The Internet Society Foundation exists to demonstrate and support the positive difference the Internet can make to people everywhere. (continued in schedule o)

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
75¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 17 volunteers and 8 employees.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · People: Part I, lines 5–6

Before you give

FY2024 · 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
FY2024
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2024, 2 tax years back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
3 of 5
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $769K a year · 2% of revenue · last 5 filings
Worth a look: a surplus in 3 of the last 5 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 5 filings
Spent on programs
75%
of spending
Looks good: 75% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$1.9M
to officers and key staff · 6% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 6% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
<1 mo
of spending, in cash
Concern: 0.1 months of spending in cash; under 2 weeks.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
1
named funder · $29.0M
Fine: 1 funder names it on their filings; under 3.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$1.7M
2% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 2% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
13
of 13 voting members
Looks good: 13 of 13 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$32.7M
-18% vs prior year
Spent
$33.9M
To programs
75%
Net assets
$88.6M
By yearFY2020–FY2024
Revenue
$32.7M
FY2024▼ -18%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$28.0M
FY2021$32.0M
FY2022$37.2M
FY2023$39.8M
FY2024$32.7M
Expenses
$33.9M
FY2024▼ -64%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$17.5M
FY2021$8.6M
FY2022$12.2M
FY2023$93.6M
FY2024$33.9M
Net assets
$88.6M
FY2024▲ +5%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$88.4M
FY2021$116.3M
FY2022$125.2M
FY2023$84.6M
FY2024$88.6M

From the FY2024 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: FY2024. IRS ruling in Apr 2018.

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

Where the money goes

75 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 75% · $25.6M Management & general 21% · $7.0M Fundraising 4% · $1.3M

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

27 people listed on the 990; $1.9M paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
Executive Director
$307,953Pt VII · Sec A
Vice President, Empowerment and Outreach
$281,233Pt VII · Sec A
Vice President, Communications
$261,446Pt VII · Sec A
Director, Fellowships and Alumni
$194,416Pt VII · Sec A
President and Chief Executive Officer (thru 08/24)
$182,046Pt VII · Sec A
Operations Director
$156,536Pt VII · Sec A
Senior Director of Institutional & Grant Funding
$154,982Pt VII · Sec A
Executive Vice President and Managing Director
$146,834Pt VII · Sec A

Sarah Armstrong’s $308K as Executive Director is at the 61st percentile of top reported officer pay among 345 $10–100M 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 · 8 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Rinalia Abdul Rahim—$313,419———
Sarah Armstrong$307,953$302,108$290,047$268,750$225,044
Joyce Dogniez$281,233$273,637———
Kristi Mason$261,446$231,644———
James Wood—$225,647———
Alejandra Prieto$194,416————
Andrew Sullivan$182,046$112,718$53,405$57,071$59,987
Allesandra De Santillana—$180,752———

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.

See Internet Society Foundation executive salaries →

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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

Funds global programs and training to empower people to grow, strengthen, and harness the internet for positive social impact worldwide.

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Provided by the organization

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3 programs · $25.6M · in their own filed words · FY2024
01

Philanthropic Funding Programs

Fund initiatives that strengthen the internet in function and reach so that it can effectively serve all people. Focus areas include research, resilience & emergency response, strengthening COMMUNITIES/IMPROVING lives and livelihoods, building OPPORTUNITIES/LEVERAGING technologies (bolt), and internet governance forum (igf) & other…

$16.2Mprogram expense
02

Support of related organizations in furthering internet society's mission.

$7.0Mprogram expense
03

Empowering People to Take Action

Deliver programs that equip people to become internet champions who grow and strengthen the internet. Focus areas include training and e-learning, fellowship, and alumni.

