StudentsFirst

Cite this

Plain text StudentsFirst. furp.org, nonprofit organization profile, tax years 2013–2015. https://furp.org/org/studentsfirst-273659685. Retrieved 2026-10-24.

APA furp.org. (n.d.). StudentsFirst [Nonprofit organization profile; tax years 2013–2015]. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://furp.org/org/studentsfirst-273659685

MLA “StudentsFirst.” furp.org, tax years 2013–2015, https://furp.org/org/studentsfirst-273659685. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Retrieved 2026-10-24; covers tax years 2013–2015. Data: furp.org, CC BY 4.0.

2015 · Form 990 · revenue $2.4M · expenses $10.6M · assets $0

EIN
27-3659685
Address
28212 Kelly Johnson Pkwy No 105, Valencia, CA 91355
NTEE code
-
Exempt type
-
Ruling date
-
Cross-check
ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer

Mission

OUR MISSION IS TO BUILD A NATIONAL MOVEMENT TO DEFEND THE INTERESTS OF CHILDREN IN PUBLIC EDUCATION AND PURSUE TRANSFORMATIVE REFORM, SO THAT AMERICA HAS THE BEST EDUCATION SYSTEM IN THE WORLD.

Each tax year counts once: when a return was amended, only the latest return for that period is used below (superseded returns stay listed, greyed, under Finances).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

27 people paid across every filing: current people first, then by total pay from this organization. Organizations counts every nonprofit each person appears on.

NameLatest titleYearsLatest year payTotal pay from hereOrganizations
Timothy W Melton VP Legislative Affairs2013-2015 $260,322$775,839 2
Kellen Arno VP Strategy & Communicatio2013-2015 $230,465$649,038 2
Angelia Dickens General Counsel2013-2015 $206,938$619,440 4
Brett Barley Director of Legislative Affairs2014-2015 $153,130$286,089 2
James Blew President2014-2015 $279,397$280,397 2
John Pallasch Director of Human Resource2014-2015 $131,732$262,339 2
Robert Calentine VP Development2015 $213,014$213,014 2
Michelle Johnson Chairwoman / Founder2015 $207,145$207,145 6
Justin Cabrera Assistant General Counsel2015 $152,815$152,815 2
Brent Easley State Director2015 $135,386$135,386 3
Lindsay Huddleston State Director2015 $129,264$129,264 2
Kahlil Byrd (former) PRESIDENT (FORMER)2013 $452,171$452,171 2
Eric S Lerum (former) VP NATIONAL POLICY2013-2014 $236,453$429,568 2
Rebecca Sibilia (former) CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER2013-2014 $247,019$425,217 3
Michelle Johnson Frmrly Rhee (former) FOUNDER/CEO/DIRECTOR2013 $423,463$423,463 3
Michael Hassid (former) CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER2013-2014 $218,685$328,313 3
Enoch O Woodhouse (former) VP EXTERNAL AFFAIRS2013-2014 $131,673$318,292 3
Dominique Amis (former) DIR SPECIAL PROJECTS2013-2014 $153,429$318,284 3
Michelle Johnson Formerly Rhee (former) FOUNDER/CEO/DIRECTOR2014 $306,846$306,846 2
Sky Gallegos (former) VP OF NATIONAL ELECTORAL2013 $188,295$188,295 2
Phoebe Howard (former) DPTY DIRECTOR OF DVLPMNT (FORMER)2013 $157,133$157,133 2
Paul Scott (former) LEGISLATIVE MANAGER2014 $139,657$139,657 2
Floyd Swann (former) GA STATE DIRECTOR2013 $137,468$137,468 2
Jeri Powell (former) CT STATE DIRECTOR2013 $133,531$133,531 2
Jordan Posamentier (former) DIR LEGISLATIVE ANALYSIS2014 $128,518$128,518 2
Nicole Lowry (former) FL STATE DIRECTOR2013 $125,704$125,704 2
Amy Dowell (former) DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT (FORMER)2013 $125,608$125,608 2

Officers and directors, no compensation reported

10 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.

