A.J. Muste Memorial Institute
Supporting progressive, grassroots activism.
A.J. Muste Memorial Institute
EIN: 23-7379088
as of September 2023
as of September 18, 2023
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Social Justice Fund
Reviewed twice annually, organizing grants of up to $5,000 are awarded to activist organizations with small budgets and little access to mainstream funding sources. Examples of issues we fund include:
- stop war and militarism
- abolish the death penalty
- support labor organizing
- defend immigrant rights
- oppose the carceral state
- expose dangers of nuclear weapons and nuclear power
International Nonviolence Training Fund (INTF)
Created in 1994, this fund makes grants of up to $4,000 for trainings which help people learn how to collectively use the theory and practice of nonviolent action as part of ongoing campaigns or programs for social justice. Projects must be located outside the United States, or within Native nations in the US.
Literature
The Institute's pamphlet series consists of historical and contemporary essays on issues of social change. Topics include nonviolent resistance and national defense, liberation struggles, racism, sexism, and labor organizing.
Sheltering Program
The Muste Institute has historically provided affordable office and meeting space in New York City to help foster collaborative grassroots community initiatives. The Institute is working virtually from July 2021 for up to a year as we explore how the Covid pandemic may impact collaborative work. We fully expect to continue supporting on-the-ground activism in many different forms.
Freeman Internship Endowment
The Harrop A. and Ruth S. Freeman Peace Internship Endowment was created in 1996 by a bequest from life-long peace activists Ruth and Harrop Freeman to provide stipends to interns in the War Resisters League’s national office.
Sara Ann Bilezikian Peace Internship Endowment
The Sara Ann Bilezikian Peace Internship Endowment was created in 2011 by a gift from Sophie and John Bilezikian in honor of their daughter's legacy of social justice action. The Endowment provides stipends to interns working in the War Resisters League’s national office.
Fiscal Sponsorship Program
Through fiscal sponsorship, the Institute helps organizations receive tax-deductible contributions for educational work related to peace and social justice.
Where we work
External reviews

Financials
Financial documents
Download audited financialsRevenue vs. expenses: breakdown
Liquidity in 2022 info
15.17
Months of cash in 2022 info
4.9
Fringe rate in 2022 info
19%
Funding sources info
Assets & liabilities info
Financial data
A.J. Muste Memorial Institute
Balance sheetFiscal Year: Jul 01 - Jun 30
The balance sheet gives a snapshot of the financial health of an organization at a particular point in time. An organization's total assets should generally exceed its total liabilities, or it cannot survive long, but the types of assets and liabilities must also be considered. For instance, an organization's current assets (cash, receivables, securities, etc.) should be sufficient to cover its current liabilities (payables, deferred revenue, current year loan, and note payments). Otherwise, the organization may face solvency problems. On the other hand, an organization whose cash and equivalents greatly exceed its current liabilities might not be putting its money to best use.
Fiscal Year: Jul 01 - Jun 30
This snapshot of A.J. Muste Memorial Institute’s financial trends applies Nonprofit Finance Fund® analysis to data hosted by GuideStar. While it highlights the data that matter most, remember that context is key – numbers only tell part of any story.