$2.4Mprogram 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
Total grants receivedfrom 1 funder$29.0M
Grants paid · 125 grants · $112.4M · 2020–2024
Internet SocietyVA · FY2024$7,000,000
Global Cyber Alliance INCNY · FY2024$1,500,000
Techsoup GlobalCA · FY2024$1,041,358
Techsoup GlobalCA · FY2024$396,675
Suboptic FoundationFL · FY2024$250,000
Mycelia FoundationNM · FY2024$226,235
Comp-U-Dopt INCTX · FY2024$200,000
Atma ConnectCA · FY2024$200,000
Techsoup GlobalCA · FY2024$200,000
Ieee Communications SocietyNJ · FY2024$199,831
AZ Board of Regents on Behalf of Arizona State UniversityFY2024$184,000
Rhizomatica CommunicationsPA · FY2024$174,467
University of WashingtonFY2024$152,500
Digital Harbor Foundation INCMD · FY2024$150,000
See all 125 grants →

By the numbers

The FY2024 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$32.7M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$29.0M
Investment incomeLn 3$3.7M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$24K
Money outPt IX
$33.9M
Ln 25
Programscol B$25.6M
Managementcol C$7.0M
Fundraisingcol D$1.3M
Owns and owesPt X
$88.6M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$342K
Total assetsLn 16$90.3M
LiabilitiesLn 26$1.7M
PeoplePt VI, VII
27
listed · VII A
PaidVII A11
Voting boardVI 1a13
IndependentVI 1b13
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$29.0M
Government grantsLn 1e$0
Noncash giftsLn 1g$0
Fundraising eventsLn 1c$0
Fees for servicesLn 2g$24K
Investment incomeLn 3$3.7M
Gains on assetsLn 7$1.1M
Total revenueLn 12$32.7M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$0
SavingsLn 2$342K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$342K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$89.6M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$0
Other assetsLn 15$252K
Total assetsLn 16$90.3M
LiabilitiesLn 26$1.7M
Net assetsLn 32$88.6M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 58
VolunteersI 617
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 FY24End FY24
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$865K$342K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$86.3M$89.6M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$0$0
Total assetsLn 16$87.7M$90.3M
LiabilitiesLn 26$3.0M$1.7M
Net assetsLn 32$84.6M$88.6M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$14.6M$14.6M
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$103K$103K
Grants and assistance to foreign recipientsLn 3$4.9M$4.9M
Benefits paid to or for membersLn 4$0$0
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$1.1M$368K$683K$0
Pay of disqualified personsLn 6$0$0$0$0
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$6.5M$2.8M$3.0M$689K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$706K$301K$329K$76K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$536K$231K$251K$54K
Payroll taxesLn 10$846K$357K$411K$78K
Management feesLn 11a$0$0$0$0
Legal feesLn 11b$48K$0$48K$0
Accounting feesLn 11c$29K$0$29K$0
Lobbying feesLn 11d$0$0$0$0
Professional fundraising feesLn 11e$0$0
Investment management feesLn 11f$259K$0$259K$0
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$2.1M$919K$882K$268K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$561K$84K$431K$46K
Office expensesLn 13$64K$45K$16K$3K
Information technologyLn 14$695K$320K$325K$50K
RoyaltiesLn 15$0$0$0$0
OccupancyLn 16$16K$13K$2K$0
TravelLn 17$390K$274K$72K$44K
Travel and entertainment for public officialsLn 18$0$0$0$0
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$225K$137K$67K$21K
InterestLn 20$0$0$0$0
Payments to affiliatesLn 21$0$0$0
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$0$0$0$0
InsuranceLn 23$86K$0$86K$0
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$139K$75K$51K$13K
All other expensesLn 24e$0$0$0$0
Total functional expensesLn 25$33.9M$25.6M$7.0M$1.3M

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2024 Latest Viewing $32.7M$33.9M−$1.2M$88.6M 990 PDF
FY2023 $39.8M$93.6M−$53.9M$84.6M 990 PDF
FY2022 $37.2M$12.2M$25.0M$125.2M 990 PDF
FY2021 $32.0M$8.6M$23.4M$116.3M 990 PDF
FY2020 $28.0M$17.5M$10.5M$88.4M 990 PDF

