Is it real?
Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in Nov 1993.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS Auto-Revocation List · IRS Business Master File
Where the money goes
71 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.
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
25 people listed on the 990; $108K paid to officers and key staff.
Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 1 named individual · Part VII
| Name | FY2025 | FY2024 | FY2023 | FY2022 | FY2021 | FY2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rich Merkel | $111,675 | $108,194 | $102,206 | $101,469 | $97,975 | $99,638 |
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
Advances engineering and allied arts/sciences, fostering professional growth and community benefit.
Questions for Stem Forward INC
Your first name shows with your question. Stem Forward INC answers here, for everyone.
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Education Initiative
Direct management of stem outreach activities and programs with a special emphasis on connecting students with stem professionals.
Stem Outreach
Promote occupations and opportunities within the fields of engineering and science.
Events
Organizing and hosting various competitions in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics disciplines, including regional and national rube goldberg competitions and future city competition.
Funders
Who pays for it.
From grant filings on record. Receipts are incomplete: individual donors are never listed.
Grants
By the numbers
The FY2024 990, line by line.
Download 990
| Line | Start FY24 | End FY24 |
|---|---|---|
| Cash and savingsLn 1–2 | $425K | $521K |
| Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c | $0 | $0 |
| Total assetsLn 16 | $492K | $548K |
| LiabilitiesLn 26 | $45K | $54K |
| Net assetsLn 32 | $447K | $494K |
| Line | Total | Programs | Management | Fundraising |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grants to domestic individualsLn 2 | $25K | $25K | ||
| Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5 | $110K | $74K | $30K | $6K |
| Other salaries and wagesLn 7 | $90K | $66K | $16K | $8K |
| Payroll taxesLn 10 | $16K | $12K | $3K | $1K |
| Accounting feesLn 11c | $10K | $10K | ||
| Other fees for servicesLn 11g | $5K | $5K | ||
| Office expensesLn 13 | $5K | $3K | $2K | $361 |
| Information technologyLn 14 | $5K | $2K | $2K | $369 |
| TravelLn 17 | $470 | $428 | $27 | $15 |
| Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19 | $194 | $39 | $149 | $6 |
| InsuranceLn 23 | $410 | $69 | $296 | $45 |
| Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24 | $29K | $28K | $241 | $981 |
| Total functional expensesLn 25 | $296K | $210K | $69K | $17K |
Filing history
| Year | Money in | Money out | In minus out | Net assets | Download |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2025 Latest | $344K | $312K | $32K | $526K | 990 PDF |
| FY2024 Viewing | $354K | $296K | $58K | $494K | 990 PDF |
| FY2023 | $300K | $293K | $7K | $447K | 990 PDF |
| FY2022 | $320K | $267K | $52K | $395K | 990 PDF |
| FY2021 | $308K | $271K | $38K | $353K | 990 PDF |
| FY2020 | $308K | $271K | $38K | $326K | 990 PDF |
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Schedules filed Part IV
See the full FY2024 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $354,336 revenue, 12 lines filed
Part VI · Governance 24 of 24 board members independent, no flags
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $354,336 across 8 lines filed
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $296,288 across 12 lines filed
Part X · Balance sheet $548,010 assets, 13 lines filed
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $494,126 net assets at year end
Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2024 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File
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