MakeWay's mission is to build partnership and solutions to help nature and communities thrive together.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
83¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$999K 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

FY2025 · 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 by treaty
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 5
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $8.2M a year · 27% 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
83%
of spending
Looks good: 83% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$999K
to officers and key staff · 3% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 3% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
6 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 6.2 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
12
named funders · $25.3M
Looks good: 12 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$608K
0.9% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 1% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
9
of 9 voting members
Looks good: 9 of 9 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$37.5M
+45% vs prior year
Spent
$30.7M
To programs
83%
Net assets
$70.9M
By yearFY2021–FY2025
Revenue
$37.5M
FY2025▲ +45%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2021$14.5M
FY2022$36.9M
FY2023$34.2M
FY2024$25.8M
FY2025$37.5M
Expenses
$30.7M
FY2025▲ +9%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2021$15.0M
FY2022$14.1M
FY2023$20.1M
FY2024$28.2M
FY2025$30.7M
Net assets
$70.9M
FY2025▲ +5%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2021$40.7M
FY2022$60.2M
FY2023$68.1M
FY2024$67.3M
FY2025$70.9M

From the FY2025 Form 990 (year ending March 2025) · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

Give Claim

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in Oct 2003.

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

Where the money goes

83 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 83% · $25.5M Management & general 16% · $5.0M Fundraising 1% · $168K

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

20 people listed on the 990; $999K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2024); the FY2025 filing did not itemize Part VII
$182,082Pt VII · Sec A
$161,808Pt VII · Sec A
VP, Thriving Leadership
$155,438Pt VII · Sec A
Manager, Inuit Initiatives
$129,946Pt VII · Sec A
Chief of Strategy
$125,036Pt VII · Sec A
Director, Shared Platform
$123,472Pt VII · Sec A
Director, Philantropic Servic
$121,287Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Joanna Kerr’s $182K as CEO is at the 35th percentile of top reported officer pay among 3122 $10–100M 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

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021
Joanna Kerr$182,082$189,232$192,763$195,999$189,509
Gayle Gioiosa$161,808$154,817$136,686——
Erin Blanding$155,438$139,135$124,273——
Zita Botelho—$140,429———
Christine Little———$136,834$121,983
Lori Randall$129,946————
Lori Tagoona——$126,544——
Alison Henning$125,036$114,630———

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 Makeway Foundation 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 partnerships and solutions for nature and communities to thrive together.

Questions for Makeway Foundation

Tap to ask. Makeway Foundation sees how many people are interested.

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

Provided by the organization

Know this org? Add your story

1 program · $25.5M · in their own filed words · FY2024
01

Grantmaking

$25.5Mprogram 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
Bhp FoundationFY2024$6.5M
Novo FoundationFY2024$2.6M
PatagoniaorgFY2024$635K
444 S FoundationFY2024$250K
Total grants receivedfrom 12 funders$25.3M
See all 12 funders →
Grants paid · 1 grant · $7K · 2023–2023
Washington UniversityMO · FY2023$7,000

