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Virginiafirst

Mission FIRST Chesapeake inspires and empowers young people in Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, D.C. to become leaders in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) through mentor-based robotics programs …

Education Charlottesvle, VA EIN: 208081778 (IRS) Sign up to see website
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71
Integrity Assessment
Strong transparency
71/100 · methodology

About Virginiafirst

Mission FIRST Chesapeake inspires and empowers young people in Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, D.C. to become leaders in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) through mentor-based robotics programs that foster innovation, resilience, and career-ready skills. We aim to break down barriers to STEM education by expanding access for students in underrepresented, rural, and underserved communities, ensuring every young person has the opportunity to explore their potential and shape the future. Vision We envision a region where every student-regardless of background or zip code-has access to high-quality STEM programming that equips them to thrive in school, in the workforce, and in life. Our goal is to become the leading STEM program provider and trusted partner across Virginia, Maryland, and D.C., using …

Founded
Headquarters
Charlottesvle, VA
Foundation type
Publicly-supported charity (509(a)(2))
NTEE code
B90
IRS subsection
501(c)(03)
Ruling date
Size
medium
Operating in
United States

Verified certifications

Confirmed against the issuing authority - not self-reported.

IRS Tax-Deductible since 2007

Mission

Mission FIRST Chesapeake inspires and empowers young people in Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, D.C. to become leaders in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) through mentor-based robotics programs that foster innovation, resilience, and career-ready skills. We aim to break down barriers to STEM education by expanding access for students in underrepresented, rural, and underserved communities, ensuring every young person has the opportunity to explore their potential and shape the future. Vision We envision a region where every student-regardless of background or zip code-has access to high-quality STEM programming that equips them to thrive in school, in the workforce, and in life. Our goal is to become the leading STEM program provider and trusted partner across Virginia, Maryland, and D.C., using competition-based robotics, classroom models, and community-based outreach to build a pipeline of confident, capable STEM leaders. Our Core Values Access: We are committed to ensuring that all students, especially those from marginalized or underserved backgrounds, have access to transformative STEM experiences. Innovation: We embrace creativity, curiosity, and new ideas-from our students and within our own programs. Coopertition® and Gracious Professionalism®: Rooted in FIRST's guiding principles, we foster collaboration, respect, and kindness, even in competitive environments. Mentorship and Partnership: We believe learning happens best in community. We empower mentors, educators, and volunteers to become STEM champions, and we work with schools, nonprofits, and industry to scale our impact. Future-Readiness: Our programs don't just build robots-they build life skills. We prepare young people for jobs that don't exist yet, in industries that haven't been invented. Short-Term Goals (2025-2026) Expand Access and Reach Launch new school-based and community robotics teams in Title I schools and underserved rural regions. Increase the number

Focus areas & reach

· What they work on and where
📚 Education · NTEE B90
Cause tags
SDG alignment The 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are the global agenda for ending poverty, protecting the planet, and ensuring prosperity by 2030. We tag each charity to the goals its work advances.
Operating countries (1)
United States

How it stacks up against peers

· vs. 8 similar education in United States
Program spending This charity: 83%
Peer average: 82%
CEO comp as % of revenue This charity: 12.75%
Peer average: 0.48%
Integrity Assessment This charity: 71
Peer average: 90

Concerns

· 1 red flag
High Executive Pay
Top executive compensation is 17.2% of total expenses ($139,500 of $808,728).

Where every $1 goes

· FY2024 · IRS 990 (FY2024)
$0.83
Program$0.83
83% to programs beats the peer average (82%) and beats the Charity Navigator "highly efficient" threshold (75%).

GiveRadar Analysis

Original analysis from GiveRadar's dataset of comparable organizations

GiveRadar's verified records show Virginiafirst with a complete profile, cross-referenced across 5 independent sources including the IRS.

  • It has more complete governance disclosure than nearly all comparable organizations, because GiveRadar has verified leadership, executive compensation, a mission statement and a founding date. See national comparisons
  • By reported annual revenue, it is larger than 77% of the 88,739 education charities in the United States with financial records on GiveRadar. See the filings
  • It is one of the better-documented education charities in the United States GiveRadar currently tracks, because GiveRadar has verified its financial disclosures and its governance. Most of those have little verified data on record yet. View this cohort
GiveRadar has verified
  • government registration
  • financial records (5 filed years)
  • disclosed leadership
  • a website
  • a donation page
  • third-party accreditation
Not yet verified by GiveRadar
  • a contact email
  • an owner-submitted profile claim

Analysis based on GiveRadar's benchmark dataset of 2026-07-03. It describes what GiveRadar has verified, not a judgment of the organization itself.

