SAM FIRST
Cite this
Plain text SAM FIRST. furp.org, nonprofit organization profile, tax years 2024. https://furp.org/org/sam-first-923968442. Retrieved 2026-10-23.
APA furp.org. (n.d.). SAM FIRST [Nonprofit organization profile; tax years 2024]. Retrieved October 23, 2026, from https://furp.org/org/sam-first-923968442
MLA “SAM FIRST.” furp.org, tax years 2024, https://furp.org/org/sam-first-923968442. Accessed 23 Oct. 2026.
Retrieved 2026-10-23; covers tax years 2024. Data: furp.org, CC BY 4.0.
2024 · Form 990 · revenue $461K · expenses $313K · assets $174K
- EIN
- 92-3968442
- Address
- 6171 W CENTURY BLVD STE 180, LOS ANGELES, CA 90045-5300
- NTEE code
- A68
- Exempt type
- 501(c)(3): charitable, religious, educational, scientific or literary (corporation)
- Ruling date
- February 2024 (when the IRS recognized its exemption)
- IRS status
- Exempt (unconditional) (IRS Business Master File) IRS data ↗
- Tax-deductible donations
- Yes: listed in IRS Publication 78 (public charity) Pub 78 ↗
- Foundation status
- Public charity supported by the public (170(b)(1)(a)(vi))
- Principal officer
- Paul Solomon (its 2023 Form 990-N)
- Form 990-N e-postcards
- 1 filed, 2023 (organizations with gross receipts normally $50,000 or less file this instead of a full Form 990) IRS data ↗
- Cross-check
- ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer
Mission
THE MISSION OF SAM FIRST IS TO PROVIDE A VIBRANT CENTER FOR REGIONAL, NATIONAL, AND INTERNATIONAL PRACTITIONERS OF JAZZ AND TO FOSTER THE GROWTH AND ENGAGEMENT OF THE JAZZ COMMUNITY IN LOS ANGELES.AS A SPACE DESIGNED WITHOUT AN ELEVATED STAGE, WE SEEK TO REMOVE THE BOUNDARY BETWEEN PERFORMERS AND AUDIENCES TO PROMOTE IN-PERSON COLLABORATION, THE FORMATION OF NEW RELATIONSHIPS, AND THE CREATION OF ORIGINAL MUSIC THAT TAKES RISKS AND PUSHES BOUNDARIES.
Each tax year counts once: when a return was amended, only the latest return for that period is used below (superseded returns stay listed, greyed, under Finances).
People paid by the organization
1 person paid across every filing: current people first, then by total pay from this organization. Organizations counts every nonprofit each person appears on.
| Name | Latest title | Years | Latest year pay | Total pay from here | Organizations |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| David Robaire | EXECUTIVE & ARTISTIC DIRECTOR | 2024 | $35,305 | $35,305 | 1 |
Officers and directors, no compensation reported
8 people listed on the returns with $0 (or no amount) in every compensation column: current people first. Hours are as filed on the latest return each person appears on.
| Name | Latest title | Years | Hrs/wk (latest) | Compensation | Organizations |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paul Solomon | CHAIR | 2024 | 5 | $0 reported | 1 |
| Kate Lally | SECRETARY | 2024 | 5 | $0 reported | 1 |
| Gerald Clayton | BOARD MEMBER | 2024 | 6 | $0 reported | 1 |
| Charles Gaines | BOARD MEMBER | 2024 | 3 | $0 reported | 1 |
| Daniel Seeff | BOARD MEMBER | 2024 | 0 | $0 reported | 1 |
| Karen Hohman Almeida | BOARD MEMBER | 2024 | 2 | $0 reported | 1 |
| Katrina Mohn | BOARD MEMBER | 2024 | 2 | $0 reported | 1 |
| Christopher Godwin | BOARD MEMBER | 2024 | 3 | $0 reported | 1 |
People by year
2024 · 9 people listed · 1 paid, $35K · 0 employees · 8 volunteers
| Name | Title | Hrs/wk | From org | From related | Other | Total | Orgs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DAVID ROBAIRE | EXECUTIVE & ARTISTIC DIRECTOR | 40 | $35,305 | $0 | $0 | $35,305 | 1 |
| PAUL SOLOMON | CHAIR | 5 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 1 |
| KATE LALLY | SECRETARY | 5 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 1 |
| GERALD CLAYTON | BOARD MEMBER | 6 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 1 |
| CHARLES GAINES | BOARD MEMBER | 3 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 1 |
| DANIEL SEEFF | BOARD MEMBER | 0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 1 |
| KAREN HOHMAN ALMEIDA | BOARD MEMBER | 2 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 1 |
| KATRINA MOHN | BOARD MEMBER | 2 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 1 |
| CHRISTOPHER GODWIN | BOARD MEMBER | 3 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 1 |
Highest-paid independent contractors
No independent contractors reported.
