First Flight Foundation
First Flight Foundation is a private foundation focused on Arts, Culture & Humanities, based in Kitty Hawk, NC. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $1.1M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 6 grants totaling $6K. Net investment income was $18K.
First Flight Foundation at a glance
In short: First Flight Foundation gave $6K across 6 grants in 2025 (avg $1K), top state North Carolina. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $6,030
- +50.7% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 6
- +100.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $1,005
- -24.6% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $1,000
- Total assets
- $1,085,494
- -7.9% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- North Carolina (41% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who First Flight Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 6 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was North Carolina Transportation Museum ($2K). Together the top 6 received $6K.
Grant Size Distribution
9 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 9 grants of 9 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 6 itemized grants.
Cities
How First Flight Foundation gives
- In 2025 it paid out 196% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2024 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $4K (2024) to $6K (2025). In 2025 it made 6 grants totaling $6K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| North Carolina Transportation Museum Spencer, NC | Wind & Wings Outreach | $1,500 |
| US Operation Air Drop Decatur, TX | Hurricane Helene Air Support | $1,030 |
| America's 911 Foundation Leesburg, VA | Mission Outreach | $1,000 |
| Friends of Flight 93 Stoystown, PA | Flight 93 National Memorial | $1,000 |
| Samaritan's Purse Boone, NC | Hurricane Helene Air Support | $1,000 |
| Berlin Airlift Foundation Farmingdale, NJ | Hurricane Helene Air Support | $500 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $1,085,494 | $34,769 | $130,558 | $6,030 | 6 | $109,919 | $18,332 | $56,052 |
| 2024 | $1,178,933 | $21,833 | $70,313 | $4,000 | 3 | $52,680 | $11,428 | $58,548 |
| 2023 | $1,216,853 | $14,295 | $67,003 | — | — | $49,426 | $4,862 | $60,773 |
| 2022 | $1,271,571 | $11,866 | $66,480 | — | — | $47,861 | — | $63,098 |
| 2021 | $1,367,852 | $-3,261 | $69,127 | — | — | — | — | $64,465 |
| 2020 | $1,413,439 | $24,275 | $70,493 | — | — | — | $2,052 | $52,536 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, First Flight Foundation reported a distributable amount of $56K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
First Flight Foundation is led by Karen Warlitner, Executive Director on every filing since 2020; 1 of 6 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Karen Warlitner
Executive Director
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$50K (2020) → $55K (2025)
Kevin Baker
President
Board Member → President, 2024
On filings since 2021
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Amanda Wright-Lane
Secretary & Treasurer
Board Member → Secretary & Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John Harris
Board Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lisa Loy
Board Member
Secretary & Treasurer → Board Member, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mike Mickel
Vice President
Board Member → Acting Vice President, 2023
Acting Vice President → Vice President, 2024
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (4)
- Former: Henry Isaacson (2020–2024) — President
- Former: Lafayette Norton (2020–2023) — President
- Former: George Howard (2020) — Board Member
- Former: Robert Gentry (2020) — Board Member
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $55K, to Karen Warlitner (Executive Director).
Frequently asked questions about First Flight Foundation
How much does First Flight Foundation give each year?
First Flight Foundation gave $6K across 6 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $4K across 3 grants.
What is First Flight Foundation's typical grant size?
First Flight Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $1,000, and its average grant was $1,005, across 6 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does First Flight Foundation give grants?
First Flight Foundation's top state is North Carolina, with 41% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Texas (17%) and Virginia (17%).
Does First Flight Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 6 grants with a stated purpose on First Flight Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Hurricane Helene Air Support" (3 grants).
Who are First Flight Foundation's largest grantees?
First Flight Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include North Carolina Transportation Museum ($1,500), US Operation Air Drop ($1,030) and America's 911 Foundation ($1,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 59% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is First Flight Foundation?
First Flight Foundation reported $1.1M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $110K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $56K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What is First Flight Foundation?
First Flight Foundation is a private foundation focused on Arts, Culture & Humanities, based in Kitty Hawk, NC. It holds $1.1M in total assets as of 2025.
What is First Flight Foundation's EIN?
First Flight Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 56-1937133. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 12, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in First Flight Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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