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Nonprofiteer
← PRO PUBLICA INC

Form 990 for tax year 2022

Filed by PRO PUBLICA INC.

Totals

Total revenue
$44,530,761
Total expenses
$40,322,509
Contributions and grants received
$43,284,166
Grants paid
$1,828,529
Program service revenue
$194,838
Investment income
$590,894
Other revenue
$460,863
Total assets, end of year
$63,355,096
Total liabilities, end of year
$5,640,618
Net assets or fund balances, end of year
$57,714,478
Program services expenses (Part IX)
$33,982,640
Management and general expenses
$4,304,765
Fundraising expenses
$2,035,104
Program service expenses (Part III)
$33,982,640

Program services were 84.3% of total expenses calculated — Part IX's program-services column over total expenses, both as filed.

Line items

Every line the filer filed in Parts VIII, IX and X, as filed and in filed order. Blank columns are left out, and the lines are not forced to add up to the totals above.

Revenue

Part VIII, the statement of revenue.

  • 1f · All other contributions, gifts and grants

    $43,284,166

  • 1g · Noncash contributions included above

    $562,816

  • 2a · Program service revenue: JOURNALISM AND EDITORIAL FEES

    total $194,838 · related or exempt $194,838

  • 3 · Investment income

    total $607,791 · excluded $607,791

  • 5 · Royalties

    total $201,527 · related or exempt $19,979 · excluded $181,548

  • 7a · Gross sales of assets other than inventory

    securities $561,429

  • 7b · Less cost or other basis and sales expenses

    securities $578,326

  • 7c · Gain or loss

    securities -$16,897

  • 7d · Net gain or loss

    total -$16,897 · excluded -$16,897

  • 11a · Other revenue: ADVERTISING REVENUE

    total $117,388 · unrelated business $117,388

  • 11b · Other revenue: INSURANCE REIMB. OF LEGAL FEES

    total $72,918 · excluded $72,918

  • 11c · Other revenue: HONORARIA AND OTHER REVENUE

    total $66,446 · excluded $66,446

  • 11d · All other revenue

    total $2,584 · excluded $2,584

  • 11e · Other revenue, total

    $259,336

Functional expenses

Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.

  • 1 · Grants to domestic organizations and governments

    total $1,634,029 · program services $1,634,029

  • 2 · Grants to domestic individuals

    total $194,500 · program services $194,500

  • 5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees

    total $1,893,290 · program services $486,786 · management and general $1,067,161 · fundraising $339,343

  • 7 · Other salaries and wages

    total $23,199,627 · program services $21,036,659 · management and general $1,586,578 · fundraising $576,390

  • 8 · Pension plan contributions

    total $947,605 · program services $881,814 · management and general $52,391 · fundraising $13,400

  • 9 · Other employee benefits

    total $2,714,937 · program services $2,446,798 · management and general $188,494 · fundraising $79,645

  • 10 · Payroll taxes

    total $1,836,900 · program services $937,524 · management and general $585,317 · fundraising $314,059

  • 11b · Fees: legal

    total $201,662 · program services $177,024 · management and general $9,666 · fundraising $14,972

  • 11c · Fees: accounting

    total $70,769 · management and general $70,769

  • 11e · Fees: professional fundraising services

    total $51,625 · fundraising $51,625

  • 11g · Fees: other

    total $946,476 · program services $880,865 · management and general $46,858 · fundraising $18,753

  • 12 · Advertising and promotion

    total $365,584 · program services $265,337 · management and general $85,858 · fundraising $14,389

  • 13 · Office expenses

    total $686,925 · program services $313,154 · management and general $42,121 · fundraising $331,650

  • 14 · Information technology

    total $1,536,425 · program services $1,206,881 · management and general $176,321 · fundraising $153,223

  • 16 · Occupancy

    total $1,568,965 · program services $1,366,236 · management and general $137,071 · fundraising $65,658

  • 17 · Travel

    total $1,033,363 · program services $965,131 · management and general $55,761 · fundraising $12,471

  • 19 · Conferences, conventions and meetings

    total $109,054 · program services $87,002 · management and general $11,923 · fundraising $10,129

  • 22 · Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    total $260,641 · program services $221,545 · management and general $26,064 · fundraising $13,032

  • 23 · Insurance

    total $488,621 · program services $366,226 · management and general $108,438 · fundraising $13,957

  • 24a · Other expenses: PUBLIC REC. COPIES/SUBS

    total $296,894 · program services $296,894

  • 24b · Other expenses: RECRUITMENT/PROF DEVEL.

    total $150,551 · program services $122,784 · management and general $20,657 · fundraising $7,110

  • 24c · Other expenses: REPAIRS AND MAINTENANCE

    total $112,866 · program services $95,451 · management and general $12,117 · fundraising $5,298

  • 24d · Other expenses: UBIT TAX EXPENSE

    total $21,200 · management and general $21,200

Balance sheet

Part X, book values.