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Business model indicators
Profitability info | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Unrestricted surplus (deficit) before depreciation | -$559,795 | -$2,597,989 | -$1,260,937 | $2,372,056 | -$2,545,226 |
As % of expenses | -38.6% | -129.7% | -58.2% | 178.4% | -235.5% |
Unrestricted surplus (deficit) after depreciation | -$617,070 | -$2,655,566 | -$1,318,640 | $2,319,259 | -$2,547,401 |
As % of expenses | -40.9% | -128.9% | -59.3% | 167.8% | -235.3% |
Revenue composition info | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Total revenue (unrestricted & restricted) | $773,817 | $771,430 | $792,983 | $874,105 | $1,647,503 |
Total revenue, % change over prior year | -32.0% | -0.3% | 2.8% | 10.2% | 88.5% |
Program services revenue | 19.5% | 18.0% | 13.2% | 2.3% | 0.0% |
Membership dues | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
Investment income | 61.6% | 63.2% | 59.9% | 40.3% | 19.4% |
Government grants | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
All other grants and contributions | 19.4% | 11.2% | 13.2% | 8.8% | 37.2% |
Other revenue | -0.4% | 7.6% | 13.7% | 48.6% | 43.5% |
Expense composition info | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Total expenses before depreciation | $1,451,064 | $2,002,924 | $2,165,024 | $1,329,552 | $1,080,614 |
Total expenses, % change over prior year | -18.6% | 38.0% | 8.1% | -38.6% | -18.7% |
Personnel | 15.2% | 13.3% | 8.0% | 18.3% | 24.2% |
Professional fees | 22.1% | 30.4% | 31.3% | 20.7% | 29.6% |
Occupancy | 33.9% | 23.3% | 22.9% | 36.1% | 0.0% |
Interest | 7.2% | 16.5% | 13.0% | 4.5% | 2.4% |
Pass-through | 13.9% | 10.5% | 4.4% | 11.2% | 39.3% |
All other expenses | 7.6% | 5.9% | 20.4% | 9.2% | 4.5% |
Full cost components (estimated) info | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Total expenses (after depreciation) | $1,508,339 | $2,060,501 | $2,222,727 | $1,382,349 | $1,082,789 |
One month of savings | $120,922 | $166,910 | $180,419 | $110,796 | $90,051 |
Debt principal payment | $0 | $237,109 | $0 | $6,137,629 | $74,558 |
Fixed asset additions | $7,884,100 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
Total full costs (estimated) | $9,513,361 | $2,464,520 | $2,403,146 | $7,630,774 | $1,247,398 |
Capital structure indicators
Liquidity info | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Months of cash | 3.8 | 2.7 | 1.9 | 21.8 | 4.9 |
Months of cash and investments | 156.0 | 107.8 | 98.1 | 171.1 | 183.0 |
Months of estimated liquid unrestricted net assets | 151.3 | 98.8 | 84.1 | 157.9 | 165.9 |
Balance sheet composition info | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cash | $459,708 | $450,846 | $339,443 | $2,411,912 | $439,941 |
Investments | $18,408,079 | $17,543,296 | $17,356,355 | $16,546,503 | $16,038,411 |
Receivables | $39,356 | $7,037 | $5,208,315 | $3,500 | $0 |
Gross land, buildings, equipment (LBE) | $8,170,475 | $6,095,387 | $6,095,519 | $6,097,318 | $6,098,617 |
Accumulated depreciation (as a % of LBE) | 1.5% | 2.9% | 99.1% | 99.9% | 100.0% |
Liabilities (as a % of assets) | 27.8% | 29.8% | 32.5% | 6.1% | 6.6% |
Unrestricted net assets | $19,144,974 | $16,489,408 | $15,170,768 | $17,490,027 | $14,942,626 |
Temporarily restricted net assets | $498,486 | $481,753 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Permanently restricted net assets | $0 | $0 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Total restricted net assets | $498,486 | $481,753 | $470,668 | $468,747 | $475,118 |
Total net assets | $19,643,460 | $16,971,161 | $15,641,436 | $17,958,774 | $15,417,744 |
Key data checks
Key data checks info | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Material data errors | No | No | No | No | No |
Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Documents
Executive Director
Heidi Boghosian
Heidi Boghosian is an attorney with over 30 years in nonprofit management experience. She's worked in the fields of alternatives to incarceration; radical lawyering; youth services; and HIV/AIDS advocacy.
Number of employees
Source: IRS Form 990
A.J. Muste Memorial Institute
Officers, directors, trustees, and key employeesSOURCE: IRS Form 990
Compensation data
There are no highest paid employees recorded for this organization.
A.J. Muste Memorial Institute
Board of directorsas of 07/31/2023
Board of directors data
Diane Tosh
James Cole
Peter Muste
Robert Taylor
Nina Streich
Matt Meyer
Johanna Fernandez
Baruch College
Diane Tosh
Ynestra King
Carol Kalafatic
King Downing
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? No -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? No
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
No data
Gender identity
No data
No data
Sexual orientation
No data
Disability
No data