Nonprofit · EIN 27-1022579
OPEN TO DEBATE FOUNDATION
Tax-exempt · NEW YORK, NY 10022
Financials
| Year ended | Form | Revenue | Expenses | Net income | Total assets | Liabilities | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 30, 2025 | 990 | $5,234,812 | $5,510,936 | -$276,124 | $1,026,733 | $946,057 | $80,676 |
| June 30, 2024 | 990 | $4,464,253 | $3,818,574 | $645,679 | $663,065 | $306,265 | $356,800 |
| June 30, 2023 | 990 | $2,915,960 | $2,998,087 | -$82,127 | $819,519 | $1,108,398 | -$288,879 |
Financial details: 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025
Revenue
- Contributions, gifts and grants
- $5,152,060
- Program service revenue
- $81,917
- Investment income
- $835
- Other revenue
- $0
Expenses
- Grants and similar amounts paid
- $27,500
- Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
- $970,438
- Other salaries and wages
- $1,169,085
- Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
- $2,516,130
- Professional fundraising fees
- $0
- Legal fees
- $64,033
- Accounting fees
- $35,700
- Occupancy
- $164,011
- Travel
- $314,739
- Depreciation
- $18,985
- Program services (functional)
- $3,850,991
- Management and general (functional)
- $742,993
- Fundraising (functional)
- $916,952
Balance sheet and other
- Total assets, start of year
- $663,065
- Total assets, end of year
- $1,026,733
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $946,057
- Net assets, end of year
- $80,676
- Land, buildings and equipment
- $36,967
- Net assets without donor restrictions
- -$444,324
- Net assets with donor restrictions
- $525,000
- Gross receipts
- $5,234,812
- Employees
- 17
- Volunteers
- 14
- Year formed
- 2009
- State of legal domicile
- DE
From the e-filed returns the IRS publishes as XML (latest three processing years; amended returns replace the original). PDF copies at the IRS.
Officers, directors and key employees
As listed on the 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025, highest compensation first.
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CLEA CONNER | CEO/DIRECTOR Trustee or director, Officer | 40 | $381,885 | $32,293 |
| LIA MATTHOW | COO Key employee | 40 | $298,747 | $28,070 |
| ANDREW LIPSON | DIR. OF PRODUCTION Key employee | 40 | $179,220 | $8,149 |
| RACHEL KEMP | CHIEF OF STAFF Highest-paid employee | 40 | $138,437 | $45,958 |
| ELIZABETH KITZENBERG | CHIEF OF ADVANCEMENT Highest-paid employee | 40 | $126,902 | $10,347 |
| ROBERT ROSENKRANZ | PRESIDENT & DIRECTOR Trustee or director, Officer | 4 | $0 | $0 |
| IAN BREMMER | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| EDWARD W CONARD | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| DAVID COULTER | DIRECTOR THRU 08/2024 Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| DOMENICO DESOLE | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| DR KELLY POSNER GERSTENHABER | DIRECTOR THRU 04/2025 Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| MERIT JANOW | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| VANESSA MENDOZA | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| ALEXANDRA K MUNROE | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| BEN NELSON | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
4 more people on this return
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| GERRY OHRSTROM | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| PHILIPPE SELENDY | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| EDWARD STERN | DIRECTOR THRU 04/2025 Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| SALVATORE ARENA | TREASURER Officer | 2 | $0 |
990 for the year ended June 30, 2024: 17 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CLEA CONNER | CEO/DIRECTOR Trustee or director, Officer | 40 | $370,400 | $29,042 |
| LIA MATTHOW | COO Key employee | 40 | $238,533 | $19,120 |
| ANDREW LIPSON | DIR. OF PRODUCTION Key employee | 40 | $164,673 | $9,885 |
| ROBERT ROSENKRANZ | PRESIDENT & DIRECTOR Trustee or director, Officer | 4 | $0 | $0 |
| IAN BREMMER | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| EDWARD W CONARD | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| DAVID A COULTER | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| DOMENICO DESOLE | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| DR KELLY POSNER GERSTENHABER | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| MERIT JANOW | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| VANESSA MENDOZA | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| ALEXANDRA K MUNROE | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| BEN NELSON | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| GERRY OHRSTROM | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| EDWARD STERN | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| PHILIPPE SELENDY | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| SALVATORE ARENA | TREASURER Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
