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Nonprofiteer
← THE CENTER FOR INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING

Form 990 for tax year 2023

Filed by THE CENTER FOR INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING.

Totals

Total revenue
$21,772,313
Total expenses
$22,006,033
Contributions and grants received
$17,500,047
Grants paid
$0
Program service revenue
$4,377,316
Investment income
$60,484
Other revenue
-$165,534
Total assets, end of year
$13,365,934
Total liabilities, end of year
$10,404,223
Net assets or fund balances, end of year
$2,961,711
Program services expenses (Part IX)
$18,339,236
Management and general expenses
$2,051,610
Fundraising expenses
$1,615,187
Program service expenses (Part III)
$18,339,236

Program services were 83.3% 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.

  • 1b · Membership dues

    $3,755,260

  • 1f · All other contributions, gifts and grants

    $13,744,787

  • 1g · Noncash contributions included above

    $3,295,452

  • 2a · Program service revenue: Advertising

    total $1,199,216 · unrelated business $1,199,216

  • 2b · Program service revenue: Media Services

    total $15,886 · related or exempt $15,886

  • 2c · Program service revenue: Services

    total $7,400 · related or exempt $7,400

  • 2d · Program service revenue: Subscription Revenue

    total $3,154,814 · related or exempt $3,154,814

  • 3 · Investment income

    total $60,484 · excluded $60,484

  • 4 · Income from investment of tax-exempt bond proceeds

    total $0

  • 5 · Royalties

    total $35,313 · excluded $35,313

  • 6a · Gross rents

    real property $322,649

  • 6b · Less rental expenses

    real property $524,943

  • 6c · Rental income or loss

    real property -$202,294

  • 6d · Net rental income or loss

    total -$202,294 · unrelated business -$202,294

  • 7d · Net gain or loss

    total $0

  • 8c · Net income from fundraising events

    total $0

  • 9c · Net income from gaming

    total $0

  • 10a · Gross sales of inventory

    $1,447

  • 10c · Net income from sales of inventory

    total $1,447 · related or exempt $1,447

  • 11e · Other revenue, total

    $0

Functional expenses

Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.

  • 1 · Grants to domestic organizations and governments

    total $0

  • 2 · Grants to domestic individuals

    total $0

  • 3 · Grants to foreign organizations and individuals

    total $0

  • 4 · Benefits paid to or for members

    total $0

  • 5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees

    total $1,156,425 · program services $936,704 · management and general $104,078 · fundraising $115,643

  • 6 · Compensation of disqualified persons

    total $0

  • 7 · Other salaries and wages

    total $9,818,710 · program services $7,982,196 · management and general $877,621 · fundraising $958,893

  • 8 · Pension plan contributions

    total $104,861 · program services $93,823 · management and general $9,973 · fundraising $1,065

  • 9 · Other employee benefits

    total $1,548,860 · program services $1,228,574 · management and general $159,770 · fundraising $160,516

  • 10 · Payroll taxes

    total $896,960 · program services $730,931 · management and general $80,214 · fundraising $85,815

  • 11a · Fees: management

    total $0

  • 11b · Fees: legal

    total $0

  • 11c · Fees: accounting

    total $377,011 · program services $300,004 · management and general $53,360 · fundraising $23,647

  • 11d · Fees: lobbying

    total $0

  • 11e · Fees: professional fundraising services

    total $0

  • 11f · Fees: investment management

    total $138,365 · management and general $138,365

  • 11g · Fees: other

    total $831,828 · program services $737,697 · management and general $63,420 · fundraising $30,711

  • 12 · Advertising and promotion

    total $0

  • 13 · Office expenses

    total $32,644 · program services $27,117 · management and general $2,206 · fundraising $3,321

  • 14 · Information technology

    total $157,105 · program services $138,901 · management and general $10,589 · fundraising $7,615

  • 15 · Royalties

    total $0

  • 16 · Occupancy

    total $2,228,307 · program services $1,775,661 · management and general $313,648 · fundraising $138,998

  • 17 · Travel

    total $260,017 · program services $186,841 · management and general $39,670 · fundraising $33,506

  • 18 · Travel or entertainment for public officials

    total $0

  • 19 · Conferences, conventions and meetings

    total $22,658 · program services $7,510 · management and general $14,779 · fundraising $369

  • 20 · Interest

    total $12,212 · program services $9,280 · management and general $2,032 · fundraising $900

