The Commons Inc
To partner with individuals and organizations to access, organize, and share data that inspires action that restores our environment.
The Commons Inc at a glance
In short: The Commons Inc reported $416 in grants paid in 2025 (a total; its filing lists no individual grants). Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Grants paid (2025)
- $416 — reported as a total on the IRS filing, without an itemized list
- -20.2% vs 2024
- Total assets
- $1,510,634
- +5.3% vs 2024
- Revenue (2025)
- $1,071,922
- +7.9% vs 2024
- Net investment income (2025)
- $19,017
- -18.9% vs 2024
- Expenses (2025)
- $999,561
- +24.2% vs 2024
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated October 2026.
Who The Commons Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Grant Size Distribution
2 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 2 grants of 2 (100%).
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $416 (2025) to $31K (2021). In 2025 it reported $416 in grants paid, as a total without an itemized list.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| The Downstream Project Berryville, VA | To promote and materially support the objectives of the water data collaborative. | $25,500 |
| River Network Boulder, CO | To broaden water monitoring programs and maximize the potential for data to be included in public policy and community decision-making to improve local water quality. | $5,571 |
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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 | $1,510,634 | $1,071,922 | $999,561 | $416 | Total only | $19,017 |
| 2024 | $1,434,262 | $993,532 | $804,639 | $521 | Total only | $23,456 |
| 2023 | $1,251,670 | $949,118 | $845,722 | — | — | $3,124 |
| 2022 | $1,138,299 | $916,442 | $887,669 | $500 | Total only | $143 |
| 2021 | $1,095,459 | $965,254 | $818,398 | $31,071 | 2 | $152 |
| 2020 | $951,815 | $1,074,057 | $626,118 | $16,713 | 3 | $2,443 |
| 2019 | $485,277 | $663,436 | $446,136 | — | — | $1,300 |
"Total only": grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
About The Commons Inc
Based on IRS filings
The Commons Inc is a public charity, based in Washington, DC. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $1.5M in total assets. In 2025, it reported $416 in grants paid as a total on its IRS filing, without an itemized list. Net investment income was $19K.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
The Commons Inc is led by Robert John Dawes, Executive Director on every filing since 2019; 3 of 9 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Robert John Dawes
Executive Director
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$98K (2019) → $192K (2025)
Myra Jackson
Chair
Board Member → Secretary, 2023
Secretary → Chair, 2025
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Brendan McIntyre
Chief Technology Officer
Lead Software Engineer → Senior Software Engineer, 2022
Senior Software Engineer → Chief Technology Officer, 2025
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$115K (2021) → $190K (2025)
Erin Hofmann
Strategy & Application Lead
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$170K (2025)
Manuel Merello
Board Member
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Meghan Marie Fowler-Finn
Treasurer
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Michael Wu
Secretary
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mikel Maron
Vice Chair
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Roman Perez
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (14)
- Former: Ben Scheelk (2019–2024) — Chairman
- Former: Bill Howard (2019–2024) — Vice Chair
- Former: Erin Hoffman (2023–2024) — Strategy & Application Lead
- Former: Meghan Marie Fowler-Finn Board (2024) — Member
- Former: Michael Wu Board Member (2024) — Oct. & Then Secretary · Filing note: As of
- Former: Mikel Maron Board Member (2024)
- Former: Roman Perez Treasurer (2024)
- Former: Lin Perez (2023) — Treasurer
- Former: Meghanmarie Fowler-Finn (2023) — Board Member
- Former: Anne Havemann (2019–2022) — Treasurer
- Former: Cecily Kihn (2019–2022) — Secretary
- Former: Chante Coleman (2019–2022) — Board Member
- Former: John Amos (2019–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Verna Harrison (2019–2022) — Vice Chair
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "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 $192K, to Robert John Dawes (Executive Director). 3 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Commons Inc
How much does The Commons Inc give each year?
The Commons Inc reported $416 in grants paid in 2025 on its 2025 IRS Form 990, as a total without an itemized list of grants. In 2024 it reported $521 in grants paid.
How large is The Commons Inc?
The Commons Inc reported $1.5M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $1.1M.
Where does The Commons Inc operate?
The Commons Inc has awarded grants in Colorado, Maryland, New York, Virginia.
What is The Commons Inc's EIN?
The Commons Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 81-2531881. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS August 6, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS August 10, 2022)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS July 20, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS August 24, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS July 9, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 6, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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