2023-10-19T14:25:15-05:00 2022-12-31 910189318 MOSS ADAMS LLP 21700 OXNARD ST STE 300 WOODLAND HILLS CA 91367 990 2022-01-01 842108762 MERIT AMERICA MERI 9143103148 712 H STREET NE SUITE 1560 WASHINGTON DC 20002 REBECCA TABER CO-FOUNDER AND CO-CEO 9143103148 2023-10-18 1 REBECCA TABER 999009999 0 LAUREN A HAVERLOCK P00545829 8185771900 2 AAL1 IAL1 2022 2023-04-26 12:10:37Z REBECCA TABER STAEHELIN 712 H STREET NE SUITE 1560 WASHINGTON DC 20002 28420779 0 X WWW.MERITAMERICA.ORG/ X 2019 DC TO PROVIDE A PATH TO SKILLED CAREERS FOR THE MILLIONS OF AMERICANS WITHOUT COLLEGE DEGREES. 8 6 173 7 0 0 9566655 19666880 1879809 8753249 3528 650 0 0 11449992 28420779 131465 68426 0 0 5537309 13311644 0 0 898687 3340327 9150634 9009101 22530704 2440891 5890075 16787375 23949600 8930041 10202191 7857334 13747409 X TO PROVIDE A PATH TO SKILLED CAREERS FOR THE MILLIONS OF AMERICANS WITHOUT COLLEGE DEGREES. 0 0 20270193 68426 8753249 MERIT AMERICA IS A NATIONAL CAREER DEVELOPMENT NONPROFIT DEDICATED TO CREATING PATHWAYS TO FAMILY-SUSTAINING CAREERS FOR AMERICANS WHO ARE STUCK IN LOW-WAGE WORK. THROUGH FAST AND FLEXIBLE SOLUTIONS, MERIT AMERICA EMPOWERS WORKING ADULTS BY PROVIDING THEM WITH THE SKILLS AND SUPPORT NECESSARY TO PURSUE IN-DEMAND, HIGH-PAYING CAREERS. THE ORGANIZATION COLLABORATES WITH INDUSTRY PARTNERS AND EMPLOYERS TO ENSURE SUCCESSFUL PLACEMENTS INTO UPWARDLY MOBILE CAREERS. BY THE END OF THE YEAR 2025, MERIT AMERICA SEEKS TO DRIVE $1 BILLION IN PROJECTED CUMULATIVE WAGE GAINS, CONNECTING TALENTED LEARNERS TO IN-DEMAND CAREER PATHS AT SCALE.IN 2022, MERIT AMERICA MADE TREMENDOUS PROGRESS TOWARD ITS ORGANIZATIONAL GOALS. THROUGH COMPREHENSIVE MEASUREMENT AND EVALUATION PRACTICES, MERIT AMERICA COLLECTS DATA ON VARIOUS METRICS TO GAUGE THE SUCCESS OF ITS PROGRAM. THIS INCLUDES TRACKING LEARNERS SERVED, COMPLETION RATES, CAREER PLACEMENTS, AVERAGE WAGE GAINS, AND OTHER RELEVANT METRICS TO VERIFY THE PROGRAM'S ONGOING SUCCESS. THE FOLLOWING IS AN OVERVIEW OF MERIT AMERICA'S 2022 PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS, SHOWCASING ITS GROWTH, IMPACT, AND COMMITMENT TO ITS MISSION.MERIT AMERICA HAS EXPERIENCED SUBSTANTIAL GROWTH IN THE NUMBER OF LEARNERS SERVED. IN 2022, THE ORGANIZATION AIMED TO LAUNCH COHORTS WITH 2,500 LEARNERS, DOUBLING THE PREVIOUS YEAR'S REACH. HOWEVER, THIS GOAL WAS SURPASSED WITH A TOTAL OF 3,600 LEARNERS SERVED IN 2022, REPRESENTING THREEFOLD ANNUAL GROWTH AND REACHING 146% OF THE TARGET.A THIRD-PARTY ANALYSIS CONDUCTED IN 2022 BY DR. BEN CASTLEMAN AT THE UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA (UVA) FOUND THAT MERIT AMERICA ALUMNI EXPERIENCED AN AVERAGE ANNUAL WAGE GAIN OF $18.7K THREE OR MORE MONTHS AFTER COMPLETING THE PROGRAM. IN ADDITION, MORE THAN 80% OF ALUMS REPORTED POSITIVE WAGE GAINS AT LEAST THREE MONTHS AFTER COMPLETION, FROM AN AVERAGE PRE-PROGRAM SALARY OF $24K TO AN AVERAGE POST-PROGRAM SALARY OF $50K PER YEAR, A $26K AVERAGE WAGE GAIN. THESE FINDINGS VALIDATE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF MERIT AMERICA'S APPROACH IN PROVIDING SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC MOBILITY.USING THE METHODOLOGY DEVELOPED