2025-11-12T20:36:31-06:00 2024-12-31 390859910 BAKER TILLY ADVISORY GROUP LP 21700 OXNARD ST STE 300 WOODLAND HILLS CA 91367 990 2024-01-01 842108762 MERIT AMERICA MERI 9143103148 712 H STREET NE SUITE 1560 WASHINGTON DC 20002 REBECCA TABER STAEHELIN CO-FOUNDER AND CO-CEO 9143103148 2025-11-12 1 1 LAUREN A HAVERLOCK P00545829 8185771900 2024 2025-03-06 01:10:19Z REBECCA TABER STAEHELIN 712 H STREET NE SUITE 1560 WASHINGTON DC 20002 61425877 0 X WWW.MERITAMERICA.ORG/ X 2019 DC TO PROVIDE A PATH TO SKILLED CAREERS FOR THE MILLIONS OF AMERICANS WITHOUT COLLEGE DEGREES. 8 6 248 6 0 0 29039821 46063888 13667249 14345608 507492 1014887 0 1494 43214562 61425877 148320 530624 0 0 23472738 30175529 0 0 1262129 12597784 20248092 36218842 50954245 6995720 10471632 30452510 43053154 9709381 11866741 20743129 31186413 X TO PROVIDE A PATH TO SKILLED CAREERS FOR THE MILLIONS OF AMERICANS WITHOUT COLLEGE DEGREES. 0 0 47296713 530624 14347102 IN 2024, MERIT AMERICA FOCUSED ON REFINING OUR PROVEN "TECH+ TOUCH" MODEL, BLENDING FLEXIBLE ONLINE LEARNING WITH WORLD-CLASS COACHING TO DELIVER TRANSFORMATIVE RESULTS AT SCALE. FUELED BY OUR MISSION TO BUILD A PATHWAY TO THE MIDDLE CLASS FOR THE 53 MILLION AMERICANS STUCK IN LOW-WAGE WORK, WE ALSO EXPANDED INTO NEW FIELDS BEYOND TECHNOLOGY, PROVING THAT OUR APPROACH WORKS ACROSS MULTIPLE IN-DEMAND CAREERS WHILE LAYING THE GROUNDWORK FOR OUR NEXT CHAPTER OF GROWTH.SINCE OUR FIRST 15-PERSON PILOT IN 2018, MERIT AMERICA HAS SCALED DRAMATICALLY. IN APRIL 2024, THE ORGANIZATION SURPASSED 10,000 LEARNERS SERVED AND CLOSED THE YEAR WITH MORE THAN 14,000, REFLECTING BOTH STRONG DEMAND FOR OUR PROGRAM AND OUR ABILITY TO SCALE RESPONSIBLY.OUR LONGITUDINAL RESEARCH PARTNERSHIP WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA CONFIRMS THAT OUR MODEL CONTINUES TO DELIVER STRONG RESULTS AT SCALE. ON AVERAGE, ALUMNI EXPERIENCE AN ANNUAL WAGE INCREASE OF $24,000 THREE OR MORE MONTHS POST-PROGRAM COMPLETION, NEARLY DOUBLING PRE-PROGRAM EARNINGS OF $26,000. OUR 80% COMPLETION RATE FAR OUTPACES THE SIX-YEAR NATIONAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE COMPLETION RATE OF 42%, FURTHER UNDERSCORING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF OUR MODEL.IN 2024, WE EXPANDED OUR PROGRAM OFFERINGS BY LAUNCHING CYBERSECURITY AND PROJECT MANAGEMENT CAREER TRACKS, JOINING IT SUPPORT, DATA ANALYTICS, AND UX DESIGN. THESE NEW TRACKS ADDRESS URGENT LABOR MARKET NEEDS, INCLUDING A SHORTAGE OF OVER 700,000 CYBERSECURITY PROFESSIONALS AND 200,000 PROJECT MANAGERS ANNUALLY. LOOKING AHEAD TO 2025, WE ARE PREPARING TO EXPAND OUR CAREER TRACKS BEYOND TECH, OPENING EVEN MORE PATHWAYS TO ECONOMIC MOBILITY.OUR FINANCIAL ACCESSIBILITY MODEL REMAINS A CORNERSTONE OF OUR APPROACH. THROUGH THE GOOGLE CAREER CERTIFICATES FUND, THOUSANDS OF LEARNERS HAVE ACCESSED ASCENT FUNDING'S INNOVATIVE ZERO PERCENT LOAN, WHICH REQUIRES NO