Knowledge Futures is an independent nonprofit organization that builds and supports tools, products, and protocols to make Knowledge open, useful, and accessible.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
73¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$1.5M 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

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
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
3 of 6
filings with a surplus
Average deficit $740K a year · 57% of revenue · last 6 filings
Worth a look: a surplus in 3 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 filings
Spent on programs
73%
of spending
Fine: 73% of spending went to programs; 65% to 75%.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$1.5M
to officers and key staff · 48% of spending
Concern: pay to officers and key staff is 48% of spending; over 30%.
Pt VII · Sec A
10 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 9.8 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
1
named funder · $25K
Fine: 1 funder names it on their filings; under 3.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$235K
9% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 9% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
3
of 5 voting members
Looks good: 3 of 5 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$963K
+82% vs prior year
Spent
$3.1M
To programs
73%
Net assets
$2.4M
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$963K
FY2024▲ +82%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$427K
FY2021$1.9M
FY2022$2.6M
FY2022$7.0M
FY2023$529K
FY2024$963K
FY2025$1.3M
Expenses
$3.1M
FY2024▲ +5%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$11K
FY2021$1.7M
FY2022$1.9M
FY2022$1.3M
FY2023$2.9M
FY2024$3.1M
FY2025$2.5M
Net assets
$2.4M
FY2024▼ -47%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$416K
FY2021$575K
FY2022$1.2M
FY2022$6.9M
FY2023$4.5M
FY2024$2.4M
FY2025$1.2M

From the FY2024 Form 990 · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

Give Claim
You’re viewing the FY2024 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 Mar 2020.

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

Where the money goes

73 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 73% · $2.3M Management & general 17% · $523K Fundraising 10% · $312K

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

Something off? Claim to add context

Who runs it and what they're paid

12 people listed on the 990; $1.5M paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
Head of Operations and Pro
$221,310Pt VII · Sec A
Head of Communities
$209,768Pt VII · Sec A
Executive Director
$203,324Pt VII · Sec A
Head of R&d
$200,930Pt VII · Sec A
Engineering Manager
$159,150Pt VII · Sec A
Senior Software Engineer
$146,008Pt VII · Sec A
Deputy Director, Operations
$124,540Pt VII · Sec A
Software Engineer
$122,766Pt VII · Sec A

Travis Rich’s $225K as Head of R&d is at the 94th percentile of top reported officer pay among 3869 $1–10M human services 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

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2022FY2021
Travis Rich$225,357$200,930$175,759$145,111$130,009$63,546
Gabriel Stein$220,769$221,310$172,811$138,199$123,633$61,622
Zach Verdin$216,265$203,324$168,371$135,561$121,503—
Catherine Ahearn$189,652$209,768$153,908$139,324$130,009—
Eric McDaniel$175,981$159,150$159,141———
Kalil Smith-Nuevelle$107,934$146,008$145,535———
Reem Hassan$127,625$124,540————
Qwelian Tanner—$122,766$126,119———

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 Knowledge Futures INC executive salaries →

On this list? Claim this org

Something off? Claim to add context

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

Develops technology to create, manage, and save knowledge for public benefit.

Questions for Knowledge Futures INC

Tap to ask. Knowledge Futures INC sees how many people are interested.

Your first name shows with your question. Knowledge Futures INC answers here, for everyone.

Provided by the organization

Know this org? Add your story

3 programs · $2.3M · in their own filed words · FY2024
01

Pubpub

Pubpub is our open-source platform for creating full-stack knowledge infrastructure for communities of all types. Members pay an annual fee to join our open knowledge sharing community and support us in hosting & developing the platform. Revenue also comes from supporting services we offer to set up communities on pubpub platform.

$2.2Mprogram expense
02

Docmaps

Project to increase preprint review creation, sharing and visibility. Winding down activity related to docmaps in 2024.

$34Kprogram expense
03

Underlay

Underlay is an open-source space to publish and share data. Not much activity related to underlay in 2024, just maintaing with exisiting software.

$9Kprogram 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$25K
Grants paid · 2 grants · $315K · 2020–2020
MITMA · FY2020$95,000

