STRATEGY STUDIO / PUBLIC DATA EXPLORER

StudentsFirst Institute

Cite this

Plain text StudentsFirst Institute. Strategy Studio, nonprofit organization profile, tax years 2013–2015. https://strategystudio.org/org/273659574. Retrieved 2026-10-20.

APA Strategy Studio. (n.d.). StudentsFirst Institute [Nonprofit organization profile; tax years 2013–2015]. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://strategystudio.org/org/273659574

MLA “StudentsFirst Institute.” Strategy Studio, tax years 2013–2015, https://strategystudio.org/org/273659574. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

Retrieved 2026-10-20; covers tax years 2013–2015. Data: Strategy Studio, CC BY 4.0.

2015 · Form 990 · revenue $8.0M · expenses $7.0M · assets $0

EIN
27-3659574
Address
28212 Kelly Johnson Pkwy No 105, Valencia, CA 91355
NTEE code
-
Subsection
-
Ruling year
-
Cross-check
ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer

Mission

OUR MISSION IS TO RESEARCH AND DEVELOP MODEL POLICIES THAT DEFEND THE INTEREST 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Each tax year counts once: when a return was amended, only the latest return for that period is used below (superseded returns stay listed, greyed, under Finances).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 & Communication2013-2015 $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 Resources2014-2015 $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 DVLPMNT2013 $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

11 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 Director2015 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
Reverend Dr Floyd H Flake (former) DIRECTOR2013-2014 1 $0 reported 1
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 · 8 volunteers
NameTitleHrs/wkFrom orgFrom relatedOtherTotalOrgs
James Blew President30 $195,039$64,961$19,397 $279,3972
Timothy W Melton VP Legislative Affairs25 $148,876$91,124$20,322 $260,3222
Kellen Arno VP Strategy & Communication32 $166,245$43,755$20,465 $230,4652
Robert Calentine VP Development35 $175,545$24,455$13,014 $213,0142
Michelle Johnson Chairwoman / Founder25 $124,052$76,814$6,279 $207,1456
Angelia M Dickens General Counsel22 $108,711$91,289$6,938 $206,9384
Brett Barley Director of Legislative Affairs23 $79,636$58,697$14,797 $153,1302
Justin Cabrera Assistant General Counsel24 $83,049$55,366$14,400 $152,8152
Brent Easley State Director22 $63,866$53,634$17,886 $135,3863
John Pallasch Director of Human Resources24 $75,000$50,000$6,732 $131,7322
Lindsay Huddleston State Director22 $62,326$49,174$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 · 0 employees · 8 volunteers
NameTitleHrs/wkFrom orgFrom relatedOtherTotalOrgs
MICHELLE JOHNSON FORMERLY RHEE FOUNDER/CEO/DIRECTOR22 $167,500$132,500$6,846 $306,8462
TIMOTHY W MELTON VP LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS2 $10,920$229,329$18,977 $259,2262
REBECCA A SIBILIA CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER27 $162,479$77,745$6,795 $247,0193
ERIC S LERUM VP NATIONAL POLICY38 $218,100$11,284$7,069 $236,4532
MICHAEL JOSEPH HASSID CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER24 $121,333$78,667$18,685 $218,6853
KELLEN ARNO VP STRATEGY & COMMUNICATIONS25 $121,097$68,903$20,650 $210,6502
ANGELIA DICKENS GENERAL COUNSEL5 $27,273$172,727$6,813 $206,8134
DOMINIQUE R AMIS DIR SPECIAL PROJECTS20 $73,407$73,407$6,615 $153,4293
PAUL SCOTT LEGISLATIVE MANAGER3 $10,000$110,000$19,657 $139,6572
BRETT BARLEY LEGISLATIVE MANAGER2 $5,455$114,545$12,959 $132,9592
ENOCH O WOODHOUSE VP EXTERNAL AFFAIRS14 $43,288$83,683$4,702 $131,6733
JOHN PALLASCH DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES17 $52,558$71,192$6,857 $130,6072
JORDAN POSAMENTIER DIR LEGISLATIVE ANALYSIS33 $91,600$20,823$16,095 $128,5182
JAMES BLEW PRESIDENT33 $827$173$0 $1,0002
CONNIE CHUNG DIRECTOR (FORMER)1 $0$0$0 $02
BILL COSBY DIRECTOR (FORMER)1 $0$0$0 $02
REVEREND DR FLOYD H FLAKE DIRECTOR1 $0$0$0 $01
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)24 $266,781$185,390$0 $452,1712
MICHELLE JOHNSON FRMRLY RHEE FOUNDER/CEO/DIRECTOR18 $192,132$225,546$5,785 $423,4633
TIMOTHY MELTON VP OF LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS0 $0$240,525$15,766 $256,2912
KELLEN ARNO VP OF MEMBERSHIP20 $93,357$97,168$17,398 $207,9232
ANGELIA DICKENS GENERAL COUNSEL6 $32,000$168,000$5,689 $205,6894
ERIC LERUM VP OF NATIONAL POLICY5 $22,513$165,095$5,507 $193,1152
SKY GALLEGOS VP OF NATIONAL ELECTORAL0 $0$182,500$5,795 $188,2952
ENOCH WOODHOUSE VP OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS17 $76,125$105,125$5,369 $186,6193
REBECCA SIBILIA CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER28 $120,884$51,807$5,507 $178,1983
DOMINIQUE AMIS DIRECTOR OF SPECIAL PROJECTS22 $87,716$71,768$5,371 $164,8553
PHOEBE HOWARD DPTY DIRECTOR OF DVLPMNT28 $102,571$43,959$10,603 $157,1332
FLOYD SWANN GA STATE DIRECTOR18 $53,031$67,494$16,943 $137,4682
JERI POWELL CT STATE DIRECTOR14 $44,809$83,216$5,506 $133,5312
NICOLE LOWRY FL STATE DIRECTOR15 $41,999$68,525$15,180 $125,7042
AMY DOWELL DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT (FORMER)20 $62,804$62,804$0 $125,6082
MICHAEL HASSID CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER23 $63,094$45,689$845 $109,6283
CONNIE CHUNG DIRECTOR1 $0$0$0 $02
BILL COSBY DIRECTOR1 $0$0$0 $02
REVEREND DR FLOYD H FLAKE DIRECTOR1 $0$0$0 $01
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 · 3 contractors · $1.0M
NameLocationServicePaid
Gibson Dunn & Crutcher LLPLos Angeles, CA$727,521
George Parker dba TUCC LLCUpper Marlboro, MD$211,848
Definers CorpArlington, VA$106,000