BY UVA & BRIDGESPAN, MERIT AMERICA ESTIMATES APPROXIMATELY $340 MILLION IN PROJECTED CUMULATIVE WAGE GAINS FOR LEARNERS SERVED THROUGH 2022. THIS ACHIEVEMENT SURPASSES EXPECTATIONS, POSITIONING THE ORGANIZATION AHEAD OF SCHEDULE TOWARD ITS GOAL OF DRIVING $1 BILLION IN PROJECTED CUMULATIVE WAGE GAINS BY THE END OF 2025.FINANCIALLY, MERIT AMERICA SECURED $17.85 MILLION IN PHILANTHROPIC FUNDING IN 2022, $2.85M MORE THAN 2020 & 2021 COMBINED. NOTABLY, THE ORGANIZATION ALSO BECAME THE INAUGURAL PARTNER OF THE GOOGLE CAREER CERTIFICATES FUND, A $100 MILLION INITIATIVE LAUNCHED IN COLLABORATION WITH GOOGLE CEO SUNDAR PICHAI. THIS PARTNERSHIP STRENGTHENS MERIT AMERICA'S SUSTAINABILITY, ENABLES THE PROGRAM TO SCALE TO SERVE MANY MORE LEARNERS, AND AFFIRMS THE RECOGNITION OF ITS IMPACTFUL WORK.ORGANIZATIONAL GROWTH HAS ALSO BEEN A SIGNIFICANT HIGHLIGHT FOR MERIT AMERICA IN 2022. WITH THE EXPANSION OF THE TEAM FROM 75 TO NEARLY 200 EMPLOYEES, THE ORGANIZATION IS WELL-EQUIPPED TO CONTINUE SCALING OPERATIONS. IN ALIGNMENT WITH ITS MISSION, MERIT AMERICA PRIORITIZES DIVERSITY AND INCLUSIVITY WITHIN THE WORKFORCE, WITH 80% OF THE STAFF AND 70% OF THE EXECUTIVE TEAM IDENTIFYING AS BIPOC, LGBTQ, OR FIRST-GENERATION COLLEGE ATTENDEES BY THE CLOSE OF 2022. THIS DEDICATION HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED THROUGH ITS 2022 CERTIFICATION AS A "GREAT PLACE TO WORK," WITH 97% OF EMPLOYEES INDICATING HIGH LEVELS OF SATISFACTION.MERIT AMERICA'S 2022 PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS REFLECT THE ORGANIZATION'S COMMITMENT TO CREATING SCALABLE PATHWAYS FOR WORKERS STUCK IN LOW-WAGE JOBS TO ACCESS FAMILY-SUSTAINING CAREERS. THE ORGANIZATION'S SIGNIFICANT ACHIEVEMENTS IN SERVING A GROWING NUMBER OF LEARNERS, GENERATING SUBSTANTIAL WAGE GAINS, SECURING PHILANTHROPIC SUPPORT, AND FOSTERING DIVERSITY AND INCLUSIVITY WITHIN THE ORGANIZATION ARE INDICATIVE OF ITS IMPACTFUL WORK. AS MERIT AMERICA CONTINUES TO WORK TOWARDS ITS MISSION, THE ORGANIZATION IS WELL-POSITIONED TO SURPASS ITS GOAL OF DRIVING $1 BILLION IN CUMULATIVE WAGE GAINS TO MAKE A LASTING IMPACT ON ECONOMIC MOBILITY FOR WORKING ADULTS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES. 20270193 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 111 0 1 173 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 X 8 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 0 1 1 1 0 AL CA FL MA MD MI NJ NV NY OH VA WA WI X ALYSIA ABRAMS 6154297467 712 H STREET NE SUITE 1560 WASHINGTON DC 20002 REBECCA TABER STAEHELIN CO-FOUNDER AND CO-CEO 40.00 X X 320476 0 63831 CONNOR DIEMAND-YAUMAN CO-FOUNDER AND CO-CEO 40.00 X X 330887 0 43140 NORMAN ATKINS DIRECTOR/BOARD CHAIR 1.00 X X 0 0 0 STEPHANIE CORNELL DIRECTOR/SECRETARY/TREASURER 1.00 X X 0 0 0 YIN LU DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 JANICE BURNS DIRECTOR (THRU 4/8/22) 1.00 X 0 0 0 NAOMI BAGDONAS DIRECTOR (AS OF 4/8/22) 1.00 X 0 0 0 AHMMAD BROWN DIRECTOR (AS OF 4/8/22) 1.00 X 0 0 0 BYRON AUGUSTE DIRECTOR (AS OF 4/8/22) 1.00 X 0 0 0 LEILA MAKARECHI CHIEF BUSINESS OFFICER 40.00 X 236814 0 78536 RYAN OUELLETTE VICE PRESIDENT PROGRAM OPERATIONS 40.00 X 169599 0 18261 