Who gave
Contributor names are not public for this form type.
Public charities filing Form 990 or 990-EZ report large donors on Schedule B, but the IRS withholds their names and addresses from public copies. Private foundations (990-PF) are different: their contributors are public.
Finances
Newest first. Each filing: its name on one row, its figures on the row beneath. Greyed filings are superseded by a later return for the same period and are left out everywhere else on this page.
| Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Net assets | Contributions | Program revenue | Officer pay | Employees | Volunteers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 · Form 990 | ||||||||
| $460,597 | $312,800 | $174,292 | $147,797 | $389,640 | $13,462 | $35,305 | 0 | 8 |
Funders of this organization
2 grantors reported grants to this organization, $55,000 in all, tax years 2023 to 2024. Exact: the grantor wrote this organization's EIN. Fuzzy: the grantor wrote only a name (foundations' 990-PF has no EIN field), matched to the same or a near-identical name in the same state; the name as filed is shown. From the latest return for each grantor and year, so amended returns aren't counted twice. CSV
| Grantor | Type | Match | Years given | Grants | Total | Latest year | Latest year's amount | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| THE ANNENBERG FOUNDATION | Private foundation | Fuzzy filed as “SAM FIRST” | 2024 | 1 | $50,000 | 2024 | $50,000 | show |
| FRANCES AND BENJAMIN BENENSON FOUNDATION INC | Private foundation | Fuzzy filed as “SAM FIRST” | 2023 | 1 | $5,000 | 2023 | $5,000 | show |
Similar organizations
Ranked without any AI: same NTEE code first, then the same NTEE group; then revenue within 2x, 5x or 10x; then the same state; then similar name and mission text. Same state only · More (100)
| Organization | State | NTEE | Latest revenue | Latest expenses | Top-paid title | Top pay | Why similar |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHAMBER MUSIC SAN FRANCISCO | CA | A68 | $747,822 | $675,376 | EXEC DIR EX OFFICIO | $157,822 | Same NTEE code A68, revenue within 2x, same state |
| LOCO BLOCO | CA | A68 | $530,323 | $416,835 | Executive Dir. | $68,100 | Same NTEE code A68, revenue within 2x, same state |
| GLOBAL ARTS CORPORATION | CA | A68 | $380,948 | $369,783 | CEO | $63,009 | Same NTEE code A68, revenue within 2x, same state |
| MERCURY SOUL INC | CA | A68 | $463,634 | $379,240 | Executive Dir. | $120,000 | Same NTEE code A68, revenue within 2x, same state |
| BACH DANCING & DYNAMITE SOCIETY INC | CA | A68 | $496,421 | $489,861 | President & CEO | $85,532 | Same NTEE code A68, revenue within 2x, same state |
| SYMPHONIC JAZZ ORCHESTRA | CA | A68 | $503,826 | $503,537 | President | $0 | Same NTEE code A68, revenue within 2x, same state |
| THE SAN FRANCISCO INTERNATIONAL ORFF COURSE INCORPORATED | CA | A68 | $275,825 | $251,883 | President | $0 | Same NTEE code A68, revenue within 2x, same state |
| TAKE ME TO THE RIVER EDUCATION INITIATIVE | CA | A68 | $249,202 | $264,410 | BOARD MEMBER | $18,000 | Same NTEE code A68, revenue within 2x, same state |
| HIPHOPFORCHANGE INC | CA | A68 | $523,175 | $554,328 | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | $48,640 | Same NTEE code A68, revenue within 2x, same state |
| GRATEFUL GUITARS FOUNDATION | CA | A68 | $249,693 | $184,828 | PRESIDENT, DIRECTOR | $0 | Same NTEE code A68, revenue within 2x, same state |
| NOE VALLEY CHAMBER MUSIC | CA | A68 | $495,560 | $403,645 | Co-Artistic Director and Co-Executive Director, Board Member | $74,107 | Same NTEE code A68, revenue within 2x, same state |
| SEASUN THEATRE ARTIST GROUP | CA | A68 | $339,698 | $441,984 | DIRECTOR | $4,000 | Same NTEE code A68, revenue within 2x, same state |
| INFINITE MUSIC FOUNDATION | CA | A68 | $313,134 | $148,386 | Program Coordinator/Board Member | $0 | Same NTEE code A68, revenue within 2x, same state |
| PACIFIC CHAMBER ORCHESTRA | CA | A68 | $329,744 | $403,330 | Executive Dir. | $45,078 | Same NTEE code A68, revenue within 2x, same state |
