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Meridian International Center
Meridian International Center reported $43.7 million in revenue and $38.9 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $81.42 went to program services, $7.28 to management and general costs and $11.30 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 97.2% of the total. Government grants made up 63.3%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $564,015 (CEO). 36 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 69% between FY2020 and FY2025. Source: Form 990, FY2025.
Where $100 of spending went
The fiscal year ending September 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $39MFor context, the median across 469 covered international, foreign affairs & national security charities: $89.04 programs, $8.28 management, $2.68 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
The fiscal year ending September 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $44MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 81.4% | 86.1% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 7.3% | 8.0% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 11.3% | 2.6% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.10 | $0.03 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 97.2% | 96.6% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 63.3% | 0.0% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $564,015 | $341,362 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 1.45% | 1.06% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 36 | 10 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 7.0 | 7.5 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 27 of 28 | 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 expenseCenter for global leadership - international visitor leadership programfor more than 65 years, meridian has been a principal partner in implementing the international visitor leadership program (ivlp), the U.S. Department of state's premier professional exchange program. Between october 1, 2024, and september 30, 2025, meridian developed 114 ivlp projects for 1,081 emerging international leaders. Topics ranged from sports diplomacy and U.S. Foreign policy to ai. 1) in meridian's 30th year administering the british american parliamentary group (bapg), eight members of parliament began their…
Center for global leadership - customized exchangesbeyond ivlp, meridian implemented 62 projects for 403 participants from 104 countries. These partnerships give global changemakers opportunities to expand collaborative networks, drive innovation, and create lasting impact. 1) science, innovation & technology: through initiatives such as the nea space exchange program, meridian convened emerging leaders, policymakers, and technical experts from across the near east and north africa to strengthen collaboration in space science and technology, build regional capacity, and expand partnerships…
Center for culture and sports diplomacythrough music diplomacy exchanges, visual art exhibitions, and high impact convenings, meridian's center for culture and sports diplomacy builds connections among global communities by using culture and sports to bridge divides and highlight shared values. In 2025, key programs include 1) the annual flagship cultural diplomacy convening, culturefix, brought together the culture and sports diplomacy community through a dialogue series and awards ceremony celebrating achievement and thought leadership. The 2025 honorees included NFL commissioner roger…
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CEO Director/trustee, officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $474,755 | $0 | $89,260 | $564,015 |
| CHIEF TALENT & ADM. OFFICER Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $295,977 | $0 | $71,285 | $367,262 |
| CFO Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $293,514 | $0 | $70,257 | $363,771 |
| EXEC. VICE PRESIDENT Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $324,321 | $0 | $34,484 | $358,805 |
| CORP. AFFAIRS VICE PRESIDENT Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $261,658 | $0 | $55,608 | $317,266 |
| SENIOR DIRECTOR, DEVELOPMENT Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $196,299 | $0 | $40,539 | $236,838 |
| VICE PRESIDENT, CUSTOMIZED EXCHANGES Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $181,025 | $0 | $21,691 | $202,716 |
| VP, IVLP Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $162,841 | $0 | $39,021 | $201,862 |
36 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Meridian International Center (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $2.8M (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–1b28 · 27 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 4No
- 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 5196
- Volunteers Part I, line 641
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| AWARDS LIMOSINE & TRAVEL SERVICE INC Transportation services | $537,910 |
| RESTON LIMOSINE & TRAVEL SERVICE INC Transportation services | $237,930 |
| US TRANSLATION COMPANY Translation services | $211,840 |
| RSM US LLP Professional services | $203,572 |
| CAPITAL COMMUNICATIONS GROUP INC Tour group services | $162,019 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 12 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
19 private foundations reported grants to Meridian International Center totaling $458K 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 Meridian International Center's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Meridian International Center, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Meridian International Center spent in FY2025, $81.42 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- United Nations Development CorporationNew York, NY · revenue $44M · programs 84.3% · 2024
- American Jewish World ServiceNew York, NY · revenue $45M · programs 77.2% · FY2025
- Counterpart InternationalWashington, DC · revenue $43M · programs 77.8% · FY2025
- United Board for Christian Higher Education in AsiaNew York, NY · revenue $45M · programs 78.0% · FY2025
- International Development EnterprisesDenver, CO · revenue $43M · programs 78.3% · 2024
All international, foreign affairs & national security charities · Largest charities in District of Columbia
Questions people ask
How much of Meridian International Center's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025, Meridian International Center reported that 81.4% of its $38.9 million in expenses went to program services, 7.3% to management and general and 11.3% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Meridian International Center pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Meridian International Center reported for one person in the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025 was $564,015, for the role of CEO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Meridian International Center get its money?
Of $43.7 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025, 97.2% came from contributions and grants (including 63.3% from government grants) and 0.0% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Meridian International Center a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 53-0259663 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 September 30, 2025, object 202622159349300912 · read the filing
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2024, object 202501819349300115 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2023, object 202431589349300013 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2022, object 202311009349300406 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2021, object 202231029349301008 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2020, object 202122109349301407 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 53-0259663: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.