NameLatest titleYearsHrs/wk (latest)CompensationOrganizations
Roland Martin Director2013-2015 1 $0 reported 3
Reverand Dr Floyd H Flake Director2013-2015 1 $0 reported 2
Dmitri Mehlhorn Director2015 1 $0 reported 2
Jalen Rose Director2013-2015 1 $0 reported 2
Joseph W Saunders Director2013-2015 1 $0 reported 2
Joel Klein (former) DIRECTOR/CHAIRMAN (FORMER)2013-2014 1 $0 reported 4
Connie Chung (former) DIRECTOR (FORMER)2013-2014 1 $0 reported 2
Bill Cosby (former) DIRECTOR (FORMER)2013-2014 1 $0 reported 2
Blair Taylor (former) DIRECTOR (FORMER)2013-2014 1 $0 reported 2
Jennifer Johnson (former) DIRECTOR2013 1 $0 reported 2

People by year

2015 · 16 people listed · 11 paid, $2.1M · 94 employees · 5 volunteers
NameTitleHrs/wkFrom orgFrom relatedOtherTotalOrgs
James Blew President10 $64,961$195,039$19,397 $279,3972
Timothy W Melton VP Legislative Affairs15 $91,124$148,876$20,322 $260,3222
Kellen Arno VP Strategy & Communicatio8 $43,755$166,245$20,465 $230,4652
Robert Calentine VP Development5 $24,455$175,545$13,014 $213,0142
Michelle Johnson Chairwoman / Founder15 $76,814$124,052$6,279 $207,1456
Angelia M Dickens General Counsel18 $91,289$108,711$6,938 $206,9384
Brett Barley Director of Legislative Affairs17 $58,697$79,636$14,797 $153,1302
Justin Cabrera Assistant General Counsel16 $55,366$83,049$14,400 $152,8152
Brent Easley State Director18 $53,634$63,866$17,886 $135,3863
John Pallasch Director of Human Resource16 $50,000$75,000$6,732 $131,7322
Lindsay Huddleston State Director18 $49,174$62,326$17,764 $129,2642
Reverand Dr Floyd H Flake Director1 $0$0$0 $02
Roland Martin Director1 $0$0$0 $03
Dmitri Mehlhorn Director1 $0$0$0 $02
Jalen Rose Director1 $0$0$0 $02
Joseph W Saunders Director1 $0$0$0 $02
2014 · 22 people listed · 14 paid, $2.5M · 168 employees · 8 volunteers
NameTitleHrs/wkFrom orgFrom relatedOtherTotalOrgs
MICHELLE JOHNSON FORMERLY RHEE FOUNDER/CEO/DIRECTOR18 $132,500$167,500$6,846 $306,8462
TIMOTHY W MELTON VP LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS38 $229,329$10,920$18,977 $259,2262
REBECCA A SIBILIA CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER13 $77,745$162,479$6,795 $247,0193
ERIC S LERUM VP NATIONAL POLICY2 $11,284$218,100$7,069 $236,4532
MICHAEL JOSEPH HASSID CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER16 $78,667$121,333$18,685 $218,6853
KELLEN ARNO VP STRATEGY & COMMUNICATIONS15 $68,903$121,097$20,650 $210,6502
ANGELIA M DICKENS GENERAL COUNSEL35 $172,727$27,273$6,813 $206,8134
DOMINIQUE R AMIS DIR SPECIAL PROJECTS20 $73,407$73,407$6,615 $153,4293
PAUL SCOTT LEGISLATIVE MANAGER37 $110,000$10,000$19,657 $139,6572
BRETT BARLEY LEGISLATIVE MANAGER38 $114,545$5,455$12,959 $132,9592
ENOCH O WOODHOUSE VP EXTERNAL AFFAIRS26 $83,683$43,288$4,702 $131,6733
JOHN PALLASCH DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES23 $71,192$52,558$6,857 $130,6072
JORDAN POSAMENTIER DIR LEGISLATIVE ANALYSIS7 $20,823$91,600$16,095 $128,5182
JAMES BLEW PRESIDENT7 $173$827$0 $1,0002
CONNIE CHUNG DIRECTOR (FORMER)1 $0$0$0 $02
BILL COSBY DIRECTOR (FORMER)1 $0$0$0 $02
REVERAND DR FLOYD H FLAKE DIRECTOR1 $0$0$0 $02
JOEL KLEIN DIRECTOR/CHAIRMAN (FORMER)1 $0$0$0 $04
ROLAND MARTIN DIRECTOR1 $0$0$0 $03
JALEN ROSE DIRECTOR1 $0$0$0 $02
JOSEPH W SAUNDERS DIRECTOR1 $0$0$0 $02
BLAIR TAYLOR DIRECTOR (FORMER)1 $0$0$0 $02
2013 · 25 people listed · 16 paid, $3.2M · 221 employees · 9 volunteers
NameTitleHrs/wkFrom orgFrom relatedOtherTotalOrgs
KAHLIL BYRD PRESIDENT (FORMER)16 $185,390$266,781$0 $452,1712
MICHELLE JOHNSON FRMRLY RHEE FOUNDER/CEO/DIRECTOR22 $225,546$192,132$5,785 $423,4633
TIMOTHY MELTON VP OF LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS40 $240,525$0$15,766 $256,2912
KELLEN ARNO VP OF MEMBERSHIP20 $97,168$93,357$17,398 $207,9232
ANGELIA DICKENS GENERAL COUNSEL33 $168,000$32,000$5,689 $205,6894
ERIC LERUM VP OF NATIONAL POLICY35 $165,095$22,513$5,507 $193,1152
SKY GALLEGOS VP OF NATIONAL ELECTORAL40 $182,500$0$5,795 $188,2952
ENOCH WOODHOUSE VP OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS23 $105,125$76,125$5,369 $186,6193
REBECCA SIBILIA CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER12 $51,807$120,884$5,507 $178,1983
DOMINIQUE AMIS DIRECTOR OF SPECIAL PROJECTS18 $71,768$87,716$5,371 $164,8553
PHOEBE HOWARD DPTY DIRECTOR OF DVLPMNT (FORMER)12 $43,959$102,571$10,603 $157,1332
FLOYD SWANN GA STATE DIRECTOR22 $67,494$53,031$16,943 $137,4682
JERI POWELL CT STATE DIRECTOR26 $83,216$44,809$5,506 $133,5312
NICOLE LOWRY FL STATE DIRECTOR24 $68,525$41,999$15,180 $125,7042
AMY DOWELL DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT (FORMER)20 $62,804$62,804$0 $125,6082
MICHAEL HASSID CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER17 $45,689$63,094$845 $109,6283
CONNIE CHUNG DIRECTOR1 $0$0$0 $02
BILL COSBY DIRECTOR1 $0$0$0 $02
REVERAND DR FLOYD H FLAKE DIRECTOR1 $0$0$0 $02
JENNIFER JOHNSON DIRECTOR1 $0$0$0 $02
JOEL KLEIN DIRECTOR/CHAIRMAN1 $0$0$0 $04
ROLAND MARTIN DIRECTOR1 $0$0$0 $03
JALEN ROSE DIRECTOR1 $0$0$0 $02
JOSEPH W SAUNDERS DIRECTOR1 $0$0$0 $02
BLAIR TAYLOR DIRECTOR1 $0$0$0 $02

