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Hacks Hackers

Grantmaker Washington, DC EIN: 45-5351484 Website

The organization exists to bring together journalists (HACKS) and technologists (hackers) who are leaders in their sectors to advance media innovation and foster public trust in the information ecosystem. We do that by a)convening summits, hackathons, ideathons and workshopsthat bring together talent from cross-disciplinary backgrounds, including journalism, technology and academia to ideate and innovate. B) create innovation labs where we directly work with journalists to prototype and test newtechnologies, c) spread knowledge through our newsletters, webinars and other forums for learning about technology and media, (d) solicit and receive funds for the accomplishment of the above purposes, and (e) pursue any other purpose permitted to be pursued by a charity (or, by a private foundation should this organization ever become a private foundation), as that term is defined in 26 usc 501(a) and (c)(3) and associated regulations, as each may from time to time be amended.

Key facts about Hacks Hackers

In short: Hacks Hackers gave $1.1M across 7 grants in 2024 (avg $150K), mostly in Washington. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990 filing.

EIN
45-5351484
Latest 990 filing
Form 990 filing, 2024
Annual giving (2024)
$1,053,224
Grants made (2024)
7
Average grant
$150,461
Median grant
$45,146
Total assets
$1,094,304
Primary geography
Washington (69% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)

Data from IRS Form 990 filing, 2024; updated September 2026.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990 filing · View filing

Total Assets

$1.1M

-35.4% YoY

Annual Giving

$1.1M

+0.7% YoY

Grant Count

7

-22.2% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$150K

+29.5% YoY

How Hacks Hackers gives

  • Giving grew 270% from 2021 to 2024. Method

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

About Hacks Hackers

Based on IRS filings

Hacks Hackers is a nonprofit organization focused on Education, based in Washington, DC. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $1.1M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 7 grants totaling $1.1M. Net investment income was $59K.

Focus Areas

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Grant Distribution by State

10states

Share of all 7 itemized 2024 grant dollars.

Cities

San FranciscoCambridgeSeattleBrooklynWashingtonAtlantaPhiladelphiaTrumansburgBaltimoreCantonLas VegasMariettaSanta ClaraSomervilleWilmington

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$500K$1M$1.5M4 grants20198 grants20202 grants20214 grants20229 grants20237 grants2024

From 2019 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $122K (2020) to $1.1M (2024). In 2024 it made 7 grants totaling $1.1M.

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 7 recipients in 2024

University of Washington: $724KUniversity of Washington$724KCodingscape: $112KCodingscape$112KDiscourse Labs: $100KDiscourse Labs$100KChildren's Hospital of Philadelphia: $45KChildren's Hospital ofPhiladelphia$45KSocial Science Research Council: $41KSocial Science ResearchCouncil$41KNational Public Health Information Coalition Inc: $26KNational Public HealthInformation Coalition Inc$26KWikimedia DC: $6KWikimedia DC$6K

The largest 2024 recipient was University of Washington ($724K). Together the top 7 received $1.1M.

Grant Size Distribution

30 grants across all recorded years

17<$50K4$50–100K6$100–250K2$250–500K1$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 17 grants of 30 (57%).

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
University of Washington Seattle, WATo Further the Organization's Mission$723,688
Codingscape Las Vegas, NVTo Further the Organization's Mission$111,863
Discourse Labs Wilmington, DETo Further the Organization's Mission$100,200
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Philadelphia, PATo Further the Organization's Mission$45,146
Social Science Research Council Brooklyn, NYTo Further the Organization's Mission$40,827
National Public Health Information Coalition Inc Marietta, GATo Further the Organization's Mission$26,000
Wikimedia DC Washington, DCTo Further the Organization's Mission$5,500

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Revenue
Expenses
Net Investment Income
$0$2M$4M$6M201920202021202220232024
Metric202420232022
Total Assets$1,094,304$1,694,769$952,749
Revenue$2,036,524$3,639,243$1,396,665
Expenses$2,634,136$2,831,325$1,614,523
Qualifying Distributions———
Net Investment Income$58,886$57,024$80
Distributable Amount———

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

Hacks Hackers is led by Burt Herman, President since 2022 (on filings since 2019); 6 of 7 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.

Officers on the 2024 filing

  • Burt Herman

    President

    President, Treasurer & Director → President & Treasurer, 2021

    President & Treasurer → President, 2022

    On filings since 2019

    40 hrs/week

    $73K (2023) → $80K (2024)

  • Deborah L. Rotman

    Director of Operations

    On filings since 2022

    40 hrs/week

    $19K (2022) → $104K (2024)

  • Jennifer Lee

    Board Member

    Director → Board Member, 2021

    On filings since 2019

    3 hrs/week

    $48K (2020) → $0 (2024)

  • Connie M. Sehat

    Researcher-At-Large

    Program Director → Researcher-At-Large, 2023

    On filings since 2021

    40 hrs/week

    $155K (2021) → $133K (2024)

  • Anika Gupta

    Board Member

    On filings since 2022

    3 hrs/week

    $5K (2024)

  • Heather Santana

    Operations Lead

    On filings since 2023

    40 hrs/week

    $105K (2023) → $105K (2024)

  • Mark Coatney

    Business Product Lead

    On filings since 2023

    40 hrs/week

    $132K (2023) → $132K (2024)

Former officers (2)
  • Former: Mariano Blejman (2020–2022) — Board Member
  • Former: Rich Gordon (2019–2020) — Director Till

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

Connie M Sehat — Researcher-At-Large: $133KConnie M SehatResearcher-At-Large$133KMark Coatney — Business Product Lead: $132KMark CoatneyBusiness Product Lead$132KHeather Santana — Operations Lead: $105KHeather SantanaOperations Lead$105KDeborah L Rotman — Director of Operations: $104KDeborah L RotmanDirector of Operations$104KBurt Herman — President: $80KBurt HermanPresident$80KAnika Gupta — Board Member: $5KAnika GuptaBoard Member$5K

The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $133K, to Connie M Sehat (Researcher-At-Large). 6 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.

Frequently asked questions about Hacks Hackers

How much does Hacks Hackers give each year?

Hacks Hackers gave $1.1M across 7 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990 filing. In 2023 it gave $1.0M across 9 grants.

What is Hacks Hackers's typical grant size?

Hacks Hackers's median grant in 2024 was $45,146, and its average grant was $150,461, across 7 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990 filing.

Where does Hacks Hackers give grants?

Hacks Hackers gives mostly in Washington: 69% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990 filing went to recipients there. The next largest states were Nevada (11%) and Delaware (10%).

Does Hacks Hackers give general operating support?

Not in 2024: none of the 7 grants with a stated purpose on Hacks Hackers's 2024 IRS Form 990 filing were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "To Further the Organization's Mission" (7 grants).

Who are Hacks Hackers's largest grantees?

Hacks Hackers's largest 2024 grantees include University of Washington ($723,688), Codingscape ($111,863) and Discourse Labs ($100,200), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990 filing. Together they received 89% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.

How large is Hacks Hackers?

Hacks Hackers reported $1.1M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990 filing. Its revenue that year was $2.0M.

What is Hacks Hackers?

Hacks Hackers is a nonprofit organization focused on Education, based in Washington, DC. It holds $1.1M in total assets as of 2024.

What is Hacks Hackers's EIN?

Hacks Hackers's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 45-5351484. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.

Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.

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