Nonprofit · EIN 56-2278402
F I R S T
Tax-exempt · ASHEVILLE, NC 28802
Financials
| Year ended | Form | Revenue | Expenses | Net income | Total assets | Liabilities | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 30, 2025 | 990 | $4,156,852 | $3,674,370 | $482,482 | $1,249,771 | $85,955 | $1,163,816 |
| September 30, 2024 | 990 | $3,021,893 | $3,000,448 | $21,445 | $1,394,488 | $713,154 | $681,334 |
| September 30, 2023 | 990 | $2,794,279 | $2,853,059 | -$58,780 | $1,477,294 | $815,825 | $661,469 |
Financial details: 990 for the year ended September 30, 2025
Revenue
- Contributions, gifts and grants
- $1,131,309
- of which government grants
- $880,707
- Program service revenue
- $2,977,047
- Investment income
- $43,879
- Other revenue
- $4,617
Expenses
- Grants and similar amounts paid
- $780
- Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
- $66,458
- Other salaries and wages
- $2,535,037
- Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
- $2,806,504
- Professional fundraising fees
- $0
- Legal fees
- $7,060
- Accounting fees
- $9,204
- Occupancy
- $69,923
- Travel
- $70,860
- Program services (functional)
- $3,315,820
- Management and general (functional)
- $326,627
- Fundraising (functional)
- $31,923
Balance sheet and other
- Total assets, start of year
- $1,394,488
- Total assets, end of year
- $1,249,771
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $85,955
- Net assets, end of year
- $1,163,816
- Net assets without donor restrictions
- $1,163,816
- Gross receipts
- $4,156,852
- Employees
- 93
- Volunteers
- 15
- Year formed
- 2001
- State of legal domicile
- NC
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 September 30, 2025, highest compensation first.
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Janet Price-Ferrell | Executive Director Officer | 40 | $64,588 |
| Fred Lashley | Chair Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 |
| Vickie Leachman | Treasurer Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 |
| Kelly Lytle | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Angela Roberts | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Tammie Bauman | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Tom Brackett | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Amy Cornett | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
990 for the year ended September 30, 2024: 8 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Janet Price-Ferrell | Executive Director Officer | 40 | $64,959 |
| Fred Lashley | Chair Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 |
| Vickie Leachman | Treasurer Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 |
| Mary E Ford EdD | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Kelly Lytle | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Angela Roberts | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Tammie Bauman | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Tom Brackett | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
990 for the year ended September 30, 2023: 9 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Janet Price-Ferrell | Executive Director Officer | 40 | $60,124 |
| Fred Lashley | Chair Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 |
| Gail Gordon | Vice Chair Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 |
| Vickie Leachman | Treasurer Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 |
| Mary E Ford EdD | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Kelly Lytle | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Angela Roberts | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Heather Zanzig | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| Tammie Bauman | Board Member Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
Address and contacts
- Address (IRS master file)
- PO BOX 802, ASHEVILLE, NC 28802-0802
- In care of
- % SPECIAL NEEDS F I R S T INC
- Principal officer (990 for 2024)
- Janet Price-Ferrell, PO Box 802, Asheville, NC 28802
- Signed the 990
- Janet Price-Ferrell, Executive Director
- Phone
- (828) 277-1315
- Website
- firstwnc.org
- Return prepared by
- CORLISS & SOLOMON PLLC
Mission
FIRSTwnc provides persons with disabilities and their families with programs and advocacy to support and foster healthy, inclusive and self-determined lives.
Program accomplishments
- My FIRST Key: Supported Living Program for persons to live in their own home assisted by our team to empower them to feel more confident and capable of living independently. Abilities FIRST: Coaching program designed to assist persons with intellectual or developmental disabilities (IDD) create a micro-enterprise or self-employement opportunity. Parent and Family Training: Parent training around special education service and their rights. Train families to self direct their family members Innovations services. Support parents as they navigate system from birth to adult. Clinical support for persons with disabilities and special needs.Expenses $3,315,820 · grants $780 · revenue $2,977,047
- Impact: Individuals supported over the last year: 1,034 By Program My FIRST Key 2% Abilities FIRST 2% Specialized Consultative Services 17% EOR Support 18% Parent Training/Education 26% SUNSHINE Project 18% Outpatient Therapy 17%
- By Race: White 65% Black 11% Latino 16% Multiple 8% By Disability: Autism 36% IDD 26 Dev Disability 5% Other Health Impaired 21% Deaf/Hard of Hearing 6% Physical 3% Unidentified 3%
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 September, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.
| Tax year | Year ended | Due | IRS public records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | September 30, 2026 | February 16, 2027 | Not due yet |
| 2024 | September 30, 2025 | February 17, 2026 | 990 on file |
| 2023 | September 30, 2024 | February 18, 2025 | 990 on file |
IRS record
- EIN
- 56-2278402
- 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
- 2002
- Accounting year ends
- September
- Files
- Form 990 or 990-EZ
- Category (NTEE)
- Human services (P82)
- Assets (IRS master file)
- $1,249,771
- Income (IRS master file)
- $4,156,852
Filing history
| Form | Year ended | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 990 | September 2025 | $4,156,852 | $3,674,370 | $1,249,771 | IRS |
| 990 | September 2024 | $3,021,893 | $3,000,448 | $1,394,488 | XML |
| 990 | September 2023 | $2,794,279 | $2,853,059 | $1,477,294 | XML |
| 990 | September 2022 | $2,351,252 | $2,108,254 | $804,206 | IRS |
| 990 | September 2021 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | September 2020 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | September 2019 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | September 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 56-2278402).
Questions about F I R S T
- What is the EIN of F I R S T?
- The employer identification number (EIN) of F I R S T is 56-2278402.
- Is F I R S T tax-exempt?
- Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 2002.
- Are donations to F I R S T tax-deductible?
- Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
- Which annual return does F I R S T 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 F I R S T due?
- The return for tax year 2025 (the year ending September 30, 2026) is due February 16, 2027. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
- When did F I R S T last file with the IRS?
- The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended September 2025.
- Who is the principal officer of F I R S T?
- The 990 for the year ended September 30, 2025 names Janet Price-Ferrell.
- Who are the officers and directors of F I R S T?
- The 990 for the year ended September 30, 2025 lists 8 people; 1 received compensation from the organization, the highest $64,588 (Janet Price-Ferrell, Executive Director).
- How much revenue does F I R S T have?
- On its 990 for the year ended September 30, 2025 it reported revenue of $4,156,852, expenses of $3,674,370 and total assets of $1,249,771 at year end.
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