UPFRONT COSTS, CHARGES 0% INTEREST, AND ONLY REQUIRES REPAYMENT WHEN LEARNERS EARN AT LEAST $40,000 ANNUALLY. IN 2024, WE ALSO FORMALIZED OUR "OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL" INITIATIVE, ENSURING PROGRAM ACCESS FOR LEARNERS WHO DO NOT QUALIFY FOR THE LOAN AND CANNOT OTHERWISE COVER THE COST OF THE PROGRAM.WE ALSO STRENGTHENED PARTNERSHIPS WITH EMPLOYERS AND FUNDERS TO BROADEN REACH AND DEEPEN IMPACT. HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE: NEW PARTNERSHIPS WITH LYFT AND INSTACART, CONNECTING OUR PROGRAMS TO TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DRIVERS AND SHOPPERS NATIONWIDE. A $15.6M REGIONAL INVESTMENT FROM CRANKSTART FOUNDATION TO EXPAND OUR IMPACT IN THE SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA, EXPECTED TO GENERATE $200M IN WAGE GAINS. SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENTS FROM BLUE MERIDIAN PARTNERS AND ASCENDIUM EDUCATION GROUP, PROVIDING CRITICAL FUNDING FOR THE NEXT PHASE OF OUR GROWTH.THE LAUNCH OF THE OPPORTUNITY COALITION, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH AMERICA'S FRONTIER FUND FOUNDATION AND MAJOR FUNDERS, TO ADDRESS CRITICAL WORKFORCE SHORTAGES IN FRONTIER TECHNOLOGIES, SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING, AND SUPPLY CHAIN SECTORS.AS WE REFLECT ON 2024, WE ARE PROUD OF THE TRANSFORMATIVE RESULTS WE HAVE ACHIEVED WHILE LAYING THE FOUNDATION FOR OUR NEXT PHASE OF GROWTH. WITH A STRONG TRACK RECORD, ROBUST PARTNERSHIPS, AND PROVEN OUTCOMES, MERIT AMERICA IS POISED TO SCALE TO TENS OF THOUSANDS MORE LEARNERS IN THE YEARS AHEAD - CONTINUING TO BREAK DOWN BARRIERS AND UNLOCK OPPORTUNITY ACROSS THE COUNTRY. 47296713 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 1 156 0 1 248 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 1 1 1 1 0 AK AL AR AZ CA CO CT DC DE FL GA HI IA ID IL IN KS KY LA MA MD ME MI MN MO MS MT NC ND NE NH NJ NM NY NV OH OK OR PA RI SC SD TN TX UT VA VT WA WV WI WY X EDGAR HO 4153000528 712 H STREET NE SUITE 1560 WASHINGTON DC 20002 CONNOR DIEMAND-YAUMAN CO-FOUNDER AND CO-CEO 40.00 X X 532311 0 66855 REBECCA TABER STAEHELIN CO-FOUNDER AND CO-CEO 40.00 X X 512754 0 84194 ANNE KEENAN CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER 40.00 X 291863 0 43976 RYAN OUELLETTE CHIEF PROGRAM OFFICER 40.00 X 273994 0 23919 JENNIFER MAZZON CHIEF PRODUCT OFFICER 40.00 X 252221 0 57031 MEGHAN CRESSMAN VICE PRESIDENT, DEVELOPMENT 40.00 X 250045 0 42483 LEILA MAKARECHI CHIEF BUS. OFFICER/CHIEF POLICY OFFICER 40.00 X 246793 0 35578 LAL JONES-BEY CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER (THRU 8/24) 40.00 X 239408 0 29508 NORMAN ATKINS DIRECTOR/ BOARD CHAIR 1.00 X X 0 0 0 BYRON AUGUSTE DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 NAOMI BAGDONAS DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 AHMMAD BROWN DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 