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Nonprofiteer
← ELECTRONIC FRONTIER FOUNDATION INC

Form 990 for tax year 2024

Filed by ELECTRONIC FRONTIER FOUNDATION INC.

Totals

Total revenue
$21,592,581
Total expenses
$25,771,066
Contributions and grants received
$19,460,238
Grants paid
$10,000
Program service revenue
$0
Investment income
$1,416,407
Other revenue
$715,936
Total assets, end of year
$56,346,261
Total liabilities, end of year
$250,752
Net assets or fund balances, end of year
$56,095,509
Program services expenses (Part IX)
$18,332,068
Management and general expenses
$4,036,575
Fundraising expenses
$3,402,423
Program service expenses (Part III)
$18,332,068

Program services were 71.1% 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.

  • 1a · Federated campaigns

    $27,675

  • 1b · Membership dues

    $4,250,001

  • 1f · All other contributions, gifts and grants

    $15,182,562

  • 1g · Noncash contributions included above

    $864,425

  • 3 · Investment income

    total $1,416,407 · excluded $1,416,407

  • 10a · Gross sales of inventory

    $65,090

  • 10b · Cost of goods sold

    $0

  • 10c · Net income from sales of inventory

    total $65,090 · related or exempt $65,090

  • 11a · Other revenue: CY Pres Awards

    total $474,244 · excluded $474,244

  • 11b · Other revenue: Other income

    total $130,164 · excluded $130,164

  • 11c · Other revenue: Community dev. events

    total $46,438 · excluded $46,438

  • 11e · Other revenue, total

    $650,846

Functional expenses

Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.

  • 1 · Grants to domestic organizations and governments

    total $10,000 · program services $10,000

  • 5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees

    total $2,029,184 · program services $1,376,169 · management and general $605,863 · fundraising $47,152

  • 7 · Other salaries and wages

    total $14,376,126 · program services $10,380,792 · management and general $2,468,094 · fundraising $1,527,240

  • 8 · Pension plan contributions

    total $505,821 · program services $367,700 · management and general $49,905 · fundraising $88,216

  • 9 · Other employee benefits

    total $2,313,555 · program services $1,696,784 · management and general $217,630 · fundraising $399,141

  • 10 · Payroll taxes

    total $1,232,165 · program services $884,508 · management and general $124,036 · fundraising $223,621

  • 11b · Fees: legal

    total $103,338 · program services $71,598 · management and general $19,244 · fundraising $12,496

  • 11c · Fees: accounting

    total $29,000 · management and general $29,000

  • 11d · Fees: lobbying

    total $70,500 · program services $70,500

  • 11f · Fees: investment management

    total $128,764 · management and general $128,764

  • 11g · Fees: other

    total $2,274,879 · program services $1,877,388 · management and general $55,914 · fundraising $341,577

  • 12 · Advertising and promotion

    total $44,765 · program services $36,978 · management and general $1,095 · fundraising $6,692

  • 13 · Office expenses

    total $335,489 · program services $232,450 · management and general $62,469 · fundraising $40,570

  • 14 · Information technology

    total $81,743 · program services $56,636 · management and general $15,222 · fundraising $9,885

  • 16 · Occupancy

    total $299,936 · program services $207,810 · management and general $55,856 · fundraising $36,270

  • 17 · Travel

    total $200,672 · program services $188,019 · management and general $2,946 · fundraising $9,707

  • 22 · Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    total $273,912 · program services $189,780 · management and general $51,009 · fundraising $33,123

  • 23 · Insurance

    total $162,531 · program services $136,466 · management and general $15,804 · fundraising $10,261

  • 24a · Other expenses: Membership expenses

    total $536,683 · program services $34,379 · management and general $3,037 · fundraising $499,267

  • 24b · Other expenses: Planning & development

    total $441,314 · program services $271,765 · management and general $124,033 · fundraising $45,516

  • 24c · Other expenses: Litigation

    total $147,716 · program services $147,716

  • 24d · Other expenses: Event expenses

    total $116,852 · program services $75,771 · fundraising $41,081

  • 24e · All other expenses

    total $56,121 · program services $18,859 · management and general $6,654 · fundraising $30,608

Balance sheet

Part X, book values.

  • 1 · Cash, non-interest-bearing

    beginning of year $1,176,617 · end of year $567,621

  • 2 · Savings and temporary cash investments

    beginning of year $6,353,988 · end of year $2,050,285

  • 3 · Pledges and grants receivable

    beginning of year $120,098 · end of year $1,018,468

  • 4 · Accounts receivable

    beginning of year $9,000 · end of year $2,333

  • 7 · Other notes and loans receivable

    beginning of year $199,117 · end of year $186,439

  • 8 · Inventories for sale or use

    beginning of year $183,752 · end of year $237,720

  • 9 · Prepaid expenses and deferred charges

    beginning of year $158,731 · end of year $122,995

  • 10a · Land, buildings and equipment: cost or other basis

    $12,658,080

  • 10b · Land, buildings and equipment: accumulated depreciation

    $3,171,866

  • 10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net

    beginning of year $9,741,193 · end of year $9,486,214

  • 11 · Investments: publicly traded securities

    beginning of year $40,389,131 · end of year $42,643,703

  • 15 · Other assets

    beginning of year $42,935 · end of year $30,483

  • 17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses

    beginning of year $1,218,433 · end of year $215,218

  • 19 · Deferred revenue

    beginning of year $15,343 · end of year $5,051

  • 25 · Other liabilities

    beginning of year $42,935 · end of year $30,483

  • 27 · Net assets without donor restrictions

    beginning of year $51,141,544 · end of year $49,252,506

  • 28 · Net assets with donor restrictions

    beginning of year $5,956,307 · end of year $6,843,003

Mission and programs · 2024

Mission

See Schedule O

Activities or mission (Part I)

See Schedule OThe mission of the Electronic Frontier Foundation, Inc. ("EFF") is to ensure that technology supports freedom, justice, and innovation for all people of the world.

