Electronic Frontier Foundation
Electronic Frontier Foundation reported $21.6 million in revenue and $25.8 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $71.14 went to program services, $15.66 to management and general costs and $13.20 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 90.1% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $376,166 (Executive Director). 83 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 77% between FY2020 and FY2025. Source: Form 990, FY2025.
Where $100 of spending went
The fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $26MFor context, the median across 2,433 covered unclassified charities: $88.27 programs, $11.68 management, $0.05 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
The fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $22MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 71.1% | 86.7% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 15.7% | 11.5% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 13.2% | 0.0% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.17 | $0.01 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 90.1% | 29.9% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 3.8% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 58.9% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $376,166 | $301,601 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 1.46% | 1.38% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 83 | 6 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 26.1 | 6.8 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 13 of 14 | 100.0% |
A median is context, not a target: hospitals, universities, food banks and grantmakers spend in very different ways. What these measures can and can't tell you.
What the money paid for, in its own words
FY2025 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseEducated the public regarding new forms of technology, fostered discussion as well as public policy analysis regarding the legal and social issues raised by technology, and conducted litigation in the public interest to preserve human and civil rights
Highest reported compensation
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section A · roles as filed; names are in the filing, not here| Role | From this org | From related orgs | Other | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Executive Director Director/trustee, officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $352,039 | $0 | $24,127 | $376,166 |
| Chief Development Officer Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $247,311 | $0 | $48,992 | $296,303 |
| Civil Liberties Director Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $240,649 | $0 | $48,309 | $288,958 |
| Chief Operating Officer Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $258,050 | $0 | $28,078 | $286,128 |
| Treasurer/CFO Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $244,097 | $0 | $36,956 | $281,053 |
| Legislative Director Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $230,014 | $0 | $47,194 | $277,208 |
| Secretary & Gen. Counsel Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $250,023 | $0 | $23,829 | $273,852 |
| Chief People Officer Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $219,032 | $0 | $46,717 | $265,749 |
83 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Electronic Frontier Foundation (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $2.0M (Part IX, line 5).
6 years of filings
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
FY2025 · the organization's own yes/no answers; explanations, if any, are in Schedule O of the filing · what each means- Voting board members, and how many are independent Part VI, lines 1a–1b14 · 13 independent
- Audited financial statements Part XII 2bYes
- Conflict-of-interest policy Part VI 12aYes
- Whistleblower policy Part VI 13Yes
- Document retention policy Part VI 14Yes
- Independent process for top executive pay Part VI 15aYes
- Board given the 990 before filing Part VI 11aYes
- Family or business ties among insiders Part VI 2No
- Aware of a significant diversion of assets Part VI 5No
- Excess benefit transaction with an insider Part IV 25aNo
- Loans to or from insiders outstanding Part IV 26No
- Lobbying, or a 501(h) election in effect Part IV 4Yes
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18No
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bYes
- Employees Part I, line 5121
- Volunteers Part I, line 6332
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| Globalization Partners LLC International Consultants | $1,226,832 |
| Armanino Advisory LLC Technical Consultants | $403,405 |
| Chaminade Resort & Spa Staff Retreat Venue and Accomodations | $143,576 |
| Babylon Burning Screen Printing Inc Membership Premiums | $139,035 |
| Antica Productions Ltd Technical Consultants | $133,600 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 6 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
81 private foundations reported grants to Electronic Frontier Foundation totaling $4.3M on their tax year 2023 Form 990-PF returns. See which foundations, on WHOFUNDS.
Source: WHOFUNDS open grant graph, matched from Form 990-PF Part XV.
Correct a figure or respond
Every number above is copied from Electronic Frontier Foundation's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Electronic Frontier Foundation, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Electronic Frontier Foundation spent in FY2025, $71.14 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
Embed on your site
Similar-sized charities in this cause
- American Friends of Meir PanimBrooklyn, NY · revenue $22M · programs 90.0% · FY2025
- LA Vida LlenaAlbuquerque, NM · revenue $22M · programs 75.1% · FY2025
- Kids Above All IllinoisChicago, IL · revenue $22M · programs 84.2% · FY2025
- New Heritage TowersWarminster, PA · revenue $22M · programs 75.8% · 2025
- Coalition for the HomelessNew York, NY · revenue $22M · programs 78.9% · FY2025
All unclassified charities · Largest charities in California
Questions people ask
How much of Electronic Frontier Foundation's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, Electronic Frontier Foundation reported that 71.1% of its $25.8 million in expenses went to program services, 15.7% to management and general and 13.2% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Electronic Frontier Foundation pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Electronic Frontier Foundation reported for one person in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 was $376,166, for the role of Executive Director (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Electronic Frontier Foundation get its money?
Of $21.6 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, 90.1% came from contributions and grants and 0.0% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Electronic Frontier Foundation a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 04-3091431 as a 501(c)(3) organization (publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(a)(vi))), and its records show contributions as tax-deductible. Form 990 filings on record here cover tax years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- FY2025: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, object 202610989349301676 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, object 202531289349304513 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, object 202421349349304287 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, object 202301319349307165 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, object 202211329349306861 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020 (amended), object 202131689349301458 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 04-3091431: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.