IRS 990 Filing Research: Arabella Network & Connected Organizations
IRS 990 Filing Research: Arabella Network & Connected Organizations
Meta/DCA Investigation - Nonprofit Financial Analysis
Research Date: 2026-03-12
1. Sixteen Thirty Fund
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| EIN | 26-4486735 |
| Type | 501(c)(4) social welfare organization |
| Location | 1828 L Street NW Suite 300-B, Washington, DC 20036 |
| Ruling Date | August 2009 |
| NTEE Code | C60 (Public affairs/advocacy) |
| Management | Arabella Advisors (now Sunflower Services) |
| President | Amy Kurtz (2024) |
| Board | Raul Alvillar, Dara Freed, Marissa Brown, Jeff Cherry, Latoia Jones, Eric Kessler |
Financial History
| Year | Revenue | Assets |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $282,200,000 | $106,500,000 |
| 2023 | $181,353,252 | $139,942,052 |
| 2022 | $191,548,107 | $86,553,897 |
| 2021 | $190,651,953 | $97,684,457 |
| 2020 | $389,684,866 | $85,994,861 |
| 2019 | $138,371,684 | $92,236,003 |
| 2018 | $143,837,877 | $45,335,085 |
| 2017 | $79,559,836 | $43,614,008 |
Revenue composition (2024): 97.5% contributions ($275.2M), 1.6% investment income ($4.5M)
2024 grant-making: $236,497,395 across 318 grants
Key compensation (2024):
- Amy Kurtz (President): $251,500
- Ryan Johnson (Project Director): $210,000
- Amy Steinhoff (Campaigns Director): $186,800
- Patricia Kupfer (Campaigns Director): $178,907
990 PDF Availability
| Year | PDF Available |
|---|---|
| 2024 | Yes (via sixteenthirtyfund.org + ProPublica) |
| 2022 | Yes (ProPublica) |
| 2021 | Yes (ProPublica) |
| 2020 | Yes (ProPublica) |
| 2018 | Yes (ProPublica) |
| 2017 | Yes (ProPublica) |
Schedule I Analysis (Grants)
LIMITATION: Direct PDF downloads returned 403 errors. ProPublica Schedule I viewer loads data dynamically (JavaScript), preventing extraction via WebFetch. The 2024 public disclosure copy on sixteenthirtyfund.org was also blocked.
Known grant areas (from public descriptions): Voting access, civic participation, pay equity, paid family leave, fair tax policy, healthcare access, gun reform, renewable energy, environmental policy.
No direct evidence found of Schedule I grants to child safety organizations, DCA-related groups, ConnectSafely, Digital Childhood Institute, Common Sense Media, or 5Rights Foundation. However, the 2024 filing shows 318 grants totaling $236.5M - a full Schedule I review would require direct PDF access.
Key investigative note: As a 501(c)(4), the Sixteen Thirty Fund is not required to publicly disclose donor identities on Schedule B. Donations to it are not tax-deductible.
2. ConnectSafely Inc
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| EIN | 47-3168168 |
| Type | 501(c)(3) public charity |
| Location | 3481 Greer Rd, Palo Alto, CA 94303 |
| Ruling Date | October 2015 |
| NTEE Code | P70 (Internet & Technology) |
| Care of | Lucille Regehr |
| Founded | 2005 by Larry Magid and Anne Collier |
Financial History
| Year | Revenue | Assets |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $784,500 | $1,727,125 |
| 2023 | $653,869 | $1,615,591 |
| 2022 | $938,843 | $1,563,617 |
| 2021 | $411,714 | $1,106,421 |
| 2020 | $419,506 | $1,035,524 |
| 2019 | $450,073 | $985,715 |
| 2018 | $297,209 | $889,092 |
| 2017 | $944,031 | $917,450 |
| 2016 | $409,729 | $338,577 |
| 2015 | $316,801 | $247,621 |
Revenue Breakdown (2024)
- Contributions: $703,602 (89.7%)
- Investment Income: $80,898 (10.3%)
- Program Services: $0
Key Officers & Compensation (2024)
- Lawrence Magid (President/CEO): $218,708
- Maureen Kochan (Vice President): $143,693
- Warren Blumenfeld (Director & Treasurer): $0
- David Needle (Director & Secretary): $0
- Dr. Annie Hempstead (Director): $0
Executive compensation: $387,087 (57.5% of total expenses of $673,139)
Meta/Tech Company Funding Connections
CONFIRMED relationships:
- Meta (Facebook): ConnectSafely CEO Larry Magid serves on Meta’s Safety Advisory Council. Meta has provided financial support to ConnectSafely since at least 2017. ConnectSafely receives an honorarium as a member of Meta’s Safety Advisory Council.
- Multiple tech companies: Larry Magid has served on safety advisory boards for Facebook, Google, Twitter, Comcast, Roblox, Zepeto, and Snapchat.