JENNIFER MAZZON CHIEF PRODUCT OFFICER 40.00 X 219842 0 44457 ANNE KEENAN CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER 40.00 X 187641 0 75714 AMARPAL SHAHPURI DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR 40.00 X 197733 0 26570 CRYSTAL BARCELO CHIEF PEOPLE OFFICER 40.00 X 206690 0 4958 JUMOKE BALOGUN CHIEF EXPERIENCE OFFICER 40.00 X 184930 0 13952 2054612 0 369419 9 0 1 0 BUSINESS RULE SOLUTIONS LLC 2429 BISSONNET SUITE 488 HOUSTON TX 77005 DATA CLEANING & ANALYTICS SERVICES 350904 3Q DIGITAL INC 25 E WASHINGTON STREET CHICAGO IL 60602 TECHNOLOGY & CREATIVE MANAGEMENT FEES, S 334509 RIGHT SIDE UP 9901 BRODIE LANE SUITE 160 PMB515 AUSTIN TX 78748 DIGITAL MARKETING SERVICES 190625 RUSSELL REYNOLDS ASSOCIATES 277 PARK AVENUE SUITE 3800 NEW YORK NY 10172 RECRUITING SERVICES 189300 EDUFFICIENT LLC 6 FOREST AVENUE 2ND FLOOR PARAMUS NJ 07652 CALL, QUALITY & TRANSFER SERVICES 173525 8 19666880 3000000 19666880 TUITION REPAYMENT/PLACEMENT FEES 561499 8753249 8753249 8753249 650 650 28420779 8753249 0 650 X 68426 68426 1261543 976228 36640 248675 9631563 8755342 405141 471080 167465 161495 5153 817 1376981 1262127 58082 56772 874092 783970 35491 54631 232828 232828 48513 43511 1970 3032 2933702 2558097 345917 29688 4086430 4086430 102703 79679 18330 4694 429000 429000 2960 2655 120 185 243624 102576 133900 7148 15000 15000 34379 34379 24597 24597 CURRICULUM 645457 645457 PAYROLL PROCESSING FEES 313138 280852 12715 19571 STAFF DEVELOPMENT 38303 34348 1561 2394 22530704 20270193 1361824 898687 11377397 20875451 4450000 600000 170320 441524 456422 1378031 196779 574461 122554 42421 50457 80133 86000 0 16787375 23949600 454048 1412873 560416 2129060 6500000 6500000 1415577 160258 8930041 10202191 X 3368922 10270459 4488412 3476950 7857334 13747409 16787375 23949600 5890075 0 X X 0 1 X 1 0 X 2706328 5498057 9566655 19666880 37437920 2706328 5498057 9566655 19666880 37437920 11529207 25908713 1499 3528 650 5677 37443597 11318470 X RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED 122554 42421 80133 80133 BREX 114258 457B CONTRIBUTION PAYABLE 41000 INTEREST PAYABLE 5000 160258 X 28420779 0 28420779 0 28420779 22530704 0 22530704 0 22530704 PART X, LINE 2: THE ORGANIZATION IS A NONPROFIT DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA ("D.C.") CORPORATION AND IS EXEMPT FROM INCOME TAXES UNDER SECTION 501(C)(3) OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE ("IRC") AND UNDER D.C. CODE TITLE 29, CHAPTER 4, EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT OF UNRELATED BUSINESS TAXABLE INCOME AS DEFINED UNDER IRC SECTIONS 511 THROUGH 515. FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2022 AND 2021, NO PROVISION FOR UNRELATED BUSINESS INCOME TAXES IS REQUIRED. THE ORGANIZATION HAS NO UNRECOGNIZED TAX BENEFITS OR LIABILITIES AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2022 AND 2021. THE ORGANIZATION, UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF FASB ASC TOPIC 740, INCOME TAXES, HAD NO UNCERTAIN TAX POSITIONS REQUIRING ACCRUAL AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2022 AND 2021. 