Hacking for Defense Incorporated

Public charity · Grantmaker Arlington, VA EIN: 81-2345565

To enable powerful approaches to stimulating science, technology, invention, innovation, and entrepreneurship on university and college campuses, specifically directed toward solving real-world national security challenges.

Key facts about Hacking for Defense Incorporated

In short: Hacking for Defense Incorporated gave $88K across 6 grants in 2025 (avg $15K), top state Virginia. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.

EIN
81-2345565
Latest 990 filing
Form 990, 2025
Annual giving (2025)
$87,740
Grants made (2025)
6
Average grant
$14,623
Median grant
$12,400
Total assets
$893,548
Primary geography
Virginia (25% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)

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

Financial Overview

From 2025 IRS Form 990 · View filing

Total Assets

$894K

+27.6% YoY

Annual Giving

$88K

+88.8% YoY

Grant Count

6

+50.0% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$15K

+25.8% YoY

How Hacking for Defense Incorporated gives

  • Giving fell 77% from 2022 to 2025. Method

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

About Hacking for Defense Incorporated

Based on IRS filings

Hacking for Defense Incorporated is a public charity focused on Public Safety, Disaster Preparedness & Relief, based in Arlington, VA. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $894K in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 6 grants totaling $88K.

Open Grants

2 open opportunities from Hacking for Defense Incorporated

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Grant Distribution by State

17states

Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 6 itemized grants.

Cities

StanfordRochesterAustinChicagoCollege StationFairfaxPittsburghRichardsonSan FranciscoTempeBerkeleyBloomingtonBuffalo GroveCincinnatiCummingDenverFort CollinsGoldenHarrisonburgHonolulu

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$100K$200K$300K$400K3 grants2020 3 grants2021 15 grants2022 14 grants2023 4 grants2024 6 grants2025

From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $46K (2024) to $385K (2022). In 2025 it made 6 grants totaling $88K.

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 6 recipients in 2025

Y Mwmbwls LLC: $22KY Mwmbwls LLC$22KUniversity of Connecticut Foundation Inc: $22KUniversity of ConnecticutFoundation Inc$22KValis Systems: $15KValis Systems$15KPharos Aerospace: $10KPharos Aerospace$10KRochester Institute of Technology: $10KRochester Institute ofTechnology$10KCama Security Inc: $9KCama Security Inc$9K

The largest 2025 recipient was Y Mwmbwls LLC ($22K). Together the top 6 received $88K.

Grant Size Distribution

42 grants across all recorded years

39<$50K2$50–100K1$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 39 grants of 42 (93%).

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Y Mwmbwls LLC Yorktown, VAProgram Support$22,217
University of Connecticut Foundation Inc Storrs, CTProgram Support$22,000
Valis Systems Miami, FLProgram Support$14,800
Pharos Aerospace Chicago, ILProgram Support$10,000
Rochester Institute of Technology Rochester, NYProgram Support$9,782
Cama Security Inc Buffalo Grove, ILProgram Support$8,941

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Revenue
Expenses
Net Investment Income
$0$1M$2M$3M2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
Metric202520242023
Total Assets$893,548$700,461$1,590,991
Revenue$1,228,656$939,064$1,925,660
Expenses$1,059,263$1,823,215$2,310,741

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 August 11, 2020)
  2. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS February 15, 2022)
  3. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS February 15, 2023)
  4. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS January 19, 2024)
  5. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS February 13, 2025)
  6. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS August 13, 2025)
  7. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

Hacking for Defense Incorporated is led by Maria Tranquilli, Executive Director on the 2025 filing; 2 of 5 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.

Officers on the 2025 filing

  • Maria Tranquilli

    Executive Director

    New on the 2025 filing

    40 hrs/week

    $86K (2025)

  • Col Peter Newell

    Board Chairman

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Steve Weinstein

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Tim Newell

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Sean Holland

    Finance & Systems Manager

    New on the 2025 filing

    40 hrs/week

    $106K (2025)

Former officers (7)
  • Former: Ashley Bayana (2023–2025) — Director of Operations · Filing note: Thru jan 2025
  • Former: Alexander Gallo (2020–2024) — Executive Director & President · Filing note: Thru dec 2023
  • Former: Joseph Sowers (2023–2024) — Program Manager - National Security Entrepreneursh
  • Former: Tyrome Smith (2023–2024) — Director of Partnerships
  • Former: James Santa (2024) — Director of International Academics
  • Former: Eric Perreca (2023) — Senior Advisor
  • Former: Emily McMahan (2022) — Deputy Director, Secretary & Treasurer · Filing note: Thru 012022

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

Ashley Bayana Thru Jan 2025 — Director of Operations: $131KAshley Bayana Thru Jan…Director of Operations$131KSean Holland — Finance and Systems Manager: $106KSean HollandFinance and Systems Manager$106KMaria Tranquilli — Executive Director: $86KMaria TranquilliExecutive Director$86K

The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $131K, to Ashley Bayana Thru Jan 2025 (Director of Operations). 3 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.

Frequently asked questions about Hacking for Defense Incorporated

How much does Hacking for Defense Incorporated give each year?

Hacking for Defense Incorporated gave $88K across 6 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $46K across 4 grants.

What is Hacking for Defense Incorporated's typical grant size?

Hacking for Defense Incorporated's median grant in 2025 was $12,400, and its average grant was $14,623, across 6 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.

Where does Hacking for Defense Incorporated give grants?

Hacking for Defense Incorporated's top state is Virginia, with 25% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were Connecticut (25%) and Illinois (22%).

Does Hacking for Defense Incorporated give general operating support?

Not in 2025: none of the 6 grants with a stated purpose on Hacking for Defense Incorporated's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Program Support" (6 grants).

Who are Hacking for Defense Incorporated's largest grantees?

Hacking for Defense Incorporated's largest 2025 grantees include Y Mwmbwls LLC ($22,217), University of Connecticut Foundation Inc ($22,000) and Valis Systems ($14,800), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 67% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.

How large is Hacking for Defense Incorporated?

Hacking for Defense Incorporated reported $894K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $1.2M.

What is Hacking for Defense Incorporated?

Hacking for Defense Incorporated is a public charity focused on Public Safety, Disaster Preparedness & Relief, based in Arlington, VA. It holds $894K in total assets as of 2025.

What is Hacking for Defense Incorporated's EIN?

Hacking for Defense Incorporated's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 81-2345565. 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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