- Industry funding broadly: ConnectSafely has received financial support from Facebook, Google, Microsoft, Snapchat, and other companies.
Schedule B Analysis (Contributors)
LIMITATION: Schedule B contributor names are NOT publicly disclosed for 501(c)(3) organizations per IRS rules (IRC Section 6104). While ConnectSafely must report contributors giving over $5,000 to the IRS, this information is redacted from public copies of the 990.
What is known: With $703,602 in contributions (2024) and $653,869 (2023), and confirmed funding from Meta and other tech companies, the contributor base likely includes multiple large tech company donors. The 89.7% reliance on contributions (vs. $0 in program service revenue) underscores the organization’s dependence on donor support.
Positions on Child Safety Legislation
Larry Magid has publicly stated he opposes certain child safety bills “from my perch as a long-time child safety advocate,” arguing they could increase risk and deny basic rights. ConnectSafely has published content questioning age assurance laws and specific state bills (e.g., Utah).
990 PDFs Available
All years 2015-2024 have e-filed 990s available via ProPublica (direct PDF downloads returned 403; XML data accessible via redirect).
3. Windward Fund
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| EIN | 47-3522162 |
| Type | 501(c)(3) public charity |
| Location | 1828 L Street NW Suite 300-C, Washington, DC 20036 |
| Ruling Date | June 2015 |
| NTEE Code | C30 |
| Management | Arabella Advisors |
| President | Lee Bodner |
| Former President | Eric Kessler (2015-2016) |
Financial History
| Year | Revenue | Assets |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $311,243,316 | $432,729,235 |
| 2023 | $212,371,954 | $355,450,224 |
| 2022 | $198,128,051 | $337,278,177 |
| 2021 | $274,341,513 | $328,195,647 |
| 2020 | $158,611,799 | $136,151,371 |
| 2019 | $44,404,708 | $43,649,953 |
| 2018 | $19,238,519 | $18,675,227 |
Schedule I Analysis
LIMITATION: Could not access PDF or XML filing data directly.
Known focus areas: Education, Philanthropy/Voluntarism/Grantmaking, Human Services. Geographic focus: California, DC, Wisconsin.
Arabella network connection: Same address block (Suite 300-C) as Sixteen Thirty Fund (Suite 300-B) and Hopewell Fund (Suite 300-D) at 1828 L Street NW, Washington, DC. All managed by Arabella Advisors. In 2021, Windward Fund paid $25,000 to Hopewell Fund as a grant.
No direct evidence found of grants to child safety organizations or DCA-related groups from available search results.
4. Hopewell Fund
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| EIN | 47-3681860 |
| Type | 501(c)(3) public charity |
| Location | 1828 L Street NW Suite 300-D, Washington, DC 20036 |
| Ruling Date | September 2015 |
| NTEE Code | T12 |
| Management | Arabella Advisors |
| President | Anna Brower (2025-); Lee Bodner (2016-2025); Eric Kessler (2015-2016) |
Financial History
| Year | Revenue | Assets |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | ~$114M (grants given) | $172,927,279 |
| 2023 | $157,709,416 | $170,485,420 |
| 2022 | $178,097,921 | $176,857,021 |
| 2021 | $123,385,939 | $159,581,623 |
| 2020 | $152,371,332 | $160,094,021 |
| 2019 | $86,964,726 | $135,001,987 |
| 2018 | $66,892,414 | $130,298,757 |
| 2017 | $130,616,293 | $119,425,489 |
Schedule I Analysis
LIMITATION: Could not access PDF or XML filing data directly.
Known focus areas: Education, Philanthropy/Voluntarism/Grantmaking, Human Services. Geographic focus: DC, California, New York.
No direct evidence found of grants to child safety organizations or DCA-related groups from available search results.
5. Digital Childhood Institute (DCI)
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| EIN | 39-3684798 |
| Type | 501(c)(3) public charity |
| Location | 213 N Market St Num 1039, Wilmington, DE 19801 |
| Ruling Date | November 2025 |
| NTEE Code | B05 (Educational Research and Development) |
| Founder/President | Melissa McKay |
| Operational Base | Utah (Lehi area) |
Key Findings
- Very recently incorporated: IRS tax-exempt ruling date of November 2025 means the organization received 501(c)(3) status only ~4 months ago.
- No 990 filings exist yet in ProPublica or IRS databases (too new).
- Delaware incorporation with Utah operations is a common nonprofit structure.
- Funding model: DCI states it “does not accept funding from major tech platforms” and is “supported by individual donors and foundations aligned with their mission.”
- Activities: Filed FTC complaints against Apple and Google over child safety. Active in child safety advocacy, policy work, and regulatory complaints.
- Related entity: Digital Childhood Alliance (digitalchildhoodalliance.org) appears to be a connected or predecessor organization.
