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Merit Network
Merit Network reported $28.8 million in revenue and $39.7 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $91.74 went to program services, $8.26 to management and general costs and $0.00 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was program service revenue such as fees, sales and contracts: 93.0% of the total. Government grants made up 5.7%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $603,952 (Treasurer). Revenue rose 1% 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 $40MFor context, the median across 185 covered public & societal benefit charities: $88.81 programs, $11.18 management, $0.01 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 $29MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 91.7% | 84.9% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 8.3% | 10.7% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.00 | $0.01 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 6.1% | 83.8% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 5.7% | 0.0% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 93.0% | 3.2% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $603,952 | $357,133 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 1.52% | 1.52% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 0 | 12 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 93.5 | 10.5 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 0 of 12 | 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 expenseHigh speed internet connectivity and related services designed to meet the needs of the research and educational community
National and local seminars, training and workshops in support of the internet research and educational community
Public internet routing registry facilitating information sharing of network routing in the public domain
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Treasurer Director/trustee, officer, 1.50 hrs/week | $0 | $468,180 | $135,772 | $603,952 |
| Director Director/trustee, 1.50 hrs/week | $0 | $372,778 | $108,106 | $480,884 |
| Director Director/trustee, 1.50 hrs/week | $0 | $310,534 | $90,055 | $400,589 |
| President/CEO Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $0 | $289,038 | $72,077 | $361,115 |
| Director Director/trustee, 1.50 hrs/week | $0 | $261,858 | $75,939 | $337,797 |
| Director Director/trustee, 1.50 hrs/week | $0 | $245,923 | $71,318 | $317,241 |
| Chair Director/trustee, officer, 1.50 hrs/week | $0 | $236,621 | $68,620 | $305,241 |
| Secretary Director/trustee, officer, 1.50 hrs/week | $0 | $232,550 | $67,440 | $299,990 |
0 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Merit Network (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $1.5M (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–1b12 · 0 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 15aNo
- 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 14bNo
- Employees Part I, line 50
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses onlyIndividuals listed as contractors are left out. 2 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Correct a figure or respond
Every number above is copied from Merit Network's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Merit Network, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Merit Network spent in FY2025, $91.74 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Nebraska Health Information InitiativeLA Vista, NE · revenue $29M · programs 91.4% · 2024
- Disabled Veterans National FoundationLanham, MD · revenue $29M · programs 31.0% · FY2025
- San Diego County Tobacco Securitization CorporationSan Diego, CA · revenue $29M · programs 100.0% · FY2025
- Center for Technology and Civic LifeChicago, IL · revenue $29M · programs 81.0% · FY2025
- Southern Vision AllianceDurham, NC · revenue $28M · programs 93.3% · 2024
All public & societal benefit charities · Largest charities in Michigan
Questions people ask
How much of Merit Network's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, Merit Network reported that 91.7% of its $39.7 million in expenses went to program services, 8.3% to management and general and 0.0% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Merit Network pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Merit Network reported for one person in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 was $603,952, for the role of Treasurer (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Merit Network get its money?
Of $28.8 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, 6.1% came from contributions and grants (including 5.7% from government grants) and 93.0% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Merit Network a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 38-2210903 as a 501(c)(3) organization (supporting organization (509(a)(3))), 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 202631359349303433 · read the filing
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, object 202531269349301433 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, object 202421319349303047 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, object 202341289349300949 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, object 202201329349306700 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, object 202131329349304243 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 38-2210903: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.