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Nonprofiteer
← PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE

Form 990 for tax year 2024

Filed by PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE.

Totals

Total revenue
$2,876,810
Total expenses
$3,654,052
Contributions and grants received
$2,706,992
Grants paid
$0
Program service revenue
$3,547
Investment income
$166,073
Other revenue
$198
Total assets, end of year
$6,560,542
Total liabilities, end of year
$1,483,602
Net assets or fund balances, end of year
$5,076,940
Program services expenses (Part IX)
$1,846,331
Management and general expenses
$1,560,121
Fundraising expenses
$247,600
Program service expenses (Part III)
$1,846,331

Program services were 50.5% 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

    $2,706,992

  • 2a · Program service revenue: EVENT ADMISSION

    total $3,547 · related or exempt $3,547

  • 3 · Investment income

    total $117,870 · excluded $117,870

  • 7a · Gross sales of assets other than inventory

    securities $263,757

  • 7b · Less cost or other basis and sales expenses

    securities $215,554

  • 7c · Gain or loss

    securities $48,203

  • 7d · Net gain or loss

    total $48,203 · excluded $48,203

  • 11a · Other revenue: REFUND OF TAXES

    total $198 · excluded $198

  • 11e · Other revenue, total

    $198

Functional expenses

Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.

  • 5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees

    total $824,475 · program services $393,928 · management and general $310,509 · fundraising $120,038

  • 7 · Other salaries and wages

    total $1,536,791 · program services $839,532 · management and general $676,481 · fundraising $20,778

  • 8 · Pension plan contributions

    total $38,635 · program services $21,264 · management and general $17,181 · fundraising $190

  • 9 · Other employee benefits

    total $180,203 · program services $100,337 · management and general $71,189 · fundraising $8,677

  • 10 · Payroll taxes

    total $180,798 · program services $94,950 · management and general $75,359 · fundraising $10,489

  • 11b · Fees: legal

    total $71,824 · management and general $71,824

  • 11c · Fees: accounting

    total $51,306 · program services $47,157 · management and general $4,149

  • 11f · Fees: investment management

    total $13,757 · management and general $13,757

  • 11g · Fees: other

    total $171,197 · program services $102,254 · management and general $64,144 · fundraising $4,799

  • 13 · Office expenses

    total $35,532 · program services $17,421 · management and general $15,640 · fundraising $2,471

  • 14 · Information technology

    total $25,477 · program services $11,643 · management and general $9,240 · fundraising $4,594

  • 16 · Occupancy

    total $230,270 · program services $120,932 · management and general $95,978 · fundraising $13,360

  • 17 · Travel

    total $58,022 · program services $17,889 · management and general $38,887 · fundraising $1,246

  • 19 · Conferences, conventions and meetings

    total $147,044 · program services $38,856 · management and general $52,088 · fundraising $56,100

  • 22 · Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    total $23,201 · program services $12,185 · management and general $9,670 · fundraising $1,346

  • 23 · Insurance

    total $22,963 · program services $12,060 · management and general $9,571 · fundraising $1,332

  • 24a · Other expenses: BOOKS AND SUBSCRIPTION

    total $42,382 · program services $15,923 · management and general $24,279 · fundraising $2,180

  • 24b · Other expenses: MEMBERSHIP DUES

    total $175 · management and general $175

Balance sheet

Part X, book values.

  • 1 · Cash, non-interest-bearing

    beginning of year $886,688 · end of year $647,552

  • 2 · Savings and temporary cash investments

    beginning of year $2,368,702 · end of year $2,535,894

  • 3 · Pledges and grants receivable

    beginning of year $1,561,576 · end of year $780,292

  • 9 · Prepaid expenses and deferred charges

    beginning of year $54,236 · end of year $104,727

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

    $211,599

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

    $172,623

  • 10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net

    beginning of year $62,177 · end of year $38,976

  • 11 · Investments: publicly traded securities

    beginning of year $1,059,832 · end of year $1,320,607

  • 15 · Other assets

    beginning of year $1,239,098 · end of year $1,132,494

  • 17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses

    beginning of year $85,387 · end of year $104,867

  • 25 · Other liabilities

    beginning of year $1,498,361 · end of year $1,378,735

  • 27 · Net assets without donor restrictions

    beginning of year $2,732,774 · end of year $2,945,023

  • 28 · Net assets with donor restrictions

    beginning of year $2,915,787 · end of year $2,131,917

Mission and programs · 2024

Mission

PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE PROMOTES FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION, AN OPEN INTERNET, AND ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE COMMUNICATIONS TOOLS AND CREATIVE WORKS. WE WORK TO SHAPE POLICY ON BEHALF OF THE PUBLIC INTEREST.

Activities or mission (Part I)

PROMOTE FAIRNESS AMONGST LAWS GOVERNING DIGITAL COMMUNICATIONS.