Common questions

· Auto-generated from filings + methodology

Virginiafirst is a registered education nonprofit based in Charlottesvle, VA, United States. It is registered with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). It was founded in 2006 and has been operating for 20 years. Its EIN is 208081778. According to GiveRadar's records, it holds active tax-deductible status on the IRS Publication 78 list, which means donations are tax-deductible and the organization is in good standing with the IRS. GiveRadar's Integrity Assessment for the organization is 71/100, which reflects how much public information is available, not whether the charity is legitimate. The organization reports $1M in annual revenue. 52 officers and directors are publicly disclosed. GiveRadar has identified 1 potential concern.

Virginiafirst's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 208081778. This is the organization's IRS tax identification number; you can use it to verify tax-exempt status and to look up its Form 990 filings with the IRS.

Virginiafirst has a GiveRadar Integrity Assessment of 71/100. This score combines five components: Registration (20 pts), Financial Transparency (30 pts), Governance (20 pts), Contact Availability (10 pts), and Data Recency (20 pts), with negative adjustments for any red flags. A score of 71 ('Strong transparency') reflects well-documented governance, recent financials, named leadership, and working contact details. The charity allocates 83% of expenses to programs, which contributes positively to its score. For comparison, the average integrity assessment for education charities in United States is 90/100.

Virginiafirst is located in Charlottesvle, VA, United States. The organization was established in 2006 and has been active for 20 years. Its registered address is 240 West Main Street, United States.

Based on official tax filings, Virginiafirst has $1M in annual revenue. It allocates 83% of expenses to programs and services. This is in line with the average of 82% for education charities in United States. Its revenue is below the peer average of $7M. Create a free GiveRadar account to view the complete financial breakdown with year-over-year trends.

Virginiafirst is classified as an Education organization, registered in United States. It operates as a Publicly-supported charity (509(a)(2)). By size, it is categorized as a medium organization. It has $1M in annual revenue. The organization has 52 disclosed officers and directors.

GiveRadar has identified 1 potential concern for Virginiafirst. Red flags are automatically detected from official data and may include high executive compensation relative to budget, low program spending, or missing financial filings. Red flags do not necessarily mean wrongdoing but indicate areas that may warrant further review before donating.

According to GiveRadar's records, Virginiafirst holds active tax-deductible status on the IRS Publication 78 list, which means donations are tax-deductible and the organization is in good standing with the IRS. It is registered with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). It reports that 83% of expenses go to programs (the peer average is 82%). You can donate directly through their official donation page linked on their GiveRadar profile. GiveRadar provides data for research and does not endorse any organization. A GiveRadar Integrity Assessment reflects how much public data is available, not whether an organization is safe to donate to, so it is always smart to do your own research before giving.

Mission FIRST Chesapeake inspires and empowers young people in Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, D.C. to become leaders in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) through mentor-based robotics programs that foster innovation, resilience, and career-ready skills. We aim to break down barriers to STEM education by expanding access for students in underrepresented, rural, and underserved communities, ensuring every young person has the opportunity to explore their potential and shape the future. Vision We envision a region where every student-regardless of background or zip code-has access to high-quality STEM programming that equips them to thrive in school, in the workforce, and in life. Our goal is to become the leading STEM program... Virginiafirst is classified as an education organization registered in United States. The organization was founded in 2006.

Among education charities registered in United States: It allocates 83% of expenses to programs, in line with the peer average of 82%. Its annual revenue of $1M is below the peer average of $7M.

Yes, donations to Virginiafirst are generally tax-deductible in the United States. Virginiafirst is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. Its EIN is 208081778, which you can use for tax filing purposes. Donors can typically deduct contributions on their federal income tax return if they itemize deductions. Consult a tax professional for guidance specific to your situation.

Annual revenue
$1M-$10M
83% to programs
Source: IRS 990 (FY2024) why this matters
Unlock exact figures

Filing history

5 years on file from IRS 990 (FY2024): revenue, expenses, program spending, assets, and liabilities by fiscal year.

Years on record: FY2024, FY2023, FY2022, FY2021, FY2020.
Financial details are free - with a GiveRadar account

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Taxes

Tax-deductibility for donors

Donations may be tax-deductible for residents of United States under local rules. Confirm with the charity directly.

Always confirm tax treatment with the charity directly or your tax advisor before donating.

Staff & volunteers

From filings and published profiles

Employees
7

Leadership

From FY2024 filing

BE
Bettina G W••••
Treasurer

Officers & trustees (20)

Source: Public filings

See full names, roles, and stories

20 officers and trustees on file - free with a GiveRadar account.

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Latest news

From global news sources

No recent news coverage found

News coverage will appear here when articles mention this organization.

