Nonprofit · EIN 20-4908341
KNOWLEDGE-FIRST
Also known as KNOWLEDGE-FIRST EMPOWERMENT CENTER
Tax-exempt · HOUSTON, TX 77231
Financials
| Year ended | Form | Revenue | Expenses | Net income | Total assets | Liabilities | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| August 31, 2025 | 990-EZ | $140,950 | $137,600 | $3,350 | $67,690 | $0 | $67,690 |
| August 31, 2024 | 990-EZ | $194,250 | $189,500 | $4,750 | $64,340 | $0 | $64,340 |
| August 31, 2023 | 990-EZ | $189,900 | $183,400 | $6,500 | $59,590 | $0 | $59,590 |
Financial details: 990-EZ for the year ended August 31, 2025
Revenue
- Contributions, gifts and grants
- $86,400
- Program service revenue
- $53,800
- Investment income
- $0
- Net income from fundraising events
- $750
- Other revenue
- $0
Expenses
- Grants and similar amounts paid
- $0
- Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
- $36,000
- Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
- $36,000
- Professional fees and payments to contractors
- $22,000
- Occupancy
- $62,400
- Printing, publications and postage
- $17,200
- Program services (functional)
- $27,000
Balance sheet and other
- Total assets, start of year
- $64,340
- Total assets, end of year
- $67,690
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $0
- Net assets, end of year
- $67,690
- Cash, savings and investments
- $67,690
- Gross receipts
- $140,950
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-EZ for the year ended August 31, 2025, highest compensation first.
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JAMES H ALLEN | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 60 | $36,000 |
| ROBERT FORD | PRESIDENT | 25 | $0 |
| MARYANN ALLEN | TREASURER | 20 | $0 |
| LISA ACOGNY | SECRETARY | 25 | $0 |
990-EZ for the year ended August 31, 2024: 5 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JAMES H ALLEN | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 55 | $36,000 |
| ROBERT FORD | PRESIDENT | 25 | $0 |
| LIVVY ESTER | SECRETARY | 30 | $0 |
| MARYANN ALLEN | TREASURER | 20 | $0 |
| LISA ACOGNY | DIRECTOR | 30 | $0 |
990-EZ for the year ended August 31, 2023: 5 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JAMES H ALLEN | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 55 | $36,000 |
| LARRY BARRETT | PRESIDENT | 25 | $0 |
| MARYANN DONALDSON | SECRETARY | 20 | $0 |
| SUSAN DAVIS | TREASURER | 15 | $0 |
| LISA ACOGNY | DIRECTOR | 30 | $0 |
Address and contacts
- Address (IRS master file)
- PO BOX 31695, HOUSTON, TX 77231-1695
- In care of
- % KNOWLEDGE-FIRST EMPOWERMENT CTR
- Mailing address (990-N for 2012)
- 2651 CARTWRIGHT RD SUITE-C, MISSOURI CITY TX 77459
- Principal officer (990-N for 2012)
- JAMES H ALLEN, 2651 CARTWRIGHT RD SUITE-C, MISSOURI CITY TX 77459
- Signed the 990-EZ
- JAMES ALLEN, Executive Director
- Phone
- (281) 499-8315
- Website
- www.knowledge-first.org
Mission
We provide Dropout Prevention Program to low income and homeless individuals who have experienced "personal hardships". We served 345 students an opportunity to obtain their High School Diploma so that they can become employable and/or earn a higher salary. This educational component is essential to them gaining needed skills that will allow them to be self-sufficient. These individuals become contributors to society. We also certified by the Texas Workforce Commission. We provided 185 low income individuals vocational training that allowed them to obtain a skill where they became self-sufficient and were able to earn employment.
