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OPEN TO DEBATE FOUNDATION
NEW YORK, NY · EIN 271022579 · Form 990 · FY2024 · NTEE V20 · Social Science · Medium ($1M-$10M) · opentodebate.org
revenue
$5.2M
expenses
$5.5M
net assets
$81K
employees
17
volunteers
14
program ratio
70%
mission · from form 990

OPEN TO DEBATE FOUNDATION ("OPEN TO DEBATE") PRODUCES A WEEKLY SERIES OF PROVOCATIVE AND INFORMATIVE DEBATES ONLINE AND AT LIVE VENUES THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES. THE GOALS OF THIS INITIATIVE ARE (1) TO RAISE THE LEVEL OF PUBLIC DISCOURSE ON OUR MOST DIVISIVE ISSUES, (2) TO PROVIDE A WEEKLY FORUM FOR INTELLIGENT DISCUSSION, GROUNDED IN CIVIL DIALOGUE, FACTS AND INFORMED BY REASONED ANALYSIS, (3) TO TRANSCEND IDEOLOGICAL ARGUMENTS THAT ARE DIVIDING AMERICANS, (4) TO ENCOURAGE RECOGNITION THAT UNDERSTANDING OPPOSING VIEWPOINTS IS WHAT CAN BUILD EMPATHY AND BRIDGE THE DIVIDE, AND (5) TO ENGAGE CITIZENS AS ACTIVE PARTICIPANTS IN ONE OF THE GREAT PILLARS OF DEMOCRACY: FAIR AND BALANCED DEBATE.

profile · synthesized from sources

Open to Debate Foundation produces live and online debates featuring experts and thought leaders on pressing societal, scientific, and policy issues. The organization aims to elevate public discourse through civil dialogue grounded in facts, reason, and diverse ideological perspectives. It partners with academic institutions and media organizations to host debates across the United States.

named programs · 2 · from sources

What they call their work

Open to Debate
Weekly series of live and online debates on divisive public issues, featuring experts from diverse ideological backgrounds and moderated for civil discourse
The Hopkins Forum
Ongoing debate series co-hosted with Johns Hopkins University's SNF Agora Institute, featuring live debates on science, policy, and society at Shriver Hall in Baltimore
activities · 2 groups

What they do

  • Podcast and Radio Production 1 activity
    • Weekly national debate broadcast and distribution
      Produces and distributes a one-hour weekly public radio program, podcast, and video series featuring civil, fact-based debates on pressing political and cultural issues, broadcast on over 350 NPR stations nationwide and available via YouTube, Substack, and podcast platforms.
  • Uncategorized 5 activities
    • Digital archive and subscriber platform
      Maintains a publicly accessible digital archive of more than 350 past debates and operates a Substack platform that surpassed 50,000 subscribers in 2025, serving as a hub for debate and civil discourse.
    • Expansion of physical debate infrastructure
      Launching a new dedicated events and recording space in a 40,000-square-foot cultural venue in New York City to expand production capacity for debates and live audiences.
    • Live debate events and forums
      Hosts live debate events across the United States, including recurring series such as "The Hopkins Forum" at Johns Hopkins University and events at academic institutions like Arizona State University, with 17 live events produced in the past year and a record number held in 2025.
    • Production of special debate programs and partnerships
      Produces award-winning special debate programs on topics such as U.S. birthright citizenship and the future of the Supreme Court in partnership with academic institutions, and expands live programming internationally, including at the Oslo Freedom Forum in Norway.
    • Research on audience impact
      Conducts research indicating that 32% of its audience changes their mind on contentious topics after listening to or participating in a debate, with consistent reporting across multiple years and platforms.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$5.23M
Contributions & grants$5.15M98%
Program service revenue$82K2%
Investment income$8350%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$5.51M
Program expenses70%
Admin / overhead13%
Fundraising17%
Salaries & benefits$2.52M
Grants paid out$28K
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$1.03M
Cash$162K
Investments$0
Liabilities$946K
Net assets$81K
Liquid reserves0.3 mo
6 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue +17.3%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

