The mission of iearn-USA is to develop and empower an inclusive global community of students and educators who bridge cultural divides and work together to make a meaningful difference in the world.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
85¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 22 volunteers and 15 employees.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · People: Part I, lines 5–6

Before you give

FY2025 · Form 990Independent: from IRS data, not the org
Download 990
IRS status
501(c)(3)
not on the IRS revocation list
Looks good: listed by the IRS and not on the revocation list.
IRS BMF · Auto-Revocation List
Tax-deductible gifts
Yes
Donations are tax-deductible
Looks good: the IRS lists gifts to it as deductible.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS BMF
Latest return
FY2025
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2025, 1 tax year back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
4 of 7
filings with a surplus
Average deficit $225K a year · 6% of revenue · last 7 filings
Worth a look: a surplus in 4 of the last 7 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 7 filings
Spent on programs
85%
of spending
Looks good: 85% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$391K
to officers and key staff · 10% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 10% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
2 mo
of spending, in cash
Fine: 1.8 months of spending in cash; 1 to 3.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
2
named funders · $248K
Fine: 2 funders name it on their filings; under 3.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$713K
58% of total assets
Fine: liabilities are 58% of assets; 50% to 65%.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
6
of 6 voting members
Looks good: 6 of 6 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$4.0M
-22% vs prior year
Spent
$3.9M
To programs
85%
Net assets
$506K
By yearFY2019–FY2025
Revenue
$4.0M
FY2025▼ -22%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2019$2.7M
FY2020$2.7M
FY2021$3.8M
FY2022$5.1M
FY2023$4.8M
FY2024$5.1M
FY2025$4.0M
Expenses
$3.9M
FY2025▼ -23%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2019$4.1M
FY2020$2.9M
FY2021$3.7M
FY2022$5.2M
FY2023$4.7M
FY2024$5.1M
FY2025$3.9M
Net assets
$506K
FY2025▲ +11%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2019$637K
FY2020$388K
FY2021$425K
FY2022$316K
FY2023$428K
FY2024$457K
FY2025$506K

From the FY2025 Form 990 · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in Jan 1996.

IRS Pub. 78 · IRS Auto-Revocation List · IRS Business Master File

Where the money goes

85 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 85% · $3.3M Management & general 13% · $513K Fundraising 2% · $72K

Form 990 Part IX, line 25, columns B–D. Every line is in By the numbers.

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Who runs it and what they're paid

10 people listed on the 990; $391K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
Executive Director
$174,038Pt VII · Sec A
Finance Director
$113,491Pt VII · Sec A
Dir. of Global Education
$103,582Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Membern (through 11/25)
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Stefanie Ortiz-Cidlik’s $174K as Executive Director is at the 68th percentile of top reported officer pay among 1168 $1–10M international nonprofits. Peer set: organizations in the same NTEE major field of work and revenue-size band, compared on each org’s own highest-paid officer/key-employee, from Form 990 Part VII / 990-PF Part VIII. Descriptive placement, not a verdict on whether the pay is appropriate.

Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 5 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Stefanie Ortiz-Cidlik$174,038$193,551$178,285$184,396$165,339$165,339
Sarah Owo-Oyekan$113,491$94,796$90,549$102,885——
Melissa Rowker$103,582—————
Ed Gragert——————
Barry Kramer—————$3,000

Total reportable compensation (Form 990 Part VII column D / Schedule J column E) by filing year, matched by name within this organization. The Schedule J base / bonus / deferred breakdown is not parsed into this dataset.

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Questions the 990 asks

The form asks each of these directly. These are the filed answers.

  • Family or business ties among officersPt VI · Ln 2No
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aYes

Programs and updates

Connects students and educators globally to bridge cultures and create positive change.

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Provided by the organization

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3 programs · $3.3M · in their own filed words · FY2025
01

Iearn-usa continued its partnership with american councils for international education to implement the nsli-y program. Nsli-y is a U.S. Department of state program that provides merit-based scholarships for eligible high school students and recent high school graduates to learn less commonly taught languages in summer and academic-year…

$2.0Mprogram expense
02

The Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (yes) Program

Sponsored by the bureau of educational and cultural affairs, us department of state. The goal of the program is to increase mutual understanding between the us and participating countries through people-to-people diplomacy. The yes program is an academic year exchange program for secondary school students from countries around the world.

$762Kprogram expense
03

Storytelling for change is implemented by iearn-usa and is supported by the j. Christopher stevens virtual exchange initiative (jcsvei). Jcsvei is a U.S. Department of state's bureau of educational and cultural affairs program administered by the aspen institute.

$535Kprogram expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

From grant filings on record. Receipts are incomplete: individual donors are never listed.

