Nonprofit · EIN 04-2997446
FIRST LITERACY INC
Tax-exempt · BOSTON, MA 02116
Financials
| Year ended | Form | Revenue | Expenses | Net income | Total assets | Liabilities | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 30, 2025 | 990 | $669,780 | $769,794 | -$100,014 | $1,197,480 | $196,706 | $1,000,774 |
| June 30, 2024 | 990 | $796,853 | $700,620 | $96,233 | $1,401,927 | $244,234 | $1,157,693 |
| June 30, 2023 | 990 | $490,804 | $752,639 | -$261,835 | $1,129,162 | $144,875 | $984,287 |
Financial details: 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025
Revenue
- Contributions, gifts and grants
- $314,398
- Program service revenue
- $0
- Investment income
- $114,894
- Net gain from sales of assets
- $98,462
- Net income from fundraising events
- $240,488
- Other revenue
- $240,488
Expenses
- Grants and similar amounts paid
- $75,044
- Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
- $174,388
- Other salaries and wages
- $257,130
- Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
- $481,043
- Professional fundraising fees
- $0
- Legal fees
- $3,000
- Accounting fees
- $42,215
- Occupancy
- $79,118
- Depreciation
- $7,440
- Program services (functional)
- $529,860
- Management and general (functional)
- $135,637
- Fundraising (functional)
- $104,297
Balance sheet and other
- Total assets, start of year
- $1,401,927
- Total assets, end of year
- $1,197,480
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $196,706
- Net assets, end of year
- $1,000,774
- Publicly traded securities
- $935,805
- Net assets without donor restrictions
- $950,774
- Net assets with donor restrictions
- $50,000
- Gross receipts
- $811,238
- Employees
- 8
- Volunteers
- 50
- Year formed
- 1988
- State of legal domicile
- MA
From the e-filed returns the IRS publishes as XML (latest three processing years; amended returns replace the original). PDF copies at the IRS.
Officers, directors and key employees
As listed on the 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025, highest compensation first.
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| THERESA B WITHERELL | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Trustee or director, Officer | 50 | $174,387 |
| JAMES NOLAN | CHAIRMAN Trustee or director, Officer | 1.5 | $0 |
| HOLLY REEVES | TREASURER Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 |
| KARIME ABDEL-HAY | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1.5 | $0 |
| JEFFREY P BEALE | VICE PRESIDENT Trustee or director | 1.5 | $0 |
| RUDY BOZAS | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 |
| LAWRENCE FAHEY | VICE PRESIDENT Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| COREY GROVES | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 |
| NILAN JAYASINGHE | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| OLGA KASPAROVA | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 |
| TONY DA SILVA | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 |
| BARBARA GARNER | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 |
| ELIZABETH KENYON | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 |
990 for the year ended June 30, 2024: 13 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| THERESA B WITHERELL | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Trustee or director, Officer | 50 | $152,749 |
| JAMES NOLAN | CHAIRMAN Trustee or director, Officer | 1.5 | $0 |
| HOLLY REEVES | TREASURER Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 |
| KARIME ADBEL-HAY | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1.5 | $0 |
| JEFFREY P BEALE | VICE PRESIDENT Trustee or director | 1.5 | $0 |
| RUDY BOZAS | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 |
| LAWRENCE FAHEY | VICE PRESIDENT Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| COREY GROVES | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 |
| NILAN JAYASINGHE | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| OLGA KASPAROVA | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 |
