Totals
- Total revenue
- $26,552,436
- Total expenses
- $6,068,091
- Contributions and grants received
- $10,928,013
- Grants paid
- $285,000
- Program service revenue
- $0
- Investment income
- -$196
- Other revenue
- $15,624,619
- Total assets, end of year
- $7,474,351
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $26,205,107
- Net assets or fund balances, end of year
- -$18,730,756
- Program services expenses (Part IX)
- $3,106,023
- Management and general expenses
- $2,875,150
- Fundraising expenses
- $86,918
- Program service expenses (Part III)
- $3,106,023
Program services were 51.2% of total expenses calculated — Part IX's program-services column over total expenses, both as filed.
Line items
Every line the filer filed in Parts VIII, IX and X, as filed and in filed order. Blank columns are left out, and the lines are not forced to add up to the totals above.
Revenue
Part VIII, the statement of revenue.
-
1f · All other contributions, gifts and grants
$10,928,013
-
7b · Less cost or other basis and sales expenses
other assets $196
-
7c · Gain or loss
other assets -$196
-
7d · Net gain or loss
total -$196 · excluded -$196
-
11a · Other revenue: FORGIVENESS OF DEBT
total $15,623,345 · excluded $15,623,345
-
11b · Other revenue: OTHER REVENUE
total $1,274 · excluded $1,274
-
11e · Other revenue, total
$15,624,619
Functional expenses
Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.
-
1 · Grants to domestic organizations and governments
total $215,000 · program services $215,000
-
2 · Grants to domestic individuals
total $70,000 · program services $70,000
-
7 · Other salaries and wages
total $1,632,355 · program services $1,342,698 · management and general $290,239 · fundraising -$582
-
8 · Pension plan contributions
total $30,512 · program services $22,166 · management and general $8,346
-
9 · Other employee benefits
total $153,589 · program services $111,575 · management and general $42,014
-
10 · Payroll taxes
total $87,264 · program services $62,821 · management and general $24,443
-
11b · Fees: legal
total $50,392 · management and general $50,392
-
11c · Fees: accounting
total $172,218 · management and general $172,218
-
11g · Fees: other
total $1,075,830 · program services $887,567 · management and general $103,756 · fundraising $84,507
-
12 · Advertising and promotion
total $9,448 · program services $9,448
-
13 · Office expenses
total $8,541 · program services $2,467 · management and general $6,074
-
14 · Information technology
total $118,850 · program services $43,361 · management and general $72,496 · fundraising $2,993
-
16 · Occupancy
total $53,491 · management and general $53,491
-
17 · Travel
total $184,516 · program services $177,994 · management and general $6,522
-
19 · Conferences, conventions and meetings
total $124,057 · program services $122,051 · management and general $2,006
-
22 · Depreciation, depletion and amortization
total $11,702 · management and general $11,702
-
23 · Insurance
total $4,470 · management and general $4,470
-
24a · Other expenses: GRANT LIAB. DISCOUNTS
total $2,005,048 · management and general $2,005,048
-
24b · Other expenses: PAYROLL PROCESSING FEES
total $51,253 · program services $37,233 · management and general $14,020
-
24c · Other expenses: FOREIGN CURRENCY EXCH.
total $4,573 · management and general $4,573
-
24d · Other expenses: OTHER BUSINESS EXPENSES
total $2,028 · management and general $2,028
-
24e · All other expenses
total $2,954 · program services $1,642 · management and general $1,312
Balance sheet
Part X, book values.
-
1 · Cash, non-interest-bearing
beginning of year $373,168 · end of year $430,399
-
4 · Accounts receivable
beginning of year $500,000
-
9 · Prepaid expenses and deferred charges
beginning of year $99,176 · end of year $88,923
-
10a · Land, buildings and equipment: cost or other basis
$35,107
-
10b · Land, buildings and equipment: accumulated depreciation
$24,909
-
10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net
beginning of year $21,900 · end of year $10,198
-
15 · Other assets
beginning of year $5,246,681 · end of year $6,944,831
-
17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses
beginning of year $200,744 · end of year $379,746
-
18 · Grants payable
beginning of year $42,022,949 · end of year $21,387,998
-
25 · Other liabilities
beginning of year $3,237,363 · end of year $4,437,363
-
27 · Net assets without donor restrictions
beginning of year -$39,220,131 · end of year -$18,730,756
Mission and programs · 2024
Mission
TO CREATE A NEW CIVIC ARCHITECTURE FOR THE DIGITAL WORLD THAT RETURNS THE OWNERSHIP AND CONTROL OF PERSONAL DATA TO INDIVIDUALS, EMBEDS ETHICAL VALUES INTO TECHNOLOGY, AND EXPANDS ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES FOR WEB USERS AND DEVELOPERS ALIKE.