1 LEARNER SUPPORT 103 58900 9526 FMV GIFT CARDS PART I, LINE 2: THE CHIEF BUSINESS OFFICER WORKS WITH THE CO-CEOS TO SELECT FUNDERS WITH INTEREST AND PASSION ABOUT MERIT AMERICA'S MISSION. THE GRANT APPLICATION INCLUDES A DETAILED BUDGET OF HOW THE FUNDS WILL BE SPENT. THE GRANT IS TRACKED ON A GRANT SCHEDULE SPREADSHEET AND MONITORED REGULARLY. ONCE THE GRANT FUNDS HAVE EITHER BEEN AWARDED OR RECEIVED, THE FINANCE TEAM BEGINS TRACKING THE REVENUE AND EXPENSES IN THE GENERAL LEDGER. THE FINANCE TEAM ALLOCATES COSTS TO THE GRANT IN ACCORDANCE WITH GRANT SPECIFICATIONS AND TERMS. THE GRANTS TEAM PAYS CLOSE ATTENTION TO REPORTING DATES AND WORKS WITH THE FINANCE TEAM TO SUBMIT ACCURATE AND TIMELY REPORTING OF GRANT SPENDING TO THE FUNDER. X X 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 REBECCA TABER STAEHELIN CO-FOUNDER AND CO-CEO 320476 0 0 0 0 0 29650 0 34181 0 384307 0 0 0 CONNOR DIEMAND-YAUMAN CO-FOUNDER AND CO-CEO 330887 0 0 0 0 0 29650 0 13490 0 374027 0 0 0 LEILA MAKARECHI CHIEF BUSINESS OFFICER 236814 0 0 0 0 0 47908 0 30628 0 315350 0 0 0 JENNIFER MAZZON CHIEF PRODUCT OFFICER 189842 0 30000 0 0 0 3641 0 40816 0 264299 0 0 0 ANNE KEENAN CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER 187641 0 0 0 0 0 42976 0 32738 0 263355 0 0 0 AMARPAL SHAHPURI DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR 147733 0 50000 0 0 0 5135 0 21435 0 224303 0 0 0 CRYSTAL BARCELO CHIEF PEOPLE OFFICER 206690 0 0 0 0 0 4308 0 650 0 211648 0 0 0 JUMOKE BALOGUN CHIEF EXPERIENCE OFFICER 106154 0 0 0 78776 0 3185 0 10767 0 198882 0 0 0 RYAN OUELLETTE VICE PRESIDENT PROGRAM OPERATIONS 169599 0 0 0 0 0 5057 0 13204 0 187860 0 0 0 PART I, LINE 4A ONE INDIVIDUAL REPORTED ON PART VII RECEIVED A SEVERANCE PAYMENT IN 2022. DETAILS ARE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST. X ONLINE ADVERTISEMENT CREDITS 1 3000000 FMV 0 0 1 0 PART I, COLUMN (B): THE NUMBER OF CONTRIBUTIONS REPRESENTS THE NUMBER OF DONORS. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 11B THE CONTROLLER REVIEWS THE 990 AND COMPARES TO THE GENERAL LEDGER OF THE ORGANIZATION TO ENSURE DATA INTEGRITY. THE 990 IS RECONCILED TO THE GENERAL LEDGER AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, INCLUDING THE TRIAL BALANCE, THE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION, AND THE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES. ADDITIONALLY, THE 990 IS RECONCILED TO THE AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS TO ENSURE DATA INTEGRITY AND CONSISTENCY. ALL QUESTIONS ON THE 990 ARE REVIEWED TO ENSURE THAT THE APPROPRIATE ANSWERS HAVE BEEN PROVIDED. IF EDITS ARE NEEDED ON THE 990, THE CONTROLLER REQUESTS FROM THE AUDIT TAX TEAM. ONCE THE 990 IS COMPLETE WITH NO ERRORS, THE CONTROLLER SHARES WITH THE FINANCE COMMITTEE. ONCE APPROVED BY THE FINANCE COMMITTEE, THE 990 IS RECOMMENDED TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. THE 990 MUST BE UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS PRIOR TO FILING WITH THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE (IRS). ONCE APPROVED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, THE CONTROLLER NOTIFIES THE AUDIT TAX TEAM THAT THE 990 IS READY TO BE FILED WITH THE IRS. