Networks Electronic Commerce and Telecommunications Institute
The Networks Electronic Commerce and Telecommunications Institute, known as the NET Institute, is a private foundation based in New York, New York. It competitively funds research projects on network industries and related fields, including platforms, electronic commerce, telecommunications, and the Internet.
Networks Electronic Commerce and Telecommunications Institute at a glance
In short: Networks Electronic Commerce and Telecommunications Institute gave $18K across 10 grants in 2025 (avg $2K), top state North Carolina. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $17,970
- -16.4% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 10
- -9.1% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $1,797
- -8.1% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $1,500
- Total assets
- $42,245
- -23.9% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- North Carolina (19% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Networks Electronic Commerce and Telecommunications Institute
- How to Apply
-
The 2024 filing directs applicants to submit the required materials described on the Institute’s website and says to see the website for deadlines and research-area details. The 2026 call requested proposals for new research.
- Contact
Application contact: Nicholas Economides
Mailing address: 7 Washington Sq N Ste 52A, New York, NY 10003
Phone: (917) 776-8777
Email: submissions@netinst.org
Website: http://www.NETinst.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Networks Electronic Commerce and Telecommunications Institute funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Jose Ignacio Heresi ($3K). Together the top 10 received $18K.
Grant Size Distribution
69 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 69 grants of 69 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2025 filing reports recipient-state shares of grant dollars including North Carolina (19%), California (8%), Virginia (6%), and New Jersey (4%). Listed 2025 awards also included a recipient in Wisconsin. The filing’s largest reported state share is marked “?” rather than identifying a state.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 10 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Networks Electronic Commerce and Telecommunications Institute gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−7%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $17K (2020) to $35K (2021). In 2025 it made 10 grants totaling $18K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Jose Ignacio Heresi | App Store Fees and App Business Models | $3,000 |
| Matteo Bizzari | The effect of common ownership in input-output networks | $3,000 |
| Tat-How TEH | Network interoperability and platform competition | $2,970 |
| Wake Forrest Winston-Salem, NC | Dissecting Netflixs Self-Preferencing Evidence from Viewer-Level Data | $2,000 |
| Ksenia Shakhgildyan Los Angeles, CA | Fremeny of two Giants Amazon and Apple | $1,500 |
| Muxin Lee Canton, NC | Fremeny of two Giants Amazon and Apple | $1,500 |
| Yaron Yeheskel | Competing for cookies Platforms business models in data markets with network effects | $1,500 |
| William and Mary Williamsburg, VA | Dissecting Netflixs Self-Preferencing Evidence from Viewer-Level Data | $1,000 |
| Antonio Cozzolino Jersey City, NJ | Robust Identification in Repeated Games An Empirical Approach to Algorithmic Competition | $750 |
| Lorenzo Magnofli Madison, WI | Robust Identification in Repeated Games An Empirical Approach to Algorithmic Competition | $750 |
Ready to take the next step with Networks Electronic Commerce and Telecommunications Institute?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $42,245 | $22,883 | $36,125 | $17,970 | 10 | $29,970 | — | $2,733 |
| 2024 | $55,487 | $40,023 | $22,400 | $21,500 | 11 | — | $23 | $2,023 |
| 2023 | $37,863 | $40,024 | $44,303 | $21,612 | 12 | $33,612 | — | — |
| 2022 | $41,671 | $23 | $32,566 | $19,333 | 17 | $31,333 | $23 | $3,108 |
| 2021 | $74,213 | $25,038 | $41,114 | $35,418 | 19 | $35,418 | $38 | $4,336 |
| 2020 | $90,289 | $25,087 | $24,592 | $17,416 | 11 | — | $87 | $4,608 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Networks Electronic Commerce and Telecommunications Institute reported a distributable amount of $3K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The NET Institute is devoted to research on network industries, platforms, multi-sided markets, electronic commerce, telecommunications, credit and debit card networks, the Internet, virtual networks, and network issues generally. Its website highlights innovation and new technology in network and platform industries, including AI.
Its summer grants support theoretical or empirical research, which may have public-policy or antitrust implications. Listed topics include network effects, interoperability, competition policy, cloud computing, and entry and potential entry in markets with network effects. The Institute says grants are for genuinely new research, not completed or nearly completed work, and expresses a strong preference for young researchers. It expects funded research eventually to be published in top academic research journals.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the Institute reported 10 grants totaling $17,970. Grant amounts ranged from $750 to $3,000, with a median of $1,500. Examples include $3,000 for Jose Ignacio Heresi’s “App Store Fees and App Business Models,” $3,000 for Matteo Bizzari’s “The effect of common ownership in input-output networks,” and $2,970 for Tat-How Teh’s “Network interoperability and platform competition.” Other listed awards included $2,000 to Wake Forrest for research on Netflix self-preferencing and $1,000 to William and Mary for the same topic.
The 2025 call for proposals specified a May 25, 2025 deadline; that cycle is past. The 2026 call specified a May 25, 2026 deadline, with decisions expected in early July and research output by September 30, 2026; that cycle is also past.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Ariel Pakes, Nathan Myhrvold, David Heiner, and Vinton G. Cerf as directors, and Nicholas Economides as executive director. The Institute’s website also identifies these individuals as its board members.
Networks Electronic Commerce and Telecommunications Institute is led by Nicholas Economides, Executive Director on every filing since 2020; none of the 5 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Nicholas Economides
Executive Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
David Heiner
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Nathan Myhrvold
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Vinton G. Cerf
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Ariel Pakes
Director
New on the 2025 filing
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: David Pakes (2020–2024) — 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.
Frequently asked questions about Networks Electronic Commerce and Telecommunications Institute
How much does Networks Electronic Commerce and Telecommunications Institute give each year?
Networks Electronic Commerce and Telecommunications Institute gave $18K across 10 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $22K across 11 grants.
What is Networks Electronic Commerce and Telecommunications Institute's typical grant size?
Networks Electronic Commerce and Telecommunications Institute's median grant in 2025 was $1,500, and its average grant was $1,797, across 10 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Networks Electronic Commerce and Telecommunications Institute give grants?
Networks Electronic Commerce and Telecommunications Institute's top state is North Carolina, with 19% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were California (8%) and Virginia (6%).
Does Networks Electronic Commerce and Telecommunications Institute give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 10 grants with a stated purpose on Networks Electronic Commerce and Telecommunications Institute's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are Networks Electronic Commerce and Telecommunications Institute's largest grantees?
Networks Electronic Commerce and Telecommunications Institute's largest 2025 grantees include Jose Ignacio Heresi ($3,000), Matteo Bizzari ($3,000) and Tat-How TEH ($2,970), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 50% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Networks Electronic Commerce and Telecommunications Institute?
Networks Electronic Commerce and Telecommunications Institute reported $42K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $30K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $3K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Networks Electronic Commerce and Telecommunications Institute fund?
The NET Institute is devoted to research on network industries, platforms, multi-sided markets, electronic commerce, telecommunications, credit and debit card networks, the Internet, virtual networks, and network issues generally. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Networks Electronic Commerce and Telecommunications Institute?
The 2024 filing directs applicants to submit the required materials described on the Institute’s website and says to see the website for deadlines and research-area details. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Networks Electronic Commerce and Telecommunications Institute's EIN?
Networks Electronic Commerce and Telecommunications Institute's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 01-0744075. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS April 12, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 12, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 13, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS January 22, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS March 7, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
Live grants for the work Networks Electronic Commerce and Telecommunications Institute funds
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