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 · 1 grant to organizations · $888K

Listed grants add up to $887,500; the return's “grants paid” expense line says $898,000. Returns can differ here (grants paid vs. accrued, items listed elsewhere); check the filing.

2013 · 3 grants to organizations · $51K

Listed grants add up to $51,000; the return's “grants paid” expense line says $62,050. 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 ↗
$7,983,141$7,042,325 $0$0 $1,627,840$0 $1,115,997948
2014 · Form 990 period ending 2015-07-31 · view filing · original 990 ↗
$7,470,103$8,523,524 $3,621,567-$1,741,143 $7,467,728$0 $735,48208
2013 · Form 990 period ending 2014-07-31 · view filing · original 990 ↗
$7,535,386$9,595,154 $4,749,378-$687,189 $7,504,114$0 $687,8222219

Funders of this organization

6 grantors reported grants to this organization, $1,931,100 in all, tax years 2012 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
THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION FOR GREATER ATLANTA INC DAF sponsor Exact 2014-2016 3$841,100 2016$220,000
show
MARGARET M BLOOMFIELD FAMILY FOUNDATION Private foundation Fuzzy filed as “StudentsFirst Institute” 2015 1$500,000 2015$500,000
show
SILICON VALLEY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION DAF sponsor Exact 2012-2013, 2015 3$475,000 2015$175,000
show
DONOR ADVISED CHARITABLE GIVING DAF sponsor Exact 2015 1$50,000 2015$50,000
show
CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF MEMPHIS AND THE MID-SOUTH INC DAF sponsor Exact 2014 1$50,000 2014$50,000
show
T GARY AND KATHLEEN ROGERS SUPPORTING Public charity Exact 2015 1$15,000 2015$15,000
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
StudentsFirstCANot reported $2,416,249$10,571,810 President$279,397 Similar name, revenue within 5x, same state, similar mission
STUDENTSFIRST NEW YORK INSTITUTENYT30 $500,380$681,563 EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR$533,128 Similar name, revenue differs more than 10x
FIRST STAR INSTITUTE INCMDI83 $17,924$26,482 CHAIRPERSON/TREASURER$0 Similar name, revenue differs more than 10x

Who funds organizations like this

Grantors that funded the 3 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
WALTON FAMILY FOUNDATION INC Private foundation$2,525,0006 12020–2024 STUDENTSFIRST NEW YORK INSTITUTE
NATIONAL PHILANTHROPIC TR DAF sponsor$125,0001 12018–2018 STUDENTSFIRST NEW YORK INSTITUTE
SAUNDERS FAMILY CHARITABLE FUND Private foundation$50,0001 12015–2015 StudentsFirst
AMERICAN ENDOWMENT FOUNDATION DAF sponsor$15,0001 12024–2024 FIRST STAR INSTITUTE INC
T ROWE PRICE PROGRAM FOR CHARITABLE GIVING INC DAF sponsor$8,5001 12020–2020 FIRST STAR INSTITUTE INC
AMAZONSMILE FOUNDATION Private foundation$674 12020–2023 FIRST STAR INSTITUTE INC