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Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs I · Grants R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons A · Public support F · Foreign M · Noncash
See the full FY2024 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $32,709,029 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $36,781,089$29,000,000
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $0$24,000
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $2,975,089$3,685,029
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $0$0
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $39,756,178$32,709,029
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $80,896,886$19,603,464
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $7,352,484$9,683,584
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $593,455$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $4,792,156$4,581,244
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $93,634,981$33,868,292
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year −$53,878,803−$1,159,263
Part VI · Governance 13 of 13 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body13
VI-1b Independent voting members13
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 $32,709,029 across 14 lines filed
VIII-1a Federated campaigns$0
VIII-1b Membership dues$0
VIII-1c Fundraising events$0
VIII-1d Related organizations$29,000,000
VIII-1e Government grants$0
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$0
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$29,000,000
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $24,000 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $0$24,000
VIII-3 Investment incomeUnrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $2,539,920$2,539,920
VIII-5 RoyaltiesRelated to mission $0$0
VIII-6 Net rental income or lossRelated to mission $0$0
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsExcluded from tax $1,145,109$1,145,109
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising eventsUnrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $0$0
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $24,000 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $3,685,029$32,709,029
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $33,868,292 across 31 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $14,557,361$14,557,361
IX-2 Grants to domestic individualsPrograms $103,145$103,145
IX-3 Grants and assistance to foreign recipientsPrograms $4,942,958$4,942,958
IX-4 Benefits paid to or for membersPrograms $0$0
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $368,389 · Management $683,456 · Fundraising $0$1,051,845
IX-6 Pay of disqualified personsPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $2,826,084 · Management $3,028,535 · Fundraising $689,366$6,543,985
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $301,478 · Management $328,544 · Fundraising $76,453$706,475
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $230,892 · Management $250,828 · Fundraising $53,942$535,662
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $356,584 · Management $410,598 · Fundraising $78,435$845,617
IX-11a Management feesPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-11b Legal feesPrograms $0 · Management $48,288 · Fundraising $0$48,288
IX-11c Accounting feesPrograms $0 · Management $28,943 · Fundraising $0$28,943
IX-11d Lobbying feesPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-11e Professional fundraising feesFundraising $0$0
IX-11f Investment management feesPrograms $0 · Management $259,374 · Fundraising $0$259,374
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $918,542 · Management $881,859 · Fundraising $267,629$2,068,030
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $83,721 · Management $431,071 · Fundraising $46,040$560,832
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $45,092 · Management $15,631 · Fundraising $3,267$63,990
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $319,968 · Management $324,982 · Fundraising $49,873$694,823
IX-15 RoyaltiesPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $13,437 · Management $2,473 · Fundraising $0$15,910
IX-17 TravelPrograms $273,882 · Management $72,255 · Fundraising $43,921$390,058
IX-18 Travel and entertainment for public officialsPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $137,358 · Management $67,219 · Fundraising $20,764$225,341
IX-20 InterestPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-21 Payments to affiliatesManagement $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $0 · Management $86,191 · Fundraising $0$86,191
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $75,036 · Management $51,101 · Fundraising $13,327$139,464
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $0 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$0
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $25,553,927 · Management $6,971,348 · Fundraising $1,343,017$33,868,292
Part X · Balance sheet $90,334,360 assets, 23 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $0$0
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $864,595$342,419
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $0$0
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $0$0
X-8 Inventories for sale or useStart of year $0$0
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $112,689$138,579
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $0$0
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $52,710,178$57,053,359
X-12 Other securitiesStart of year $33,581,270$32,547,740
X-14 Intangible assetsStart of year $0$0
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $386,258$252,263
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $87,654,990$90,334,360
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $1,735,904$1,293,338
X-18 Grants payableStart of year $0$0
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $0$0
X-20 Tax-exempt bond liabilitiesStart of year $0$0
X-24 Unsecured notes and loans payableStart of year $0$0
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $1,297,086$454,096
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $3,032,990$1,747,434
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $84,622,000$88,586,926
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $0$0
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $84,622,000$88,586,926
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $87,654,990$90,334,360
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $88,586,926 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$32,709,029
XI-2 Total expenses$33,868,292
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$1,159,263
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$84,622,000
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$5,124,189
XI-6 Donated services and use of facilities$0
XI-7 Investment expenses$0
XI-8 Prior period adjustments$0
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$88,586,926

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2024 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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