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Nonprofit · EIN 90-1140936

THE DESCA FOUNDATION

Also known as ROBERT R THOMPSON

Tax-exempt (reinstated) · HOCKESSIN, DE 19707

Financials

$37K$89K2023$541K$123K2024$126K$529K2025
Revenue Expenses · by fiscal year end
Financials of THE DESCA FOUNDATION by year, from its e-filed returns
Year endedFormRevenueExpensesNet incomeTotal assetsLiabilitiesNet assets
December 31, 2025990$125,757$529,265-$403,508$142,250$100,950$41,300
December 31, 2024990$540,795$122,655$418,140$494,615$49,807$444,808
December 31, 2023990$37,000$89,309-$52,309$8,123$21,453-$13,330
Financial details: 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025

Revenue

Contributions, gifts and grants
$0
Program service revenue
$125,757
Investment income
$0
Other revenue
$0

Expenses

Grants and similar amounts paid
$0
Other salaries and wages
$162,810
Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
$190,260
Professional fundraising fees
$0
Program services (functional)
$440,092
Management and general (functional)
$89,173

Balance sheet and other

Total assets, start of year
$494,615
Total assets, end of year
$142,250
Total liabilities, end of year
$100,950
Net assets, end of year
$41,300
Net assets without donor restrictions
$41,300
Gross receipts
$125,757
Employees
2

From the e-filed returns the IRS publishes as XML (latest three processing years; amended returns replace the original). PDF copies at the IRS.

Officers, directors and key employees

As listed on the 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025, highest compensation first.

NameTitleHours / weekCompensation
CORA L CASTLEEXECUTIVE DI
Officer
40$110,000
ELLINOR CARLSONDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0
DORA CHEATHAMDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
2$0
BARBARA DEHAVENSECRETARY
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0
STEVE MCGRATHDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0
ERICA NEMSERPRESIDENT
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0
TULAJA SHRESTHADIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0
ROGER R STRICKLANDDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0
ROBERT R THOMPSONTREASURER
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0
BRYAN TRACYDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0
YATI WAGHRAYDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0
990 for the year ended December 31, 2024: 13 people
NameTitleHours / weekCompensation
CORA L CASTLEEXECUTIVE DI
Officer
40$11,282
MELINDA BURNDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0
ELLINOR CARLSONDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0
DORA CHEATHAMDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0
BARBARA DEHAVENSECRETARY
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0
JULIUS KORLEYDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0
ERICA NEMSERPRESIDENT
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0
JEFFREY POLITISDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0
TULAJA SHRESTHADIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0
ROGER R STRICKLANDDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0
ROBERT R THOMPSONTREASURER
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0
BRYAN TRACYDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0
YATI WAGHRAYDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0
990 for the year ended December 31, 2023: 13 people
NameTitleHours / weekCompensation
DORA CHEATHAMEXECUTIVE DI
Officer
40$54,900
MELINDA BURNDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0
ELLINOR CARLSONDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0
BARBARA DEHAVENSECRETARY
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0
JULIUS KORLEYDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0
ERICA NEMSERPRESIDENT
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0
JEFFREY POLITISDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0
JANET E REEDDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0
ERIC STEINMANDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0
ROGER R STRICKLANDDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0
ROBERT R THOMPSONTREASURER
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0
BRYAN TRACYDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0
YATI WAGHRAYDIRECTOR
Trustee or director
1$0

Address and contacts

Address (IRS master file)
PO BOX 1448, HOCKESSIN, DE 19707-5448
Mailing address (990-N for 2019)
1 INNOVATION WAY, NEWARK DE 19711
Principal officer (990 for 2025)
ERICA NEMSER, 1 INNOVATION WAY, NEWARK, DE 19711
Principal officer (990-N for 2019)
BRYAN TRACY, 239 LISA DRIVE, NEW CASTLE DE 19720
Signed the 990
ROBERT R THOMPSON, TREASURER
Phone
(302) 233-8034

Mission

THE DESCA PROGRAMS HELP INNOVATORS AND TECHNOLOGISTS PLUG INTO DELAWARE'S INNOVATION ECOSYSTEM BY CONNECTING THEM TO RESOURCES, MENTORS AND FUNDING/STRATEGIC PARTNERS TO HELP SPEED THE COMMERCIALIZATION OF THEIR PRODUCTS.