paid leadership · 5
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
CLEA CONNER CEO/DIRECTOR 40 $414K
LIA MATTHOW COO 40 $327K
ANDREW LIPSON DIR. OF PRODUCTION 40 $187K
RACHEL KEMP CHIEF OF STAFF 40 $184K
ELIZABETH KITZENBERG CHIEF OF ADVANCEMENT 40 $137K
board members · 13
  • ALEXANDRA K MUNROE — DIRECTOR
  • BEN NELSON — DIRECTOR
  • DAVID COULTER — DIRECTOR THRU 08/2024
  • DOMENICO DESOLE — DIRECTOR
  • DR KELLY POSNER GERSTENHABER — DIRECTOR THRU 04/2025
  • EDWARD STERN — DIRECTOR THRU 04/2025
  • EDWARD W CONARD — DIRECTOR
  • GERRY OHRSTROM — DIRECTOR
  • IAN BREMMER — DIRECTOR
  • MERIT JANOW — DIRECTOR
  • PHILIPPE SELENDY — DIRECTOR
  • ROBERT ROSENKRANZ — PRESIDENT & DIRECTOR
  • VANESSA MENDOZA — DIRECTOR
relationships · 30

Who they work with

  • Arizona PBS Partner — Produces and promotes recorded debate programs through the ASU Media Enterprise.
  • Arizona State University Partner — Partnered with Open to Debate on events in 2025.
  • Arizona State University’s Institute of Politics Partner — Co-produced inaugural partnership debates on birthright citizenship and the future of the Supreme Court.
  • Arizona State University’s Institute of Politics Partner — Collaborates to produce the “PRO/CONversations” debate series on campus.
  • Bloomberg Partner — Editorial partner for debate programs
  • Bloomberg Partner — Partnered with Open to Debate on events and programs in 2025.
  • Cascade PBS Ideas Festival Partner — Partnered with Open to Debate on events in 2025.
  • Council on Foreign Relations Partner — Editorial partner for debate programs
  • Council on Foreign Relations Partner — Partnered with Open to Debate on events in 2025.
  • Future Investment Initiative Partner — Partner institution during Clea Conner’s tenure
  • Georgetown Partner — Editorial partner for debate programs
  • Harvard Partner — Editorial partner for debate programs
  • Human Rights Foundation Partner — Partnered with Open to Debate on events in 2025.
  • IBM Partner — Partner institution during Clea Conner’s tenure
  • Johns Hopkins University Partner — Collaborated with Open to Debate on events, including a forum on public health.
  • Johns Hopkins University SNF Agora Institute Partner — Co-produces the Hopkins Forum debate series with Open to Debate.
  • Johns Hopkins University’s SNF Agora Institute Partner — Partners on the Hopkins Forum to host debates on national issues.
  • Johns Hopkins/SNF Agora Partner — Editorial partner for debate programs
  • NPR Partner — Distributes Open to Debate's weekly program through NPR stations across the country.
  • NPR Partner — Partner organization that broadcasts Open to Debate as a weekly program on over 350 stations.
  • Northwestern Law School Partner — Editorial partner for debate programs
  • Oslo Freedom Forum Partner — Hosted debate programs in partnership with the Oslo Freedom Forum in Norway.
  • Oslo Freedom Forum Partner — Partner institution during Clea Conner’s tenure
  • Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) Agora Institute at Johns Hopkins University Partner — Co-hosts live debate events as part of “The Hopkins Forum” series.
  • Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) Agora Institute at Johns Hopkins University Partner — Co-hosts the "Hopkins Forum" debate series, including live events and public programming.
  • Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) Agora Institute at Johns Hopkins University Partner — Co-produced inaugural partnership debates on birthright citizenship and the future of the Supreme Court.
  • The Aspen Ideas Festival Partner — Editorial partner for debate programs
  • The Human Rights Foundation Partner — Editorial partner for debate programs
  • World Economic Forum Partner — Partner institution during Clea Conner’s tenure
  • YPO Partner — Partner institution during Clea Conner’s tenure
strategies · 4

How they approach the work

Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.