990 for the year ended June 30, 2023: 16 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CLEA CONNER | CEO/DIRECTOR Trustee or director, Officer | 40 | $342,325 | $25,627 |
| DAVID ARIOSTO | EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Highest-paid employee | 40 | $206,942 | $8,392 |
| ROBERT ROSENKRANZ | PRESIDENT & DIRECTOR Trustee or director, Officer | 4 | $0 | $0 |
| MAX BOOT | DIRECTOR THRU APRIL 2023 Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| IAN BREMMER | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| EDWARD W CONARD | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| DAVID A COULTER | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| DR KELLY POSNER GERSTENHABER | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| VANESSA MENDOZA | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| ALEXANDRA K MUNROE | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| BEN NELSON | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| GERRY OHRSTROM | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| MORTIMER SACKLER | DIRECTOR THRU APRIL 2023 Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| PHILIPPE SELENDY | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| EDWARD STERN | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| SALVATORE ARENA | TREASURER Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
Address and contacts
- Address (IRS master file)
- 150 E 52ND ST STE 28003, NEW YORK, NY 10022-6298
- Principal officer (990 for 2024)
- ROBERT ROSENKRANZ, 150 EAST 52ND STREET, NEW YORK, NY 10022
- Signed the 990
- ROBERT ROSENKRANZ, PRESIDENT
- Phone
- (212) 303-4331
- Website
- WWW.OPENTODEBATE.ORG
- Return prepared by
- PKF O'CONNOR DAVIES ADVISORY LLC
Mission
THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION IS TO ENGAGE BROADER AUDIENCES IN THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION TO ADDRESS EXTREME POLARIZATION THROUGH DEBATE. IN ADDITION TO REPOSITIONING THE ORGANIZATION IN THE MARKET WITH A MORE ACCESSIBLE NAME, OPEN TO DEBATE PRODUCES A WEEKLY SERIES OF PROVOCATIVE AND INFORMATIVE DEBATES ONLINE AND AT LIVE VENUES THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES. THE GOALS OF THIS INITIATIVE ARE (1) TO RAISE THE LEVEL OF PUBLIC DISCOURSE ON OUR MOST DIVISIVE ISSUES, (2) TO PROVIDE A WEEKLY FORUM FOR INTELLIGENT DISCUSSION, GROUNDED IN CIVIL DIALOGUE, FACTS AND INFORMED BY REASONED ANALYSIS, (3) TO TRANSCEND THE TOXICALLY EMOTIONAL AND THE REFLEXIVELY IDEOLOGICAL ARGUMENTS THAT ARE DIVIDING AMERICANS, (4) TO ENCOURAGE RECOGNITION THAT UNDERSTANDING OPPOSING VIEWPOINTS IS WHAT CAN BUILD EMPATHY AND BRIDGE THE DIVIDE, AND (5) TO ENGAGE AMERICAN CITIZENS AS ACTIVE PARTICIPANTS IN FAIR AND BALANCED DEBATE.
Program accomplishments
- TO ADVANCE OUR MISSION OF RESTORING BALANCE, FACTS, REASONED ANALYSIS, AND CIVILITY TO AMERICAN PUBLIC DISCOURSE, OPEN TO DEBATE PRODUCES 52 EPISODES FOR PUBLIC RADIO DISTRIBUTION, WHICH IS DISTRIBUTED AS A PODCAST, VIDEO SERIES, AND COMPANION NEWSLETTER. TO MEET THE DEMAND FOR WEEKLY CONTENT PRODUCTION, WE DEVELOPED A VIRTUAL DEBATE PLATFORM TO ALLOW FOR LIVE AUDIENCES AND MEMBERS OF THE MEDIA TO ENGAGE WITH DEBATERS IN REAL TIME ACROSS THE COUNTRY, WHICH RESULTED IN HUNDREDS OF NEW JOURNALIST ENGAGEMENTS AND TENS OF THOUSANDS OF NEW ONLINE SUBSCRIBERS. MORE THAN 300 PUBLIC RADIO STATIONS NOW CARRY THE WEEKLY PROGRAM, AND ANOTHER 50 STATIONS BROADCAST SELECT EPISODES. THE PROGRAM IS CARRIED IN MORE THAN 50% OF THE TOP 25 NPR MARKETS, INCLUDING #1, WNYC, WITH AN ESTIMATED 4.3 MILLION LISTENERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY IN 2025. DEBATES ARE ALSO SYNDICATED ON REAL CLEAR MEDIA'S DIGITAL PROPERTIES, ON SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS AND ON THE YOUTUBE CHANNEL, WITH OVER 280K SUBSCRIBERS. OPEN TO DEBATE'S PRIMARY PUBLIC SERVICE IS THE PRODUCTION OF A WEEKLY DEBATE PROGRAM. LEADING THINKERS AND AUTHORITIES ON THE ISSUES ARGUE ON EACH SIDE OF A CONSEQUENTIAL QUESTION. A MODERATOR KEEPS THE PROCEEDINGS ORDERLY, RESPECTFUL, AND CIVIL. EACH SIDE ATTEMPTS TO PERSUADE THE AUDIENCE TO CHANGE THEIR MINDS OR REINFORCE THEIR BELIEFS. THIS ADVERSARIAL CONTEXT IS ELECTRIC, ADDING DRAMA AND EXCITEMENT TO THE EXPERIENCE.Expenses $3,850,991 · grants $27,500 · revenue $81,917
What it must file and when
IRS records say it files Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N. Its accounting year ends in June, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.
