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Nonprofiteer
← FORWARD ASSOC INC

Form 990 for tax year 2023

Filed by FORWARD ASSOC INC.

Totals

Total revenue
$8,696,897
Total expenses
$6,696,409
Contributions and grants received
$7,187,645
Grants paid
$0
Program service revenue
$1,292,643
Investment income
$6,553
Other revenue
$210,056
Total assets, end of year
$3,811,965
Total liabilities, end of year
$490,194
Net assets or fund balances, end of year
$3,321,771
Program services expenses (Part IX)
$5,328,916
Management and general expenses
$566,593
Fundraising expenses
$800,900
Program service expenses (Part III)
$5,328,916

Program services were 79.6% 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.

  • 1c · Fundraising events

    $72,524

  • 1d · Related organizations

    $2,450,000

  • 1f · All other contributions, gifts and grants

    $4,665,121

  • 1g · Noncash contributions included above

    $229,880

  • 2a · Program service revenue: PUBLISHING SERVICE

    total $1,292,643 · related or exempt $970,949 · unrelated business $321,694

  • 3 · Investment income

    total $4,162 · excluded $4,162

  • 5 · Royalties

    total $4,066 · excluded $4,066

  • 7a · Gross sales of assets other than inventory

    securities $182,301

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

    securities $179,910

  • 7c · Gain or loss

    securities $2,391

  • 7d · Net gain or loss

    total $2,391 · excluded $2,391

  • 8a · Fundraising events: gross income

    $6,171

  • 8a · Fundraising events: contributions included on line 1c

    $72,524

  • 8b · Fundraising events: direct expenses

    $3,237

  • 8c · Net income from fundraising events

    total $2,934 · excluded $2,934

  • 11a · Other revenue: INSURANCE PROCEEDS

    total $196,456 · excluded $196,456

  • 11b · Other revenue: MISCELLANEOUS

    total $6,600 · related or exempt $6,600

  • 11e · Other revenue, total

    $203,056

Functional expenses

Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.

  • 5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees

    total $1,391,884 · program services $1,111,537 · management and general $114,079 · fundraising $166,268

  • 7 · Other salaries and wages

    total $2,286,541 · program services $1,825,996 · management and general $187,406 · fundraising $273,139

  • 8 · Pension plan contributions

    total $57,854 · program services $46,201 · management and general $4,742 · fundraising $6,911

  • 9 · Other employee benefits

    total $367,090 · program services $293,152 · management and general $30,087 · fundraising $43,851

  • 10 · Payroll taxes

    total $260,632 · program services $208,137 · management and general $21,361 · fundraising $31,134

  • 11b · Fees: legal

    total $58,561 · program services $29,650 · management and general $11,480 · fundraising $17,431

  • 11c · Fees: accounting

    total $45,000 · management and general $45,000

  • 11e · Fees: professional fundraising services

    total $93,354 · fundraising $93,354

  • 11g · Fees: other

    total $1,251,980 · program services $1,210,476 · management and general $16,989 · fundraising $24,515

  • 12 · Advertising and promotion

    total $46,231 · program services $20,654 · fundraising $25,577

  • 13 · Office expenses

    total $359,067 · program services $219,569 · management and general $58,854 · fundraising $80,644

  • 14 · Information technology

    total $90,462 · program services $90,462

  • 16 · Occupancy

    total $100,726 · program services $78,503 · management and general $11,179 · fundraising $11,044

  • 17 · Travel

    total $80,850 · program services $48,323 · management and general $19,567 · fundraising $12,960

  • 19 · Conferences, conventions and meetings

    total $41,431 · program services $17,440 · management and general $20,002 · fundraising $3,989

  • 22 · Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    total $15,246 · program services $12,063 · management and general $1,555 · fundraising $1,628

  • 23 · Insurance

    total $84,805 · program services $73,831 · management and general $2,519 · fundraising $8,455

  • 24a · Other expenses: PHOTOS

    total $40,151 · program services $40,151

  • 24b · Other expenses: UNCOLLECTIBLE PLEDGES

    total $13,180 · management and general $13,180

  • 24e · All other expenses

    total $11,364 · program services $2,771 · management and general $8,593

Balance sheet

Part X, book values.

  • 1 · Cash, non-interest-bearing

    beginning of year $475,456 · end of year $262,047

  • 2 · Savings and temporary cash investments

    beginning of year $4,109 · end of year $1,183,825

  • 3 · Pledges and grants receivable

    beginning of year $180,071 · end of year $608,849

  • 4 · Accounts receivable

    beginning of year $109,643 · end of year $77,995

  • 9 · Prepaid expenses and deferred charges

    beginning of year $129,113 · end of year $102,542

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

    $620,805

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

    $575,366

  • 10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net

    beginning of year $49,299 · end of year $45,439

  • 11 · Investments: publicly traded securities

    beginning of year $3,482 · end of year $3,030

  • 12 · Investments: other securities

    beginning of year $4,065 · end of year $4,065

  • 15 · Other assets

    beginning of year $1,185,424 · end of year $1,524,173

  • 17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses

    beginning of year $331,301 · end of year $488,742

  • 19 · Deferred revenue

    beginning of year $488,078 · end of year $1,452

  • 27 · Net assets without donor restrictions

    beginning of year $1,321,283 · end of year $2,836,771

  • 28 · Net assets with donor restrictions

    end of year $485,000

Mission and programs · 2023

Mission

THE FORWARD'S MISSION IS TO STRENGTHEN ENGAGEMENT WITH JEWISH IDEAS AND COMMUNITIES THROUGH A VARIETY OF MEDIA, AND IN PUBLIC EVENTS. IT CARRIES OUT THIS MISSION BY PUBLISHING COMMENTARY ON CURRENT ISSUES AND THE ARTS, IN ENGLISH AND YIDDISH, THAT MEET THE HIGHEST STANDARDS OF PUBLIC SERVICE IN JOURNALISM AND CULTURAL EXPRESSION. IT FURTHERS THIS MISSION THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS AND COLLABORATIONS THAT ENGAGE DEEPLY WITH THE HISTORY, RANGE AND VARIETY OF THE AMERICAN JEWISH EXPERIENCE.

