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Nonprofiteer
← ASPIRATION

Form 990 for tax year 2023

Filed by ASPIRATION.

This return was superseded by a later amendment. matched by us It is kept because history is preserved rather than replaced.

What the amendment changed

Compared with the latest return for 2023 , filed 26 August 2026. matched by us Only the return's totals, a 990-PF's accounting method and the names listed in Part VII (Part VIII on a 990-PF) are compared. We relate returns by organization, tax year and form, and order them by each return's own timestamp; the filer's own "amended return" checkbox is a separate fact.

Total revenue
$9,342,432 changed to $8,782,014
Total expenses
$7,845,417 changed to $7,742,668
Contributions and grants received
$6,935,896 changed to $6,375,552
Grants paid
$650,452 changed to $673,514
Program service revenue
$2,343,756 changed to $2,342,692
Investment income
$62,758 changed to $62,757
Other revenue
$22 changed to $1,013
Total assets, end of year
$6,454,301 changed to $5,892,735
Total liabilities, end of year
$697,481 changed to $635,285
Net assets or fund balances, end of year
$5,756,820 changed to $5,257,450
Program services expenses
$6,773,551 changed to $6,522,564
Management and general expenses
$1,054,366 changed to $1,119,173
Fundraising expenses
$17,500 changed to $100,931
Program service expenses (Part III)
$6,773,551 changed to $6,522,564

Totals

Total revenue
$9,342,432
Total expenses
$7,845,417
Contributions and grants received
$6,935,896
Grants paid
$650,452
Program service revenue
$2,343,756
Investment income
$62,758
Other revenue
$22
Total assets, end of year
$6,454,301
Total liabilities, end of year
$697,481
Net assets or fund balances, end of year
$5,756,820
Program services expenses (Part IX)
$6,773,551
Management and general expenses
$1,054,366
Fundraising expenses
$17,500
Program service expenses (Part III)
$6,773,551

Program services were 86.3% 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

    $6,935,896

  • 1g · Noncash contributions included above

    $27,000

  • 2a · Program service revenue: Fiscal Sponsorship

    total $727,692 · related or exempt $727,692

  • 2b · Program service revenue: Program Service Fees

    total $1,616,064 · related or exempt $1,616,064

  • 3 · Investment income

    total $62,758 · excluded $62,758

  • 4 · Income from investment of tax-exempt bond proceeds

    total $0

  • 5 · Royalties

    total $0

  • 6d · Net rental income or loss

    total $0

  • 7d · Net gain or loss

    total $0

  • 8c · Net income from fundraising events

    total $0

  • 9c · Net income from gaming

    total $0

  • 10c · Net income from sales of inventory

    total $0

  • 11a · Other revenue: Other

    total $22 · related or exempt $22

  • 11e · Other revenue, total

    $22

Functional expenses

Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.

  • 1 · Grants to domestic organizations and governments

    total $5,327 · program services $5,327

  • 2 · Grants to domestic individuals

    total $0

  • 3 · Grants to foreign organizations and individuals

    total $645,125 · program services $645,125

  • 4 · Benefits paid to or for members

    total $0

  • 5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees

    total $360,000 · program services $288,000 · management and general $72,000

  • 6 · Compensation of disqualified persons

    total $0

  • 7 · Other salaries and wages

    total $721,062 · program services $595,147 · management and general $108,415 · fundraising $17,500

  • 8 · Pension plan contributions

    total $0

  • 9 · Other employee benefits

    total $85,311 · program services $73,941 · management and general $11,370

  • 10 · Payroll taxes

    total $72,220 · program services $56,554 · management and general $15,666

  • 11a · Fees: management

    total $0

  • 11b · Fees: legal

    total $57,488 · program services $19,101 · management and general $38,387

  • 11c · Fees: accounting

    total $51,823 · program services $2,135 · management and general $49,688

  • 11d · Fees: lobbying

    total $0

  • 11e · Fees: professional fundraising services

    total $0

  • 11f · Fees: investment management

    total $0

  • 11g · Fees: other

    total $0

  • 12 · Advertising and promotion

    total $7,012 · program services $6,023 · management and general $989

  • 13 · Office expenses

    total $0

  • 14 · Information technology

    total $8,542 · program services $7,454 · management and general $1,088

  • 15 · Royalties

    total $0

  • 16 · Occupancy

    total $0

  • 17 · Travel

    total $295,470 · program services $294,622 · management and general $848

  • 18 · Travel or entertainment for public officials

    total $0

  • 19 · Conferences, conventions and meetings

    total $0

  • 20 · Interest

    total $0

  • 21 · Payments to affiliates

    total $0

  • 22 · Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    total $6,861 · program services $6,861

  • 23 · Insurance

    total $13,740 · program services $6,586 · management and general $7,154

  • 24a · Other expenses: Consulting

    total $4,457,465 · program services $4,457,465

  • 24b · Other expenses: Fiscal Sponsorship

    total $727,692 · management and general $727,692

  • 24c · Other expenses: Venue Rental

    total $183,535 · program services $183,535

  • 24d · Other expenses: Software & Hardware

    total $74,970 · program services $67,589 · management and general $7,381

  • 24e · All other expenses

    total $71,774 · program services $58,086 · management and general $13,688

Balance sheet

Part X, book values.