Activities or mission (Part I)
SEE PART III, LINE 1.
-
PROJECT LIBERTY INSTITUTE CONDUCTS AND PROVIDES FUNDING FOR RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY PROJECTS THAT FURTHER THE EDUCATION OF THE PUBLIC AND THE SCIENTIFIC COMMUNITY'S UNDERSTANDING OF THE IMPACT OF TECHNOLOGY ON SOCIETY, INCLUDING AN ENHANCED UNDERSTANDING OF, AND ADVANCEMENT OF, DATA PRIVACY, ONLINE RELATIONSHIPS, AND NEW DIGITAL GOVERNANCE AND DIGITAL SHARED ECONOMIC MODELS.
Expenses $1,828,018 · Grants $260,000
-
PROJECT LIBERTY INSTITUTE ORGANIZES AND PARTICIPATES IN REGULAR EVENTS, CONVENINGS AND EDUCATIONAL CAMPAIGNS OF TECHNOLOGISTS, ETHICISTS, LEGAL EXPERTS, ENTREPRENEURS, SOCIAL INNOVATORS AND OTHER EXPERTS IN THE UNITED STATES, UNITED KINGDOM, FRANCE, AND ELSEWHERE TO FOSTER DIALOGUE AND DEVELOP COMPREHENSIVE RECOMMENDATIONS TO EXPLORE AND ADVANCE BETTER MODELS OF DIGITAL ECOSYSTEMS.PROJECT LIBERTY INSTITUTE CEASED OPERATIONS IN THE UK WITH THE TERMINATION OF ALL UK-BASED STAFF ON JANUARY 15, 2024. THEREAFTER, PLI CLOSED THE UK OFFICE AND WORKED TO DISSOLVE THE COMPANY. PL UK SERVICES LIMITED WAS OFFICIALLY DISSOLVED ON MAY 25, 2025.
Expenses $1,278,005 · Grants $25,000
As filed on the 2024 return.
Listed in Part VII
-
Frank McCourtFRANK MCCOURT
CHAIR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 2
-
Maria CancianMARIA CANCIAN
SECRETARY
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 0.05
-
Alberto BeeckALBERTO BEECK
DIRECTOR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 0.25
-
Joseph RileyJOSEPH RILEY
TREASURER
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Tomicah TillemannTOMICAH TILLEMANN
PRESIDENT & CEO (SEE SCH O)
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 15
-
Kila Englebrook - Head OfKILA ENGLEBROOK - HEAD OF
OPS/OFCR (FROM 4/24) (SEE SCH O)
- Total calculated
- $61,744
- From this org
- $53,609
- From related orgs
- $0
- Other
- $8,135
- Hours/week
- 10 + 2 related
-
James BellJAMES BELL
HEAD OF STRATEGIC INSIGHTS
- Total calculated
- $413,821
- From this org
- $346,115
- From related orgs
- $0
- Other
- $67,706
- Hours/week
- 40
Schedule J breakdown matched by us
- Base
- $288,115
- Bonus
- $58,000
- Other
- $0
- Deferred
- $10,350
- Nontaxable benefits
- $57,356
- Filer's total
- $413,821
-
Erik Suhonen - HeadERIK SUHONEN - HEAD
OF ECOSYSTEM GROWTH (UNTIL 9/24)
- Total calculated
- $294,910
- From this org
- $257,270
- From related orgs
- $0
- Other
- $37,640
- Hours/week
- 40
Schedule J breakdown matched by us
- Base
- $206,437
- Bonus
- $0
- Other
- $50,833
- Deferred
- $6,356
- Nontaxable benefits
- $31,284
- Filer's total
- $294,910
-
Jessica TheoduleJESSICA THEODULE
RESEARCH MANAGER OF STRAT. INSIGHTS
- Total calculated
- $182,980
- From this org
- $136,674
- From related orgs
- $0
- Other
- $46,306
- Hours/week
- 40
Schedule J breakdown matched by us
- Base
- $116,674
- Bonus
- $20,000
- Other
- $0
- Deferred
- $3,104
- Nontaxable benefits
- $43,202
- Filer's total
- $182,980
-
Sara WekselblattSARA WEKSELBLATT
FINANCE & HR SENIOR MANAGER
- Total calculated
- $165,600
- From this org
- $134,511
- From related orgs
- $0
- Other
- $31,089
- Hours/week
- 40
Schedule J breakdown matched by us
- Base
- $115,311
- Bonus
- $19,200
- Other
- $0
- Deferred
- $3,281
- Nontaxable benefits
- $27,808
- Filer's total
- $165,600
Compensation is as filed in Part VII: reportable pay from this organization and from related organizations, other compensation, and hours per week. The total, marked calculated, is our sum of the three dollar columns, with a blank column counted as $0; the form itself has no total. On a Form 990-EZ the columns are Part IV's instead, and on a Form 990-PF Part VIII's — compensation, contributions to benefit plans, and expense account — and the total sums those. A Schedule J breakdown is as filed: base pay, bonus, other, deferred compensation and nontaxable benefits from this organization, with any from related organizations beside each, and the filer's own total. It is shown with the Part VII listing of the same name on the same return. The form gives no key between the two, so that pairing is ours, and is marked matched by us.
