Calyx Institute
The Calyx Institute's purposes are 1) to develop the best practices standards for privacy, security and free speech in the telecommunications industry and on the Internet; and 2) Educating the general public and service providers on privacy, security and free speech practices.
Calyx Institute at a glance
- Total assets
- $9,326,220
- +8.1% vs 2024
- Revenue (2025)
- $7,198,949
- +7.7% vs 2024
- Net investment income (2025)
- $299,649
- +122.2% vs 2024
- Expenses (2025)
- $6,611,380
- +20.9% vs 2024
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Calyx Institute funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Grant Size Distribution
24 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 21 grants of 24 (88%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
How Calyx Institute gives
- Giving grew 232% from 2021 to 2024. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $6K (2020) to $189K (2023). In 2024 it made 3 grants totaling $95K.
Hatched bars: grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Distributed Denial of Secrets San Francisco, CA | General organizational support to enable the free transmission of data in the public interest. | $50,000 |
| Sunset Spark Brooklyn, NY | Research and development of education curriculum on public interest technology. | $25,000 |
| Muslim Justic League Boston, MA | Research and education regarding surveillance and constitutional rights. | $20,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $9,326,220 | $7,198,949 | $6,611,380 | — | — | $299,649 |
| 2024 | $8,626,213 | $6,682,695 | $5,469,146 | $95,000 | 3 | $134,884 |
| 2023 | $7,269,893 | $7,813,358 | $4,917,681 | $188,990 | 8 | $32,706 |
| 2022 | $4,391,437 | $6,703,987 | $4,923,266 | $125,000 | 9 | $637 |
| 2021 | $2,708,817 | $3,373,718 | $2,199,686 | $28,635 | 4 | $1,124 |
| 2020 | $1,316,237 | $1,615,118 | $1,476,960 | $5,750 | Total only | $3,224 |
"Total only": grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
About Calyx Institute
Based on IRS filings
Calyx Institute is a public charity focused on Education, based in Brooklyn, NY. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $9.3M in total assets. Net investment income was $300K.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Calyx Institute is led by Nicholas Merrill, President since 2024 (on filings since 2020); 5 of 9 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Nicholas Merrill
President
Executive Director → President, 2024
On filings since 2020
32 hrs/week
$106K (2020) → $186K (2025)
Ellen McDermott
Interim Executive Director
New on the 2025 filing
32 hrs/week
$201K (2025)
Eric Bortel
Engineering Director
On filings since 2023
32 hrs/week
$121K (2023) → $186K (2025)
Benjamin Knauss
Finance Director
New on the 2025 filing
32 hrs/week
$130K (2025)
Carey Shenkman
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kobi Snitz
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ashi Krishnan
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Liz O'Sullivan
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Amy Colburn
Project Manager for Technical Programs
New on the 2025 filing
32 hrs/week
$149K (2025)
Former officers (4)
- Former: Micah Anderson (2020–2024) — Director
- Former: Elijah Sparrow (2023–2024) — Senior Technologist
- Former: Catherine Wilkinson (2024) — Membership Director
- Former: Jeffrey Landale (2022–2023) — Operations Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $201K, to Ellen McDermott (Interim Executive Director). 5 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Calyx Institute
How large is Calyx Institute?
Calyx Institute reported $9.3M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $7.2M.
What is Calyx Institute?
Calyx Institute is a public charity focused on Education, based in Brooklyn, NY. It holds $9.3M in total assets as of 2025.
Where does Calyx Institute operate?
Calyx Institute has awarded grants in California, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Idaho, Illinois, Massachusetts, New York, Virginia, Washington.
What is Calyx Institute's EIN?
Calyx Institute's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 27-2800937. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS March 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS March 10, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS March 14, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS March 14, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS March 14, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
Live grants for the work Calyx Institute funds
Education Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Calyx Institute's focus areas in our free grants database
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