Merit America is located in Washington, DC. The organization was established in 2019. According to its NTEE Classification (P12) the organization is classified as: Fund Raising & Fund Distribution, under the broad grouping of Human Services and related organizations. As of 12/2021, Merit America employed 73 individuals. This organization is an independent organization and not affiliated with a larger national or regional group of organizations. Merit America is a 501(c)(3) and as such, is described as a "Charitable or Religous organization or a private foundation" by the IRS.
For the year ending 12/2021, Merit America generated $11.4m in total revenue. This organization has experienced exceptional growth, as over the past 3 years, it has increased revenue by an average of 61.7% each year . All expenses for the organization totaled $9.0m during the year ending 12/2021. You can explore the organizations financials more deeply in the financial statements section below.
Form
990
Mission & Program ActivityExcerpts From the 990 Filing
TAX YEAR
2021
Describe the Organization's Mission:
Part 3 - Line 1
TO PROVIDE A PATH TO SKILLED CAREERS FOR THE MILLIONS OF AMERICANS WITHOUT COLLEGE DEGREES.
Describe the Organization's Program Activity:
Part 3 - Line 4a
MISSION AND HISTORY:MERIT AMERICA IS A 501(C)(3) ORGANIZATION THAT CREATES SCALABLE PATHWAYS TO FAMILY-SUSTAINING CAREERS FOR AMERICANS WITHOUT COLLEGE DEGREES AND STUCK IN LOW-WAGE WORK. THE ORGANIZATION OPERATES TO HELP TALENTED WORKERS, DISPROPORTIONATELY PEOPLE OF COLOR AND WOMEN, WHO ARE STUCK IN LOW-WAGE ROLES WITH NO WAY TO BUILD A BETTER LIFE FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILIES. THE FAST, FLEXIBLE PROGRAMS ARE BUILT FOR WORKING ADULTS TO LEARN THE SKILLS THEY NEED TO FIND A TECH CAREER AROUND THEIR WORK AND FAMILY SCHEDULE.THE ORGANIZATION STARTS BY ANALYZING TENS OF MILLIONS OF JOB POSTINGS TO IDENTIFY IN-DEMAND, HIGH-PAYING TECH CAREERS. BASED ON THIS ANALYSIS, MERIT AMERICA PARTNERS WITH INDUSTRY-RECOGNIZED TECH TRAINING PROGRAMS TO PROVIDE THE SKILLS TRAINING NEEDED TO FIND A JOB IN AN IN-DEMAND INDUSTRY, WITH MEANINGFUL UPWARD MOBILITY. MERIT AMERICA COMBINES THIS FLEXIBLE ONLINE LEARNING WITH BEST-IN-CLASS PROFESSIONAL COACHING AND PEER SUPPORT. IN 2021, MERIT AMERICA EXPANDED THEIR ONLINE PROGRAM NATIONALLY. MERIT AMERICA'S PROGRAMS ARE NOW AVAILABLE IN 50 STATES.MEASUREMENT AND EVALUATION IS A CRITICAL COMPONENT OF MERIT AMERICA'S WORK. THE ORGANIZATION COLLECTS DATA ON AND CONTINUOUSLY MONITORS OUR LEARNERS SERVED, GRADUATION RATES, PLACEMENTS INTO NEW CAREERS, AND AVERAGE WAGE GAINS, AMONG MANY OTHER METRICS, TO CONFIRM OUR PROGRAM'S CONTINUED SUCCESS. IN 2021, THE PROGRAM SERVED 1,222 LEARNERS, MORE THAN 3X THE 366 LEARNERS SERVED IN 2020. MERIT AMERICA IS ON TRACK TO SURPASS THE ORIGINAL TARGET OF 3,000 LEARNERS IN 2022. GRADUATES EARNED AN AVERAGE OF $18,700 IN WAGE GAINS AFTER THE PROGRAM BASED ON AN ANALYSIS FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA. OVER THE NEXT THREE YEARS, MERIT AMERICA ANTICIPATES SERVING 20,000 LEARNERS AND GENERATING OVER $1B IN WAGE GAINS.BRIDGESPAN COMPLETED AN INDEPENDENT ANALYSIS OF MERIT AMERICA'S SOCIAL RETURN ON INVESTMENT (ROI). THEIR CONSERVATIVE ANALYSIS FOUND THAT BETWEEN 2018-2021, MERIT AMERICA DELIVERED AN ESTIMATED 11X SOCIAL ROI FOR EVERY $1 OF PHILANTHROPY. THIS MEANS FOR EVERY DOLLAR INVESTED IN MERIT AMERICA, THE ORGANIZATION GENERATED $11 IN WAGE GAINS. ACCORDING