MIT Free Speech Alliance

EIN: 874018419 501(c)(3) Civil Rights & Advocacy

Cambridge, MA

Total Revenue
$203,814
Total Expenses
$291,630
Total Assets
$375,869
Net Assets
$345,953
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Financial Trends

Organization Details

Formation Year
2021
Legal Domicile
MA
Principal Officer
Wayne Stargardt
Phone
2155312171
Tax Period
2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31

MIT Free Speech Alliance, founded in 2021, is a small nonprofit in the Civil Rights & Advocacy sector that reported $204K in total revenue in fiscal year 2024. Revenue fell 45% from the prior year — a significant decline worth monitoring. Expenses of $292K exceeded revenue, resulting in a 43% operating deficit.

Mission

To promote free expression, academic freedom, viewpoint diversity, and open scientific inquiry in the MIT community

Program Service Accomplishments

Program 1
Expenses: $146,339

2024 saw the MIT Free Speech Alliances second full year of programming. This included holding two debates on the MIT campus, in the spring and fall 2024 semesters, which were open to all members of...

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2024 saw the MIT Free Speech Alliances second full year of programming. This included holding two debates on the MIT campus, in the spring and fall 2024 semesters, which were open to all members of the community. In April 2024, MFSA hosted a debate addressing the notion of the sex-and-gender binary, featuring two teams of academics and activists. In November 2024 we hosted a debate on the utility of decarbonization policies to address global warming, featuring two teams of scientific experts. The debates were moderated in turn by Nadine Strossen, former president of the American Civil Liberties Union, and John Tomasi, President of Heterodox Academy. Recordings of MFSAs debates are posted to our YouTube channel. MFSA also hosted its second annual conference at MIT in September 2024. The conference featured a variety of panel discussions and lectures on issues of free expression and academic freedom at MIT and in higher education more generally. The conference featured a keynote address by cognitive scientist and Harvard University professor Steven Pinker. Our 2024 conference marked an increase in attendance over 2023, and had greater participation by senior members of the MIT community, including its Vice President for Equity & Inclusion, who organized and moderated a session featuring a variety of MIT educators and professionals. In addition to our public events, we carried on with our regular member outreach and communications. We maintained our regular member newsletters to keep supporters aware of MFSAs activities and free speech-related developments at MIT, and held quarterly online member meetings with guest speakers. We also authored an extensive set of recommendations for improving MITs policies and climate on free expression that we provided to the administration. We additionally authored commentary on a series of controversies that took place at MIT following the October 7, 2023 attacks in Israel, including disruptive protests and encampments and the improper suppression of a student publication. Finally, 2024 saw MFSAs most successful fundraising campaign to date, and our total membership reached 1,200.

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Liquidity (40%) • Solvency (30%) • Sustainability (20%) • Efficiency (10%)

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Financial Overview (2024)

Revenue Breakdown

Contributions & Grants $203,814
Program Service Revenue $0
Investment Income $0
Other Revenue $0
TOTAL REVENUE $203,814

Expense Breakdown

Grants Paid $11,500
Salaries & Benefits $140,166
Fundraising Expenses $13,917
Program Expenses $146,339
Other Expenses $139,964
TOTAL EXPENSES $291,630

Year-over-Year Comparison

2024 2023 Change
Revenue $203,814 $373,087 -0.5%
Expenses $291,630 $248,479 +0.2%
Net Income $-87,816 $124,608 -1.7%
Key Indicators
Grants to Organizations Grants to Individuals Lobbying Political Activity Foreign Activities Donor Advised Fund Schedule B Required
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Governance

Voting Members
7
Independent Members
7
Employees
1
Volunteers
7

Governance Policies

Conflict of Interest Policy
Whistleblower Policy
Document Retention Policy

Special Practices & Reported Activities

Operated a School
Operated a Hospital
Provided First Class Travel
Reported Conflict of Interest
Reported Asset Diversion
Excess Benefit Transaction
Made Political Expenditures
Engaged in Lobbying
Operated Donor Advised Fund
Maintained Art Collections
Filed Form 720

Compensation of Officers, Directors & Key Employees

Total Officers
4
$129,161
Total Directors
7
$0
Key Employees
0
$0
Highest Compensated
0
reported
Name Title Hours/Week Role Reportable Comp Other Comp Total
Peter Bonilla Executive Director 40.00
Officer
$126,881 $2,280 $129,161
Ken Kidd Director 2.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
Eric Rasmusen Director 5.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
Chuck Davis Chair Emeritus 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
Melanie Ritcher Director 0.50
Director
$0 $0 $0
Wayne Stargardt President 17.00
Officer Director
$0 $0 $0
Cesarina Templeton Treasurer 10.00
Officer Director
$0 $0 $0
Bill Frezza Secretary 15.00
Officer Director
$0 $0 $0
Note: Compensation data is self-reported by the organization on their Form 990. "Reportable Comp" includes salary, bonuses, and other reportable compensation from the organization and related organizations. "Other Comp" includes benefits, deferred compensation, and non-taxable benefits.

Historical Data

Year Revenue Expenses Assets Net Income
2024 $203,814 $291,630 $375,869 $-87,816
2023 $373,087 $248,479 $460,685 $124,608
2022 $343,048 $33,887 $309,161 $309,161
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