  • 1 · Cash, non-interest-bearing

    beginning of year $7,676,182 · end of year $5,901,937

  • 2 · Savings and temporary cash investments

    beginning of year $7,804,311 · end of year $11,169,409

  • 3 · Pledges and grants receivable

    beginning of year $11,587,301 · end of year $13,591,754

  • 4 · Accounts receivable

    beginning of year $11,184 · end of year $59,705

  • 9 · Prepaid expenses and deferred charges

    beginning of year $730,833 · end of year $790,782

  • 10a · Land, buildings and equipment: cost or other basis

    $1,729,951

  • 10b · Land, buildings and equipment: accumulated depreciation

    $1,282,414

  • 10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net

    beginning of year $446,292 · end of year $447,537

  • 11 · Investments: publicly traded securities

    beginning of year $32,458,969 · end of year $28,176,428

  • 15 · Other assets

    beginning of year $67,609 · end of year $3,217,544

  • 17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses

    beginning of year $473,080 · end of year $505,792

  • 19 · Deferred revenue

    beginning of year $382,502 · end of year $0

  • 25 · Other liabilities

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $5,134,826

  • 27 · Net assets without donor restrictions

    beginning of year $42,999,335 · end of year $38,988,806

  • 28 · Net assets with donor restrictions

    beginning of year $16,927,764 · end of year $18,725,672

Mission and programs · 2022

Mission

PRO PUBLICA IS AN INDEPENDENT, NON-PROFIT, PULITZER PRIZE-WINNING NEWSROOM THAT PRODUCES INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST. OUR WORK FOCUSES EXCLUSIVELY ON TRULY IMPORTANT STORIES. WE PRODUCE JOURNALISM THAT SHINES A LIGHT ON EXPLOITATION OF THE WEAK BY THE STRONG AND ON THE FAILURES OF THOSE WITH POWER TO VINDICATE THE TRUST PLACED IN THEM. IN THE BEST TRADITIONS OF AMERICAN JOURNALISM IN THE PUBLIC SERVICE, WE AIM TO STIMULATE POSITIVE CHANGE, UNCOVERING UNSAVORY PRACTICES AND ABUSES OF POWER IN ORDER TO PROD REFORM. WE DO THIS IN AN ENTIRELY NON-PARTISAN AND NON-IDEOLOGICAL MANNER, ADHERING TO THE STRICTEST STANDARDS OF JOURNALISTIC IMPARTIALITY.OUR STATED MISSION IS "TO EXPOSE ABUSES OF POWER AND BETRAYALS OF THE PUBLIC TRUST BY GOVERNMENT, BUSINESS, AND OTHER INSTITUTIONS, USING THE MORAL FORCE OF INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM TO SPUR REFORM THROUGH THE SUSTAINED SPOTLIGHTING OF WRONGDOING."

Activities or mission (Part I)

TO EXPOSE ABUSES OF POWER AND BETRAYALS OF THE PUBLIC TRUST. BY GOVERNMENT, BUSINESS, AND OTHER INSTITUTIONS, USING THE MORAL FORCE OF INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM TO SPUR REFORM THROUGH THE SUSTAINED SPOTLIGHTING OF WRONGDOING.