Program accomplishments
- Knowledge-First Empowerment Center provides educational services that inspire exceptionality while providing for the attainment of proficiencies that lead to lifelong resiliency. We provide various opportunities for learners to engage and contribute in higher level thinking activities as we fashion our academic and enrichment components to inspire critical and diverse thinking. These educational components augment the reasoning capability and maximize the unique potential of all learners. The Knowledge-First Empowerment Center's accredited high school program addresses the need of all learners, but most especially those who have experienced *personal hardship and who are NOW ready to maximize their potential! Our educational services fulfill course requirements and will enable our learners to earn a high school diploma or complete an alternative path to college by demonstrating college readiness. Any student who are between the ages of 16 and 65 qualify. As a member of the National Dropout Prevention Network, we provide maximum flexibility to meet individual student needs, including open entry to and open exit from program, a variety of instructional programming, including small group, online courses and multiple scheduling options, including weekend and evening classes. In addition to their classroom assignments, students devote at least four hours per month on volunteer community service opportunities and/or educational endeavors. In addition to helping students fulfill graduation requirements our program will expand our community's tax base by raising the standard of living of our dropout population, reduce the health costs that we all have to share, reduce the crime rate, reduce the drain on our public assistance program and increase voter participation. In meeting the needs of our learners, we offer instruction that combines both academic skills and vocational skills. Our model seeks to integrate academic and career-based skills and, thus, raise academic standards for all students. The goal is to improve student learning, keep students in school until they graduated, and to provide relevant experiences that integrate school-based and work-based learning. This provides the impetus for our school and the business community to collaborate in providing real world experiences.Expenses $12,000 · grants $36,400
- Since 2001, the Knowledge-First Empowerment Center has been specializing in preparing today's learners to meet today's educational and employment demands and the systemic challenges of tomorrow. Accredited by SACS and Advanc-ED in 2013, our High School Diploma/Dropout Prevention Project serves the community and students as: (1) Students fulfill graduation requirements and raise their standard of living and self-fulfillment, (2) School districts obtain a lower dropout rate, better disciplinary results and better test scores (3) Knowledge-First helps the community by providing a more educated and community-minded group of individuals (4) expanding our community's tax base by raising their standard of living, (5) reduce the health costs and (6) reduce the drain on our public assistance programs and (7) reduces the crime rate. In addition to classroom assignments, students devote at least four hours per month on volunteer community service opportunities and/or educational endeavors. Our team not only addresses the intellectual capacities, but moreover create an environment where education is characterize by the attainment of a variety of proficiencies that lead to lifelong resiliency. Each instructor are highly dedicated and committed to the effort of reducing the dropout rate by assisting our learners maximize their potential.Expenses $15,000 · grants $50,000
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 August, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.
| Tax year | Year ended | Due | IRS public records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | August 31, 2026 | January 15, 2027 | Not due yet |
| 2024 | August 31, 2025 | January 15, 2026 | 990-EZ on file |
| 2023 | August 31, 2024 | January 15, 2025 | 990-EZ on file |
IRS record
- EIN
- 20-4908341
- 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
- 2006
- Accounting year ends
- August
- Files
- Form 990 or 990-EZ
- Category (NTEE)
- Education (B90)
- Assets (IRS master file)
- $67,690
- Income (IRS master file)
- $140,950
Filing history
| Form | Year ended | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 990-EZ | August 2025 | $140,950 | $137,600 | $67,690 | XML |
| 990-EZ | August 2024 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990-EZ | August 2023 | $189,900 | $183,400 | $59,590 | XML |
| 990-EZ | August 2022 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990-EZ | August 2021 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990-EZ | August 2018 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990-N for 2012 Officer: JAMES H ALLEN | August 31, 2013 | ≤ $50,000 receipts | – | – | e-Postcard |
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 20-4908341).
Questions about KNOWLEDGE-FIRST
- What is the EIN of KNOWLEDGE-FIRST?
- The employer identification number (EIN) of KNOWLEDGE-FIRST is 20-4908341.
- Is KNOWLEDGE-FIRST tax-exempt?
- Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 2006.
- Are donations to KNOWLEDGE-FIRST tax-deductible?
- Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
- Which annual return does KNOWLEDGE-FIRST 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 KNOWLEDGE-FIRST due?
- The return for tax year 2025 (the year ending August 31, 2026) is due January 15, 2027. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
- When did KNOWLEDGE-FIRST last file with the IRS?
- The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990-EZ for the year ended August 2025.
- Who is the principal officer of KNOWLEDGE-FIRST?
- The 990-N for 2012 names JAMES H ALLEN.
- Who are the officers and directors of KNOWLEDGE-FIRST?
- The 990-EZ for the year ended August 31, 2025 lists 4 people; 1 received compensation from the organization, the highest $36,000 (JAMES H ALLEN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR).
- How much revenue does KNOWLEDGE-FIRST have?
- On its 990-EZ for the year ended August 31, 2025 it reported revenue of $140,950, expenses of $137,600 and total assets of $67,690 at year end.
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