The Sia Foundation was created to serve as the ideal steward of the Sia storage network: financially stable, politically neutral, and technologically capable. We aim to disrupt cloud storage by allowing peers to buy and sell cloud storage directly in a global, trustless marketplace, and to conduct research and engineering in the open, sharing our results for the benefit of all.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
66¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$687K 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

FY2022 · 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 4
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $13.9M a year · 83% of revenue · last 4 filings
Fine: a surplus in 3 of the last 4 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 4 filings
Spent on programs
66%
of spending
Fine: 66% of spending went to programs; 65% to 75%.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$687K
to officers and key staff · 30% of spending
Worth a look: pay to officers and key staff is 30% of spending; over 20%.
Pt VII · Sec A
84 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 84.5 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Liabilities
$2K
<0.01% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 0% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
0
of 2 voting members
Concern: none of 2 voting members are independent.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$2.1M
-96% vs prior year
Spent
$2.3M
To programs
66%
Net assets
$28.8M
By yearFY2021–FY2024
Revenue
$2.1M
FY2022▼ -96%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2021$45.8M
FY2022$2.1M
FY2023$6.8M
FY2024$12.3M
Expenses
$2.3M
FY2022▲ +199%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2021$771K
FY2022$2.3M
FY2023$3.4M
FY2024$4.8M
Net assets
$28.8M
FY2022▼ -30%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2021$41.2M
FY2022$28.8M
FY2023$42.6M
FY2024$42.5M

From the FY2022 Form 990 · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

Give Claim
You’re viewing the FY2022 filing — not the latest on file. See the latest (FY2024) →

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2024. IRS ruling in Apr 2022.

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

Where the money goes

66 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 66% · $1.5M Management & general 34% · $795K

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

5 people listed on the 990; $687K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
President/Treasurer
$191,698Pt VII · Sec A
Frontend Engineer
$189,676Pt VII · Sec A
Core Developer
$158,833Pt VII · Sec A
Operations Director
$146,740Pt VII · Sec A
Chairman/Secretary
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Nate Maninger’s $305K as President/Core Developer is at the 24th percentile of top reported officer pay among 139 $10–100M science & technology 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

NameFY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021
Nate Maninger$305,000———
Luke Champine$250,836$262,526$191,698$133,302
Alex Freska$253,565———
Nathaniel Maninger—$244,842$158,833—
Alexander Freska—$224,630——
Frances Lu$199,921$184,791$146,740—
Steve Funk$195,652———
Alexendar Freska——$189,676—

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 Sia Foundation 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

Builds and stewards a decentralized, peer-to-peer cloud storage marketplace.

Questions for Sia Foundation INC

Tap to ask. Sia Foundation INC sees how many people are interested.

Your first name shows with your question. Sia Foundation INC answers here, for everyone.

Provided by the organization

Know this org? Add your story

3 programs · $1.5M · in their own filed words · FY2022
01

Protocol

The Sia Foundation exists to strengthen the Sia protocol through research and development by funding developers and other protocol needs.

$946Kprogram expense
02

Grants Program

Program dedicated to funding research, development, developer tools, and anything else that will support and further our mission of user-owned data.

$324Kprogram expense
03

Community

Program dedicated to education and outreach to educate people on Sia, our mission of user-owned data, and the importance of decentralized cloud storage.

$244Kprogram expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

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

Grants

Schedule I · this organization's grantmaking
Grants paid · 8 grants · $328K · 2021–2024
Hammer Technologies LLCFY2024$84,616
Unitemized GrantFY2024$9,610
Messari INCFY2023$120,000
Hammer Technologies LLCFY2023$67,500
Unitemized GrantFY2023$17,503
Hammer Technologies LLCFY2022$2,000