Highest-paid independent contractors

2015 · 1 contractor · $124K
NameLocationServicePaid
Kinetix Technology Services LLCSan Mateo, CATechnology Services$123,727
2014 · 5 contractors · $1.3M
NameLocationServicePaid
NIELSEN MERKSAMER PARRINELLO GROSS & LEOSACRAMENTO, CALEGAL SERVICES$372,676
PERKINS COIE LLPSEATTLE, WALEGAL SERVICES$363,268
BLUE STATE DIGITAL INCNEW YORK, NYWEB SERVICES$202,252
STROZ FRIEDBERG LLCNEW YORK, NYCONSULTING SERVICES$185,000
OUTLAND CREATIVE WORKSLOS ANGELES, CACONSULTING SERVICES$160,578
2013 · 5 contractors · $1.9M
NameLocationServicePaid
HALE BROS INVESTMENT COMPANY LLCRENT$479,917
NIELSEN MERKSAMER PARRINELLO GROSS & LEOLEGAL SERVICES$437,883
BLUE STATE DIGITAL INCWEB SERVICES$390,124
PERKINS COIE LLPLEGAL SERVICES$301,682
MERCURY PUBLIC AFFAIRS LLCCONSULTING SERVICES$246,140

Who the money went to

Grants this organization reported paying: Schedule I Part II of the Form 990, or the grants-paid list on the 990-PF. Open a year for every recipient. Recipients link to their own page when the grant names an EIN we have (990-PF grants list no EIN, so those link only on an exact, unique name and state). Grants to individuals are counted; their names are not shown.

2015 · 3 grants to organizations · $675K

Listed grants add up to $675,009; the return's “grants paid” expense line says $997,863. Returns can differ here (grants paid vs. accrued, items listed elsewhere); check the filing.

