irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $302KEDUCATION PROGRAMS:BEYOND PRINT AND ONLINE PUBLICATIONS, FIRST THINGS EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS ARE A LONG STANDING, AND EVER GROWING, COMMITMENT. THE INSTITUTE BELIEVES STRONGLY THAT CREATING A VISIBLE COMMUNITY OF BELIEVERS IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF ACCOMPLISHING THE MISSION. EACH YEAR THE INSTITUTE SPONSORS AND HOSTS A VARIETY OF EDUCATIONAL EVENTS AND ACADEMIC COLLOQUIA IN ORDER TO ENGAGE OUR FRIENDS, SUBSCRIBERS, NATIONAL INFLUENCERS, AS WELL AS NOTED SCHOLARS AND PROMISING STUDENTS.SOME EXAMPLES OF FIRST THINGS' EDUCATIONAL OFFERINGS ARE:1. THE FIRST THINGS SEMINAR PROGRAM IN NEW YORK.THE INAUGURAL FIRST THINGS INTELLECTUAL RETREAT WAS HELD IN NEW YORK CITY IN 2015, TITLED "THE PARADOX OF FREEDOM." INTEREST IN THE SEMINAR WAS REMARKABLY STRONG AND ENROLLMENT WAS AT CAPACITY. GIVEN THE SUCCESS OF THE FIRST RETREAT THE PROGRAM EXPANDED EVERY YEAR SINCE TO OTHER CITIES IN THE US. IN ADDITION TO THE NEW ANNUAL RETREAT IN NEW YORK CITY, FIRST THINGS HAS RETREATS IN LOS ANGELES, WACO, PHILADELPHIA, AND WASHINGTON DC TO MEET THE DEMAND AMONG READERS IN THOSE REGIONS OF THE COUNTRY. THE THEMES AND ASSIGNED READINGS FOR THE RETREATS VARY AND HAVE COVERED TOPICS SUCH AS ECONOMICS AND THE HUMAN PERSON, THE LIFE OF THE MIND, THE POLITICAL LIFE, THE GOOD OF MARRIAGE, LOVE AND FRIENDSHIP, THE COMMON GOOD AND THE SEARCH FOR HAPPINESS. THE RETREATS COMMONLY GATHER TOGETHER 60 TO 100 IN-PERSON PARTICIPANTS.2. THE ANNUAL ERASMUS LECTURE IN NEW YORK CITY, NOW IN ITS 37TH YEAR. THE 2024 ERASMUS LECTURE WAS DELIVERED BY PAUL KINGSNORTH, AN ENGLISH WRITER AND THINKER AND THE AUTHOR OF NINE BOOKS OF FICTION, NON-FICTION AND POETRY, INCLUDING THE NOVEL THE WAKE, LONGLISTED FOR THE MAN BOOKER PRIZE. HIS TALK WAS ENTITLED "AGAINST CHRISTIAN CIVILIZATION". THE LECTURE WAS THE LATEST IN THE PRESTIGIOUS SERIES HELD IN NEW YORK, EACH YEAR PRESENTING AN EXCEPTIONAL THOUGHT LEADER. PREVIOUS ERASMUS LECTURERS HAVE INCLUDED POPE BENEDICT XVI (THEN CARDINAL JOSEF RATZINGER), ARCHBISHOP TIMOTHY DOLAN, RABBI JONATHAN SACKS, DANA GIOIA, ROSS DOUTHAT, RUSSELL MOORE, BISHOP ROBERT BARRON, REMI BRAGUE, AND N. T. WRIGHT, AMONG MANY OTHER NOTEWORTHY SPEAKERS. 3. ADDITIONALLY, THE INSTITUTE HOSTS A NUMBER OF ACADEMIC COLLOQUIA THROUGHOUT THE YEAR AIMED AT BROADENING UNDERSTANDING AND PROMOTING HIGH LEVEL DISCUSSIONS AMONG SCHOLARS OF THE IDEAS TREATED IN THE PAGES OF FIRST THINGS.
named programs · 4 · from sources
What they call their work
Erasmus Lecture
An annual lecture series in New York City featuring prominent thinkers; now in its 37th year, recent speakers include Paul Kingsnorth and Pope Benedict XVI (formerly Cardinal Ratzinger).
First Things Magazine and Website
Publication of a monthly print magazine and daily online content exploring religion, culture, and society, reaching subscribers and readers nationwide.
First Things Seminar Program
Annual intellectual retreats held in multiple U.S. cities, including New York, Los Angeles, Waco, Philadelphia, and Washington DC, bringing together 60–100 participants to discuss topics such as religion, politics, the common good, and the life of the mind.
Podcast Series
Audio programs including "The Editor’s Desk" and interview series with contributing editors, covering recent essays, books, and cultural commentary.
activities · 7 groups
What they do
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Religious Media Production and Distribution 2 activities
- Audio and video content productionProduces podcast episodes and recordings of past events, including interviews with contributors and editors on religious and cultural topics, which are made available through the organization’s website and YouTube channel.
- Publication of First Things magazineProduces and distributes a print journal ten times per year, with content focused on religion, culture, and politics. The magazine reaches over 27,000 subscribers and an additional 75,000 pass-along readers annually.