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 · $7,042,325 spent · pay $3,702,205 · grants $898,000 · events $8,632
LineAs describedTotalProgramManagementFundraisingShare
Other salaries and wages $2,211,048$2,122,579$84,649$3,820 31.4%
Pay: officers, directors, trustees, key employees $1,115,997$567,987$346,875$201,135 15.8%
Grants to US organizations and governments $898,000$898,000-- 12.8%
Occupancy $662,833$543,132$81,375$38,326 9.4%
Fees: legal $559,037$458,081$68,632$32,324 7.9%
Fees: management $474,422$286,266$188,156- 6.7%
Payroll taxes $223,786$191,684$22,990$9,112 3.2%
Information technology $215,548$176,622$26,463$12,463 3.1%
Travel $154,263$142,492$3,885$7,886 2.2%
Other employee benefits $145,810$145,810-- 2.1%
Office expenses $92,810$76,050$11,394$5,366 1.3%
Other (as described)Wind-up Expenses $82,639-$82,639- 1.2%
Fees: other services $64,150--$64,150 0.9%
Other (as described)Dues & Subscriptions $50,078$41,034$6,148$2,896 0.7%
Insurance $41,971$34,391$5,153$2,427 0.6%
Fees: accounting $20,786$17,032$2,552$1,202 0.3%
Fees: professional fundraisers $9,000--$9,000 0.1%
Conferences, conventions and meetings $8,632$7,073$1,060$499 0.1%
Pension plan contributions $5,564$5,564-- 0.1%
Advertising and promotion $4,833$4,833-- 0.1%
Depreciation and depletion $1,118$916$137$65 0.0%
Total$7,042,325100%

View the filing

2014 · Form 990 · $8,523,524 spent · pay $5,542,662 · grants $8,250 · events $38,129
LineAs describedTotalProgramManagementFundraisingShare
Other salaries and wages $3,962,622$3,291,427$571,181$100,014 46.5%
Fees: management $848,696$789,330$59,366- 10.0%
Pay: officers, directors, trustees, key employees $735,482$375,582$307,386$52,514 8.6%
Fees: legal $519,391$404,856$97,586$16,949 6.1%
Other employee benefits $495,348$385,322$92,427$17,599 5.8%
Payroll taxes $349,210$268,075$70,393$10,742 4.1%
Occupancy $337,970$263,441$63,500$11,029 4.0%
Information technology $334,197$260,500$62,791$10,906 3.9%
Other (as described)RETURNED CONTRIBUTION $290,000$290,000-- 3.4%
Travel $248,839$190,517$44,278$14,044 2.9%
Office expenses $150,632$117,414$28,302$4,916 1.8%
Fees: professional fundraisers $64,975--$64,975 0.8%
Other (as described)DUES & SUBSCRIPTIONS $50,108$39,059$9,415$1,634 0.6%
Fees: accounting $47,148$36,751$8,858$1,539 0.6%
Conferences, conventions and meetings $38,129$29,721$7,164$1,244 0.4%
Insurance $26,156$20,388$4,914$854 0.3%
Advertising and promotion $9,850$4,758$5,000$92 0.1%
Grants to US organizations and governments $8,250$8,250-- 0.1%
Depreciation and depletion $3,351$2,613$629$109 0.0%
Interest $3,170$2,471$596$103 0.0%
Total$8,523,524100%

View the filing

2013 · Form 990 · $9,595,154 spent · pay $7,022,087 · grants $62,050 · events $121,920
LineAs describedTotalProgramManagementFundraisingShare
Other salaries and wages $5,213,832$4,673,426$507,542$32,864 54.3%
Fees: other services $895,447$807,672$82,658$5,117 9.3%
Pay: officers, directors, trustees, key employees $687,822$326,863$268,393$92,566 7.2%
Other employee benefits $660,273$559,429$86,811$14,033 6.9%
Payroll taxes $460,160$389,879$60,501$9,780 4.8%
Travel $383,446$292,181$55,464$35,801 4.0%
Occupancy $302,004$263,271$32,176$6,557 3.1%
Information technology $266,927$232,693$28,439$5,795 2.8%
Office expenses $186,064$177,646$3,994$4,424 1.9%
Conferences, conventions and meetings $121,920$113,092$7,964$864 1.3%
Fees: legal $107,563$93,768$11,460$2,335 1.1%
Fees: professional fundraisers $79,573--$79,573 0.8%
Grants to US organizations and governments $62,050$62,050-- 0.6%
Fees: accounting $41,546$36,218$4,426$902 0.4%
Insurance $31,057$27,074$3,309$674 0.3%
Interest $26,704$23,279$2,845$580 0.3%
Other (as described)DUES & SUBSCRIPTIONS $26,073$14,445$10,471$1,157 0.3%
Fees: investment management $17,717-$17,717- 0.2%
Depreciation and depletion $12,241$10,671$1,304$266 0.1%
Other (as described)FEES $8,019$6,990$855$174 0.1%
Advertising and promotion $4,716$4,716-- 0.0%
Total$9,595,154100%

View the filing