2014 · 15 grants to organizations · $1.1M

Listed grants add up to $1,080,410; the return's “grants paid” expense line says $1,432,564. Returns can differ here (grants paid vs. accrued, items listed elsewhere); check the filing.

2013 · 28 grants to organizations · $911K

Listed grants add up to $910,700; the return's “grants paid” expense line says $1,316,063. Returns can differ here (grants paid vs. accrued, items listed elsewhere); check the filing.

Negative amounts are returned or refunded grants; they are listed last and left out of the totals of grants paid.

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.

RevenueExpensesAssetsNet assetsContributionsProgram revenueOfficer payEmployeesVolunteers
2015 · Form 990 period ending 2016-07-31 · view filing · original 990 ↗
$2,416,249$10,571,810 $0$0 $2,215,696$0 $713,575945
2014 · Form 990 period ending 2015-07-31 · view filing · original 990 ↗
$5,863,989$6,677,862 $9,226,855$8,890,002 $5,746,935$0 $757,7071688
2013 · Form 990 period ending 2014-07-31 · view filing · original 990 ↗
$16,031,925$12,635,706 $12,711,203$9,829,921 $16,008,709$0 $1,353,2232219

Connected to

Organizations that list some of the same people on their returns (officers, directors, key employees on this organization’s latest return), and related organizations it lists on Schedule R.

Funders of this organization

3 grantors reported grants to this organization, $95,000 in all, tax years 2013 to 2016. 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

GrantorTypeMatchYears givenGrantsTotalLatest yearLatest year's amountGrants
SAUNDERS FAMILY CHARITABLE FUND Private foundation Fuzzy filed as “STUDENTSFIRST” 2015 1$50,000 2015$50,000
show
50CAN ACTION FUND INC Public charity Exact 2016 1$35,000 2016$35,000
show
EDUCATION FREEDOM ALLIANCE Public charity Exact 2013 1$10,000 2013$10,000
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

OrganizationStateNTEELatest revenueLatest expensesTop-paid titleTop payWhy similar
STUDENTSFIRST NEW YORK INCNYR01 $1,400,552$2,188,958 EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR$533,128 Similar name, revenue within 2x
StudentsFirst InstituteCANot reported $7,983,141$7,042,325 President$279,397 Similar name, revenue within 5x, same state, similar mission
PUT STUDENTS FIRSTTXNot reported -$2,302 CHAIRMAN$0 Similar name
STUDENTS FIRST CORPPAP20 $0$6,360 TREASURER$0 Similar name

Who funds organizations like this

Grantors that funded the 4 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).

GrantorTypeTotal givenGrantsOrganizations fundedYearsWhich ones
THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION FOR GREATER ATLANTA INC DAF sponsor$841,1003 12014–2016 StudentsFirst Institute
MARGARET M BLOOMFIELD FAMILY FOUNDATION Private foundation$500,0001 12015–2015 StudentsFirst Institute
SILICON VALLEY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION DAF sponsor$475,0003 12012–2015 StudentsFirst Institute
DONOR ADVISED CHARITABLE GIVING DAF sponsor$50,0001 12015–2015 StudentsFirst Institute
CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF MEMPHIS AND THE MID-SOUTH INC DAF sponsor$50,0001 12014–2014 StudentsFirst Institute

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.

2015 · Form 990 · $10,571,810 spent · pay $1,661,293 · grants $997,863 · events $17,795
LineAs describedTotalProgramManagementFundraisingShare
Other (as described)Bad debt $6,355,301$6,355,301-- 60.1%
Grants to US organizations and governments $997,863$997,863-- 9.4%
Other salaries and wages $802,850$555,589$241,204$6,057 7.6%
Pay: officers, directors, trustees, key employees $713,575$493,809$214,383$5,383 6.7%
Fees: lobbying $502,356$445,687$56,669- 4.8%
Occupancy $271,558$187,924$81,585$2,049 2.6%
Travel $126,812$118,985$3,720$4,107 1.2%
Information technology $107,448$74,356$32,281$811 1.0%
Payroll taxes $92,464$65,724$25,730$1,010 0.9%
Fees: accounting $90,102$62,352$27,070$680 0.9%
Depreciation and depletion $88,439$61,202$26,570$667 0.8%
Fees: legal $64,300$44,497$19,318$485 0.6%
Fees: other services $62,364$35,664-$26,700 0.6%
Office expenses $59,347$41,146$17,687$514 0.6%
Other (as described)Wind-Up Expenses $56,862-$56,862- 0.5%
Other employee benefits $50,154$34,015$15,744$395 0.5%
Fees: management $48,763$27,499$21,264- 0.5%
Insurance $41,600$28,788$12,498$314 0.4%
Conferences, conventions and meetings $17,795$12,315$5,346$134 0.2%
Advertising and promotion $11,501$11,501-- 0.1%
Other (as described)Dues & Subscriptions $7,169$4,961$2,154$54 0.1%
Pension plan contributions $2,250$2,250-- 0.0%
Other (as described)Licenses & Registration $937$648$282$7 0.0%
Total$10,571,810100%