By the numbers

The FY2022 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$2.1M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$10.8M
Investment incomeLn 3$382
Money outPt IX
$2.3M
Ln 25
Programscol B$1.5M
Managementcol C$795K
Owns and owesPt X
$28.8M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$16.2M
Total assetsLn 16$28.8M
LiabilitiesLn 26$2K
PeoplePt VI, VII
5
listed · VII A
PaidVII A4
Voting boardVI 1a2
IndependentVI 1b0
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$10.8M
Noncash giftsLn 1g$10.7M
Investment incomeLn 3$382
Gains on assetsLn 7−$8.7M
Total revenueLn 12$2.1M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$747K
SavingsLn 2$15.5M
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$16.2M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$4K
Total assetsLn 16$28.8M
LiabilitiesLn 26$2K
Net assetsLn 32$28.8M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 55
VolunteersI 60
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 FY22End FY22
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$6.3M$16.2M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$6K$4K
Total assetsLn 16$41.2M$28.8M
LiabilitiesLn 26$2K$2K
Net assetsLn 32$41.2M$28.8M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$339K$339K
Grants and assistance to foreign recipientsLn 3$22K$22K
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$213K$125K$87K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$648K$382K$266K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$24K$14K$10K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$40K$24K$16K
Payroll taxesLn 10$63K$37K$26K
Legal feesLn 11b$226K$198K$28K
Accounting feesLn 11c$36K$36K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$524K$275K$250K
Office expensesLn 13$42K$29K$13K
Information technologyLn 14$76K$48K$28K
TravelLn 17$21K$21K
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$1K$1K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$1K$1K
InsuranceLn 23$7K$7K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$26K$26K
Total functional expensesLn 25$2.3M$1.5M$795K$0

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2024 Latest $12.3M$4.8M$7.5M$42.5M 990 PDF
FY2023 $6.8M$3.4M$3.4M$42.6M 990 PDF
FY2022 Viewing $2.1M$2.3M−$256K$28.8M 990 PDF
FY2021 $45.8M$771K$45.0M$41.2M 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 F · Foreign M · Noncash J · Pay O · Explanations
See the full FY2022 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $2,052,332 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $41,668,273$10,751,353
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $0$0
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $4,149,407−$8,699,021
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $0$0
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $45,817,680$2,052,332
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $43,433$360,507
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $339,546$987,591
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $388,096$960,005
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $771,075$2,308,103
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $45,046,605−$255,771
Part VI · Governance 0 of 2 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body2
VI-1b Independent voting members0
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 $2,052,332 across 6 lines filed
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$10,751,353
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$10,746,746
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$10,751,353
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $382$382
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsExcluded from tax −$8,699,403−$8,699,403
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $0 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax −$8,699,021$2,052,332
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $2,308,103 across 17 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $338,857$338,857
IX-3 Grants and assistance to foreign recipientsPrograms $21,650$21,650
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $125,304 · Management $87,449$212,753
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $381,752 · Management $266,426$648,178
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $13,846 · Management $9,663$23,509
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $23,593 · Management $16,466$40,059
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $37,159 · Management $25,933$63,092
IX-11b Legal feesPrograms $198,394 · Management $27,939$226,333
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $36,351$36,351
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $274,523 · Management $249,513$524,036
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $28,887 · Management $12,735$41,622
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $47,600 · Management $28,000$75,600
IX-17 TravelPrograms $20,989$20,989
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $1,020$1,020
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationManagement $1,190$1,190
IX-23 InsuranceManagement $7,017$7,017
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Management $25,847$25,847
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $1,513,574 · Management $794,529 · Fundraising $0$2,308,103
Part X · Balance sheet $28,791,779 assets, 11 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $6,331,680$747,118
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investments$15,500,382
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $3,943$6,541
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $5,681$4,491
X-14 Intangible assetsStart of year $34,889,970$12,533,247
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $41,231,274$28,791,779
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $2,247$2,281
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $2,247$2,281
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $41,229,027$28,789,498
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $41,229,027$28,789,498
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $41,231,274$28,791,779
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $28,789,498 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$2,052,332
XI-2 Total expenses$2,308,103
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$255,771
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$41,229,027
XI-9 Other changes in net assets−$12,183,758
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$28,789,498

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2022 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.