  • PROPUBLICA PUBLISHES STORIES THAT MAKE A DIFFERENCE, SPUR REFORM AND CHANGE LIVES. OUR WORK IN 2022 WAS STRIKING IN ITS SCOPE, FROM GROUNDBREAKING WORK THAT REVEALED THE ALGORITHMS THAT MAY BE CONTRIBUTING TO SPIKING RENTAL PRICES TO A PROJECT THAT RECOUNTED THE LEGACY OF THE NIGHT RAIDS CARRIED OUT BY CIA-BACKED ZERO UNITS, WHICH KILLED COUNTLESS CIVILIANS IN AFGHANISTAN. [SEE CONTINUATION ON SCHEDULE O]IN 2022, OUR NEWSROOM ALSO RAMPED UP EFFORTS TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE FIELD OF INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM ITSELF, ANNOUNCING AN EXPANSION OF OUR TRAINING PROGRAMS, BLAZING NEW TRAILS IN DATA JOURNALISM AND PARTNERING WITH OTHER NEWS ORGANIZATIONS TO ENSURE OUR FINDINGS REACH THE COMMUNITIES MOST AFFECTED BY THE INJUSTICES WE DISCOVER. BUT OUR MOST IMPORTANT GOAL IS PRODUCING WORK THAT HAS AN IMPACT. HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDED:PROPUBLICA AND THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE REVEALED THAT SCHOOLS AND POLICE WERE FUNNELING STUDENTS INTO A TICKETING SYSTEM THAT ISSUED STEEP FINES FOR MINOR INFRACTIONS SUCH AS LITTERING OR SWEARING. THE REPORTERS BUILT A FIRST-OF-ITS KIND DATABASE OF RECORDS FROM MORE THAN 500 SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND POLICE DEPARTMENTS. LESS THAN A MONTH LATER, SEVERAL SCHOOLS DROPPED OR REEVALUATED THESE POLICIES.A STORY REPORTED WITH THE TEXAS TRIBUNE FOUND THAT U.S. ARMY SOLDIERS ACCUSED OF SEXUAL ASSAULT ARE LESS THAN HALF AS LIKELY TO BE DETAINED WHILE AWAITING TRIAL THAN THOSE ACCUSED OF OFFENSES LIKE DRUG USE OR DISOBEYING AN OFFICER. FOLLOWING THE STORY, THE ARMY SAID ITS RULES ARE "CURRENTLY UNDER REVISION."A GRIPPING NARRATIVE PUBLISHED BY PROPUBLICA AND THE MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL TOLD THE STORY OF A DEADLY FIRE IN THE HOME OF A SINGLE MOTHER AND HER FOUR CHILDREN, ILLUMINATING TWO SYSTEMS OF JUSTICE: ONE FOR WEALTHY PROPERTY OWNERS, AND ANOTHER FOR IMPOVERISHED RENTERS.PROPUBLICA, THE INTERNATIONAL CONSORTIUM OF INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISTS AND MORE THAN 50 INTERNATIONAL MEDIA ORGANIZATIONS REVEALED ABUSES IN THE UNREGULATED HONORARY CONSUL PROGRAM THAT LETS PRIVATE CITIZENS WORK FROM THEIR HOME COUNTRIES TO REPRESENT FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS. THE TEAM BUILT THE FIRST-EVER GLOBAL DATABASE OF HUNDREDS OF CRIMINAL OR CONTROVERSIAL HONORARY CONSULS. SINCE THE STORY PUBLISHED, AUTHORITIES IN FINLAND, BRAZIL, PARAGUAY, GERMANY AND OTHER COUNTRIES HAVE LAUNCHED INVESTIGATIONS AND PROPOSED REFORMS TO THE HONORARY CONSUL SYSTEM.

    Expenses $33,982,640 · Grants $1,828,529 · Revenue $214,817

As filed on the 2022 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here.

Listed in Part VII

  • Paul Sagan

    CHAIRMAN

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Claire Bernard

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Tomiko Brown-Nagin

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Mark Colodny

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Steve Daetz

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Angela Filo

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Henry Louis Gates Jr

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Claire Hoffman

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Anu Khosla

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Carrie Lozano

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Katie McGrath

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Robert Cs Monks

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Ronald Olson

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • James Stone

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Stephen Engelberg

    CO-CEO & EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

    Total calculated
    $486,787
    From this org
    $432,950
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $53,837
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $428,386
    Bonus
    $1,000
    Other
    $3,564
    Deferred
    $15,250
    Nontaxable benefits
    $38,587
    Filer's total
    $486,787

  • Robin Sparkman President

    CO-CEO & TREASURER

    Total calculated
    $471,461
    From this org
    $415,060
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $56,401
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $412,818
    Bonus
    $1,000
    Other
    $1,242
    Deferred
    $15,250
    Nontaxable benefits
    $41,151
    Filer's total
    $471,461

  • Ragan Rhyne

    SVP, DEVELOPMENT & SECRETARY

    Total calculated
    $339,343
    From this org
    $321,761
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $17,582
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $320,221
    Bonus
    $1,000
    Other
    $540
    Deferred
    $16,013
    Nontaxable benefits
    $1,569
    Filer's total
    $339,343

  • Stephanie Little Chief

    FINANCIAL & ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER

    Total calculated
    $309,594
    From this org
    $252,989
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $56,605
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $251,305
    Bonus
    $1,000
    Other
    $684
    Deferred
    $13,271
    Nontaxable benefits
    $43,334
    Filer's total
    $309,594

  • Jeremy Kutner

    GENERAL COUNSEL

    Total calculated
    $286,105
    From this org
    $256,655
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $29,450
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $255,169
    Bonus
    $1,000
    Other
    $486
    Deferred
    $13,000
    Nontaxable benefits
    $16,450
    Filer's total
    $286,105

  • Charles Ornstein

    MANAGING EDITOR, LOCAL

    Total calculated
    $340,010
    From this org
    $290,008
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $50,002
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $288,198
    Bonus
    $1,000
    Other
    $810
    Deferred
    $15,000
    Nontaxable benefits
    $35,002
    Filer's total
    $340,010