View the filing

2014 · Form 990 · $6,677,862 spent · pay $2,838,345 · grants $1,432,564 · events $49,203
LineAs describedTotalProgramManagementFundraisingShare
Other salaries and wages $1,586,229$1,379,452$195,493$11,284 23.8%
Grants to US organizations and governments $1,432,564$1,432,564-- 21.5%
Pay: officers, directors, trustees, key employees $757,707$417,569$299,153$40,985 11.3%
Fees: lobbying $626,724$619,456$7,268- 9.4%
Travel $333,742$297,559$25,108$11,075 5.0%
Other employee benefits $313,412$282,406$24,826$6,180 4.7%
Fees: management $240,505$232,047$8,458- 3.6%
Occupancy $195,822$24,491$171,331- 2.9%
Payroll taxes $180,997$133,547$44,378$3,072 2.7%
Information technology $173,477$42,100$123,147$8,230 2.6%
Fees: legal $134,101$9,000$125,101- 2.0%
Office expenses $126,455$20,816$104,279$1,360 1.9%
Fees: other services $122,880$122,880-- 1.8%
Advertising and promotion $116,645$116,645-- 1.7%
Depreciation and depletion $103,387$100,035$3,352- 1.5%
Fees: professional fundraisers $53,250--$53,250 0.8%
Conferences, conventions and meetings $49,203$42,357$6,158$688 0.7%
Fees: accounting $48,851-$48,851- 0.7%
Other (as described)DUES & SUBSCRIPTIONS $43,936$13,266$30,490$180 0.7%
Insurance $33,585-$33,585- 0.5%
Interest $3,693-$3,693- 0.1%
Other (as described)LICENSES & REGISTRATION $697$562$135- 0.0%
Total$6,677,862100%

View the filing

2013 · Form 990 · $12,635,706 spent · pay $5,524,613 · grants $1,316,063 · events $47,361
LineAs describedTotalProgramManagementFundraisingShare
Other salaries and wages $3,230,772$2,637,314$591,044$2,414 25.6%
Fees: other services $1,974,116$1,938,282$33,056$2,778 15.6%
Pay: officers, directors, trustees, key employees $1,353,223$872,917$391,693$88,613 10.7%
Grants to US organizations and governments $1,316,063$1,316,063-- 10.4%
Fees: legal $1,042,822$790,408$220,424$31,990 8.3%
Fees: lobbying $993,017$993,017-- 7.9%
Travel $608,335$530,562$37,778$39,995 4.8%
Other employee benefits $551,794$422,541$118,296$10,957 4.4%
Payroll taxes $388,824$297,745$83,358$7,721 3.1%
Information technology $216,512$164,105$45,765$6,642 1.7%
Occupancy $215,486$163,328$45,548$6,610 1.7%
Office expenses $196,699$149,184$41,475$6,040 1.6%
Advertising and promotion $155,002$155,002-- 1.2%
Depreciation and depletion $108,582$82,300$22,951$3,331 0.9%
Fees: professional fundraisers $74,491--$74,491 0.6%
Other (as described)DUES & SUBSCRIPTIONS $62,663$47,496$13,245$1,922 0.5%
Fees: accounting $49,803$37,748$10,527$1,528 0.4%
Conferences, conventions and meetings $47,361$35,897$10,011$1,453 0.4%
Insurance $27,796$21,068$5,875$853 0.2%
Interest $12,887$9,768$2,724$395 0.1%
Other (as described)LICENSES & REGISTRATION $9,458$7,169$1,999$290 0.1%
Total$12,635,706100%

View the filing

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