Activities or mission (Part I)

STRENGTHEN ENGAGEMENT WITH JEWISH IDEAS AND COMMUNITIES THROUGH VARIOUS MEDIA AND PUBLIC EVENTS

  • THE LARGEST PROGRAM OF THE FORWARD ASSOCATION IS ITS WEBSITE AND ASSOCIATED DIGITAL PROPERTIES, INCLUDING NEWSLETTERS, VIDEOS AND SOCIAL MEDIA PROGRAMS. IT REACHES APPROXIMATELY 1.5 MILLION READERS A MONTH VIA THE INTERNET AT FORWARD.COM AND OTHER WEBSITES. THE QUALITY OF ITS JOURNALISM HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED WITH NUMEROUS AWARDS FOR NEWS AND CULTURAL COVERAGE, EDITORIALS, AND DIGITAL INNOVATION.

    Expenses $4,933,283 · Revenue $977,549

  • YIDDISH MEDIA DIVISION: THE SECOND MAJOR PROGRAM OF THE FORWARD ASSOCIATION IS ITS YIDDISH PUBLICATION, FORVERTS. UPDATED REGULARLY ONLINE, IT IS ONE OF THE FEW REMAINING PUBLICATIONS IN YIDDISH IN THE WORLD AND PROVIDES AN INDISPENSABLE SERVICE TO ITS READERS THROUGH ITS COVERAGE OF YIDDISH CULTURE AS WELL AS NEWS FROM ISRAEL, THE UNITED STATES AND AROUND THE WORLD. THE WEBSITE INCLUDES DOZENS OF VIDEO FEATURES. FORVERTS REACHES AROUND 20,000 READERS MONTHLY VIA THE INTERNET AT FORWARD.COM/YIDDISH.

    Expenses $395,633

As filed on the 2023 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here.

Listed in Part VII

  • Alan Silberstein

    CHAIR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    8 + 1 related
  • James Feldman

    VICE-CHAIR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2 + 1 related
  • Yeheskel Dattner

    TREASURER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1 + 1 related
  • Jeff Gottlieb

    SECRETARY

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2 + 1 related
  • Ken Bob

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    3
  • Edward Blank

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Joel Brown

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Cheryl Fishbein

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Marge Magner

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2.5
  • Jacob Morowitz

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2 + 1 related
  • Samuel Norich

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    6 + 2 related
  • Marcy Syms

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Ronnie Zolin

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Rachel Fishman Feddersen

    CEO/PUBLISHER

    Total calculated
    $377,575
    From this org
    $330,353
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $47,222
    Hours/week
    40 + 1 related

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $314,853
    Bonus
    $15,500
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $6,496
    Nontaxable benefits
    $40,726
    Filer's total
    $377,575
  • Alan Bendich Through 61523

    VP, FINANCE AND OPERATIONS

    Total calculated
    $117,074
    From this org
    $94,510
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $22,564
    Hours/week
    40 + 1 related
  • Sochieta Moth From 53023

    VP, FINANCE AND OPERATIONS

    Total calculated
    $117,288
    From this org
    $116,612
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $676
    Hours/week
    40 + 1 related
  • Jodi Rudoren

    EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

    Total calculated
    $313,048
    From this org
    $266,876
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $46,172
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $250,876
    Bonus
    $16,000
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $5,216
    Nontaxable benefits
    $40,956
    Filer's total
    $313,048
  • Jay Ehrlich

    VP, DIGITAL GM

    Total calculated
    $273,174
    From this org
    $227,307
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $45,867
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $212,307
    Bonus
    $15,000
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $4,456
    Nontaxable benefits
    $41,411
    Filer's total
    $273,174
  • Lisa Lepson

    VP, DEVELOPMENT

    Total calculated
    $248,822
    From this org
    $194,593
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $54,229
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $193,093
    Bonus
    $1,500
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $4,244
    Nontaxable benefits
    $49,985
    Filer's total
    $248,822
  • Adam Langer

    EXECUTIVVE EDITOR

    Total calculated
    $159,076
    From this org
    $116,118
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $42,958
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $116,118
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $2,454
    Nontaxable benefits
    $40,504
    Filer's total
    $159,076
  • Cheuk Mui

    CONTROLLER

    Total calculated
    $149,521
    From this org
    $133,810
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $15,711
    Hours/week
    40

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 · Form 990 of other organizations
  • 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
CERTAIN EXECUTIVES RECEIVED DISCRETIONARY BONUSES RECOMMENDED BY THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE AND APPROVED BY THE BOARD CHAIR. THIS IS DONE ANNUALLY.

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

No itemized grants to organizations on this return.

Related organizations on this return

Schedule R Part II: tax-exempt organizations related to the filer by control. It does not record shared board members or money.

  • THE FORWARD FUND

    501(C)(3) · SUPPORTING ORGANIZATION · NY · controlled entity

    Directly controlled by THE FORWARD ASSOCIATION INC

Provenance

Return type
form_990
Tax year
2023
Filed
15 November 2024
IRS schema version
2023v5.1
Source object
202422959349301412

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