  • 1 · Cash, non-interest-bearing

    beginning of year $983,172 · end of year $899,692

  • 2 · Savings and temporary cash investments

    beginning of year $3,515,716 · end of year $2,921,106

  • 3 · Pledges and grants receivable

    end of year $2,156,000

  • 4 · Accounts receivable

    beginning of year $1,115,568 · end of year $155,799

  • 5 · Loans and receivables from officers and key people

    end of year $0

  • 6 · Loans and receivables from disqualified persons

    end of year $0

  • 7 · Other notes and loans receivable

    end of year $0

  • 8 · Inventories for sale or use

    beginning of year $36,946 · end of year $31,475

  • 9 · Prepaid expenses and deferred charges

    beginning of year $14,494 · end of year $269,342

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

    $78,219

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

    $67,299

  • 10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net

    beginning of year $9,140 · end of year $10,920

  • 11 · Investments: publicly traded securities

    end of year $0

  • 12 · Investments: other securities

    end of year $0

  • 13 · Investments: program-related

    end of year $0

  • 14 · Intangible assets

    end of year $0

  • 15 · Other assets

    beginning of year $8,811 · end of year $9,967

  • 17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses

    beginning of year $1,005,896 · end of year $452,783

  • 19 · Deferred revenue

    beginning of year $56,750 · end of year $244,698

  • 27 · Net assets without donor restrictions

    end of year $998,933

  • 28 · Net assets with donor restrictions

    beginning of year $4,621,201 · end of year $4,757,887

Mission and programs · 2023

Mission

To train charitable nonprofits in how to select and use technology in sustainable ways that increase impact; to design and run highly collaborative nonprofit technology events, focused on knowledge sharing and development of peer support networks; and to provide advice, strategy support, tools, and resources to charitable projects and foundations to help them achieve their missions of delivering high-impact technology that can meet the needs of those working for a better world.

Activities or mission (Part I)

Aspiration helps nonprofits and foundations use software tools more effectively and sustainably.

  • In 2023, our Strategic Event Services Program facilitated more than 13 virtual events and gatherings. These events dealt with a wide variety of nonprofit technology issues that affect human rights workers, environmental organizations, internet freedom, and grassroots organizations. Thousands of nonprofit staff, activists, and students representing hundreds of organizations benefited from our interactive, inclusive event format at these gatherings.Our How to Raise Money (HtRM) strategic development program offered a series of strategic workshops, tools, and templates to over 20 emerging nonprofit leaders and social entrepreneurs, to help them bring partners, expertise, and resources to their missions.Our Core Skills Capacity Building Program continued to offer free advice and training to grassroots nonprofits.Our Strategic Consulting Program continued to advise nonprofit staff on a variety of technology and strategy issues, including pro bono services for underserved organizations.We also held our 20th annual (and third virtual) Nonprofit Software Development Summit.Our fiscal sponsorship program supported 11 technology projects for the public good: Cabbage Tree Labs, Cadence, Coalition for Independent Technology Research, Collaborative Knowledge Foundation, Critical Internet Studies Institute, Open Referral, Open Web Advocacy, Proof, Tahoe-LAFS, Warpforge, and Youth for Privacy.

    Expenses $6,773,551 · Revenue $9,342,432

As filed on the 2023 return.

Listed in Part VII

  • Allen Gunn

    Executive Dir.

    Total calculated
    $360,000
    From this org
    $330,000
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $30,000
    Hours/week
    50

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $330,000
    Bonus
    not reported
    Other
    not reported
    Deferred
    $30,000
    Nontaxable benefits
    not reported
    Filer's total
    $360,000

  • Sarah West

    Managing Director

    Total calculated
    $181,176
    From this org
    $163,507
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $17,669
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $163,507
    Bonus
    not reported
    Other
    not reported
    Deferred
    $17,669
    Nontaxable benefits
    not reported
    Filer's total
    $181,176

  • Geoffrey MacDougall

    Senior Advisor

    Total calculated
    $152,449
    From this org
    $140,809
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $11,640
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $140,809
    Bonus
    not reported
    Other
    not reported
    Deferred
    $11,640
    Nontaxable benefits
    not reported
    Filer's total
    $152,449

  • Julianne Ancey

    Assistant Director

    Total calculated
    $112,000
    From this org
    $109,353
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $2,647
    Hours/week
    40

  • Steve Wright

    Board Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Jack Aponte

    Board Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Harlo Holmes

    Board Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Misty Avila

    Board Chair

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Aman Ahuja

    Secretary

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Camille Ramani

    Treasurer

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

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 · Written employment contract
  • 3 · Compensation survey or study
  • 3 · Approval by the board or compensation committee

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
  • 7 · Other non-fixed payments
  • 8 · Paid under the initial-contract exception

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

  • Superbloom Design

    $5,327

    Programs

Provenance

Return type
form_990
Tax year
2023
Filed
13 November 2024
IRS schema version
2023v5.1
Source object
202413189349303466

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