Merit America
Merit America reported $61.4 million in revenue and $51.0 million in expenses for calendar year 2024. Of every $100 it spent, $92.82 went to program services, $4.70 to management and general costs and $2.48 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 75.0% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $599,166 (CO-FOUNDER AND CO-CEO). 54 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 893% between 2020 and 2024. Source: Form 990, 2024.
Where $100 of spending went
Calendar year 2024 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $51MFor context, the median across 3,614 covered human services charities: $88.27 programs, $11.52 management, $0.21 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 $61MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | 2024 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 92.8% | 87.2% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 4.7% | 11.4% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 2.5% | 0.2% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.03 | $0.02 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 75.0% | 20.6% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 2.4% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 23.4% | 70.8% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $599,166 | $274,992 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 1.18% | 1.18% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 54 | 6 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 7.3 | 6.9 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 6 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
2024 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseIn 2024, Merit America focused on refining our proven "tech+ touch" model, blending flexible online learning with world-class coaching to deliver transformative results at scale. Fueled by our mission to build a pathway to the middle class for the 53 million americans stuck in low-wage work, we also expanded into new fields beyond technology, proving that our approach works across multiple in-demand careers while laying the groundwork for our next chapter of growth.since our first 15-person pilot in 2018, Merit America has scaled dramatically. In april 2024, the organization surpassed 10,000…
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CO-FOUNDER AND CO-CEO Director/trustee, officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $532,311 | $0 | $66,855 | $599,166 |
| CO-FOUNDER AND CO-CEO Director/trustee, officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $512,754 | $0 | $84,194 | $596,948 |
| CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $291,863 | $0 | $43,976 | $335,839 |
| CHIEF PRODUCT OFFICER Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $252,221 | $0 | $57,031 | $309,252 |
| CHIEF PROGRAM OFFICER Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $273,994 | $0 | $23,919 | $297,913 |
| VICE PRESIDENT, DEVELOPMENT Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $250,045 | $0 | $42,483 | $292,528 |
| BUS. OFFICER/CHIEF POLICY OFFICER Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $246,793 | $0 | $35,578 | $282,371 |
| CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER (THRU 8/24) Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $239,408 | $0 | $29,508 | $268,916 |
54 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Merit America (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $1.5M (Part IX, line 5).
6 filings since FY2019 (7 mo.)
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–1b8 · 6 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 14bNo
- Employees Part I, line 5248
- Volunteers Part I, line 66
Largest outside contractors
2024 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| BUSINESS RULE SOLUTIONS LLC Analytics and data cleaning services | $252,000 |
| BERLIN ROSEN LLC Marketing, strategy, creative services | $200,310 |
| IRRATIONAL LABS LLC Strategy consulting | $200,000 |
| DAVID GUENDELMAN Finance consulting and reporting | $163,548 |
| H EMAD ANSARI ESQ Legal services | $120,000 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 6 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
10 private foundations reported grants to Merit America totaling $2.1M 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 Merit America'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 America, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Merit America spent in 2024, $92.82 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
Embed on your site
Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Landis Homes Retirement CommunityLititz, PA · revenue $61M · programs 83.0% · FY2025
- Newbridge on the CharlesBoston, MA · revenue $61M · programs 79.7% · FY2025
- The Young Men's Christian Association of Greater Grand Rapids (3019)Grand Rapids, MI · revenue $61M · programs 89.6% · 2025
- Early Learning Coalition of Pinellas CountyClearwater, FL · revenue $62M · programs 96.0% · FY2025
- Sunnyside Presbyterian HomeHarrisonburg, VA · revenue $61M · programs 76.5% · 2024
All human services charities · Largest charities in District of Columbia
Questions people ask
How much of Merit America's spending goes to programs?
In calendar year 2024, Merit America reported that 92.8% of its $51.0 million in expenses went to program services, 4.7% to management and general and 2.5% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Merit America pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Merit America reported for one person in calendar year 2024 was $599,166, for the role of CO-FOUNDER AND CO-CEO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Merit America get its money?
Of $61.4 million in revenue in calendar year 2024, 75.0% came from contributions and grants and 23.4% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Merit America a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 84-2108762 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 202503169349309415 · read the filing · XML
- 2023: Form 990 for calendar year 2023, object 202403119349304205 · read the filing
- 2022: Form 990 for calendar year 2022, object 202312929349301511 · read the filing
- 2021: Form 990 for calendar year 2021, object 202243199349318019 · read the filing
- 2020: Form 990 for calendar year 2020, object 202103199349321770 · read the filing
- FY2019 (7 mo.): Form 990 for the 7-month short period ending December 31, 2019 (amended), object 202133069349302493 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 84-2108762: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.