TO THE BRIDGESPAN ANALYSIS, MERIT AMERICA'S SOCIAL ROI IS ON TRACK TO REACH 47X BY 2030. MERIT AMERICA PARTNERS WITH LOCAL AND NATIONAL EMPLOYERS TO INTERVIEW AND HIRE OUR PROGRAM GRADUATES. DURING 2021, WE DEVELOPED ADDITIONAL PARTNERSHIPS WITH EMPLOYERS AND CONTINUED TO GROW OUR EXISTING EMPLOYER PARTNERSHIPS. FOR EXAMPLE, MERIT AMERICA GREW OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH AMAZON CAREER CHOICE TO 55 LEARNERS IN 2021, A 22% INCREASE FROM 2020. THE ORGANIZATION IS ON TRACK TO SURPASS 800 AMAZON CAREER CHOICE LEARNERS IN 2022.IT IS MERIT AMERICA'S OBJECTIVE TO BUILD A SCALABLE PATHWAY FOR WORKERS WITHOUT 4-YEAR COLLEGE DEGREES TO JOIN THE MIDDLE CLASS THROUGH SKILLS DEVELOPMENT.
Name (title) | Role | Hours | Compensation |
---|---|---|---|
Rebecca Taber Staehelin Co-Founder And Co-Ceo | OfficerTrustee | 40 | $231,798 |
Connor Diemand-Yauman Co-Founder And Co-Ceo | OfficerTrustee | 40 | $231,797 |
Leila Makarechi Chief Business Officer | Officer | 40 | $200,129 |
Jumoke Balogun Vice President Program Operations | 40 | $141,826 | |
Benjamin Ophoven-Baldwin Managing Director, Growth Product | 40 | $115,730 | |
Ryan Ouellette Managing Director, Program | 40 | $115,659 |
Vendor Name (Service) | Service Year | Compensation |
---|---|---|
The Bridgespan Group Inc Management Consulting Services | 12/30/21 | $215,000 |
Right Side Up Llc Digital Marketing Services | 12/30/21 | $144,034 |
3q Digital Inc Digital Marketing Services | 12/30/21 | $147,858 |
Edufficient Llc Enrollment Marketing Services | 12/30/21 | $105,271 |
Tech Elevator Inc Java Curriculum Provider | 12/30/21 | $185,500 |
Statement of Revenue | |
---|---|
Federated campaigns | $0 |
Membership dues | $0 |
Fundraising events | $0 |
Related organizations | $0 |
Government grants | $305,037 |
All other contributions, gifts, grants, and similar amounts not included above | $9,261,618 |
Noncash contributions included in lines 1a–1f | $0 |
Total Revenue from Contributions, Gifts, Grants & Similar | $9,566,655 |
Total Program Service Revenue | $1,879,809 |
Investment income | $3,528 |
Tax Exempt Bond Proceeds | $0 |
Royalties | $0 |
Net Rental Income | $0 |
Net Gain/Loss on Asset Sales | $0 |
Net Income from Fundraising Events | $0 |
Net Income from Gaming Activities | $0 |
Net Income from Sales of Inventory | $0 |
Miscellaneous Revenue | $0 |
Total Revenue | $11,449,992 |
Statement of Expenses | |
---|---|
Grants and other assistance to domestic organizations and domestic governments. | $0 |
Grants and other assistance to domestic individuals. | $131,465 |
Grants and other assistance to Foreign Orgs/Individuals | $0 |
Benefits paid to or for members | $0 |
Compensation of current officers, directors, key employees. | $775,566 |
Compensation of current officers, directors, key employees. | $65,639 |
Compensation to disqualified persons | $0 |
Other salaries and wages | $3,661,674 |
Pension plan accruals and contributions | $97,686 |
Other employee benefits | $621,196 |
Payroll taxes | $381,187 |
Fees for services: Management | $17,433 |
Fees for services: Legal | $28,888 |
Fees for services: Accounting | $79,025 |
Fees for services: Lobbying | $0 |
Fees for services: Fundraising | $0 |
Fees for services: Investment Management | $0 |
Fees for services: Other | $1,218,147 |
Advertising and promotion | $1,360,633 |
Office expenses | $258,569 |
Information technology | $217,283 |
Royalties | $0 |
Occupancy | $1,866 |
Travel | $26,157 |