| Tax year | Year ended | Due | IRS public records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | June 30, 2026 | November 16, 2026 | Not due yet |
| 2024 | June 30, 2025 | November 17, 2025 | 990 on file |
| 2023 | June 30, 2024 | November 15, 2024 | 990 on file |
IRS record
- EIN
- 27-1022579
- Tax-exempt status
- 501(c)(3): Charitable, religious, educational or scientific organization
- Foundation status
- Publicly supported organization (509(a)(2))
- Donations deductible (Pub 78)
- Public charity, 50% deduction limit
- Exempt since
- 2009
- Accounting year ends
- June
- Files
- Form 990 or 990-EZ
- Category (NTEE)
- Social science (V20)
- Assets (IRS master file)
- $1,026,733
- Income (IRS master file)
- $5,234,812
Filing history
| Form | Year ended | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 990 | June 2025 | $5,234,812 | $5,510,936 | $1,026,733 | IRS |
| 990 | June 2024 | $4,464,253 | $3,818,574 | $663,065 | IRS |
| 990 | June 2023 | $2,915,960 | $2,998,087 | $819,519 | IRS |
| 990 | June 2022 | $2,180,097 | $2,447,860 | $410,508 | IRS |
| 990 | June 2021 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | June 2020 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | June 2018 | – | – | – | IRS |
990-N: the IRS bulk file holds only the latest e-Postcard per organization; earlier years come from archived copies of that file since 2020 and can have gaps (the IRS e-Postcard search lists every one). 990, 990-EZ, 990-PF, 990-T: every e-filed return in the IRS e-file index since 2019; XML for the latest three processing years, amounts from the IRS Statistics of Income extracts before that. PDF copies and determination letters at the IRS (search EIN 27-1022579).
Questions about OPEN TO DEBATE FOUNDATION
- What is the EIN of OPEN TO DEBATE FOUNDATION?
- The employer identification number (EIN) of OPEN TO DEBATE FOUNDATION is 27-1022579.
- Is OPEN TO DEBATE FOUNDATION tax-exempt?
- Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 2009.
- Are donations to OPEN TO DEBATE FOUNDATION tax-deductible?
- Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
- Which annual return does OPEN TO DEBATE FOUNDATION file?
- Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N.
- When is the next return of OPEN TO DEBATE FOUNDATION due?
- The return for tax year 2025 (the year ending June 30, 2026) is due November 16, 2026. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
- When did OPEN TO DEBATE FOUNDATION last file with the IRS?
- The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended June 2025.
- Who is the principal officer of OPEN TO DEBATE FOUNDATION?
- The 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025 names ROBERT ROSENKRANZ.
- Who are the officers and directors of OPEN TO DEBATE FOUNDATION?
- The 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025 lists 19 people; 5 received compensation from the organization, the highest $381,885 (CLEA CONNER, CEO/DIRECTOR).
- How much revenue does OPEN TO DEBATE FOUNDATION have?
- On its 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025 it reported revenue of $5,234,812, expenses of $5,510,936 and total assets of $1,026,733 at year end.
Other nonprofits in NEW YORK
- ITHAKA HARBORS INC EIN 13-3857105 · last filed 990 for 2024
- ALZHEIMERS DRUG DISCOVERY FOUNDATION EIN 20-1082179 · last filed 990 for 2025
- GLOBAL POVERTY PROJECT INC EIN 42-1772557 · last filed 990 for 2024
- SOCIAL SCIENCE RESEARCH COUNCIL EIN 13-1325070 · last filed 990 for 2025
- JUST CAPITAL FOUNDATION INC EIN 36-4764467 · last filed 990 for 2025
- ASSOCIATION OF THE BAR OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK FUND INC EIN 13-6003018 · last filed 990 for 2025
- AMERICAN FEDERATION FOR AGING EIN 13-3045282 · last filed 990 for 2025
- COUNCIL FOR ECONOMIC EDUCATION EIN 13-1623848 · last filed 990 for 2024