Calyx Institute logo

Calyx Institute

Public charity · Grantmaker Brooklyn, NY EIN: 27-2800937 Website

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.

Key facts about Calyx Institute

EIN
27-2800937
Latest 990 filing
Form 990, 2025
Total assets
$9,326,220

Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.

Financial Overview

From 2025 IRS Form 990 · View filing

Total Assets

$9.3M

+8.1% YoY

Revenue

$7.2M

+7.7% YoY

Net Investment Income

$300K

+122.2% YoY

Expenses

$6.6M

+20.9% YoY

How Calyx Institute gives

  • Giving grew 232% from 2021 to 2024. Method

From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.

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

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Grant Distribution by State

10states
+2 more states

Cities

San FranciscoNew YorkWashingtonWilmingtonAlexandriaBelmontBoiseBostonBrooklynChicagoMillertonSeattleWestport

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$50K$100K$150K$200KTotal only2020 4 grants2021 9 grants2022 8 grants2023 3 grants2024 0 grants2025

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.

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Grant Size Distribution

24 grants across all recorded years

21<$50K3$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 21 grants of 24 (88%).

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

No grants recorded for 2025.

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Revenue
Expenses
Net Investment Income
$0$2.5M$5M$7.5M$10M2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
Metric202520242023
Total Assets$9,326,220$8,626,213$7,269,893
Revenue$7,198,949$6,682,695$7,813,358
Expenses$6,611,380$5,469,146$4,917,681
Net Investment Income$299,649$134,884$32,706

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS March 15, 2021)
  2. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS March 10, 2022)
  3. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS March 14, 2023)
  4. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS March 14, 2024)
  5. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS March 14, 2025)
  6. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025

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

Ellen McDermott — Interim Executive Director: $201KEllen McDermottInterim Executive Director$201KNicholas Merrill — President: $186KNicholas MerrillPresident$186KEric Bortel — Engineering Director: $186KEric BortelEngineering Director$186KAmy Colburn — Project Manager for Technical Programs: $149KAmy ColburnProject Manager for Technical…$149KBenjamin Knauss — Finance Director: $130KBenjamin KnaussFinance Director$130K

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.

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