To improve the quality of research and education in universities by increasing open inquiry, viewpoint diversity, and constructive disagreement.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
61¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$458K paid to officers and key staff.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · Pay: Part VII

Before you give

FY2021 · 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 6
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $902K a year · 20% of revenue · last 6 filings
Fine: a surplus in 4 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 filings
Spent on programs
61%
of spending
Worth a look: 61% of spending went to programs; under 65%.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$458K
to officers and key staff · 16% of spending
Fine: pay to officers and key staff is 16% of spending; 15% to 20%.
Pt VII · Sec A
6 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 6.1 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
25
named funders · $2.0M
Looks good: 25 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$457K
28% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 28% of assets; 50% or less.
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
$2.8M
+33% vs prior year
Spent
$2.9M
To programs
61%
Net assets
$1.2M
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$2.8M
FY2021▲ +33%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$2.1M
FY2021$2.8M
FY2022$4.2M
FY2023$3.0M
FY2024$9.4M
FY2025$5.7M
Expenses
$2.9M
FY2021▲ +44%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$2.0M
FY2021$2.9M
FY2022$3.9M
FY2023$2.4M
FY2024$4.9M
FY2025$5.7M
Net assets
$1.2M
FY2021▼ -2%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$1.2M
FY2021$1.2M
FY2022$1.5M
FY2023$2.0M
FY2024$6.6M
FY2025$6.5M

From the FY2021 Form 990 (year ending August 2021) · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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You’re viewing the FY2021 filing — not the latest on file. See the latest (FY2025) →

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in Jul 2018.

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

Where the money goes

61 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 61% · $1.8M Management & general 28% · $798K Fundraising 11% · $308K

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

9 people listed on the 990; $458K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2020); the FY2021 filing did not itemize Part VII
Former Executive Director
$206,643Pt VII · Sec A
Interim Executive Director
$135,559Pt VII · Sec A
Director of Academic Engagement
$115,853Pt VII · Sec A
Chair of the Board, Trustee
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Treasurer, Trustee
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A

John Tomasi’s $536K as President is at the 100th percentile of top reported officer pay among 3395 $1–10M education 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 · 8 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
John Tomasi$535,630$482,922$466,321$82,302——
Michael Regnier$254,553$230,468$80,568———
Debra Mashek————$206,643$233,922
Manon Loustaunau———$155,536$135,559$71,254
Nicole Barbaro Simovski$139,923$146,384————
Martha McCaughey$125,774—————
Alexander R Arnold$119,680—————
Kyle Sebastian Vitale——$117,292———

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

Promotes open inquiry, diverse viewpoints, and constructive disagreement to improve university research and education.

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Provided by the organization

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1 program · $1.8M · in their own filed words · FY2020
01

Costs associated with increasing public awareness, providing tools and resources, and supporting communities of practice that advance open inquiry, viewpoint diversity, and constructive disagreement on college and university campuses

$1.8Mprogram expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

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

Grants

Schedule I · received and paid
Grants received · FY2024
See all 25 funders →
Grants paid · 16 grants · $271K · 2020–2024
Unitemized GrantFY2024$23,048
Unitemized GrantFY2023$35,842
Unitemized GrantFY2023$7,200
Unitemized GrantFY2022$6,178
Urban Rural ActionDC · FY2021$26,397
University of DelawareDE · FY2021$22,319
Brigham Young UniversityUT · FY2021$20,166
Unitemized GrantFY2021$18,156
Bradley Study CenterVA · FY2021$15,325
Trinity UniversityTX · FY2021$15,100
Let Grow INCNY · FY2021$8,310
Unitemized GrantFY2020$15,980

