Non-profit that runs .org publishes tax return.

Public Interest Registry (PIR), the non-profit organization that runs the .org top level domain, has published its 2019 tax return (pdf).

There are two big numbers on the return.

First, the Form 990 shows that PIR contributed $67.5 million into Internet Society’s (ISOC) coffers for the year. ISOC is PIR’s sole member and the beneficiary of .org’s profits. ISOC entered into an agreement last year to sell the .org registry to a private equity company for $1.135 billion, only to terminate the deal after ICANN didn’t give its blessing. ISOC was effectively trading in the cash PIR throws off each year for a lump sum that wouldn’t depend on the future of the domain name market.

Second, PIR paid Afilias $18.3 million to act as the technical registry service provider for .org. This is similar to the amount PIR paid Afilias in 2018 ($18.1 million). PIR paid significantly more to Afilias in previous years before putting the contract out for bid. In 2017, Afilias made a whopping $37.8 million from the contract.

Top level domain name company Donuts is acquiring Afilias.