By the numbers

The FY2025 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$37.5M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$34.5M
Investment incomeLn 3$3.0M
Other incomeLn 4–11$50K
Money outPt IX
$30.7M
Ln 25
Programscol B$25.5M
Managementcol C$5.0M
Fundraisingcol D$168K
Owns and owesPt X
$70.9M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$15.7M
Total assetsLn 16$71.5M
LiabilitiesLn 26$608K
PeoplePt VI, VII
20
listed · VII A
PaidVII A7
Voting boardVI 1a9
IndependentVI 1b9
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$34.5M
Government grantsLn 1e$268K
Noncash giftsLn 1g$396K
Investment incomeLn 3$3.0M
Other incomeLn 4–11$50K
Gains on assetsLn 7$0
Total revenueLn 12$37.5M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$31K
SavingsLn 2$15.7M
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$15.7M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$36.9M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$236K
Other assetsLn 15$16K
Total assetsLn 16$71.5M
LiabilitiesLn 26$608K
Net assetsLn 32$70.9M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 572
Fiscal year endsHeaderMarch
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 FY25End FY25
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$17.8M$15.7M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$35.9M$36.9M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$357K$236K
Total assetsLn 16$75.3M$71.5M
LiabilitiesLn 26$8.0M$608K
Net assetsLn 32$67.3M$70.9M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$0
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$0
Grants and assistance to foreign recipientsLn 3$23.5M$23.5M
Benefits paid to or for membersLn 4$0
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$1.0M$0$1.0M$0
Pay of disqualified personsLn 6$0
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$1.7M$25K$1.5M$168K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$0
Other employee benefitsLn 9$774K$7K$766K
Payroll taxesLn 10$373K$2K$370K
Management feesLn 11a$0
Legal feesLn 11b$146K$146K
Accounting feesLn 11c$81K$81K
Lobbying feesLn 11d$0
Professional fundraising feesLn 11e$0
Investment management feesLn 11f$537K$322K$215K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$947K$866K$81K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$9K$23K−$13K
Office expensesLn 13$50K$31K$19K
Information technologyLn 14$137K$1K$136K
RoyaltiesLn 15$0
OccupancyLn 16$338K$14K$324K
TravelLn 17$429K$360K$68K
Travel and entertainment for public officialsLn 18$0
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$485K$380K$105K
InterestLn 20$0
Payments to affiliatesLn 21$0
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$171K$171K
InsuranceLn 23$17K$17K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24−$89K$5K−$94K
Total functional expensesLn 25$30.7M$25.5M$5.0M$168K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest Viewing $37.5M$30.7M$6.8M$70.9M 990 PDF
FY2024 $25.8M$28.2M−$2.4M$67.3M 990 PDF
FY2023 $34.2M$20.1M$14.1M$68.1M 990 PDF
FY2022 $36.9M$14.1M$22.8M$60.2M 990 PDF
FY2021 $14.5M$15.0M−$445K$40.7M 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 FY2025 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $37,510,898 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $23,453,921$34,456,013
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $0$0
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $2,290,301$3,004,895
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $50,261$49,990
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $25,794,483$37,510,898
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $21,384,139$23,500,012
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $3,627,304$3,908,893
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $3,145,473$3,256,938
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $28,156,916$30,665,843
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year −$2,362,433$6,845,055
Part VI · Governance 9 of 9 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body9
VI-1b Independent voting members9
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 $37,510,898 across 12 lines filed
VIII-1b Membership dues$17,969
VIII-1e Government grants$268,353
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$34,169,691
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$396,377
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$34,456,013
VIII-3 Investment incomeRelated to mission $3,004,895$3,004,895
VIII-5 Royalties$0
VIII-6 Net rental income or loss$0
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assets$0
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising events$0
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Related to mission $49,990$49,990
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $3,054,885$37,510,898
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $30,665,843 across 30 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizations$0
IX-2 Grants to domestic individuals$0
IX-3 Grants and assistance to foreign recipientsPrograms $23,500,012$23,500,012
IX-4 Benefits paid to or for members$0
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $0 · Management $1,025,848 · Fundraising $0$1,025,848
IX-6 Pay of disqualified persons$0
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $24,699 · Management $1,544,099 · Fundraising $168,100$1,736,898
IX-8 Pension plan contributions$0
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $7,320 · Management $766,315$773,635
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $2,106 · Management $370,406$372,512
IX-11a Management fees$0
IX-11b Legal feesManagement $145,988$145,988
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $80,770$80,770
IX-11d Lobbying fees$0
IX-11f Investment management feesPrograms $321,882 · Management $215,050$536,932
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $865,503 · Management $81,045$946,548
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $22,717 · Management −$13,375$9,342
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $30,583 · Management $18,962$49,545
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $1,397 · Management $135,878$137,275
IX-15 Royalties$0
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $14,107 · Management $323,937$338,044
IX-17 TravelPrograms $360,287 · Management $68,491$428,778
IX-18 Travel and entertainment for public officials$0
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $379,876 · Management $105,048$484,924
IX-20 Interest$0
IX-21 Payments to affiliates$0
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationManagement $171,060$171,060
IX-23 InsuranceManagement $17,123$17,123
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $4,688 · Management −$94,079−$89,391
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $25,535,177 · Management $4,962,566 · Fundraising $168,100$30,665,843
Part X · Balance sheet $71,542,511 assets, 22 lines filed
Asset lines not itemized here account for $16,944,735; see the IRS return.
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $188,954$31,191
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $17,595,469$15,716,419
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $0$0
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $136,424$1,171,871
X-8 Inventories for sale or useStart of year $0$0
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $326,242$219,190
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $357,383$235,646
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $34,362,232$35,741,574
X-12 Other securitiesStart of year $1$0
X-13 Program-related investmentsStart of year $1,500,790$1,110,234
X-14 Intangible assetsStart of year $527,080$355,722
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $25,815$15,929
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $75,278,889$71,542,511
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $8,013,003$608,377
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 $0$0
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $8,013,003$608,377
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $67,265,886$70,934,134
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $75,278,889$71,542,511
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $70,934,134 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$37,510,898
XI-2 Total expenses$30,665,843
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$6,845,055
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$67,265,886
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$908,539
XI-9 Other changes in net assets−$4,085,346
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$70,934,134

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2025 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.