By the numbers

The FY2021 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$2.8M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$2.8M
Other incomeLn 4–11$7K
Investment incomeLn 3$162
Money outPt IX
$2.9M
Ln 25
Programscol B$1.8M
Managementcol C$798K
Fundraisingcol D$308K
Owns and owesPt X
$1.2M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$1.5M
Total assetsLn 16$1.7M
LiabilitiesLn 26$457K
PeoplePt VI, VII
9
listed · VII A
PaidVII A3
Voting boardVI 1a6
IndependentVI 1b6
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$2.8M
Government grantsLn 1e$120K
Investment incomeLn 3$162
Other incomeLn 4–11$7K
Total revenueLn 12$2.8M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$638K
SavingsLn 2$816K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$1.5M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$12K
Other assetsLn 15$0
Total assetsLn 16$1.7M
LiabilitiesLn 26$457K
Net assetsLn 32$1.2M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 524
VolunteersI 6222
Fiscal year endsHeaderAugust
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13Yes
Records policyVI 14No
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY21End FY21
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$1.7M$1.5M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$11K$12K
Total assetsLn 16$1.7M$1.7M
LiabilitiesLn 26$464K$457K
Net assetsLn 32$1.2M$1.2M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$211K$211K
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$16K$16K
Grants and assistance to foreign recipientsLn 3$48K$48K
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$175K$109K$35K$31K
Pay of disqualified personsLn 6$63K$39K$13K$11K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$656K$409K$132K$115K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$15K$9K$3K$3K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$150K$94K$30K$26K
Payroll taxesLn 10$64K$40K$13K$11K
Legal feesLn 11b$161K$161K
Accounting feesLn 11c$131K$131K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$942K$635K$218K$89K
Office expensesLn 13$32K$18K$8K$6K
Information technologyLn 14$102K$66K$22K$15K
TravelLn 17$5K$3K$911$791
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$15K$15K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$7K$7K
InsuranceLn 23$22K$22K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$47K$42K$3K$1K
Total functional expensesLn 25$2.9M$1.8M$798K$308K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest $5.7M$5.7M−$56K$6.5M 990 PDF
FY2024 $9.4M$4.9M$4.5M$6.6M 990 PDF
FY2023 $3.0M$2.4M$585K$2.0M 990 PDF
FY2022 $4.2M$3.9M$257K$1.5M 990 PDF
FY2021 Viewing $2.8M$2.9M−$27K$1.2M 990 PDF
FY2020 $2.1M$2.0M$141K$1.2M 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 FY2021 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $2,832,778 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $2,098,510$2,825,634
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $0$0
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $14,351$162
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $20,803$6,982
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $2,133,664$2,832,778
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $0$275,055
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $1,058,910$1,122,346
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $933,284$1,462,188
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $1,992,194$2,859,589
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $141,470−$26,811
Part VI · Governance 6 of 6 board members independent, 1 to look at
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body6
VI-1b Independent voting members6
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyNo
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsNo
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyYes
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $2,832,778 across 6 lines filed
VIII-1e Government grants$119,843
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$2,705,791
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$2,825,634
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $162$162
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Related to mission $6,982$6,982
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $6,982 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $162$2,832,778
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $2,859,589 across 19 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $210,995$210,995
IX-2 Grants to domestic individualsPrograms $15,980$15,980
IX-3 Grants and assistance to foreign recipientsPrograms $48,080$48,080
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $108,916 · Management $35,137 · Fundraising $30,528$174,581
IX-6 Pay of disqualified personsPrograms $39,071 · Management $12,605 · Fundraising $10,951$62,627
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $409,038 · Management $131,959 · Fundraising $114,647$655,644
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $9,396 · Management $3,031 · Fundraising $2,634$15,061
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $93,748 · Management $30,244 · Fundraising $26,276$150,268
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $40,031 · Management $12,914 · Fundraising $11,220$64,165
IX-11b Legal feesManagement $161,142$161,142
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $130,742$130,742
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $634,941 · Management $217,862 · Fundraising $89,144$941,947
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $17,898 · Management $8,294 · Fundraising $5,951$32,143
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $65,532 · Management $21,512 · Fundraising $14,949$101,993
IX-17 TravelPrograms $2,823 · Management $911 · Fundraising $791$4,525
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $14,570$14,570
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationManagement $6,555$6,555
IX-23 InsuranceManagement $21,873$21,873
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $42,128 · Management $3,422 · Fundraising $1,148$46,698
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $1,753,147 · Management $798,203 · Fundraising $308,239$2,859,589
Part X · Balance sheet $1,652,564 assets, 13 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $1,664,363$638,242
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investments$816,363
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $1,103$152,003
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $9,337$33,568
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $10,837$12,388
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $378$0
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $1,686,018$1,652,564
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $88,818$54,965
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $255,381$282,593
X-24 Unsecured notes and loans payableStart of year $119,843$119,842
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $464,042$457,400
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $1,221,976$1,195,164
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $1,686,018$1,652,564
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $1,195,164 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$2,832,778
XI-2 Total expenses$2,859,589
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$26,811
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$1,221,976
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$1,195,164

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2021 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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