REBECCA LEVIN DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 YIN LU DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 2599389 0 383544 54 0 1 0 BUSINESS RULE SOLUTIONS LLC 2429 BISSONNET SUITE 488 HOUSTON TX 77005 ANALYTICS AND DATA CLEANING SERVICES 252000 BERLIN ROSEN LLC 15 MAIDEN LANE NEW YORK NY 10038 MARKETING, STRATEGY, CREATIVE SERVICES 200310 IRRATIONAL LABS LLC 819 51ST STREET OAKLAND CA 94608 STRATEGY CONSULTING 200000 DAVID GUENDELMAN 60 OAK GROVE AVENUE WOODACRE CA 94973 FINANCE CONSULTING AND REPORTING 163548 H EMAD ANSARI ESQ 244 5TH AVE NEW YORK NY 10001 LEGAL SERVICES 120000 6 46063888 4030000 46063888 TUITION REPAYMENT/PLACEMENT FEES 561499 14345608 14345608 14345608 1014887 1014887 HONORARIUM 900099 1494 1494 1494 61425877 14347102 0 1014887 530624 530624 1465029 1146616 79190 239223 22233853 20893344 631776 708733 677886 630434 20337 27115 3989305 3710054 119679 159572 1809456 1682794 54284 72378 170378 170378 222251 206693 6668 8890 20759 20759 3287874 2935247 320850 31777 14034871 14034871 329704 219687 100568 9449 1097513 1097513 7554 7025 227 302 117243 109036 3517 4690 538917 538917 196666 196666 39724 39724 91863 91863 CURRICULUM 92775 92775 50954245 47296713 2395403 1262129 28604341 41323646 143469 215000 233146 146920 702245 657122 705731 686612 150194 126340 63578 23854 30452510 43053154 1805174 2291626 1222123 2463219 6500000 6500000 182084 611896 9709381 11866741 X 20373065 23288567 370064 7897846 20743129 31186413 30452510 43053154 X 10471632 -28348 X X 0 1 X 1 0 X 5498057 9566655 19666880 29039821 46063888 109835301 5498057 9566655 19666880 29039821 46063888 109835301 28910515 80924786 1499 3528 650 507492 1014887 1528056 1494 1494 111364851 39331327 0.72670 X SCHEDULE A, PART II, LINE 10, EXPLANATION OF OTHER INCOME: HONORARIUM PAYMENT - 2024 AMOUNT: $ 1,494. RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED 150194 126340 23854 23854 BREX 304062 457B CONTRIBUTION PAYABLE 174501 INTEREST PAYABLE 133333 611896 X 61405118 -20759 -20759 61425877 0 61425877 50961834 28348 28348 50933486 20759 20759 50954245 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, 2024 AND 2023, NO PROVISION FOR UNRELATED BUSINESS INCOME TAXES IS REQUIRED. THE ORGANIZATION HAS NO UNRECOGNIZED TAX BENEFITS OR LIABILITIES AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2024 AND 2023. THE ORGANIZATION, UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF FASB ASC TOPIC 740, INCOME TAXES, HAD NO UNCERTAIN TAX POSITIONS REQUIRING ACCRUAL AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2024 AND 2023. PART XI, LINE 2D - OTHER ADJUSTMENTS: INVESTMENT MANGEMENT FEES -20,759. PART XII, LINE 2D - OTHER ADJUSTMENTS: BAD DEBT EXPENSE 28,348. PART XII, LINE 4B - OTHER ADJUSTMENTS: INVESTMENT MANGEMENT FEES 20,759. 