Grants

Schedule I · funders on record
Grants received · FY2024
Total grants receivedfrom 2 funders$248K

By the numbers

The FY2025 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$4.0M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$4.0M
Investment incomeLn 3$5K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$2K
Money outPt IX
$3.9M
Ln 25
Programscol B$3.3M
Managementcol C$513K
Fundraisingcol D$72K
Owns and owesPt X
$506K
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$603K
Total assetsLn 16$1.2M
LiabilitiesLn 26$713K
PeoplePt VI, VII
10
listed · VII A
PaidVII A3
Voting boardVI 1a6
IndependentVI 1b6
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$4.0M
Government grantsLn 1e$3.7M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$2K
Investment incomeLn 3$5K
Other incomeLn 4–11$899
Gains on assetsLn 7$122
Total revenueLn 12$4.0M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$252K
SavingsLn 2$350K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$603K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$6K
Total assetsLn 16$1.2M
LiabilitiesLn 26$713K
Net assetsLn 32$506K
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 515
VolunteersI 622
Fiscal year endsHeaderDecember
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13Yes
Records policyVI 14Yes
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY25End FY25
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$774K$603K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$11K$6K
Total assetsLn 16$1.4M$1.2M
LiabilitiesLn 26$978K$713K
Net assetsLn 32$457K$506K
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants and assistance to foreign recipientsLn 3$636K$636K
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$307K$241K$33K$32K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$640K$470K$170K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$122K$92K$27K$2K
Payroll taxesLn 10$81K$61K$17K$3K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$828K$668K$142K$18K
Office expensesLn 13$73K$55K$16K$2K
Information technologyLn 14$329K$247K$71K$11K
OccupancyLn 16$122K$92K$26K$4K
TravelLn 17$526K$521K$5K
InsuranceLn 23$21K$15K$6K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$229K$229K
Total functional expensesLn 25$3.9M$3.3M$513K$72K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest Viewing $4.0M$3.9M$49K$506K 990 PDF
FY2024 $5.1M$5.1M$29K$457K 990 PDF
FY2023 $4.8M$4.7M$112K$428K 990 PDF
FY2022 $5.1M$5.2M−$110K$316K 990 PDF
FY2021 $3.8M$3.7M$37K$425K 990 PDF
FY2020 $2.7M$2.9M−$241K$388K 990 PDF
FY2019 $2.7M$4.1M−$1.4M$637K 990 PDF

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Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons I · Grants A · Public support F · Foreign J · Pay O · Explanations
See the full FY2025 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $3,960,990 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $5,083,090$3,952,501
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $4,010$2,125
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $4,154$5,465
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $3,472$899
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $5,094,726$3,960,990
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $859,826$635,508
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $1,364,502$1,149,311
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $2,841,093$2,126,870
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $5,065,421$3,911,689
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $29,305$49,301
Part VI · Governance 6 of 6 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body6
VI-1b Independent voting members6
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsNo
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyYes
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyYes
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $3,960,990 across 8 lines filed
VIII-1e Government grants$3,654,672
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$297,829
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$3,952,501
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $2,125$2,125
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $5,343$5,343
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsExcluded from tax $122$122
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Excluded from tax $899$899
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $2,125 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $6,364$3,960,990
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $3,911,689 across 12 lines filed
IX-3 Grants and assistance to foreign recipientsPrograms $635,508$635,508
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $241,423 · Management $33,461 · Fundraising $32,264$307,148
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $470,031 · Management $169,522$639,553
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $92,184 · Management $27,379 · Fundraising $2,427$121,990
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $60,625 · Management $17,378 · Fundraising $2,617$80,620
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $667,696 · Management $141,912 · Fundraising $17,975$827,583
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $54,828 · Management $15,716 · Fundraising $2,367$72,911
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $247,139 · Management $70,842 · Fundraising $10,668$328,649
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $91,672 · Management $26,278 · Fundraising $3,957$121,907
IX-17 TravelPrograms $520,814 · Management $4,985$525,799
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $15,054 · Management $6,014$21,068
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $228,953$228,953
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $3,325,927 · Management $513,487 · Fundraising $72,275$3,911,689
Part X · Balance sheet $1,219,593 assets, 12 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $371,729$252,498
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $401,854$350,472
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $410,765$458,473
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $240,357$152,234
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $10,672$5,916
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $1,435,377$1,219,593
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $160,328$157,051
X-18 Grants payableStart of year $818,099$556,261
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $978,427$713,312
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $456,950$506,281
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $456,950$506,281
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $1,435,377$1,219,593
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $506,281 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$3,960,990
XI-2 Total expenses$3,911,689
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$49,301
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$456,950
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$30
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$506,281

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2025 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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