Nonprofit · EIN 87-4018419
MIT FREE SPEECH ALLIANCE
Tax-exempt · CAMBRIDGE, MA 02142
Financials
| Year ended | Form | Revenue | Expenses | Net income | Total assets | Liabilities | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 31, 2025 | 990 | $236,015 | $352,768 | -$116,753 | $272,166 | $42,966 | $229,200 |
| December 31, 2024 | 990 | $203,814 | $291,630 | -$87,816 | $375,869 | $29,916 | $345,953 |
| December 31, 2023 | 990 | $373,087 | $248,479 | $124,608 | $460,685 | $26,916 | $433,769 |
Financial details: 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025
Revenue
- Contributions, gifts and grants
- $233,040
- Program service revenue
- $0
- Investment income
- $2,975
- Other revenue
- $0
Expenses
- Grants and similar amounts paid
- $13,000
- Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
- $131,881
- Other salaries and wages
- $35,701
- Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
- $184,288
- Professional fundraising fees
- $0
- Accounting fees
- $30,957
- Occupancy
- $8,711
- Travel
- $5,975
- Depreciation
- $4,032
- Program services (functional)
- $181,265
- Management and general (functional)
- $130,829
- Fundraising (functional)
- $40,674
Balance sheet and other
- Total assets, start of year
- $375,869
- Total assets, end of year
- $272,166
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $42,966
- Net assets, end of year
- $229,200
- Net assets without donor restrictions
- $172,200
- Net assets with donor restrictions
- $57,000
- Gross receipts
- $236,015
- Employees
- 2
- Volunteers
- 15
- Year formed
- 2021
- State of legal domicile
- MA
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, 2025, highest compensation first.
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peter Bonilla | Executive Director Officer | 40 | $131,881 | $2,280 |
| Wayne Stargardt | President Trustee or director, Officer | 17 | $0 | $0 |
| Cesarina Templeton | Treasurer Trustee or director, Officer | 10 | $0 | $0 |
| Ken Kidd | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Frank Laukien | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Chuck Davis | Secretary Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Steven Carhart | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Melanie Soderstrom | Director Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
990 for the year ended December 31, 2024: 8 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peter Bonilla | Executive Director Officer | 40 | $126,881 | $2,280 |
| Ken Kidd | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Eric Rasmusen | Director Trustee or director | 5 | $0 | $0 |
| Chuck Davis | Chair Emeritus Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Melanie Ritcher | Director Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| Wayne Stargardt | President Trustee or director, Officer | 17 | $0 | $0 |
| Cesarina Templeton | Treasurer Trustee or director, Officer | 10 | $0 | $0 |
| Bill Frezza | Secretary Trustee or director, Officer | 15 | $0 | $0 |
990 for the year ended December 31, 2023: 8 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peter Bonilla | Executive Director Officer | 40 | $117,342 | $1,920 |
| Chuck Davis | Director Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| Melanie Soderstrom | Director Trustee or director | 0.5 | $0 | $0 |
| Eric Rasmusen | Director Trustee or director | 5 | $0 | $0 |
| Ken Kidd | Director Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| Wayne Stargardt | President Trustee or director, Officer | 17 | $0 | $0 |
| Cesarina Templeton | Treasurer Trustee or director, Officer | 10 | $0 | $0 |
| Bill Frezza | Secretary Trustee or director, Officer | 15 | $0 | $0 |
Address and contacts
- Address (IRS master file)
- 1 BROADWAY STE 14, CAMBRIDGE, MA 02142-1187
- In care of
- % WAYNE STARGARDT
- Principal officer (990 for 2025)
- Wayne Stargardt, One Broadway 14th Floor, Cambridge, MA 02142
- Signed the 990
- WAYNE STARGARDT, President
- Phone
- (215) 531-2171
- Return prepared by
- Mullins PC
Mission
To promote free expression, academic freedom, viewpoint diversity, and open scientific inquiry in the MIT community
Program accomplishments
- In 2025 the MIT Free Speech Alliance conducted another full year of public programming while maintaining a membership of more than 1,200. MFSA hosted two campus debates at MIT, in the spring and fall of 2025. Our Spring debate was on the issue of closing the gender gap in the STEM professions. Our Fall 2025 debate addressed the issue of American higher educations reliance on international students. As with previous years, our debates brought together a heterodox group of debaters and successfully modeled civil discourse for the MIT community. Also in the fall of 2025, MFSA held its third annual conference. This conference brought together representatives from various MIT constituencies, including students, faculty, alumni, and trustees, for discussions on how the university can work to foster free expression and civil discourse. The conference was highlighted by a keynote speech from Brookings Institution scholar Jonathan Rauch. Throughout 2025 we provided commentary on free speech issues of concern to the MIT community. We gathered our members for quarterly virtual discussions with notable guest speakers, and also sponsored or co-sponsored lectures on topical issues in free speech and higher education open to the MIT community. Additionally, our leaders gave presentations at a national conference on censorship in STEM; at the Heterodox Academy annual conference; and at the annual meeting of the Academic Freedom Alliance. Finally, MFSA saw its strongest fundraising year to date, increasing contributions from its members by nearly 40% over the previous year.Expenses $181,265 · grants $13,000
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 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
- 87-4018419
- 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
- 2022
- Accounting year ends
- December
- Files
- Form 990 or 990-EZ
- Category (NTEE)
- Civil rights, social action and advocacy (R63)
- Assets (IRS master file)
- $272,166
- Income (IRS master file)
- $236,015
Filing history
| Form | Year ended | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 990 | December 2025 | $236,015 | $352,768 | $272,166 | XML |
| 990 | December 2024 | $203,814 | $291,630 | $375,869 | XML |
| 990 | December 2023 | $373,087 | $248,479 | $460,685 | XML |
| 990 | December 2022 | $343,048 | $33,887 | $309,161 | 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 87-4018419).
Questions about MIT FREE SPEECH ALLIANCE
- What is the EIN of MIT FREE SPEECH ALLIANCE?
- The employer identification number (EIN) of MIT FREE SPEECH ALLIANCE is 87-4018419.
- Is MIT FREE SPEECH ALLIANCE tax-exempt?
- Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 2022.
- Are donations to MIT FREE SPEECH ALLIANCE tax-deductible?
- Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
- Which annual return does MIT FREE SPEECH 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 MIT FREE SPEECH 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 MIT FREE SPEECH ALLIANCE last file with the IRS?
- The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended December 2025.
- Who is the principal officer of MIT FREE SPEECH ALLIANCE?
- The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 names Wayne Stargardt.
- Who are the officers and directors of MIT FREE SPEECH ALLIANCE?
- The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 lists 8 people; 1 received compensation from the organization, the highest $131,881 (Peter Bonilla, Executive Director).
- How much revenue does MIT FREE SPEECH ALLIANCE have?
- On its 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 it reported revenue of $236,015, expenses of $352,768 and total assets of $272,166 at year end.
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