MIT Free Speech Alliance
To promote free expression, academic freedom, viewpoint diversity, and open scientific inquiry in the MIT community
MIT Free Speech Alliance at a glance
In short: MIT Free Speech Alliance gave $10K across 1 grant in 2025 (avg $10K), mostly in District of Columbia. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $10,000
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 1
- -50.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $10,000
- +100.0% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $272,166
- -27.6% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- District of Columbia (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who MIT Free Speech Alliance funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top recipient in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Alumni Free Speech Alliance ($10K).
Grant Size Distribution
3 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 3 grants of 3 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of the 2025 grant dollars on its one itemized grant.
Cities
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2022 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $3K (2022) to $10K (2025). In 2025 it made 1 grant totaling $10K.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Alumni Free Speech Alliance Washington, DC | Program Services | $10,000 |
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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 | $272,166 | $236,015 | $352,768 | $10,000 | 1 | $2,975 |
| 2024 | $375,869 | $203,814 | $291,630 | $10,000 | 2 | — |
| 2023 | $460,685 | $373,087 | $248,479 | — | — | — |
| 2022 | $309,161 | $343,048 | $33,887 | $3,000 | Total only | — |
"Total only": grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
About MIT Free Speech Alliance
Based on IRS filings
MIT Free Speech Alliance is a public charity focused on Civil Rights, Social Action & Advocacy, based in Cambridge, MA. IRS filing data is available from 2022 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $272K in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 1 grant totaling $10K. Net investment income was $3K.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
MIT Free Speech Alliance is led by Peter Bonilla, Executive Director on every filing since 2022; 1 of 8 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Peter Bonilla
Executive Director
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$17K (2022) → $132K (2025)
Wayne Stargardt
President
On filings since 2023
17 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ken Kidd
Director
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Melanie Soderstrom
Director
On filings since 2023
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Frank Laukien
Director
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Steven Carhart
Director
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Cesarina Templeton
Treasurer
Treasurer & Director → Treasurer, 2023
On filings since 2022
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Chuck Davis
Secretary
Director → Chair Emeritus, 2024
Chair Emeritus → Secretary, 2025
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (4)
- Former: Bill Frezza (2022–2024) — Secretary
- Former: Eric Rasmusen (2022–2024) — Director
- Former: Melanie Ritcher (2024) — Director
- Former: Jim Rutt (2022) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2022–2025. "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 $132K, to Peter Bonilla (Executive Director).
Frequently asked questions about MIT Free Speech Alliance
How much does MIT Free Speech Alliance give each year?
MIT Free Speech Alliance gave $10K across 1 grant in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $10K across 2 grants.
How large is MIT Free Speech Alliance?
MIT Free Speech Alliance reported $272K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $236K.
What is MIT Free Speech Alliance?
MIT Free Speech Alliance is a public charity focused on Civil Rights, Social Action & Advocacy, based in Cambridge, MA. It holds $272K in total assets as of 2025.
Where does MIT Free Speech Alliance operate?
MIT Free Speech Alliance has awarded grants in District of Columbia, Massachusetts.
What is MIT Free Speech Alliance's EIN?
MIT Free Speech Alliance's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 87-4018419. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2022–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(3)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 15, 2023)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS July 31, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2022–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in MIT Free Speech Alliance's focus areas in our free grants database
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