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Nonprofit · EIN 83-0836835

COMMUNICATION FIRST

Tax-exempt · WASHINGTON, DC 20006

Financials

$228K$385K2023$739K$467K2024$1.9M$458K2025
Revenue Expenses · by fiscal year end
Financials of COMMUNICATION FIRST by year, from its e-filed returns
Year endedFormRevenueExpensesNet incomeTotal assetsLiabilitiesNet assets
December 31, 2025990$1,922,819$458,457$1,464,362$2,076,746$13,435$2,063,311
December 31, 2024990$739,384$467,417$271,967$625,477$13,336$612,141
December 31, 2023990$227,996$384,837-$156,841$341,635$515$341,120
Financial details: 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025

Revenue

Contributions, gifts and grants
$1,807,121
Program service revenue
$69,920
Investment income
$45,778
Net gain from sales of assets
$16,149
Other revenue
$0

Expenses

Grants and similar amounts paid
$0
Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
$99,500
Other salaries and wages
$212,197
Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
$368,143
Professional fundraising fees
$0
Accounting fees
$29,300
Occupancy
$720
Depreciation
$946
Program services (functional)
$389,724
Management and general (functional)
$57,480
Fundraising (functional)
$11,253

Balance sheet and other

Total assets, start of year
$625,477
Total assets, end of year
$2,076,746
Total liabilities, end of year
$13,435
Net assets, end of year
$2,063,311
Publicly traded securities
$605,371
Net assets without donor restrictions
$1,872,685
Net assets with donor restrictions
$190,626
Gross receipts
$1,922,819
Employees
9
Volunteers
22
Year formed
2018
State of legal domicile
DC

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 December 31, 2025, highest compensation first.

NameTitleHours / weekCompensation
TAUNA SZYMANSKIEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR & LEGAL DIRECTOR
Officer
40$99,500
JORDYN ZIMMERMANCHAIR
Trustee or director, Officer
10$0
FRANCISCO RAMIREZDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0
GITA GUPTASECRETARY
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0
M CHRISTOPHER WILLIAMSTREASURER
Trustee or director, Officer
4$0
SUSIE LOTHARIUSDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
2$0
TOBY LATHAMDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0
INDIA OCHSDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0
MELISSA CRISP-COOPERDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0
TIM JINDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0
LATEEF MCLEODDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0
ERIN SHELDONDIRECTOR (THRU 6/2025)
Trustee or director
1$0
GODFREY NAZARETHDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0
990 for the year ended December 31, 2024: 13 people
NameTitleHours / weekCompensationOther / benefits
TAUNA SZYMANSKIEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR & LEGAL DIRECTOR
Officer
60$100,000$710
JORDYN ZIMMERMANCHAIR
Trustee or director, Officer
10$0$0
FRANCISCO RAMIREZVICE-CHAIR
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0$0
GITA GUPTASECRETARY
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0$0
M CHRISTOPHER WILLIAMSTREASURER
Trustee or director, Officer
4$0$0
SUSIE LOTHARIUSDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
2$0$0
TOBY LATHAMDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
INDIA OCHSDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
MELISSA CRISP-COOPERDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
TIM JINDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
LATEEF MCLEODDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
ERIN SHELDONDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
GODFREY NAZARETHDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
990 for the year ended December 31, 2023: 13 people
NameTitleHours / weekCompensationOther / benefits
TAUNA SZYMANSKIEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR & LEGAL DIRECTOR
Officer
60$97,641$600
JORDYN ZIMMERMANCHAIR
Trustee or director, Officer
10$0$0
FRANCISCO RAMIREZVICE-CHAIR
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0$0
GITA GUPTASECRETARY
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0$0
M CHRISTOPHER WILLIAMSTREASURER (FROM SEPT 2023)
Trustee or director, Officer
4$0$0
SUSIE LOTHARIUSTREASURER (THRU SEPT 2023), DIRECTOR
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0$0
MARIA OTTSECRETARY (THRU APR 2023)
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0$0
INDIA OCHSDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
MELISSA CRISP-COOPERDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
TIM JINDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
LATEEF MCLEODDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
ERIN SHELDONDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0$0
CLARISSA KRIPKEDIRECTOR (THRU APR 2023)
Trustee or director
3$0$0

Address and contacts

Address (IRS master file)
1629 K ST NW STE 300, WASHINGTON, DC 20006-1631
Principal officer (990 for 2025)
TAUNA SZYMANSKI, 1629 K STREET NW 300, WASHINGTON, DC 20006
Signed the 990
TAUNA SZYMANSKI, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR & LEGAL DIR
Phone
(202) 556-0573
Return prepared by
WEGNER CPAS LLP

Mission

TO PROTECT THE RIGHTS AND ADVANCE THE INTERESTS OF THE ESTIMATED 5 MILLION CHILDREN AND ADULTS IN THE UNITED STATES WHO CANNOT RELY ON SPEECH ALONE TO BE HEARD AND UNDERSTOOD, THROUGH PUBLIC EDUCATION, SYSTEMIC REFORM OF POLICY AND PRACTICE, AND LEGAL ADVOCACY.

990 for the year ended December 31, 2025

Program accomplishments

  • SEE SCHEDULE O.
    Expenses $389,724 · revenue $69,920

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 December, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.

Tax yearYear endedDueIRS public records
2025December 31, 2025May 15, 2026990 on file
2024December 31, 2024May 15, 2025990 on file
2023December 31, 2023May 15, 2024990 on file

IRS record

EIN
83-0836835
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
2019
Accounting year ends
December
Files
Form 990 or 990-EZ
Category (NTEE)
Education (B01)
Assets (IRS master file)
$2,076,746
Income (IRS master file)
$1,922,819

Filing history

FormYear endedRevenueExpensesAssetsReturn
990December 2025$1,922,819$458,457$2,076,746XML
990December 2024$739,384$467,417$625,477XML
990December 2023$227,996$384,837$341,635XML
990December 2022$422,781$285,857$498,371IRS
990December 2021–––IRS
990December 2020–––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 83-0836835).

Questions about COMMUNICATION FIRST

What is the EIN of COMMUNICATION FIRST?
The employer identification number (EIN) of COMMUNICATION FIRST is 83-0836835.
Is COMMUNICATION FIRST tax-exempt?
Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 2019.
Are donations to COMMUNICATION FIRST tax-deductible?
Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
Which annual return does COMMUNICATION 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 COMMUNICATION FIRST due?
The return for tax year 2026 (the year ending December 31, 2026) is due May 17, 2027. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
When did COMMUNICATION FIRST last file with the IRS?
The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended December 2025.
Who is the principal officer of COMMUNICATION FIRST?
The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 names TAUNA SZYMANSKI.
Who are the officers and directors of COMMUNICATION FIRST?
The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 lists 13 people; 1 received compensation from the organization, the highest $99,500 (TAUNA SZYMANSKI, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR & LEGAL DIRECTOR).
How much revenue does COMMUNICATION FIRST have?
On its 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 it reported revenue of $1,922,819, expenses of $458,457 and total assets of $2,076,746 at year end.

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