DCI vs. ConnectSafely - Contrasting Positions
DCI and ConnectSafely represent opposing sides of the child safety debate:
- DCI: Pro-regulation, filed FTC complaints against tech companies, advocates for stronger child protection laws, refuses tech industry funding
- ConnectSafely: Receives funding from Meta/Facebook, Google, Microsoft, et al.; CEO serves on Meta’s Safety Advisory Council; has expressed opposition to certain child safety bills
Arabella Network Analysis
Shared Infrastructure
All three Arabella entities share the same address block at 1828 L Street NW, Washington, DC 20036:
- Suite 300-B: Sixteen Thirty Fund (501(c)(4))
- Suite 300-C: Windward Fund (501(c)(3))
- Suite 300-D: Hopewell Fund (501(c)(3))
All are managed by Arabella Advisors (rebranded as Sunflower Services). Eric Kessler served as founding president of all three entities.
Combined Financial Scale (2023)
| Entity | Revenue | Assets |
|---|---|---|
| Sixteen Thirty Fund | $181,353,252 | $139,942,052 |
| Windward Fund | $212,371,954 | $355,450,224 |
| Hopewell Fund | $157,709,416 | $170,485,420 |
| Combined | $551,434,622 | $665,877,696 |
Including the New Venture Fund (the largest Arabella entity, not profiled here), the network’s combined revenue exceeds $1 billion annually.
Relevance to Meta/DCA Investigation
Potential role: The Arabella network entities function as fiscal sponsors and pass-through funders for progressive advocacy projects. They could theoretically fund DCA advocacy campaigns without the ultimate funder being traceable, as:
- Sixteen Thirty Fund (c)(4): Does not disclose donors. Could receive Meta or tech industry funds and pass them to advocacy groups opposing child safety regulation.
- Windward/Hopewell (c)(3): Must list grant recipients on Schedule I, but contributor identities on Schedule B are not publicly released for 501(c)(3) organizations.
- Fiscal sponsorship model: Pop-up campaigns can operate under these entities’ tax-exempt umbrella without separate incorporation, making funding flows harder to trace.
However: No direct evidence was found in this research connecting any Arabella network entity to:
- Grants supporting or opposing the Design Code Act (DCA)
- Grants to ConnectSafely or Digital Childhood Institute
- Grants to child safety advocacy organizations
- Meta/Facebook funding flowing through the network
This negative finding is inconclusive due to inability to access Schedule I grant detail data in the actual 990 filings (PDF downloads returned 403 errors, and ProPublica’s filing viewer loads data dynamically).
Research Limitations & Next Steps
Limitations Encountered
- PDF 403 errors: Direct download of 990 PDFs from ProPublica returned 403 Forbidden for all organizations.
- Dynamic page loading: ProPublica’s full filing viewer and Schedule I pages load data via JavaScript, which WebFetch cannot render.
- Schedule B redaction: 501(c)(3) contributor names are legally protected from public disclosure (IRC Section 6104).
- 501(c)(4) donor opacity: Sixteen Thirty Fund (c)(4) does not disclose donors at all.
- DCI too new: Digital Childhood Institute received tax-exempt status in November 2025; no 990 filings exist yet.
Recommended Next Steps
- Manual PDF access: Download 990 PDFs directly from ProPublica in a browser to review:
- Sixteen Thirty Fund Schedule I (2022-2024) for child safety grants
- Windward Fund Schedule I (2022-2024) for child safety grants
- Hopewell Fund Schedule I (2022-2024) for child safety grants
- ConnectSafely 990 (2023-2024) for revenue detail and program descriptions
- IRS XML data: Download XML e-file data from ProPublica (redirects to S3) and parse for Schedule I grant recipients
- New Venture Fund: Search NVF (the largest Arabella entity, 823 grant recipients in 2023) for child safety grants
- Tech Transparency Project report: The article “Inside Meta’s Spin Machine on Kids and Social Media” at techtransparencyproject.org likely contains detailed ConnectSafely/Meta funding analysis but was blocked (403)
- State AG filings: Check California and DC charity registration filings for ConnectSafely and Arabella entities
- Open Secrets: Check opensecrets.org for Meta lobbying expenditure data and connections to these nonprofits
Key ProPublica URLs for Manual Review
- Sixteen Thirty Fund: https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/264486735
- ConnectSafely: https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/473168168
- Windward Fund: https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/473522162
- Hopewell Fund: https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/473681860
- Digital Childhood Institute: https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/393684798
Key Sources
- ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer API: https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/api/v2/
- InfluenceWatch profiles: https://www.influencewatch.org/non-profit/
- Tech Transparency Project: https://www.techtransparencyproject.org/articles/inside-metas-spin-machine-on-kids-and-social-media
- ConnectSafely supporters page: https://connectsafely.org/about-us/supporters/
- Capital Research Center Arabella analysis: https://capitalresearch.org/article/donors-to-the-arabella-advisors-network/