  • Tracy Weber

    MANAGING EDITOR

    Total calculated
    $308,514
    From this org
    $272,555
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $35,959
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $269,295
    Bonus
    $1,000
    Other
    $2,260
    Deferred
    $13,829
    Nontaxable benefits
    $22,130
    Filer's total
    $308,514

  • Jesse Eisinger

    SENIOR EDITOR & REPORTER

    Total calculated
    $307,666
    From this org
    $255,997
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $51,669
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $253,244
    Bonus
    $1,511
    Other
    $1,242
    Deferred
    $13,200
    Nontaxable benefits
    $38,469
    Filer's total
    $307,666

  • Robin Fields

    MANAGING EDITOR

    Total calculated
    $258,889
    From this org
    $241,389
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $17,500
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $238,067
    Bonus
    $1,000
    Other
    $2,322
    Deferred
    $6,010
    Nontaxable benefits
    $11,490
    Filer's total
    $258,889

  • Ginger Thompson

    CHIEF OF CORRESPONDENTS

    Total calculated
    $256,819
    From this org
    $230,306
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $26,513
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $227,294
    Bonus
    $1,000
    Other
    $2,012
    Deferred
    $11,500
    Nontaxable benefits
    $15,013
    Filer's total
    $256,819

Compensation is as filed in Part VII: reportable pay from this organization and from related organizations, other compensation, and hours per week. The total, marked calculated, is our sum of the three dollar columns, with a blank column counted as $0; the form itself has no total. On a Form 990-EZ the columns are Part IV's instead, and on a Form 990-PF Part VIII's — compensation, contributions to benefit plans, and expense account — and the total sums those. A Schedule J breakdown is as filed: base pay, bonus, other, deferred compensation and nontaxable benefits from this organization, with any from related organizations beside each, and the filer's own total. It is shown with the Part VII listing of the same name on the same return. The form gives no key between the two, so that pairing is ours, and is marked matched by us.

Schedule J

Answered yes

  • 3 · Compensation committee
  • 3 · Independent compensation consultant
  • 3 · Form 990 of other organizations
  • 3 · Compensation survey or study
  • 3 · Approval by the board or compensation committee
  • 7 · Other non-fixed payments

Answered no

  • 4a · Severance or change-of-control payment
  • 4b · Supplemental nonqualified retirement plan
  • 4c · Equity-based compensation arrangement
  • 5a · Pay contingent on this organization's revenues
  • 5b · Pay contingent on a related organization's revenues
  • 6a · Pay contingent on this organization's net earnings
  • 6b · Pay contingent on a related organization's net earnings
  • 8 · Paid under the initial-contract exception

The filer's explanations (Part III)

PART I, LINE 7
INDIVIDUALS REPORTED ON FORM 990, PART VII, SECTION A AND SCHEDULE J, PART II RECEIVED BOARD-APPROVED DISCRETIONARY BONUS IN 2022.

Part I's answers as filed. A line not listed was left unanswered; on lines 1a and 3 that means the box was not checked.

Grants on this return

  • CITY REPORT INC

    $194,900

    PARTICIPATION IN LOCAL REPORTING NETWORK INITIATIVE AND PASS THROUGH SUB-GRANT PAYMENT BASED ON GRANT AGREEMENT

  • TRIBUNE PUBLISHING COMPANY LLC

    $104,550

    PARTICIPATION IN LOCAL REPORTING NETWORK DISTINGUISHED FELLOWS PROGRAM

  • THE SEATTLE TIMES CO

    $101,475

    PARTICIPATION IN LOCAL REPORTING NETWORK INITIATIVE

  • OAHU PUBLICATIONS INC

    $93,972

    PARTICIPATION IN LOCAL REPORTING NETWORK DISTINGUISHED FELLOWS PROGRAM

  • OREGON PUBLIC BROADCASTING

    $84,568

    PARTICIPATION IN LOCAL REPORTING NETWORK INITIATIVE

  • SEARCHLIGHT NEW MEXICO

    $84,427

    PARTICIPATION IN LOCAL REPORTING NETWORK INITIATIVE

  • THE MCCLATCHY COMPANY LLC DBA SUN HERALD

    $83,681

    PARTICIPATION IN LOCAL REPORTING NETWORK INITIATIVE

  • NEW MEXICO IN DEPTH INC

    $73,800

    PARTICIPATION IN LOCAL REPORTING NETWORK INITIATIVE

  • MOUNTAIN STATE SPOTLIGHT INC

    $70,110

    PARTICIPATION IN LOCAL REPORTING NETWORK DISTINGUISHED FELLOWS PROGRAM

  • DOCUMENTED LTD

    $69,188

    PARTICIPATION IN LOCAL REPORTING NETWORK INITIATIVE

The 10 largest by cash amount. The API serves every itemized grant.

Provenance

Return type
form_990
Tax year
2022
Filed
12 September 2023
IRS schema version
2022v5.0
Source object
202312619349301136

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