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Organizational Newsletter Production and Distribution 1 activity
- Digital content and newsletter distributionProduces and delivers daily, weekly, and periodic newsletters featuring new articles, editor commentary, popular content, archival readings, and event updates. The daily newsletter reaches over 60,000 subscribers, and digital content includes ad-free access for subscribers to online articles and digital issues from 1990 to present.
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Interfaith Dialogue & Peacebuilding 1 activity
- Evangelicals and Catholics Together initiativeConvenes an ongoing seminar established in 1994 that brings together Protestant and Catholic scholars to discuss and issue public statements on theological, cultural, and political matters.
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Paid Internships in Media & Publishing 1 activity
- Junior Fellows ProgramOperates a one-year fellowship program in New York City for two recent college graduates, providing housing, a stipend, and training in editorial skills such as copyediting, fact-checking, and proofreading through hands-on participation in producing the magazine, newsletters, and web content.
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Literary Events & Workshops 1 activity
- Readers of First Things (ROFTers) networkSupports a national network of local reading groups for discussion and fellowship among readers, including organizing a monthly reading group from September through May and engaging fellows in staffing these groups.
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Professional Networking Events 1 activity
- Subscriber events and programmingHosts live events exclusively for subscribers, including the annual Erasmus Lecture with associated dinner and colloquium, half-day executive seminars in multiple U.S. cities, intensive weekend intellectual retreats, regional lectures, arts events, book signings, and monthly reading groups offered both in-person and virtually via Zoom.
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Uncategorized 1 activity
- Subscription services and outreachOffers digital-only and full-access subscriptions, discounted student rates, gift subscriptions, and sales of back issues through its online store. Distributes print journals to new subscribers within 3–6 weeks and ongoing subscribers monthly.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$4.43M
Contributions & grants$3.40M77%
Program service revenue$1.03M23%
Investment income$-2080%
Other revenue$11K
expenses
Total expenses$4.40M
Program expenses78%
Admin / overhead6%
Fundraising16%
Salaries & benefits$1.57M
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$3.33M
Cash$1.03M
Investments$22K
Liabilities$2.91M
Net assets$423K
Liquid reserves2.9 mo
3 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +11.3%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 5
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| RUSSELL R RENO | EXECUTIVE DIR | 40 | $277K |
| CARTER SKEEL | DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT | 40 | $187K |
| VICTOR CHONG | TREASURER, MGR | 40 | $175K |
| DAVIDA GOLDMAN | SECRETARY, MGR | 40 | $46K |
| CLAIRE GIUNTINI | DIRECTOR OF EC | 40 | $43K |
board members · 11
- BRUCE R SHAW — DIRECTOR
- COLIN MORAN — CHAIRMAN & PRES
- DAVID NOVAK — VICE PRESIDENT
- ELIZABETH COREY — DIRECTOR
- FREDERIC CLARK — DIRECTOR
- GEORGE WEIGEL — DIRECTOR
- JAMES HANKINS — DIRECTOR
- JAMES PERRY — DIRECTOR
- LARRY A SMITH — DIRECTOR
- ROBERT WILKEN — DIRECTOR
- RUSSELL HITTINGER — DIRECTOR
relationships · 12
Who they work with
- Apple App Store Partner — Partners with Apple App Store for distribution of the First Things app.
- Evangelicals and Catholics Together Partner — Co-convenes a seminar with Protestant and Catholic scholars to issue joint public statements on theological, cultural, and political issues.
- Google Play Store Partner — Partners with Google Play Store for distribution of the First Things app.
- James Matthew Wilson Partner — Regular contributor of poetry and essays.
- Kaitlyn Betancourt Partner — Marketing contact for advertising placement in First Things.
- Mark Bauerlein Partner — Contributing editor who leads an ongoing interview series for First Things podcasts.
- Mark Noll Partner — Regular contributor to First Things content.
- Paul Kingsnorth Partner — Delivered the 2024 Erasmus Lecture as a featured speaker
- Paul Willis Partner — Regular contributor of poetry.
- R. R. Reno Partner — Editor who hosts The Editor’s Desk podcast series and engages contributors in discussions on religious and cultural topics.
- Templeton Foundation Funder — Sponsors the "In Depth" topical newsletter series.
- Youtube Partner — Hosts recordings of past events on its YouTube channel to expand public access.
strategies · 3
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Expert Curation and Editorial Dialogue to Shape Discoursemethodology: editorial_curation_modelBy publishing expert-authored essays and hosting editorial discussions, the organization shapes discourse on religion and public life because authoritative, curated content models rigorous engagement and sets the intellectual agenda in the field.
- Intellectual Community Building to Amplify Religious Voicesmethodology: intellectual_community_buildingBy fostering connections among readers and supporting locally led reading groups, the organization builds an intellectual community grounded in religious thought, which strengthens religious communities and amplifies their role in public discourse because shared engagement deepens commitment and collective influence.
- Religiously Informed Public Philosophy to Shape Societymethodology: religiously_informed_public_philosophyBy advancing a public philosophy rooted in religious thought, the organization seeks to reshape societal norms and structures, because integrating theological reasoning into public discourse provides a moral framework that guides cultural and political life.