The Wireless Foundation

Analysis

The Wireless Foundation is a registered charity in United States, based in Washington, DC. It received its IRS tax-exemption ruling in March 1991, 35 years ago. The IRS classifies it as a supporting organisation under section 501(c)(3), and contributions to it are listed as tax-deductible.

In the financial year ending December 2023, The Wireless Foundation reported income of $1.8m and spending of $1.3m, leaving 31% of income unspent that year. Across the 6 years on record, from December 2018 to December 2023, income grew from $1.8m to $1.8m (+1.4%), an average of +0.3% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to December 2021, when income rose by 57%. Over the whole period it spent 57% of the income it received.

Among 72,936 United States charities whose main cause is other charitable purposes and that reported income, The Wireless Foundation sits at the 84th percentile: it is larger than about 84% of them. Against every charity in United States with reported income it ranks in the 85th percentile, and in the 65th percentile within DC. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Mount Vernon Community School District Foundation ($1.8m), Pathways Inc ($1.8m) and Potomac Appalachian Trail Club Inc ($1.8m).

On its Form 990 for the period ending December 2023, revenue came from contributions and grants 13% of the total. At year end it held assets of $34.2m against liabilities of $75k, net assets of $34.1m.