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DESIGN FORWARD ALLIANCE

EIN 81-5389496 SAN DIEGO, CA

Revenue 2025
$158,074
Expenses 2025
$123,960

As filed

Subsection
03
NTEE code
S03
Classification
2000
Street
325 W WASHINGTON ST 2309

These codes are the IRS's own and are shown exactly as filed. What each one means is in the Business Master File documentation (opens in a new tab).

Mission and programs · 2025

Primary exempt purpose

Advocating for Human-Centered Design as a regional approach to improve economic, social, and civic life in our community.Design Forward Alliance is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to leveraging the power of design to drive social impact. As a collective of San Diego's leading design minds from industry and academia, it fosters collaboration across disciplines to tackle complex societal challenges. The organization focuses on creating innovative solutions that enhance community well-being, sustainability, and inclusivity.

  • San Diego Design Week: A multi-day, community-based program celebrating design across disciplines through panels, workshops, and public events.Clean Water Challenge: A community design initiative focused on water sustainability and environmental awareness.World Design Capital Closing Contribution: Supported and participated in programming for the World Design Capital closing events.

As filed on the 2025 return.

Officers and directors · 2025

As listed in Part VII of the 2025 return, in the order the filer printed them. Each return names its own; this is not a roster the organization keeps with us.

  • KENNEN SISCO

    President

    Total calculated
    $0
    Compensation
    $0
    Benefit plans
    not reported
    Expense account
    not reported
    Hours/week
    5

  • ERIC WEISS

    President

    Total calculated
    $0
    Compensation
    $0
    Benefit plans
    not reported
    Expense account
    not reported
    Hours/week
    5

  • JULIE MORGAN

    Vice President

    Total calculated
    $0
    Compensation
    $0
    Benefit plans
    not reported
    Expense account
    not reported
    Hours/week
    5

  • ANN BERCHTOLD

    Secretary

    Total calculated
    $0
    Compensation
    $0
    Benefit plans
    not reported
    Expense account
    not reported
    Hours/week
    5

  • SUNAINA MEHTA

    Treasurer

    Total calculated
    $0
    Compensation
    $0
    Benefit plans
    not reported
    Expense account
    not reported
    Hours/week
    5

  • MICHAEL MEYER

    Treasurer

    Total calculated
    $0
    Compensation
    $0
    Benefit plans
    not reported
    Expense account
    not reported
    Hours/week
    5

  • CARLOS CRISTIANI

    Executive Dir.

    Total calculated
    $0
    Compensation
    $0
    Benefit plans
    not reported
    Expense account
    not reported
    Hours/week
    10

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. Earlier years are each on their own filing page.

Filings

  • 2025
    Revenue
    $158,074
    Expenses
    $123,960
    Contributions
    $143,805
    Grants paid
    not reported
  • 2024
    Revenue
    $382,367
    Expenses
    $423,333
    Contributions
    $145,564
    Grants paid
    $8,000
  • 2023
    Revenue
    $311,613
    Expenses
    $339,241
    Contributions
    $311,613
    Grants paid
    $0
  • 2022
    Revenue
    $337,105
    Expenses
    $322,770
    Contributions
    $336,382
    Grants paid
    $0

The four totals the IRS asks for on Part I of the Form 990, as filed. A dash means the figure was not present on the return — not that it was zero.

Other returns filed

  • 2021 · 990

    Revenue
    $553,216
    Expenses
    $529,127
    Assets (EOY)
    $75,524

  • 2020 · 990-EZ

    Revenue
    $14,253
    Expenses
    $15,432
    Assets (EOY)
    $55,670

  • 2019 · 990-EZ

    Revenue
    $11,951
    Expenses
    $17,357
    Assets (EOY)
    $56,849

  • 2018 · 990-EZ

    Revenue
    $55,701
    Expenses
    $37,320
    Assets (EOY)
    $62,254

  • 2017 · 990-EZ

    Revenue
    $160,941
    Expenses
    $117,068
    Assets (EOY)
    $43,873

Nonprofiteer parses Forms 990, 990-EZ and 990-PF, in a window of recent tax years. These returns are recorded from the IRS e-file index, so their figures were extracted by that index rather than read from the return here — treat them as a different source from the filings above, not as more of the same record. A dash means the index carries no figure; Form 990-T listings carry none at all.

Grants made

Where these grants went next →

Grants received

Other IRS files

Auto-Revocation List

Not listed. The IRS publishes this list for organizations whose exemption was automatically revoked for failing to file for three consecutive years.

Publication 78

Listed as of 13 October 2026, under deductibility PC.

These are two separate IRS files on two separate schedules, shown as published and not reconciled with each other. Neither is a statement about whether a contribution is deductible today: 19,245 organizations appear in Publication 78 while the IRS's own revocation file lists them as currently revoked, more than half of those revoked before 2019. Absence from Publication 78 is evidence of nothing, and presence is not evidence either. Verify current status with the IRS before relying on it.

What this page reflects

The registration facts above come from the IRS Business Master File published 13 October 2026 and read 26 October 2026, for every organization at once. Returns through tax year 2025, the newest we have parsed for this organization.