights, we conduct studies that aggregate their voices to identify challenges…
Highest reported compensation
2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section A · roles as filed; names are in the filing, not here| Role | From this org | From related orgs | Other | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Director/trustee, officer, 35.0 hrs/week | $243,182 | $0 | $15,358 | $258,540 |
| CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Officer, 35.0 hrs/week | $235,593 | $0 | $21,331 | $256,924 |
| CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER Officer, 35.0 hrs/week | $235,962 | $0 | $19,430 | $255,392 |
| CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER Officer, 35.0 hrs/week | $238,764 | $0 | $15,550 | $254,314 |
| EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT, STRATEGIC ALLIANCES Key employee, 35.0 hrs/week | $217,273 | $0 | $15,678 | $232,951 |
| SVP, HUMAN RESOURCES Highest compensated employee, 35.0 hrs/week | $165,312 | $0 | $13,112 | $178,424 |
| VP, GLOBAL STRATEGOES Highest compensated employee, 35.0 hrs/week | $155,242 | $0 | $2,100 | $157,342 |
| SR. DIRECTOR, MARCOM Highest compensated employee, 35.0 hrs/week | $141,724 | $0 | $1,063 | $142,787 |
19 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from First Book (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $1.3M (Part IX, line 5).
7 years of filings
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
2025 · the organization's own yes/no answers; explanations, if any, are in Schedule O of the filing · what each means- Voting board members, and how many are independent Part VI, lines 1a–1b12 · 11 independent
- Audited financial statements Part XII 2bYes
- Conflict-of-interest policy Part VI 12aYes
- Whistleblower policy Part VI 13Yes
- Document retention policy Part VI 14Yes
- Independent process for top executive pay Part VI 15aYes
- Board given the 990 before filing Part VI 11aYes
- Family or business ties among insiders Part VI 2No
- Aware of a significant diversion of assets Part VI 5No
- Excess benefit transaction with an insider Part IV 25aNo
- Loans to or from insiders outstanding Part IV 26No
- Lobbying, or a 501(h) election in effect Part IV 4No
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18No
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bYes
- Employees Part I, line 589
- Volunteers Part I, line 654
Largest outside contractors
2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| UNITED PARCEL SERVICE Shipping services | $2,654,276 |
| MAPLE LOGISTICS Warehouse services | $1,520,231 |
| AMERICAN BOOK COMPANY Warehouse services | $944,780 |
| FAR CORNER Shipping services | $329,882 |
| JARRETT LOGISTICS LLC Shipping services | $281,352 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 14 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
33 private foundations reported grants to First Book totaling $1.6M on their tax year 2023 Form 990-PF returns. See which foundations, on WHOFUNDS.
Source: WHOFUNDS open grant graph, matched from Form 990-PF Part XV.
Correct a figure or respond
Every number above is copied from First Book's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for First Book, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
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Of every $100 First Book spent in 2025, $93.51 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- University of Maryland Baltimore FoundationBaltimore, MD · revenue $77M · programs 83.8% · FY2025
- IDEA FloridaTampa, FL · revenue $77M · programs 93.6% · FY2025
- Wartburg CollegeWaverly, IA · revenue $77M · programs 77.5% · FY2025
- Mount St Joseph UniversityCincinnati, OH · revenue $77M · programs 89.1% · FY2025
- The Bolles SchoolJacksonville, FL · revenue $77M · programs 81.7% · FY2025
All education charities · Largest charities in District of Columbia
Questions people ask
How much of First Book's spending goes to programs?
In calendar year 2025, First Book reported that 93.5% of its $75.0 million in expenses went to program services, 4.2% to management and general and 2.3% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does First Book pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation First Book reported for one person in calendar year 2025 was $258,540, for the role of CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does First Book get its money?
Of $77.1 million in revenue in calendar year 2025, 81.9% came from contributions and grants and 18.1% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is First Book a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 52-1779606 as a 501(c)(3) organization (publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(a)(vi))), and its records show contributions as tax-deductible. Form 990 filings on record here cover tax years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- 2025: Form 990 for calendar year 2025, object 202632469349300523 · read the filing
- 2024: Form 990 for calendar year 2024, object 202532519349301613 · read the filing
- 2023: Form 990 for calendar year 2023, object 202412229349301121 · read the filing
- 2022: Form 990 for calendar year 2022, object 202303199349311155 · read the filing
- 2021: Form 990 for calendar year 2021, object 202213199349314941 · read the filing
- 2020: Form 990 for calendar year 2020, object 202111939349301211 · read the filing
- 2019: Form 990 for calendar year 2019, object 202022169349300207 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 52-1779606: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.