  • 21 · Payments to affiliates

    total $0

  • 22 · Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    total $86,109 · program services $65,437 · management and general $14,324 · fundraising $6,348

  • 23 · Insurance

    total $254,876 · program services $244,576 · management and general $7,137 · fundraising $3,163

  • 24a · Other expenses: Printing and Publications

    total $1,038,572 · program services $1,006,771 · fundraising $31,801

  • 24b · Other expenses: Postage and Shipping

    total $663,653 · program services $652,699 · management and general $4,366 · fundraising $6,588

  • 24c · Other expenses: Fulfillment

    total $538,781 · program services $538,781

  • 24d · Other expenses: Content and artwork

    total $513,703 · program services $513,703

  • 24e · All other expenses

    total $1,324,376 · program services $1,162,030 · management and general $156,058 · fundraising $6,288

Balance sheet

Part X, book values.

  • 1 · Cash, non-interest-bearing

    beginning of year $1,045,717 · end of year $922,614

  • 2 · Savings and temporary cash investments

    beginning of year $1,736,155 · end of year $1,226,313

  • 3 · Pledges and grants receivable

    beginning of year $250,000 · end of year $0

  • 4 · Accounts receivable

    beginning of year $207,921 · end of year $484,430

  • 5 · Loans and receivables from officers and key people

    end of year $0

  • 6 · Loans and receivables from disqualified persons

    end of year $0

  • 7 · Other notes and loans receivable

    end of year $0

  • 8 · Inventories for sale or use

    end of year $0

  • 9 · Prepaid expenses and deferred charges

    beginning of year $325,974 · end of year $390,624

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

    $3,435,548

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

    $3,213,095

  • 10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net

    beginning of year $180,217 · end of year $222,453

  • 11 · Investments: publicly traded securities

    beginning of year $2,994,304 · end of year $6,023,005

  • 12 · Investments: other securities

    end of year $0

  • 13 · Investments: program-related

    end of year $0

  • 14 · Intangible assets

    end of year $0

  • 15 · Other assets

    beginning of year $5,412,001 · end of year $4,096,495

  • 17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses

    beginning of year $1,587,794 · end of year $2,962,399

  • 19 · Deferred revenue

    beginning of year $1,161,963 · end of year $1,219,442

  • 24 · Unsecured notes and loans payable

    beginning of year $490,267 · end of year $481,058

  • 25 · Other liabilities

    beginning of year $6,384,829 · end of year $5,741,324

  • 27 · Net assets without donor restrictions

    beginning of year -$2,065,523 · end of year -$4,283,243

  • 28 · Net assets with donor restrictions

    beginning of year $4,592,959 · end of year $7,244,954

Mission and programs · 2023

Mission

FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM. SINCE ITS FOUNDING, CIRs GOAL HAS BEEN TO PRODUCE, IN THE WORDS OF OUR MISSION STATEMENT, REVELATORY JOURNALISM THAT IN ITS POWER AND REACH INFORMS AND INSPIRES A MORE JUST AND DEMOCRATIC WORLD. (Continued on Schedule O)

Activities or mission (Part I)

THE CENTER FOR INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING (CIR) PUBLISHES MOTHER JONES, A MAGAZINE AND MULTI-PLATFORM DIGITAL NEWS SITE, THE WEEKLY REVEAL PODCAST AND RADIO SHOW, MANAGES ITS AWARD-WINNING DOCUMENTARY FILM ARM CIR STUDIOS, AND DIRECTS THE BEN BAGDIKIAN (continued at top of next page)

  • Program service accomplishment #1 Investigative ReportingThreats to Democracy:Mother Jones was the first national outlet to report on voter suppression regularly and deeply, exploring how the push for minority rule may be the greatest threat to our democracy. We are seeing critical stories playing out at the state and local level, where our team has built expertise. In Arizona, we reported on the slate of election deniers who nearly captured the states top offices, and on the regular citizens who worked tirelessly to stop them. In Georgia and Pennsylvania, we explored how voter intimidation and disinformation, and election denial shaped the midterms. And in Galveston County, Texas, we reported on how political operatives were working to ensure there would be no representation by people of (Continued on Schedule O)

    Expenses $18,339,236 · Revenue $3,268,719

  • Corruption:During this fiscal year, we devoted significant journalistic resources to exploring how shadowy wealth distorts public policy, most potently in our recent package How Private Equity Looted America. In it, we explored how private equity has become one of the most powerful hidden forces in our economy, touching nearly every sector of our lives, but is barely covered outside the business pages. We set out to change that, rallying the newsroom to produce a formidable online and print package of 15 stories, including in-depth features, first-person accounts, and a video investigating the fleecing of the American economy. The package galvanized activists, led to media appearances, and received an honorable mention from the Association of Business Journalists. (Continued on Schedule O)

  • Withheld by Nonprofiteer: this text may name a private individual.