  • Educated the public regarding new forms of technology, fostered discussion as well as public policy analysis regarding the legal and social issues raised by technology, and conducted litigation in the public interest to preserve human and civil rights.

    Expenses $18,332,068 · Grants $10,000

As filed on the 2024 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here.

Listed in Part VII

  • Gigi Sohn

    Chair

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Brian Behlendorf

    Vice-Chair

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Erica Astrella

    Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Anil Dash

    Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Sarah Deutsch

    Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • David Farber

    Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Brewster Kahle

    Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Tadayoshi Kohno

    Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Pamela Samuelson

    Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Bruce Schneier

    Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • James Vasile

    Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Tarah Wheeler

    Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Jonathan Zittrain

    Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Cindy Cohn

    Executive Director

    Total calculated
    $376,166
    From this org
    $352,039
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $24,127
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $326,012
    Bonus
    $20,000
    Other
    $6,027
    Deferred
    $5,000
    Nontaxable benefits
    $19,127
    Filer's total
    $376,166
  • Kelly Esguerra

    Treasurer/CFO

    Total calculated
    $281,053
    From this org
    $244,097
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $36,956
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $230,023
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $14,074
    Deferred
    $5,000
    Nontaxable benefits
    $31,956
    Filer's total
    $281,053
  • Jennifer Lynch

    Secretary & Gen. Counsel

    Total calculated
    $273,852
    From this org
    $250,023
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $23,829
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $225,950
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $24,073
    Deferred
    $5,000
    Nontaxable benefits
    $18,829
    Filer's total
    $273,852
  • Corynne McSherry

    Legal Director

    Total calculated
    $249,599
    From this org
    $242,711
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $6,888
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $233,824
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $8,887
    Deferred
    $5,000
    Nontaxable benefits
    $1,888
    Filer's total
    $249,599
  • Rebecca Jeschke

    Chief Operating Officer

    Total calculated
    $286,128
    From this org
    $258,050
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $28,078
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $243,824
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $14,226
    Deferred
    $5,000
    Nontaxable benefits
    $23,078
    Filer's total
    $286,128
  • Nathan Sheard

    Managing Director, Advocacy

    Total calculated
    $239,439
    From this org
    $220,910
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $18,529
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $200,949
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $19,961
    Deferred
    $3,530
    Nontaxable benefits
    $14,999
    Filer's total
    $239,439
  • Genevieve Gebhart

    Managing Director, Technology

    Total calculated
    $228,497
    From this org
    $208,617
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $19,880
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $199,550
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $9,067
    Deferred
    $5,000
    Nontaxable benefits
    $14,880
    Filer's total
    $228,497
  • David Greene

    Civil Liberties Director

    Total calculated
    $288,958
    From this org
    $240,649
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $48,309
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $215,042
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $25,607
    Deferred
    $5,000
    Nontaxable benefits
    $43,309
    Filer's total
    $288,958
  • Lee Tien

    Legislative Director

    Total calculated
    $277,208
    From this org
    $230,014
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $47,194
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $207,537
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $22,477
    Deferred
    $5,000
    Nontaxable benefits
    $42,194
    Filer's total
    $277,208
  • Adam Schwartz

    Assistant Director - Legal

    Total calculated
    $237,038
    From this org
    $212,923
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $24,115
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $197,786
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $15,137
    Deferred
    $5,000
    Nontaxable benefits
    $19,115
    Filer's total
    $237,038
  • Horace Walker

    Chief People Officer

    Total calculated
    $265,749
    From this org
    $219,032
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $46,717
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $197,050
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $21,982
    Deferred
    $5,000
    Nontaxable benefits
    $41,717
    Filer's total
    $265,749
  • Allison Morris

    Chief Development Officer

    Total calculated
    $296,303
    From this org
    $247,311
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $48,992
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $237,499
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $9,812
    Deferred
    $5,000
    Nontaxable benefits
    $43,992
    Filer's total
    $296,303

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 · Compensation committee
  • 3 · Written employment contract
  • 3 · Compensation survey or study
  • 3 · Approval by the board or compensation committee
  • 7 · Other non-fixed payments

Answered no

  • 4a · Severance or change-of-control payment
  • 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 7
Under the recommendation of the Compensation Committee, the Board of Directors approved a bonus payment of $20,000 for the Executive Director.

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

  • Access Now

    $10,000

    To defend the digital rights of people and communities at risk.

Provenance

Return type
form_990
Tax year
2024
Filed
8 April 2026
IRS schema version
2024v5.5
Source object
202610989349301676

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