Internet Society
The Internet Society is a global 501(c)(3) charitable organization based in Fredericksburg, Virginia, with regional offices in Asia-Pacific (Singapore), Europe (Amsterdam), Latin America (Montevideo), and North America. Founded in 1992 and tax-exempt since May 1994, the organization works to support and promote the development of the Internet as a global technical infrastructure that enriches people's lives and serves as a force for good in society.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$68.3M
+12.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.3M
+157.7% YoY
Grant Count
19
+26.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$68K
+103.5% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission Statement: The Internet Society supports and promotes the development of the Internet as a global technical infrastructure, a resource to enrich people's lives, and a force for good in society. The organization's work aligns with goals for the Internet to be open, globally connected, secure, and trustworthy.
Primary Focus Areas:
- Building and supporting communities that make the Internet work
- Advancing Internet infrastructure, technologies, and open standards development and application
- Advocating for policy consistent with the organization's vision of the Internet
- Technology and standards development including administration of IETF meetings, the Internet Architecture Board (IAB), and the Internet Research Task Force (IRTF)
- Strengthening the Internet globally through work on encryption, Internet routing security and stability, and open standards
- Empowering people to take action through collaboration, outreach, and training with communities, partners, and allies
- Growing the Internet by closing the digital divide and connecting unconnected populations
Grantmaking
The Internet Society makes grants through its grantmaking activities, with recent awards ranging from approximately $5,140 to $600,000.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Internet Society funds projects primarily in California, the District of Columbia, and Virginia, with a global reach through regional offices and programs spanning Asia-Pacific, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, and North America.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Fiscal Year 2024:
- Total Revenue: $47,978,162
- Total Expenses: $43,636,588
- Net Income: $4,341,574
- Total Assets: $68,271,785
Revenue Breakdown (2024):
- Contributions: $42,888,971 (89.4%)
- Program Services: $3,270,147 (6.8%)
- Investment Income: $1,406,405 (2.9%)
- Sales of Assets: $400,779 (0.8%)
- Other Revenue: $11,860
Expense Breakdown (2024):
- Executive Compensation: $1,588,026 (3.6%)
- Other Salaries and Wages: $13,620,707 (31.2%)
Fiscal Year 2023:
- Total Revenue: $44,657,843
- Total Expenses: $44,179,712
- Total Assets: $60,950,086
- Staff: 61 employees
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $68,271,886 | $60,950,086 | $55,915,141 |
| Revenue | $47,978,162 | $44,657,843 | $42,547,621 |
| Expenses | $43,636,588 | $44,179,712 | $47,999,864 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $1,807,184 | $1,113,948 | $609,276 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
113 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Internet Society
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include NetHope Inc ($250,000), Allied Media Projects Inc ($240,662), Aspiration ($192,768).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| NetHope Inc | Empowering People to Take Action | $250,000 |
| Allied Media Projects Inc | Empowering People to Take Action | $240,662 |
| Aspiration | Empowering People to Take Action | $192,768 |
| IETF Trust LLC | Technology & Standards Development | $150,000 |
| UN Technical Cooperation Activities | Empowering People to Take Action | $100,000 |
| Oxfam America | Empowering People to Take Action | $60,000 |
| Association for Progressive Comm | Empowering People to Take Action | $25,000 |
| Association for Progressive Comm | Growing the Internet | $26,000 |
| People Centered Internet Inc | Strengthening the Internet | $50,000 |
| USTTI | Empowering People to Take Action | $40,140 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Sally Wentworth - President and Chief Executive Officer
- Yogesh Khanna - Executive Vice President and Managing Director
- Andrew Sullivan - Listed in governance documents
- Board Trustees include Barry Leiba, Brian Haberman, and Caleb Ogundele
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barry Leiba | Trustee | 6 | — |
| Brian Haberman | Trustee | 6 | — |
| Caleb Ogundele | Trustee | 6 | — |
| Charles Mok | Trustee | 6 | — |
| Jon Peterson | Trustee (Thru 06/24) | 6 | — |
