Nonprofit · EIN 81-5389496
DESIGN FORWARD ALLIANCE
Tax-exempt · SAN DIEGO, CA 92103
Financials
| Year ended | Form | Revenue | Expenses | Net income | Total assets | Liabilities | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 31, 2025 | 990-EZ | $158,074 | $123,960 | $34,114 | $56,350 | $967 | $55,383 |
| December 31, 2024 | 990 | $382,367 | $423,333 | -$40,966 | $21,269 | $0 | $21,269 |
| December 31, 2023 | 990 | $311,613 | $339,241 | -$27,628 | $62,235 | $0 | $62,235 |
| December 31, 2022 | 990 | $337,105 | $322,770 | $14,335 | $89,861 | $0 | $89,861 |
Financial details: 990-EZ for the year ended December 31, 2025
Revenue
- Contributions, gifts and grants
- $143,805
- Program service revenue
- $14,267
- Investment income
- $2
Expenses
- Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
- $0
- Professional fees and payments to contractors
- $9,219
- Printing, publications and postage
- $11
- Other expenses
- $114,730
Balance sheet and other
- Total assets, start of year
- $21,269
- Total assets, end of year
- $56,350
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $967
- Net assets, end of year
- $55,383
- Cash, savings and investments
- $55,240
- Gross receipts
- $158,074
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-EZ for the year ended December 31, 2025, highest compensation first.
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| KENNEN SISCO | President | 5 | $0 |
| ERIC WEISS | President | 5 | $0 |
| JULIE MORGAN | Vice President | 5 | $0 |
| ANN BERCHTOLD | Secretary | 5 | $0 |
| SUNAINA MEHTA | Treasurer | 5 | $0 |
| MICHAEL MEYER | Treasurer | 5 | $0 |
| CARLOS CRISTIANI | Executive Dir. | 10 | $0 |
990 for the year ended December 31, 2024: 9 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| CARLOS CRISTIANI | Executive Dir. Trustee or director | 10 | $57,000 |
| ANNA QUACKENBUSH | CEO Officer | 5 | $0 |
| SARA MOUNIER | CFO Officer | 5 | $0 |
| KENNEN SISCO | President Officer | 5 | $0 |
| ERIC WEISS | President Officer | 5 | $0 |
| JULIE MORGAN | Vice President Officer | 5 | $0 |
| ANN BERCHTOLD | Secretary Officer | 5 | $0 |
| SUNAINA MEHTA | Treasurer Officer | 5 | $0 |
| MICHAEL MEYER | Treasurer Officer | 5 | $0 |
990 for the year ended December 31, 2023: 3 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anna Quackenbush | CEO Officer | 10 | $0 |
| Sara Mounier | CFO Officer | 10 | $0 |
| Isabella Johnson | Secretary Officer | 10 | $0 |
990 for the year ended December 31, 2022: 3 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anna Quackenbush | President Officer | 5 | $0 |
| Eric Weiss | Vice President Officer | 5 | $0 |
| Isabella Johnson | Secretary Officer | 5 | $0 |
Address and contacts
- Address (IRS master file)
- 325 W WASHINGTON ST 2309, SAN DIEGO, CA 92103-1946
- Signed the 990-EZ
- ERIC WEISS, President
- Phone
- (858) 353-7909
- Website
- designforwardsd.com
- Return prepared by
- VAN RIPER & MESSINA CPAs INC
California records
California keeps its own records of charities and corporations. Search them by EIN 81-5389496 or by the name DESIGN FORWARD ALLIANCE.
- Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers
- Registration status and filed reports (CT-TR-1, RRF-1)
- Secretary of State, bizfile Online
- Corporation status, entity number, agent for service
- Franchise Tax Board
- Entity status letter (state tax exemption, good standing)
Mission
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.
Program accomplishments
- 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.
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 year | Year ended | Due | IRS public records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | December 31, 2025 | May 15, 2026 | 990-EZ on file |
| 2024 | December 31, 2024 | May 15, 2025 | 990 on file |
| 2023 | December 31, 2023 | May 15, 2024 | 990 on file |
IRS record
- EIN
- 81-5389496
- 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
- 2017
- Accounting year ends
- December
- Files
- Form 990 or 990-EZ
- Category (NTEE)
- Community improvement and capacity building (S03)
- Assets (IRS master file)
- $56,350
- Income (IRS master file)
- $158,074
Filing history
| Form | Year ended | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 990-EZ | December 2025 | $158,074 | $123,960 | $56,350 | XML |
| 990 | December 2024 | $382,367 | $423,333 | $21,269 | XML |
| 990 | December 2023 | $311,613 | $339,241 | $62,235 | XML |
| 990 | December 2022 | $337,105 | $322,770 | $89,861 | XML |
| 990 | December 2021 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990-EZ | December 2020 | – | – | – | 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 81-5389496).
Questions about DESIGN FORWARD ALLIANCE
- What is the EIN of DESIGN FORWARD ALLIANCE?
- The employer identification number (EIN) of DESIGN FORWARD ALLIANCE is 81-5389496.
- Is DESIGN FORWARD ALLIANCE tax-exempt?
- Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 2017.
- Are donations to DESIGN FORWARD ALLIANCE tax-deductible?
- Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
- Which annual return does DESIGN FORWARD ALLIANCE 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 DESIGN FORWARD ALLIANCE due?
- The return for tax year 2026 (the year ending December 31, 2026) is due May 17, 2027. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
- When did DESIGN FORWARD ALLIANCE last file with the IRS?
- The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990-EZ for the year ended December 2025.
- Who are the officers and directors of DESIGN FORWARD ALLIANCE?
- The 990-EZ for the year ended December 31, 2025 lists 7 people; 0 received compensation from the organization.
- How much revenue does DESIGN FORWARD ALLIANCE have?
- On its 990-EZ for the year ended December 31, 2025 it reported revenue of $158,074, expenses of $123,960 and total assets of $56,350 at year end.
Other nonprofits in SAN DIEGO
- SAN DIEGO TOURISM MARKETING DISTRICT EIN 26-2646009 · last filed 990 for 2025
- CDC SMALL BUSINESS FINANCE CORP EIN 95-3512045 · last filed 990 for 2025
- CIVIC SAN DIEGO EIN 95-3035557 · last filed 990 for 2025
- ALLIANCE FOR AFRICAN ASSISTANCE EIN 93-1008369 · last filed 990 for 2025
- NATIONAL ASSOCIATON OF HISPANIC REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONALS EIN 33-0879923 · last filed 990 for 2024
- CALIFORNIA LIFE SCIENCES ASSOCIATION EIN 47-3226523 · last filed 990 for 2024
- BUILDING 178 PERFORMING ARTS CENTER EIN 85-1976211 · last filed 990 for 2024
- ACCESSITY EIN 33-0620415 · last filed 990 for 2024
All nonprofits in SAN DIEGO · California · Community improvement and capacity building