| TONY DAY SILVA | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 |
| BARBARA GARNER | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 |
| LEE KENYON | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 |
990 for the year ended June 30, 2023: 18 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| THERESA B WITHERELL | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Trustee or director, Officer | 50 | $150,000 |
| JAMES NOLAN | CHAIRMAN Trustee or director, Officer | 1.5 | $0 |
| HOLLY REEVES | TREASURER Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 |
| KARIME ADBEL-HAY | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1.5 | $0 |
| JEFFREY P BEALE | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1.5 | $0 |
| MAYOR MICHELLE WU | EX OFFICIO BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 0 | $0 |
| RUDY BOZAS | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 |
| LAWRENCE FAHEY | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| COREY GROVES | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 |
| NILAN JAYASINGHE | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| ANN NOBLE-KILEY | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| OLGA KASPAROVA | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 |
| RYAN TOSI | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 |
| CIRO VALIENTINE | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 |
| CHRISTOPHER WALSH | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 |
| AMANDA MACKENZIE | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 |
| JULIE PARIS | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 |
| STEVE STANTON | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 |
Address and contacts
- Address (IRS master file)
- 160 BOYLSTON ST 2ND FLOOR, BOSTON, MA 02116-4620
- Principal officer (990 for 2024)
- THERESA WITHERELL, 160 BOYLSTON STREET 2ND FLOOR, BOSTON, MA 02116
- Signed the 990
- THERESA WITHERELL, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
- Phone
- (617) 482-3336
- Website
- WWW.FIRSTLITERACY.ORG
- Return prepared by
- RAFFOL AND COMPANY INC
Mission
FUNDING INNOVATION IN ADULT LITERACY TO CHANGE LIVES. WE DO THIS BY: OFFERING FREE BEST PRACTICE WORKSHOPS FOR TEACHERS AND OTHER ADULT EDUCATION PROFESSIONALS; ENCOURAGING, SUPPORTING, AND SHARING INNOVATIVE PRACTICES, CURRICULUM AND RESOURCES THROUGH OUR FIRST LITERACY LAB PROGRAM GRANT INITIATIVE; AND AWARDING SCHOLARSHIPS AND PROVIDING SUPPORT FOR ADULT LEARNERS WHO ARE STARTING COLLEGE.
Program accomplishments
- PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS PROVIDE ADULT EDUCATORS WITH INFORMATION AND RESOURCES ON EVIDENCE-BASED TEACHING METHODOLOGY AND CURRICULUM DESIGN, CROSS-CULTURAL ISSUES, AND STUDENT ASSESSMENT APPROACHES RELEVANT TO THE ADULT EDUCATION CLASSROOM. TEACHERS WHO PARTICIPATE IN WORKSHOPS, FACILITATED BY KNOWLEDGEABLE PEERS OR EXPERT CONSULTANTS, ARE SUPPORTED IN TRYING OUT NEW IDEAS IN THEIR CLASSROOM AND SHARING THEIR EXPERIENCES WITH PEERS ON SITE AND AT FOLLOW-UP WORKSHOPS.Expenses $529,860 · grants $75,044
- SCHOLARSHIPS AND SUPPORT FOR ADULT LEARNERS WHO HAVE SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED BASIC STUDIES IN AN ABE PROGRAM AND ARE PURSUING COLLEGE OR TECHNICAL EDUCATION ARE ELIGIBLE FOR A FIRST LITERACY SCHOLARSHIP. RECIPIENTS ARE AWARDED SCHOLARSHIPS IN RECOGNITION OF THEIR EDUCATIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS AND POTENTIAL, THEIR COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITY SERVICE, AND THEIR RESILIENCY AND PERSEVERANCE IN THE FACE OF HARDSHIP. TO SUSTAIN THIS ONGOING LEARNING COMMUNITY, WE HOST SCHOLAR NETWORKING EVENINGS, INVITE SCHOLARS TO ALL FIRST LITERACY EVENTS, ASK INTERESTED SCHOLARS TO SPEAK AT EVENTS, AND FIRST LITERACY REPRESENTATIVES ATTEND ALL COMMUNITY AND EDUCATIONAL EVENTS WHERE OUR SCHOLARS ARE HONORED. WE ALSO LOOK FOR WAYS IN WHICH WE CAN MORE DEEPLY INVOLVE THE SCHOLARS WITH THE BROADER COMMUNITY AND CULTURAL LIFE OF OUR CITY.