| SOBRATO MURPHY MUSIC ASSOCIATION | CA | A68 | $258,706 | $247,690 | CEO & BAND DIRECTOR | $0 | Same NTEE code A68, revenue within 2x, same state |
| WEST COAST PERCUSSION ALLIANCE | CA | A68 | $514,847 | $460,284 | President | $0 | Same NTEE code A68, revenue within 2x, same state |
| PPC ENTERTAINMENT INC | CA | A68 | $480,329 | $506,066 | Artistic Dir. | $69,583 | Same NTEE code A68, revenue within 2x, same state |
| EL SISTEMA USA SALINAS INC | CA | A68 | $907,099 | $825,170 | Past Ex Directo | $92,708 | Same NTEE code A68, revenue within 2x, same state |
| NOONTIME CONCERTS | CA | A68 | $342,759 | $407,088 | Executive Director | $114,301 | Same NTEE code A68, revenue within 2x, same state |
| SPRECKELS ORGAN SOCIETY | CA | A68 | $795,635 | $655,440 | Artistic Director | $164,778 | Same NTEE code A68, revenue within 2x, same state |
| CAMARADA INC | CA | A68 | $356,020 | $377,418 | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | $72,750 | Same NTEE code A68, revenue within 2x, same state |
| GUITAR FOUNDATION OF AMERICA INC | CA | A68 | $462,510 | $439,303 | President | $19,000 | Same NTEE code A68, revenue within 2x, same state |
| REDTONE RECORDS | CA | A68 | $592,631 | $381,240 | ED/PRES/BOAR | $33,950 | Same NTEE code A68, revenue within 2x, same state |
| TAHOE SCHOOL OF MUSIC | CA | A68 | $582,894 | $576,519 | Director | $74,500 | Same NTEE code A68, revenue within 2x, same state |
| CLASSICS FOR KIDS INC | CA | A68 | $624,909 | $530,453 | Executive Dir. | $89,338 | Same NTEE code A68, revenue within 2x, same state |
Who funds organizations like this
Grantors that funded the 100 most similar organizations. Ranked by total given to them. Foundations (990-PF) and donor-advised fund sponsors only. Same matching as Funders above (by EIN, or by name for foundations).
The full list · all similar organizations
Where the money went
Every expense line on each return, biggest first: Form 990 Part IX (with its program, management and fundraising columns), 990-EZ Part I, or 990-PF Part I. Event marks lines the organization itself describes as events. “Events” in each summary adds those lines, conferences and meetings, and the direct costs of fundraising events. Unusual is not the same as improper. Many of these patterns have ordinary explanations. Check the filing.
2024 · Form 990 · $312,800 spent · pay $113,080 · grants $0 · events $24,045
| Line | As described | Total | Program | Management | Fundraising | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fees: other services | $100,809 | $84,678 | $11,091 | $5,040 | 32.2% | |
| Other salaries and wages | $64,378 | $54,077 | $7,082 | $3,219 | 20.6% | |
| Pay: officers, directors, trustees, key employees | $35,305 | $21,183 | $7,061 | $7,061 | 11.3% | |
| All other expenses | $19,786 | $16,621 | $2,176 | $989 | 6.3% | |
| Other (as described) | PRODUCTION COST | $13,176 | $13,176 | - | - | 4.2% |
| Information technology | $10,521 | $8,838 | $1,157 | $526 | 3.4% | |
| Payroll taxes | $9,326 | $7,834 | $1,026 | $466 | 3.0% | |
| Other (as described) | JANITORIAL EXPENSE | $9,025 | $7,581 | $993 | $451 | 2.9% |
| Fees: legal | $8,927 | - | $8,927 | - | 2.9% | |
| Other (as described) | COMPLIMENTARY EXP | $7,416 | $6,229 | $816 | $371 | 2.4% |
| Advertising and promotion | $7,231 | - | - | $7,231 | 2.3% | |
| Fees: accounting | $6,293 | - | $6,293 | - | 2.0% | |
| Other (as described) | BANK AND MERCHANT FEES | $5,208 | $4,375 | $573 | $260 | 1.7% |
| Office expenses | $4,323 | $3,631 | $476 | $216 | 1.4% | |
| Insurance | $4,240 | $3,562 | $466 | $212 | 1.4% | |
| Pension plan contributions | $4,071 | $3,419 | $448 | $204 | 1.3% | |
| Royalties | $1,625 | $1,365 | $179 | $81 | 0.5% | |
| Depreciation and depletion | $476 | $400 | $52 | $24 | 0.2% | |
| Occupancy | $446 | $375 | $49 | $22 | 0.1% | |
| Travel | $218 | $183 | $24 | $11 | 0.1% | |
| Fundraising events Event | direct expenses; gross income $8,000 | $24,045 | reported apart | |||
| Total | $312,800 | 100% |