Payments of travel or entertainment expenses for any federal, state, or local public officials | $0 |
Conferences, conventions, and meetings | $5,795 |
Interest | $0 |
Payments to affiliates | $0 |
Depreciation, depletion, and amortization | $8,000 |
Insurance | $5,330 |
All other expenses | $0 |
Total functional expenses | $9,009,101 |
Balance Sheet | |
---|---|
Cash—non-interest-bearing | $11,377,397 |
Savings and temporary cash investments | $0 |
Pledges and grants receivable | $4,450,000 |
Accounts receivable, net | $170,320 |
Loans from Officers, Directors, or Controlling Persons | $0 |
Loans from Disqualified Persons | $0 |
Notes and loans receivable | $456,422 |
Inventories for sale or use | $0 |
Prepaid expenses and deferred charges | $196,779 |
Net Land, buildings, and equipment | $50,457 |
Investments—publicly traded securities | $0 |
Investments—other securities | $0 |
Investments—program-related | $0 |
Intangible assets | $0 |
Other assets | $86,000 |
Total assets | $16,787,375 |
Accounts payable and accrued expenses | $454,048 |
Grants payable | $0 |
Deferred revenue | $560,416 |
Tax-exempt bond liabilities | $0 |
Escrow or custodial account liability | $0 |
Loans and other payables to any current Officer, Director, or Controlling Person | $0 |
Secured mortgages and notes payable | $0 |
Unsecured mortgages and notes payable | $6,500,000 |
Other liabilities | $1,415,577 |
Total liabilities | $8,930,041 |
Net assets without donor restrictions | $3,368,922 |
Net assets with donor restrictions | $4,488,412 |
Capital stock or trust principal, or current funds | $0 |
Paid-in or capital surplus, or land, building, or equipment fund | $0 |
Retained earnings, endowment, accumulated income, or other funds | $0 |
Total liabilities and net assets/fund balances | $16,787,375 |
Over the last fiscal year, we have identified 15 grants that Merit America has recieved totaling $4,552,000.
Awarding Organization | Amount |
---|---|
Tenacre Foundation Princeton, NJ PURPOSE: GENERAL SUPPORT | $1,200,000 |
Tides Foundation San Francisco, CA PURPOSE: QUALITY EDUCATION | $850,000 |
Ascendium Education Solutions Inc Madison, WI PURPOSE: Assessing Training Success through Place-Based and Geographic-Agnostic Program Models | $837,000 |
The Blackrock Charitable Foundation New York, NY PURPOSE: JOBS AND ECONOMIC MOBILITY | $250,000 |
Arrow Impact Menlo Park, CA PURPOSE: GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $250,000 |
Impactassets Inc Bethesda, MD PURPOSE: GENERAL SUPPORT | $200,000 |
Organization Name | Assets | Revenue |
---|---|---|
Merit America Washington, DC | $16,787,375 | $11,449,992 |
Regional Addicition Prevention Inc Washington, DC | $8,257,247 | $5,252,185 |
Johnny Mac Soldiers Fund Inc Ashburn, VA | $3,599,907 | $5,224,033 |
Ujft Community Campus L L C Virginia Beach, VA | $22,712,202 | $1,877,122 |
Francis P Chiaramonte Md Family Foundation Inc Alexandria, VA | $42,064,981 | $1,988,575 |
Foundation For Financial Planning Inc Washington, DC | $30,168,381 | $3,652,624 |
Chime Foundation Incorporated Baltimore, MD | $16,891,967 | $1,095,454 |
Richmond Fisher House Founation Richmond, VA | $1,722,892 | $357,614 |
The Mirza Family Foundation Herndon, VA | $9,452,035 | $5,003,144 |
Virginia Community Action Partnership Richmond, VA | $1,110,592 | $749,169 |
Ravens Foundation Inc Owings Mills, MD | $382,035 | $668,502 |
The Greg And Camille Baroni Foundation Inc Potomac, MD | $9,710,831 | $308,103 |