990 for the year ended December 31, 2025

Program accomplishments

  • NIH-I-RED GRANT 2025-2026---DESCA PARTNERS WITH INSITEHUB AND THE UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE TO DELIVER THE NIH-FUNDED INSITEXCCELERATOR (IX) PROGRAM ACROSS THE NORTHEAST IDEA STATES. DESCA LEADS MARKETING, OUTREACH, AND PROGRAM ENROLLMENT TO BUILD AWARENESS AND RECRUIT APPILCANTS FOR BOTH EDUCATION AND PILOT TRACKS. THE TEAM ALSO DEVELOPS EDUCATIONAL AND COMMERCIALIZATION TRAINING CONTENT THAT PREPARES INNOVATORS FOR SBIR AND STTR SUCCESS. 2023-2024 REPRESENTS PHASE 1 OF THE PROGRAM WHICH INCLUDED DEVELOPMENT OF THE PROGRAM CONTENT AS WELL AS LAUNCHING THE INITIAL PILOT FOR THE PROGRAM.
    Expenses $77,126
  • NIH-I-RED GRANT 2024-2025---DESCA PARTNERS WITH INSITEHUB AND THE UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE TO DELIVER THE NIH-FUNDED INSITEXCCELERATOR (IX) PROGRAM ACROSS THE NORTHEAST IDEA STATES. DESCA LEADS MARKETING, OUTREACH, AND PROGRAM ENROLLMENT TO BUILD AWARENESS AND RECRUIT APPILCANTS FOR BOTH EDUCATION AND PILOT TRACKS. THE TEAM ALSO DEVELOPS EDUCATIONAL AND COMMERCIALIZATION TRAINING CONTENT THAT PREPARES INNOVATORS FOR SBIR AND STTR SUCCESS.
    Expenses $303,845
  • CONGRESSIONAL EARMARK---DESCA'S TECH2MARKET PROGRAM, ARRANGED THROUGH A CONGRESSIONAL EARMARK, PROVIDES U. S. SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION GRANT FUNDING TO ACCELERATE COMMERCIALIZATION FOR EARLY-STAGE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY VENTURES AND RAISE AWARENESS OF INNOVATION IN THE GREATER DELAWARE AREA. DESCA DEVELOPS CURRICULUM, PRODUCES EDUCATIONAL CONTENT, MANAGES OUTREACH AND ENROLLMENT, AND HOSTS ECOSYSTEM EVENTS, ROUNDTABLES, AND INVESTOR SHOWCASES CONNECTING STARTUPS TO MENTOR, MARKET DATA, AND STRATEGIC PARTNERS.
    Expenses $59,121

What it must file and when

IRS records say it files Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N. Its accounting year ends in December, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.

Tax yearYear endedDueIRS public records
2025December 31, 2025May 15, 2026990 on file
2024December 31, 2024May 15, 2025990 on file
2023December 31, 2023May 15, 2024990 on file

IRS record

EIN
90-1140936
Tax-exempt status
501(c)(3): Charitable, religious, educational or scientific organization
Foundation status
Publicly supported organization (509(a)(2))
Donations deductible (Pub 78)
Public charity, 50% deduction limit
Exempt since
2018
Accounting year ends
December
Files
Form 990 or 990-EZ
Assets (IRS master file)
$142,250
Income (IRS master file)
$125,757

Revocation and reinstatement

Exemption revoked
May 15, 2016
Posted by the IRS
March 13, 2018
Reinstated
Effective May 15, 2016

From the IRS automatic revocation list: organizations that did not file a required return or e-Postcard for three consecutive years.

Filing history

FormYear endedRevenueExpensesAssetsReturn
990December 2025$125,757$529,265$142,250XML
990December 2024$540,795$122,655$494,615IRS
990December 2023$37,000$89,309$8,123XML
990December 2022$105,306$123,180$38,979IRS
990December 2021–––IRS
990December 2020–––IRS
990-N for 2019
Officer: BRYAN TRACY
December 31, 2019≤ $50,000 receipts––e-Postcard

990-N: the IRS bulk file holds only the latest e-Postcard per organization; earlier years come from archived copies of that file since 2020 and can have gaps (the IRS e-Postcard search lists every one). 990, 990-EZ, 990-PF, 990-T: every e-filed return in the IRS e-file index since 2019; XML for the latest three processing years, amounts from the IRS Statistics of Income extracts before that. PDF copies and determination letters at the IRS (search EIN 90-1140936).

Questions about THE DESCA FOUNDATION

What is the EIN of THE DESCA FOUNDATION?
The employer identification number (EIN) of THE DESCA FOUNDATION is 90-1140936.
Is THE DESCA FOUNDATION tax-exempt?
Yes. The IRS revoked its exemption on May 15, 2016 and reinstated it effective May 15, 2016.
Are donations to THE DESCA FOUNDATION tax-deductible?
Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
Which annual return does THE DESCA FOUNDATION file?
Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N.
When is the next return of THE DESCA FOUNDATION due?
The return for tax year 2026 (the year ending December 31, 2026) is due May 17, 2027. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
When did THE DESCA FOUNDATION last file with the IRS?
The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended December 2025.
Who is the principal officer of THE DESCA FOUNDATION?
The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 names ERICA NEMSER.
Who are the officers and directors of THE DESCA FOUNDATION?
The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 lists 11 people; 1 received compensation from the organization, the highest $110,000 (CORA L CASTLE, EXECUTIVE DI).
How much revenue does THE DESCA FOUNDATION have?
On its 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 it reported revenue of $125,757, expenses of $529,265 and total assets of $142,250 at year end.

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