- FIRST LITERACY OFFERS SMALL GRANTS TO ADULT BASIC EDUCATION PROGRAMS TO IMPROVE PRACTICE AND TO STRENGTHEN PROGRAMS. THE FLEXIBILITY OF THESE GRANTS ALLOWS PROGRAMS TO MEET EMERGING STUDENT NEEDS IN A TIMELY FASHION. THE GRANTS ALSO ALLOW VENUES SUCH ASLIBRARIES AND VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATIONS TO INTRODUCE OR EXPAND THEIR SERVICES TO IMMIGRANTS. RECIPIENTS OF FIRST LITERACY GRANTS SHARE THE RESULTS OF THEIR WORK WITH THE GREATER ABE COMMUNITY AT AN ANNUAL EVENT AND ARE SUPPORTED AND MENTORED TO BECOME FACILITATORS OFWORKSHOPS FOR ABE TEACHERS.
What it must file and when
IRS records say it files Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N. Its accounting year ends in June, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.
| Tax year | Year ended | Due | IRS public records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | June 30, 2026 | November 16, 2026 | Not due yet |
| 2024 | June 30, 2025 | November 17, 2025 | 990 on file |
| 2023 | June 30, 2024 | November 15, 2024 | 990 on file |
IRS record
- EIN
- 04-2997446
- Tax-exempt status
- 501(c)(3): Charitable, religious, educational or scientific organization
- Foundation status
- Publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(A)(vi))
- Donations deductible (Pub 78)
- Public charity, 50% deduction limit
- Exempt since
- 1988
- Accounting year ends
- June
- Files
- Form 990 or 990-EZ
- Category (NTEE)
- Education (B190)
- Assets (IRS master file)
- $1,197,480
- Income (IRS master file)
- $811,238
Filing history
| Form | Year ended | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 990 | June 2025 | $669,780 | $769,794 | $1,197,480 | IRS |
| 990 | June 2024 | $796,853 | $700,620 | $1,401,927 | IRS |
| 990 | June 2023 | $490,804 | $752,639 | $1,129,162 | XML |
| 990 | June 2022 | $615,900 | $729,964 | $1,268,482 | IRS |
| 990 | June 2021 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | June 2020 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | June 2019 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | June 2018 | – | – | – | IRS |
990-N: the IRS bulk file holds only the latest e-Postcard per organization; earlier years come from archived copies of that file since 2020 and can have gaps (the IRS e-Postcard search lists every one). 990, 990-EZ, 990-PF, 990-T: every e-filed return in the IRS e-file index since 2019; XML for the latest three processing years, amounts from the IRS Statistics of Income extracts before that. PDF copies and determination letters at the IRS (search EIN 04-2997446).
Questions about FIRST LITERACY INC
- What is the EIN of FIRST LITERACY INC?
- The employer identification number (EIN) of FIRST LITERACY INC is 04-2997446.
- Is FIRST LITERACY INC tax-exempt?
- Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 1988.
- Are donations to FIRST LITERACY INC tax-deductible?
- Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
- Which annual return does FIRST LITERACY INC file?
- Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N.
- When is the next return of FIRST LITERACY INC due?
- The return for tax year 2025 (the year ending June 30, 2026) is due November 16, 2026. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
- When did FIRST LITERACY INC last file with the IRS?
- The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended June 2025.
- Who is the principal officer of FIRST LITERACY INC?
- The 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025 names THERESA WITHERELL.
- Who are the officers and directors of FIRST LITERACY INC?
- The 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025 lists 13 people; 1 received compensation from the organization, the highest $174,387 (THERESA B WITHERELL, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR).
- How much revenue does FIRST LITERACY INC have?
- On its 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025 it reported revenue of $669,780, expenses of $769,794 and total assets of $1,197,480 at year end.
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