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 12C MERIT AMERICA INCLUDES A CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY AND A CONFIDENTIALITY POLICY IN THE EMPLOYEE HANDBOOK, WHICH IS GIVEN TO ALL NEW EMPLOYEES TO READ. EMPLOYEES ARE REQUIRED TO COMPLETE THIS TASK, WHICH IS MANAGED BY A WORKBOARD SOFTWARE THAT TRACKS THE TIME AND DATE COMPLETED. THE ORGANIZATION ALSO SENDS CONFLICT OF INTEREST AND CONFIDENTIALITY POLICIES TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS ANNUALLY TO READ AND SIGN. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 15 THE ORGANIZATION USES MULTIPLE THIRD-PARTY SALARY SURVEYS AS WELL AS CONSULTANTS TO RESEARCH SALARY RANGES IN THE NONPROFIT INDUSTRY FOR COMPARABLE ORGANIZATIONS AND COMPARABLE JOB RESPONSIBILITIES. THE CO-CEOS MEET WITH THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS TO DISCUSS AND APPROVE ALL EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION, WHICH IS SET USING THE SAME METHODOLOGY AS THE REST OF THE STAFF. THE CO-CEOS RECUSE THEMSELVES FROM THE MEETING PRIOR TO THEIR SALARIES BEING DISCUSSED AND APPROVED. ALL APPROVED COMPENSATION AMOUNTS ARE INCLUDED IN THE ANNUAL BUDGET WHICH IS APPROVED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION C, LINE 19 THE ORGANIZATION MAKES ITS GOVERNING DOCUMENTS, CONFLICTS OF INTEREST POLICY, AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC UPON REQUEST. FORM 990, PART IX, LINE 11G PROFESSIONAL SERVICES - PROGRAM & ADMISSIONS SUPPORT: PROGRAM SERVICE EXPENSES 717,532. MANAGEMENT AND GENERAL EXPENSES 0. FUNDRAISING EXPENSES 0. TOTAL EXPENSES 717,532. PROFESSIONAL SERVICES - PRODUCT DESIGN & SUPPORT: PROGRAM SERVICE EXPENSES 411,112. MANAGEMENT AND GENERAL EXPENSES 0. FUNDRAISING EXPENSES 0. TOTAL EXPENSES 411,112. PROFESSIONAL SERVICES - EXECUTIVE TEAM SUPPORT: PROGRAM SERVICE EXPENSES 202,600. MANAGEMENT AND GENERAL EXPENSES 246,516. FUNDRAISING EXPENSES 7,995. TOTAL EXPENSES 457,111. PROFESSIONAL SERVICES - PEOPLE OPERATIONS SUPPORT: PROGRAM SERVICE EXPENSES 311,296. MANAGEMENT AND GENERAL EXPENSES 14,093. FUNDRAISING EXPENSES 21,693. TOTAL EXPENSES 347,082. PROFESSIONAL SERVICES - BRANDING & MARKETING / LEARNER ACQUISITION: PROGRAM SERVICE EXPENSES 863,057. MANAGEMENT AND GENERAL EXPENSES 85,308. FUNDRAISING EXPENSES 0. TOTAL EXPENSES 948,365. PROFESSIONAL SERVICES - PARTNERSHIP CONTRACTORS: PROGRAM SERVICE EXPENSES 52,500. MANAGEMENT AND GENERAL EXPENSES 0. FUNDRAISING EXPENSES 0. TOTAL EXPENSES 52,500. FORM 990, PART XII, LINE 2C: MERIT AMERICA'S FINANCE COMMITTEE IS ALSO THE AUDIT COMMITTEE AND ASSUMES RESPONSIBILITY OF THE AUDIT AND PERIODIC REVIEW OF FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. THIS COMMITTEE WAS INVOLVED IN THE DECISION TO HIRE AN OUTSIDE AUDIT FIRM AND AN INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANT IN 2020. A CONTROLLER FOR THE ORGANIZATION WAS HIRED IN MARCH 2021. THIS POSITION IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE ORGANIZATION AND IS RESPONSIBLE FOR WORKING WITH THE AUDITORS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR IN PREPARATION OF AND FOR THE COMPLETION OF THE FINANCIAL AUDIT AND FORM 990.