  • BROADBAND: PK WORKS TO SECURE BROADBAND ACCESS FOR EVERYONE. TO ACCOMPLISH THIS, PK WORKS TO CREATE A CONSISTENT, LONG-TERM SUBSIDY TO HELP PEOPLE AFFORD ACCESS; PROMOTE COMPETITION AMONG PROVIDERS TO LOWER PRICES; AND REQUIRE PROVIDERS TO OFFER ON-SITE BACKUP POWER TO KEEP NETWORKS UP. PK ALSO URGES POLICYMAKERS TO BAN PROVIDERS FROM DISCRIMINATING AGAINST CONSUMERS. PK ALSO WORKS TO ENSURE THE GOVERNMENT MANAGES SPECTRUM IN WAYS THAT BENEFIT ALL AMERICANS.

    Expenses $947,837

  • DIGITAL RIGHTS MANAGEMENT/COPYRIGHT: PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE (PK) WORKS TO CREATE A COPYRIGHT SYSTEM THAT RECOGNIZES THE ROLE THAT TECHNOLOGY PLAYS IN OUR EVERYDAY LIVES. PK SUPPORTS THE PUBLIC'S RIGHT TO REMIX CONTENT INTO NEW EXPRESSIONS OR CREATE OR SHARE LAWFUL CONTENT ONLINE. PK ADVOCATES FOR POLICIES THAT PROTECT INNOVATION WITHOUT CONSTRAINING FAIR USE. PK URGES CONGRESS TO FIX THE DMCA SO THAT CONSUMERS CAN OWN, LEND, OR REPAIR THEIR DEVICES.

    Expenses $736,008 · Revenue $3,547

  • PRESS/PUBLIC EDUCATION: PK'S MODES OF ADVOCACY INCLUDE EDUCATING THE PRESS, THE PUBLIC, AND POLICYMAKERS USING PLAIN-LANGUAGE ANALYSIS, WHITE PAPERS, BLOG POSTS, OP-EDS, FACT SHEETS, AND VIDEOS. PK EXPERTS ARE REGULARLY FEATURED IN THE NEWS, ON PODCASTS, AND IN OTHER MEDIA. PK'S WORK ALSO INCLUDES COORDINATING, HOSTING, AND FACILITATING EVENTS THAT PROVIDE A FORUM FOR POLICYMAKERS, THE PUBLIC, INDUSTRY, AND THE PRESS TO EXCHANGE IDEAS ABOUT PK'S CORE ISSUES. ADDITIONALLY, PK ORGANIZES AND RUNS COALITIONS TO HARNESS THE POWER OF PUBLIC INTEREST ORGANIZATIONS.

    Expenses $82,581

  • POLICY STRATEGY CENTER

    Expenses $77,412

  • INTERNATIONAL

    Expenses $2,493

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

Listed in Part VII

  • CHRISTOPHER J LEWIS

    PRESIDENT/CEO

    Total calculated
    $268,772
    From this org
    $252,001
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $16,771
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $252,001
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $7,560
    Nontaxable benefits
    $9,211
    Filer's total
    $268,772

  • VIRGINIA LAM ABRAMS

    BOARD CHAIR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    10

  • LAURENT CRENSHAW

    SECRETARY

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    10

  • MICHAL ROSENN

    BOARD TREASURER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    10

  • MOSES BOYD

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    10

  • MAURA COLLETON CORBETT

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    10

  • BREWSTER KAHLE

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    10

  • MARCUS REESE

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    10

  • VICKIE ROBINSON

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    10

  • GARY SLAIMAN

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    10

  • BRIAN VO

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    10

  • COURTNEY LEE

    CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER

    Total calculated
    $161,168
    From this org
    $132,090
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $29,078
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $132,090
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $3,963
    Nontaxable benefits
    $25,115
    Filer's total
    $161,168

  • MEREDITH C WHIPPLE

    CHIEF OF STAFF

    Total calculated
    $137,306
    From this org
    $126,265
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $11,041
    Hours/week
    40

  • CHARLOTTE SLAIMAN

    VICE PRESIDENT (THRU FEB)

    Total calculated
    $24,174
    From this org
    $22,350
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $1,824
    Hours/week
    40

  • HAROLD FELD

    SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT

    Total calculated
    $233,055
    From this org
    $198,446
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $34,609
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $198,446
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $5,953
    Nontaxable benefits
    $28,656
    Filer's total
    $233,055

  • ALISA VALENTIN

    BROADBAND POLICY DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $142,767
    From this org
    $138,609
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $4,158
    Hours/week
    40

  • JOHN BERGMAYER

    LEGAL DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $143,119
    From this org
    $127,358
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $15,761
    Hours/week
    40

  • SARA N COLLINS

    DIRECTOR OF GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS

    Total calculated
    $127,740
    From this org
    $123,471
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $4,269
    Hours/week
    40

  • STEPHEN L BENNETT

    DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT AND EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

    Total calculated
    $119,168
    From this org
    $110,475
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $8,693
    Hours/week
    40

  • LISA MACPHERSON

    POLICY DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $126,751
    From this org
    $109,730
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $17,021
    Hours/week
    40

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 · Form 990 of other organizations
  • 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

No itemized grants to organizations on this return.

Provenance

Return type
form_990
Tax year
2024
Filed
8 November 2025
IRS schema version
2024v5.2
Source object
202533149349301903

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