Open to Debate Foundation
The organization's mission is to engage broader audiences in the organization's mission to address extreme polarization through debate. In addition to repositioning the organization in the market with a more accessible name, open to debate produces a weekly series of provocative and informative debates online and at live venues throughout the united states. The goals of this initiative are (1) to raise the level of public discourse on our most divisive issues, (2) to provide a weekly forum for intelligent discussion, grounded in civil dialogue, facts and informed by reasoned analysis, (3) to transcend the toxically emotional and the reflexively ideological arguments that are dividing americans, (4) to encourage recognition that understanding opposing viewpoints is what can build empathy and bridge the divide, and (5) to engage American citizens as active participants in fair and balanced debate.
Open to Debate Foundation at a glance
In short: Open to Debate Foundation gave $25K across 1 grant in 2025 (avg $25K), mostly in Florida. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $25,000
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 1
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $25,000
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $25,000
- Total assets
- $1,026,733
- +54.8% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Florida (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Open to Debate Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top recipient in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Incubate Foundation Inc ($25K).
Grant Size Distribution
2 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 2 grants of 2 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of the 2025 grant dollars on its one itemized grant.
States
Cities
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2024 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $25K (2024) to $25K (2025). In 2025 it made 1 grant totaling $25K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Incubate Foundation Inc Madison, FL | 2024 Incubate National Championship Sponsorship | $25,000 |
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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 | $1,026,733 | $5,234,812 | $5,510,936 | $25,000 | 1 | $835 |
| 2024 | $663,065 | $4,464,253 | $3,818,574 | $25,000 | 1 | $1,334 |
| 2023 | $819,519 | $2,915,960 | $2,998,087 | — | — | $1,099 |
| 2022 | $410,508 | $2,180,097 | $2,447,860 | — | — | $52 |
| 2021 | $440,112 | $1,780,047 | $2,163,261 | — | — | $51 |
| 2020 | $835,457 | $3,439,663 | $3,237,571 | — | — | $748 |
About Open to Debate Foundation
Based on IRS filings
Open to Debate Foundation is a public charity focused on Social Science, based in New York, NY. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $1.0M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 1 grant totaling $25K. Net investment income was $835.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Open to Debate Foundation is led by Clea Conner, CEO & Director on every filing since 2023; 5 of 19 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Clea Conner
CEO & Director
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$342K (2023) → $382K (2025)
Robert Rosenkranz
President & Director
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Andrew Lipson
Director of Production
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$165K (2024) → $179K (2025)
Alexandra K. Munroe
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ben Nelson
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
David A. Coulter
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Edward W. Conard
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Gerry Ohrstrom
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ian Bremmer
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kelly Posner Gerstenhaber
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Philippe Selendy
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Vanessa Mendoza
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Edward Stern
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Domenico Desole
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Merit Janow
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lia Matthow
COO
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$239K (2024) → $299K (2025)
Elizabeth Kitzenberg
Chief of Advancement
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$127K (2025)
Rachel Kemp
Chief of Staff
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$138K (2025)
Salvatore Arena
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (6)
- Former: Max Boot (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Mortimer Sackler (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: David Ariosto (2022–2023) — Editorial Director
- Former: Clea Conner Chang (2020–2022) — Chief Executive Officer & Director
- Former: Dianne Morris (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Amy Krafft (2021–2022) — Chief of Staff
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
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $382K, to Clea Conner (CEO/Director). 5 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Open to Debate Foundation
How much does Open to Debate Foundation give each year?
Open to Debate Foundation gave $25K across 1 grant in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $25K across 1 grant.
How large is Open to Debate Foundation?
Open to Debate Foundation reported $1.0M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $5.2M.
What is Open to Debate Foundation?
Open to Debate Foundation is a public charity focused on Social Science, based in New York, NY. It holds $1.0M in total assets as of 2025.
Where does Open to Debate Foundation operate?
Open to Debate Foundation has awarded grants in Florida.
What is Open to Debate Foundation's EIN?
Open to Debate Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 27-1022579. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 15, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Open to Debate Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?