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Nonprofit · EIN 52-2336690

PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE

Tax-exempt · WASHINGTON, DC 20036

Financials

$4M$3.2M2023$2.9M$3.7M2024
Revenue Expenses · by fiscal year end
Financials of PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE by year, from its e-filed returns
Year endedFormRevenueExpensesNet incomeTotal assetsLiabilitiesNet assets
December 31, 2024990$2,876,810$3,654,052-$777,242$6,560,542$1,483,602$5,076,940
December 31, 2023990$4,001,662$3,207,422$794,240$7,232,309$1,583,748$5,648,561
Financial details: 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024

Revenue

Contributions, gifts and grants
$2,706,992
Program service revenue
$3,547
Investment income
$166,073
Net gain from sales of assets
$48,203
Other revenue
$198

Expenses

Grants and similar amounts paid
$0
Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
$824,475
Other salaries and wages
$1,536,791
Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
$2,760,902
Professional fundraising fees
$0
Legal fees
$71,824
Accounting fees
$51,306
Occupancy
$230,270
Travel
$58,022
Depreciation
$23,201
Program services (functional)
$1,846,331
Management and general (functional)
$1,560,121
Fundraising (functional)
$247,600

Balance sheet and other

Total assets, start of year
$7,232,309
Total assets, end of year
$6,560,542
Total liabilities, end of year
$1,483,602
Net assets, end of year
$5,076,940
Land, buildings and equipment
$38,976
Publicly traded securities
$1,320,607
Net assets without donor restrictions
$2,945,023
Net assets with donor restrictions
$2,131,917
Gross receipts
$3,092,364
Employees
22
Volunteers
10
Year formed
2001
State of legal domicile
DC

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 December 31, 2024, highest compensation first.

NameTitleHours / weekCompensationOther / benefits
CHRISTOPHER J LEWISPRESIDENT/CEO
Trustee or director, Officer
40$252,001$16,771
HAROLD FELDSENIOR VICE PRESIDENT
Key employee
40$198,446$34,609
COURTNEY LEECHIEF OPERATING OFFICER
Officer
40$132,090$29,078
JOHN BERGMAYERLEGAL DIRECTOR
Highest-paid employee
40$127,358$15,761
ALISA VALENTINBROADBAND POLICY DIRECTOR
Highest-paid employee
40$138,609$4,158
MEREDITH C WHIPPLECHIEF OF STAFF
Officer
40$126,265$11,041
SARA N COLLINSDIRECTOR OF GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS
Highest-paid employee
40$123,471$4,269
LISA MACPHERSONPOLICY DIRECTOR
Highest-paid employee
40$109,730$17,021
STEPHEN L BENNETTDIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT AND EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Highest-paid employee
40$110,475$8,693
CHARLOTTE SLAIMANVICE PRESIDENT (THRU FEB)
Officer
40$22,350$1,824
VIRGINIA LAM ABRAMSBOARD CHAIR
Trustee or director, Officer
10$0$0
LAURENT CRENSHAWSECRETARY
Trustee or director, Officer
10$0$0
MICHAL ROSENNBOARD TREASURER
Trustee or director, Officer
10$0$0
MOSES BOYDDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
10$0$0
MAURA COLLETON CORBETTDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
10$0$0
5 more people on this return
NameTitleHours / weekCompensation
BREWSTER KAHLEDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
10$0
MARCUS REESEDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
10$0
VICKIE ROBINSONDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
10$0
GARY SLAIMANDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
10$0
BRIAN VODIRECTOR
Trustee or director
10$0
990 for the year ended December 31, 2023: 19 people
NameTitleHours / weekCompensationOther / benefits
CHRISTOPHER J LEWISPRESIDENT/CEO
Trustee or director, Officer
40$243,445$16,481
HAROLD FELDSENIOR VICE PRESIDENT
Key employee
40$190,957$33,197
CHARLOTTE SLAIMANVICE PRESIDENT
Highest-paid employee
40$142,304$17,284
COURTNEY LEECHIEF OPERATING OFFICER
Officer
40$123,978$28,083
JOHN BERGMAYERLEGAL DIRECTOR
Highest-paid employee
40$122,723$11,770
MEREDITH WHIPPLECHIEF OF STAFF
Officer
40$117,951$11,256
SARA COLLINSDIRECTOR OF GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS
Highest-paid employee
40$106,788$9,028
SHIVA STELLACOMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR
Highest-paid employee
40$102,164$9,697
MEREDITH ROSESENIOR POLICY COUNSEL
Highest-paid employee
40$101,970$3,559
VIRGINIA LAM ABRAMSBOARD CHAIR
Trustee or director, Officer
10$0$0
LAURENT CRENSHAWSECRETARY
Trustee or director, Officer
10$0$0
MICHAL ROSENNBOARD TREASURER
Trustee or director, Officer
10$0$0
MOSES BOYDDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
10$0$0
MAURA COLLETON CORBETTDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
10$0$0
BREWSTER KAHLEDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
10$0$0
MARCUS REESEDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
10$0$0
VICKIE ROBINSONDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
10$0$0
GARY SLAIMANDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
10$0$0
BRIAN VODIRECTOR
Trustee or director
10$0$0

Address and contacts

Address (IRS master file)
1818 N STREET NW, WASHINGTON, DC 20036-2406
Principal officer (990 for 2024)
CHRISTOPHER J LEWIS, 1818 N STREET NW 410, WASHINGTON, DC 20036
Signed the 990
CHRISTOPHER J LEWIS, PRESIDENT/CEO
Phone
(202) 861-0020
Return prepared by
HAN GROUP LLC

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.

990 for the year ended December 31, 2024

Program accomplishments

  • 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

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 December, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.

Tax yearYear endedDueIRS public records
2025December 31, 2025May 15, 2026Not on file
2024December 31, 2024May 15, 2025990 on file
2023December 31, 2023May 15, 2024990 on file

IRS record

EIN
52-2336690
Tax-exempt status
501(c)(3): Charitable, religious, educational or scientific organization
Foundation status
Publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(A)(vi))
Donations deductible (Pub 78)
Public charity, 50% deduction limit
Exempt since
2002
Accounting year ends
December
Files
Form 990 or 990-EZ
Assets (IRS master file)
$6,560,542
Income (IRS master file)
$3,092,364

Filing history

FormYear endedRevenueExpensesAssetsReturn
990December 2024$2,876,810$3,654,052$6,560,542IRS
990December 2023$4,001,662$3,207,422$7,232,309XML
990December 2022$3,845,217$3,252,907$6,568,652IRS
990December 2021–––IRS
990December 2020–––IRS
990December 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 52-2336690).

Questions about PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE

What is the EIN of PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE?
The employer identification number (EIN) of PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE is 52-2336690.
Is PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE tax-exempt?
Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 2002.
Are donations to PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE tax-deductible?
Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
Which annual return does PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE 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 PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE due?
The return for tax year 2025 (the year ending December 31, 2025) is due May 15, 2026. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
When did PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE last file with the IRS?
The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended December 2024.
Who is the principal officer of PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE?
The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024 names CHRISTOPHER J LEWIS.
Who are the officers and directors of PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE?
The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024 lists 20 people; 10 received compensation from the organization, the highest $252,001 (CHRISTOPHER J LEWIS, PRESIDENT/CEO).
How much revenue does PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE have?
On its 990 for the year ended December 31, 2024 it reported revenue of $2,876,810, expenses of $3,654,052 and total assets of $6,560,542 at year end.

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