US Ignite
US Ignite reported $17.4 million in revenue and $16.7 million in expenses for calendar year 2024. Of every $100 it spent, $92.40 went to program services, $7.25 to management and general costs and $0.35 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 99.5% of the total. Government grants made up 95.8%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $312,717 (CEO AND PRESIDENT). 15 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 77% between 2019 and 2024. Source: Form 990, 2024.
Where $100 of spending went
Calendar year 2024 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $17MFor context, the median across 5,499 covered education charities: $85.56 programs, $13.59 management, $0.85 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
Calendar year 2024 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $17MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | 2024 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 92.4% | 84.4% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 7.2% | 13.4% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 0.4% | 0.8% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.00 | $0.04 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 99.5% | 19.1% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 95.8% | 1.1% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 69.9% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $312,717 | $331,578 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 1.88% | 1.28% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 15 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 2.2 | 13.3 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 8 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
2024 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expensePlatforms for advanced wireless research (pawr): pawr is revolutionizing the wireless ecosystem while sustaining US leadership and economic competitiveness. Funded by the national science foundation and a consortium of the nation's leading wireless companies and associations, the $100 million public-private partnership is managed by the pawr project office (ppo). Major 2024 activities of the ppo include a) overseeing the significant expansions of the ara rural wireless testbed in iowa and the aerpaw wireless drone testbed in north carolina; b) coordinating and announcing the collaboration of…
Smart bases: the US ignite smart base team delivered the smart installation and community dashboard for the engineer research and development center (army corp of engineers) on fort benning base. In 2024, US ignite advanced research and development on intelligent intrusion detection and heat risk management while expanding to use cases that enhance emergency services, improve installation readiness, and support army modernization initiatives. Us ignite engaged industry-leading vendors across the project sectors to provide a common operating vision for fort benning's leadership
Us ignite completed two department of commerce projects in salt lake city (slc) and washington dc. The innovate slc project integrated entrepreneurial training, smart city innovation, and small business capacity-building efforts. Through two coordinated work areas, the urban innovation accelerator for startups and the small business training program for local enterprises, US ignite and its partners supported over 200 participants across 76 industries, focusing on opportunity zones and underserved communities. The startup accelerator delivered mentorship, technical training, and investor…
Highest reported compensation
2024 · 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CEO AND PRESIDENT Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $306,530 | $0 | $6,187 | $312,717 |
| TECHNICAL PROGRAM MANAGER Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $191,818 | $0 | $12,594 | $204,412 |
| PROGRAM DIRECTOR & BOARD MEMBER Director/trustee, 40.00 hrs/week | $185,181 | $0 | $17,099 | $202,280 |
| SMART COMMUNITIES DIRECTOR Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $156,500 | $0 | $12,660 | $169,160 |
| BIG DATA PROGRAM MANAGER Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $155,000 | $0 | $10,562 | $165,562 |
| PAWR PROGRAM DIRECTOR Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $156,500 | $0 | $6,982 | $163,482 |
| SMART BASSES PROGRAM DEVELOPER Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $135,650 | $0 | $8,081 | $143,731 |
| PROGRAM MANAGER Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $131,750 | $0 | $8,307 | $140,057 |
15 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from US Ignite (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $778K (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
2024 · 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 · 8 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 14bNo
- Employees Part I, line 526
- Volunteers Part I, line 67
Largest outside contractors
2024 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| SABEL SYSTEMS TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS LLC Consulting | $336,521 |
| MARCUM LLP Accounting and hr | $180,926 |
| JEMISON CONSULTING Consulting | $180,508 |
| THE AERIE CONSULTING Consulting | $130,159 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 5 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
1 private foundation reported grants to US Ignite totaling $107K 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 US Ignite's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for US Ignite, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
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Of every $100 US Ignite spent in 2024, $92.40 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Yeshiva Derech HatorahCleveland Heights, OH · revenue $17M · programs 94.9% · FY2025
- New York School for the DeafWhite Plains, NY · revenue $17M · programs 80.9% · FY2025
- Paul Cuffee SchoolProvidence, RI · revenue $17M · programs 89.4% · FY2025
- Oklahoma Christian SchoolsEdmond, OK · revenue $17M · programs 86.6% · FY2025
- Bakersfield Christian High SchoolBakersfield, CA · revenue $17M · programs 65.5% · FY2025
All education charities · Largest charities in District of Columbia
Questions people ask
How much of US Ignite's spending goes to programs?
In calendar year 2024, US Ignite reported that 92.4% of its $16.7 million in expenses went to program services, 7.2% to management and general and 0.4% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does US Ignite pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation US Ignite reported for one person in calendar year 2024 was $312,717, for the role of CEO AND PRESIDENT (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does US Ignite get its money?
Of $17.4 million in revenue in calendar year 2024, 99.5% came from contributions and grants (including 95.8% from government grants) and 0.0% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is US Ignite a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 45-3943413 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
- 2024: Form 990 for calendar year 2024, object 202503179349304110 · read the filing · XML
- 2023: Form 990 for calendar year 2023, object 202423199349316427 · read the filing
- 2022: Form 990 for calendar year 2022, object 202343109349301424 · read the filing
- 2021: Form 990 for calendar year 2021, object 202233199349304798 · read the filing
- 2020: Form 990 for calendar year 2020, object 202103169349303570 · read the filing
- 2019: Form 990 for calendar year 2019, object 202013219349302886 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 45-3943413: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.