Schedule J
Answered yes
- 3 · Approval by the board or compensation committee
- 4a · Severance or change-of-control payment
- 7 · Other non-fixed payments
Answered no
- 4b · Supplemental nonqualified retirement plan
- 4c · Equity-based compensation arrangement
- 5a · Pay contingent on this organization's revenues
- 5b · Pay contingent on a related organization's revenues
- 6a · Pay contingent on this organization's net earnings
- 6b · Pay contingent on a related organization's net earnings
- 8 · Paid under the initial-contract exception
The filer's explanations (Part III)
- PART I, LINE 4A
- ERIK SUHONEN RECEIVED SEVERANCE OF $50,833 DURING 2024.
- PART I, LINE 7
- ALL BONUSES ARE MERIT BASED. SEE PART II FOR BONUSES.
Part I's answers as filed. A line not listed was left unanswered; on lines 1a and 3 that means the box was not checked.
Grants on this return
-
SUPPORTS ADVANCED NETWORK ARCHITECTURE GROUP'S RESEARCH TO DEVELOP A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF HOW INTERNET APPLICATIONS WITH DSNP CONTROL CAN BE VIABLE IN A MARKETPLACE DOMINATED BY LARGE ACTORS THAT HOLD CENTRALIZED CONTROL OVER THEIR SYSTEMS.
-
$70,000
SUPPORTS THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE PROSOCIAL RANKING CHALLENGE, WHICH IS THE FIRST LARGE-SCALE, CROSS-PLATFORM, ECOLOGICALLY VALID EXPERIMENT TO TEST BRIDGING-BASED RANKING ALGORITHMS TO IDENTIFY THE BEST ALGORITHMS TO IMPROVE SOCIAL COHESION ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
-
$25,000
LAUNCH ACTIVITIES RELATED TO THE ON-CHAIN TOOL INSTANTIATING THE PARTIAL COMMON OWNERSHIP (PCO) OF ART, DATA, AND OTHER INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, AS DETAILED BY THE GRANTEE IN THE ENCLOSED PROPOSAL.
Taxable family on this return
Schedule R Parts I, III and IV, as filed. These record ownership and control, not shared board members or money moved.
Disregarded entities
Part I: entities that legally are the filer and file no return of their own.
-
STEWARD THE DECENTRALIZED SOCIAL NETWORKING PROTOCOL ("DSNP") · DE · income $0 · assets $0
Directly controlled by PROJECT LIBERTY INSTITUTE
-
MCCOURT INSTITUTE LLC
ENSURE FUTURE PRIORITIZATION OF DIGITAL GOVERNANCE OVER THE · DE · income $18,800,000 · assets $0
Directly controlled by PROJECT LIBERTY INSTITUTE
Related corporations and trusts
Part IV: related organizations taxable as a corporation or trust.
-
PROJECT LIBERTY UK SERVICES LIMITED
C · PROVIDES ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT SERVICES · UK · 100% owned · share of income $8,688 · share of assets $12,455 · controlled entity
Directly controlled by PROJECT LIBERTY INSTITUTE
Provenance
- Return type
- form_990
- Tax year
- 2024
- Filed
- 12 November 2025
- IRS schema version
- 2024v5.2
- Source object
- 202503169349301980
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