By the numbers

The FY2024 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$963K
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$543K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$394K
Investment incomeLn 3$26K
Money outPt IX
$3.1M
Ln 25
Programscol B$2.3M
Managementcol C$523K
Fundraisingcol D$312K
Owns and owesPt X
$2.4M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$2.5M
Total assetsLn 16$2.6M
LiabilitiesLn 26$235K
PeoplePt VI, VII
12
listed · VII A
PaidVII A9
Voting boardVI 1a5
IndependentVI 1b3
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$543K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$394K
Investment incomeLn 3$26K
Total revenueLn 12$963K
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$1.5M
SavingsLn 2$1.0M
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$2.5M
Total assetsLn 16$2.6M
LiabilitiesLn 26$235K
Net assetsLn 32$2.4M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 512
VolunteersI 61
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$4.6M$2.5M
Total assetsLn 16$4.7M$2.6M
LiabilitiesLn 26$238K$235K
Net assetsLn 32$4.5M$2.4M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$898K$400K$204K$294K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$1.2M$1.1M$100K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$33K$32K$1K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$119K$108K$11K
Payroll taxesLn 10$137K$100K$19K$18K
Legal feesLn 11b$11K$11K
Accounting feesLn 11c$53K$53K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$371K$347K$24K
Office expensesLn 13$9K$9K
OccupancyLn 16$24K$3K$21K
TravelLn 17$51K$51K
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$1K$1K
InsuranceLn 23$12K$12K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$162K$105K$57K
Total functional expensesLn 25$3.1M$2.3M$523K$312K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest $1.3M$2.5M−$1.1M$1.2M 990 PDF
FY2024 Viewing $963K$3.1M−$2.1M$2.4M 990 PDF
FY2023 $529K$2.9M−$2.4M$4.5M 990 PDF
FY2022 $2.6M$1.9M$657K$1.2M 990 PDF
FY2021 $1.9M$1.7M$159K$575K 990 PDF
FY2020 $427K$11K$416K$416K 990 PDF

More to add? Claim this org

Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons I · Grants A · Public support J · Pay O · Explanations
See the full FY2024 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $962,628 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $84,349$543,029
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $372,286$394,037
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $72,126$25,562
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $0$0
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $528,761$962,628
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $0$0
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $2,067,876$2,398,928
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $868,768$694,421
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $2,936,644$3,093,349
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year −$2,407,883−$2,130,721
Part VI · Governance 3 of 5 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body5
VI-1b Independent voting members3
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 $962,628 across 5 lines filed
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$543,029
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$543,029
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $394,037$394,037
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $25,562$25,562
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $394,037 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $25,562$962,628
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $3,093,349 across 14 lines filed
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $399,692 · Management $204,004 · Fundraising $293,994$897,690
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $1,111,797 · Management $100,132$1,211,929
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $31,659 · Management $1,283$32,942
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $107,742 · Management $11,189$118,931
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $100,328 · Management $19,241 · Fundraising $17,867$137,436
IX-11b Legal feesManagement $10,965$10,965
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $52,518$52,518
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $347,362 · Management $24,114$371,476
IX-13 Office expensesManagement $8,768$8,768
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $2,859 · Management $20,967$23,826
IX-17 TravelPrograms $51,298$51,298
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $1,077$1,077
IX-23 InsuranceManagement $12,248$12,248
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $104,832 · Management $57,413$162,245
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $2,258,646 · Management $522,842 · Fundraising $311,861$3,093,349
Part X · Balance sheet $2,609,226 assets, 13 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $3,576,643$1,482,703
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $1,022,227$1,035,018
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $75,000$50,000
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $43,813$9,173
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $26,007$32,332
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $4,743,690$2,609,226
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $173,411$143,160
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $65,040$91,452
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $238,451$234,612
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $4,430,239$2,324,614
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $75,000$50,000
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $4,505,239$2,374,614
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $4,743,690$2,609,226
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $2,374,614 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$962,628
XI-2 Total expenses$3,093,349
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$2,130,721
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$4,505,239
XI-8 Prior period adjustments$96
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$2,374,614

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

Similar organizations you could support · Compare with another nonprofit

Names, privacy, and removal requests More

The names, titles, and compensation shown on this page are reproduced from IRS Form 990 filings, which are public records.

Philanthropy.org does not alter the content of those filings. All information appears exactly as reported by the filing organization for the tax year shown.

We publish only information contained in the public IRS filing — and less than the filing contains. Our profile pages do not display street addresses, telephone numbers, personal email addresses, or other personal contact information, even where the filing includes them.

Many people share the same name. A name shown on this page reflects only what one organization reported in one IRS filing for one tax year. It should not be interpreted as identifying any other individual with the same or a similar name.

If you are no longer affiliated with the organization, your name will generally stop appearing in future IRS filings once the organization no longer reports you. Pages for tax years in which you were reported remain published because those filings remain part of the public record.

Philanthropy.org does not alter or remove IRS filing records. Removing a page from this website would not remove the underlying IRS filing, which remains publicly available from the IRS and other publishers of the same information.

If you believe the IRS filing itself is inaccurate, corrections must be made by the filing organization or the IRS directly.

Your org? Add context

Made it to the end? Claim this org

All figures are derived from public IRS Form 990 filings and are presented without evaluation of any organization. philanthropy.org does not rate, score, or rank organizations, including the pay comparisons above.