1 LEARNER SUPPORT 2312 360928 FMV LAPTOPS LEARNER SUPPORT 219 108500 LEARNER SUPPORT 3297 61196 FMV GIFT CARDS PART I, LINE 2: THE PROGRAM TEAM HAS A PROCESS FOR APPROVING MICROGRANTS (CASH), GIFT CARDS, AND LAPTOPS FOR LEARNERS. THE LEARNER COMPLETES AN APPLICATION FOR THE GRANT OR LAPTOP, AND THE PROGRAM TEAM CAREFULLY EXAMINES THE APPLICATION AND EITHER APPROVES OR REJECTS THE REQUEST BASED ON NEED AND CRITERIA. IF THE LEARNER IS GRANTED A MICROGRANT (CASH), AN ACH PAYMENT IS SENT TO THE LEARNER'S CHECKING ACCOUNT FOR THE APPROVED AMOUNT. FOR LAPTOPS, IN GENERAL, IF A LEARNER IS ENROLLED IN THE COURSE AND DOES NOT HAVE ACCESS TO A COMPUTER, THE LEARNER IS GRANTED A LAPTOP. A LOG OF LEARNERS IS KEPT FOR BOTH MICROGRANTS AND LAPTOPS. X X X 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 CONNOR DIEMAND-YAUMAN CO-FOUNDER AND CO-CEO 400703 0 131608 0 0 0 47185 0 19670 0 599166 0 0 0 REBECCA TABER STAEHELIN CO-FOUNDER AND CO-CEO 381146 0 131608 0 0 0 47185 0 37009 0 596948 0 0 0 ANNE KEENAN CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER 266645 0 25218 0 0 0 9004 0 34972 0 335839 0 0 0 RYAN OUELLETTE CHIEF PROGRAM OFFICER 247873 0 26121 0 0 0 8176 0 15743 0 297913 0 0 0 JENNIFER MAZZON CHIEF PRODUCT OFFICER 252221 0 0 0 0 0 7846 0 49185 0 309252 0 0 0 MEGHAN CRESSMAN VICE PRESIDENT, DEVELOPMENT 200045 0 50000 0 0 0 7789 0 34694 0 292528 0 0 0 LEILA MAKARECHI CHIEF BUS. OFFICER/CHIEF POLICY OFFICER 205810 0 40983 0 0 0 7504 0 28074 0 282371 0 0 0 LAL JONES-BEY CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER (THRU 8/24) 202163 0 0 0 37245 0 6119 0 23389 0 268916 0 0 0 PART I, LINE 4A ONE INDIVIDUAL REPORTED ON PART VII RECEIVED A SEVERANCE PAYMENT IN 2024. DETAILS ARE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST. PART I, LINE 5 EXECUTIVE BONUSES ARE ACCRUED AT THE END OF EACH YEAR BASED ON REVENUE AND PERFORMANCE IN ACCORDANCE WITH EMPLOYMENT CONTRACTS. X ONLINE ADVERTISEMENTS 1 4000000 FMV X INTEREST EXPENSE 1 30000 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 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. THE CONTROLLER PERFORMS A FINAL REVIEW OF ALL QUESTIONS TO ENSURE THAT THE APPROPRIATE ANSWERS HAVE BEEN PROVIDED. IF EDITS ARE NEEDED, THE CONTROLLER REQUESTS FROM THE AUDIT TAX TEAM. ONCE THE 990 IS COMPLETE WITH NO ERRORS, THE CONTROLLER SHARES WITH THE CFO AND SUBSEQUENTLY TO 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 FULL BOARD OF DIRECTORS PRIOR TO FILING WITH THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE (IRS). ONCE APPROVED BY ALL MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, 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 XI, LINE 9: BAD DEBT EXPENSE -28,348. 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. A CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER WAS HIRED IN 2023 AS PART OF THE FINANCE TEAM AND IS RESPONSIBLE FOR REVIEWING AND APPROVING THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS EACH MONTH.