| Kathleen Moriarty | Trustee (As of 06/24) | 6 | — |
| Laura Thomson | Trustee/Treasurer | 6 | — |
| Luis Martinez | Trustee (Thru 06/24) | 6 | — |
| Maureen Hilyard | Trustee (As of 06/24) | 6 | — |
| Olufunke Baruwa | Trustee | 6 | — |
| Ramanou Biaou | Trustee | 6 | — |
| Robert Pepper | Trustee (Thru 06/24) | 6 | — |
| Russell Housley | Trustee (As of 06/24) | 6 | — |
| Sagarika Wickramasekera | Trustee | 6 | — |
| Ted Hardie | Trustee/Board Chair | 16 | — |
| Victor Kuarsingh | Trustee/Secretary | 6 | — |
| Andrew Sullivan | President and Chief Executive Officer (Thru 08/24) | 40 | $546,137 |
| Ilona Levine | Senior Vice President and General Counsel | 40 | $208,522 |
| Sae-Young Park | Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | 40 | $196,309 |
| Sally Wentworth | President and Chief Executive Officer (As of 09/24) | 40 | $399,090 |
| Dawit Bekele | Regional Vice President - Africa | 40 | $323,715 |
| Erica Ellison | Senior Vice President, People & Culture | 40 | $247,809 |
| Joseph Hall | Distinguished Technologist, Strong Internet | 40 | $277,612 |
| Katie Bengaard | Senior Vice President, Strategy | 40 | $236,773 |
| Sebastian Bellagamba | Vice President, External and Community Engagement | 40 | $341,598 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The Internet Society Foundation has announced multiple grant initiatives and grantee partnerships in recent months, including:
Announcing a new group of 9 grantee partners to connect the unconnected worldwide | Internet Society FoundationA new group of 9 grantee partners selected to connect the unconnected worldwide
Announcing a new group of 9 grantee partners to connect the unconnected worldwide | Internet Society FoundationNew grant partners announced to promote Internet resiliency in disaster response
Announcing a new group of 9 grantee partners to connect the unconnected worldwide | Internet Society FoundationDigital inclusion grantees driving connectivity initiatives
Meet the newest grantees driving digital inclusion | Internet Society Foundation2024 research grantees selected to shape the future of the Internet
Meet the newest grantees driving digital inclusion | Internet Society FoundationNine projects awarded funding to expand Internet access and connectivity globally
Nine Projects Awarded Funding to Expand Internet Access and Connectivity Globally | Internet Society FoundationContact Information
Headquarters: 1551 Emancipation Highway #1506 Fredericksburg, VA 22401 United States
Phone: +1-703-439-2120 Fax: +1-703-439-2142
General Email: [email protected]
Regional Contacts:
- Asia-Pacific: [email protected]
- Europe: [email protected]
- Latin America: [email protected]
- Middle East: [email protected]
- North America: [email protected]
Leadership Contacts:
- President and CEO: [email protected]
- Board of Trustees: [email protected]
- Individual Membership: [email protected]
- Organization Membership: [email protected]
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Internet Society fund?
**Mission Statement:** The Internet Society supports and promotes the development of the Internet as a global technical infrastructure, a resource to enrich people's lives, and a force for good in society. The organization's work aligns with goals for the Internet to be open, globally connected, secure, and trustworthy. **Primary Focus Areas:** • **Building and supporting communities** that make the Internet work • **Advancing Internet infrastructure, technologies, and open standards** developm…
How do I apply for a grant from Internet Society?
The Internet Society makes grants through its grantmaking activities, with recent awards ranging from approximately $5,140 to $600,000. **Recent Grant Activity:** The organization has announced multiple grant programs and grantee partnerships, including: • Grants to connect unconnected populations worldwide • Funding to promote Internet resiliency in disaster response • Digital inclusion initiatives • Research grants shaping the future of the Internet • Projects to expand Internet access and co…
Where does Internet Society make grants?
The Internet Society funds projects primarily in California, the District of Columbia, and Virginia, with a global reach through regional offices and programs spanning Asia-Pacific, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, and North America.
What size grants does Internet Society award?
In 2024, Internet Society awarded 19 grants totaling $1.3M — an average of about $68K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Internet Society's EIN?
Internet Society's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 54-1650477. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated June 2026.
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