Activity timeline

Filings and press mentions, merged

Form filed
$1.1M revenue
FY2024
IRS 990
Form filed
$1.1M revenue
FY2023
IRS 990
Form filed
$1.0M revenue
FY2022
IRS 990
Form filed
$0.9M revenue
FY2021
IRS 990
Form filed
$1.1M revenue
FY2020
IRS 990

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Cause areas in United States

How many charities work in each area, with this charity's area highlighted.

Human Services 322,679
Education this charity 195,586
Arts & Culture 133,128
Advocacy & Civil Rights 128,026
Religion 114,636
Health 98,862
Community Development 56,086
Youth Development 53,450
See all cause areas in United States

Most common causes in United States

Causes charities work on most, with this charity's causes ticked.

Community Development 235,146
Education 159,016
Religion 103,741
Arts & Culture 101,203
Human Rights 76,926
Health 65,250
Youth Development 47,775
Animal Welfare 32,425

Sources and verification

Registration and legal identity
Internal Revenue Service (IRS) - Tax Exempt Organization Search
Financial filings
IRS Form 990 filings - Fiscal year 2024 most recent on file.
Officers and trustees
Internal Revenue Service (IRS) - Tax Exempt Organization Search - 52 disclosed in the public registry.
News and media coverage
GDELT Project + Google News
Supplementary verification
GlobalGiving partner directory
Supplementary verification
Charity Navigator

Data freshness

Last updated
Jun 12, 2026
Registry checked
Jun 6, 2026
Profile completeness
90%

What we know and don't know

Exactly which public data we hold on this charity. Our score reflects transparency, not impact.

On record · 10
  • Financial data · FY2024 on record
  • Named leadership · 52 officers on file
  • Executive pay · Disclosed
  • Government registration · Registered with an official registry
  • Mission statement · Published
  • Official website · On record
  • Headquarters address · On file
  • Direct contact · Email or phone published
  • Tax-deductibility · Verified
  • Founding date · 2006
Not available · 1
  • Programs & activities
    No named programs listed by the charity

Methodology

GiveRadar builds each profile primarily from official government charity registries, supplemented where available by third-party nonprofit databases and news archives, and combines it into a single 0-100 integrity assessment. The exact sources for this charity are listed above. We don't take a cut of any donation, ever.

Read full methodology

Are you the owner or a board member?

If you represent this organization and want to correct or update its data, you can claim this listing to edit details yourself, or email [email protected] with the correct information. We review every request and respond within 30 days.

Quick facts about Virginiafirst

What is Virginiafirst?
Virginiafirst is a education publicly-supported charity (509(a)(2)) based in Charlottesvle, United States. Mission FIRST Chesapeake inspires and empowers young people in Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, D.C. to become leaders in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) through mentor-based robotics programs that foster innovation, resilience, and career-ready skills. We aim to break down barriers to STEM education by expanding access for students in underrepresented, rural, and underserved communities, ensuring every young person has the opportunity to explore their potential and shape the future. Vision We envision a region where every student-regardless of background or zip code-has access to high-quality STEM programming that equips them to thrive in school, in the workforce, and in life. Our goal is to become the leading STEM program provider and trusted partner across Virginia, Maryland, and D.C., using competition-based robotics, classroom models, and community-based outreach to build a pipeline of confident, capable STEM leaders. Our Core Values Access: We are committed to ensuring that all students, especially those from marginalized or underserved backgrounds, have access to transformative STEM experiences. Innovation: We embrace creativity, curiosity, and new ideas-from our students and within our own programs. Coopertition® and Gracious Professionalism®: Rooted in FIRST's guiding principles, we foster collaboration, respect, and kindness, even in competitive environments. Mentorship and Partnership: We believe learning happens best in community. We empower mentors, educators, and volunteers to become STEM champions, and we work with schools, nonprofits, and industry to scale our impact. Future-Readiness: Our programs don't just build robots-they build life skills. We prepare young people for jobs that don't exist yet, in industries that haven't been invented. Short-Term Goals (2025-2026) Expand Access and Reach Launch new school-based and community robotics teams in Title I schools and underserved rural regions. Increase the number
When was Virginiafirst founded?
Virginiafirst was founded in 2006.
Who leads Virginiafirst?
Bettina G Welsh serves as Treasurer.
Where is Virginiafirst located?
Headquartered in Charlottesvle, VA, United States.
What is Virginiafirst's annual budget?
Annual revenue for fiscal year 2024 is approximately $1M-$10M. 83% of expenses go to program services.
Is Virginiafirst trustworthy?
Virginiafirst has a GiveRadar Integrity Assessment of 71 out of 100 (Strong transparency). The score reflects public-data transparency: registration, financial disclosure, governance, contact details, and how recently data was refreshed. It does not measure program impact.
What is Virginiafirst's registration number?
IRS EIN: 208081778.
What is Virginiafirst's website?
http://www.firstchesapeake.org