Activate Global
Activate Global reported $30.6 million in revenue and $31.5 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $79.87 went to program services, $16.98 to management and general costs and $3.15 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 98.3% of the total. Government grants made up 55.3%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $542,672 (CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER). 33 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 256% 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 $31MFor context, the median across 371 covered environment charities: $85.82 programs, $10.80 management, $3.38 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 $31MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 79.9% | 83.6% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 17.0% | 10.5% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 3.2% | 3.3% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.03 | $0.03 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 98.3% | 87.6% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 55.3% | 4.8% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 3.2% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $542,672 | $293,532 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 1.72% | 1.74% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 33 | 7 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 9.0 | 18.8 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 8 of 8 | 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 expenseThe organization works between government and the private sector, transforming scientists into high-impact entrepreneurs through a fellowship experience that guides them along every step of the journey. The organization provides these innovators with essential strategic guidance and services, educational programming, and access to a tailored network of scientific and business mentors and advisors. Today, the organization supports activate fellows through its berkeley, boston, new york, houston, and anywhere communities. Since 2015, activate fellows have launched 235 science-based companies…
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $491,089 | $0 | $51,583 | $542,672 |
| CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $344,243 | $0 | $32,406 | $376,649 |
| CHIEF GROWTH & PARTNERSHIP Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $311,737 | $0 | $31,546 | $343,283 |
| EXECUTIVE MANAGING DIRECTO Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $312,705 | $0 | $21,792 | $334,497 |
| MANAGING DIRECTOR - ACTIVATE BOSTON Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $278,498 | $0 | $33,372 | $311,870 |
| MANAGING DIRECTOR - ACTIVATE NEW YORK Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $304,603 | $0 | $6,526 | $311,129 |
| MANAGING DIRECTOR - ACTIVATE BERKELEY Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $291,314 | $0 | $9,047 | $300,361 |
| MANAGING DIRECTOR - ACTIVATE ANYWHERE Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $264,086 | $0 | $34,613 | $298,699 |
33 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Activate Global (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $1.9M (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–1b8 · 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 570
- Volunteers Part I, line 650
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| SHINING STAR CONSULTING LLC Outsource accounting services | $307,654 |
| LEILA MADRONE Fellowship consultant | $175,675 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 3 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
11 private foundations reported grants to Activate Global totaling $4.6M 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 Activate Global's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Activate Global, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
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Of every $100 Activate Global spent in FY2025, $79.87 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Questions people ask
How much of Activate Global's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, Activate Global reported that 79.9% of its $31.5 million in expenses went to program services, 17.0% to management and general and 3.2% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Activate Global pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Activate Global reported for one person in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 was $542,672, for the role of CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Activate Global get its money?
Of $30.6 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, 98.3% came from contributions and grants (including 55.3% from government grants) and 0.0% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Activate Global a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 47-5502184 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 202631339349305253 · read the filing
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, object 202521349349305092 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, object 202441349349307519 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, object 202341339349301579 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, object 202201339349306010 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, object 202141349349304664 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 47-5502184: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.