As filed on the 2023 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here. A text marked withheld matched a screen for wording that may name a private individual, such as an honorific or "in memory of". Most of what it withholds names no one; it is withheld so that what does is never shown.

Listed in Part VII

  • Monika Bauerlein

    President

    Total calculated
    $255,664
    From this org
    $231,094
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $24,570
    Hours/week
    37.5

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $231,094
    Bonus
    not reported
    Other
    not reported
    Deferred
    $2,456
    Nontaxable benefits
    $22,114
    Filer's total
    $255,664

  • David Corn

    DC Bureau Chief

    Total calculated
    $252,050
    From this org
    $247,728
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $4,322
    Hours/week
    37.5

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $247,728
    Bonus
    not reported
    Other
    not reported
    Deferred
    $1,965
    Nontaxable benefits
    $2,357
    Filer's total
    $252,050

  • Clara Jeffery

    Vice President

    Total calculated
    $238,385
    From this org
    $228,383
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $10,002
    Hours/week
    37.5

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $228,383
    Bonus
    not reported
    Other
    not reported
    Deferred
    $2,456
    Nontaxable benefits
    $7,546
    Filer's total
    $238,385

  • Khary Brown

    VP Media Sales

    Total calculated
    $231,409
    From this org
    $198,011
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $33,398
    Hours/week
    37.5

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $198,011
    Bonus
    not reported
    Other
    not reported
    Deferred
    $2,013
    Nontaxable benefits
    $31,385
    Filer's total
    $231,409

  • Emily Cozart-Mohammed

    VP Development

    Total calculated
    $214,926
    From this org
    $179,868
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $35,058
    Hours/week
    37.5

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $179,868
    Bonus
    not reported
    Other
    not reported
    Deferred
    $1,958
    Nontaxable benefits
    $33,100
    Filer's total
    $214,926

  • Jahna Berry

    COO

    Total calculated
    $201,393
    From this org
    $187,909
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $13,484
    Hours/week
    37.5

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $187,909
    Bonus
    not reported
    Other
    not reported
    Deferred
    $2,005
    Nontaxable benefits
    $11,479
    Filer's total
    $201,393

  • Kevin Walter

    Associate Publishe

    Total calculated
    $193,977
    From this org
    $161,619
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $32,358
    Hours/week
    0

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $161,619
    Bonus
    not reported
    Other
    not reported
    Deferred
    $1,672
    Nontaxable benefits
    $30,686
    Filer's total
    $193,977

  • James West

    Executive Editor

    Total calculated
    $185,255
    From this org
    $160,564
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $24,691
    Hours/week
    0

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $160,564
    Bonus
    not reported
    Other
    not reported
    Deferred
    $1,732
    Nontaxable benefits
    $22,959
    Filer's total
    $185,255

  • Madeleine Buckingham

    CFO

    Total calculated
    $147,962
    From this org
    $125,972
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $21,990
    Hours/week
    30

  • Michelle Reyes

    Controller

    Total calculated
    $117,455
    From this org
    $106,231
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $11,224
    Hours/week
    30

  • Emily Harris

    Board Member

    Total calculated
    $116,346
    From this org
    $93,016
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $23,330
    Hours/week
    37.5

  • Grace Molteni

    Reporter/Board

    Total calculated
    $94,409
    From this org
    $83,616
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $10,793
    Hours/week
    37.5

  • Judy Wise

    Board Chair

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Richard Alan Melcher

    Vice Chair

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Sara Frankel

    Treasurer

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Bch Ngoc Cao

    Vice Chair

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • Ekow Yankah

    Vice Chair

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • Bill Gee

    Investment Chai

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • Rafael Agustn

    Board Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • Jane Butcher

    Board Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • Andre Carothers

    Board Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • Omar Alam

    Board Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • Lauri Fitz-Pegado

    Board Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • Linda Gruber

    Board Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • Susan Mayer Hirsch

    Board Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • Angie Jean-Marie

    Board Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • Jonathan Logan

    Board Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • Gina Pell

    Board Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • Ken Pelletier

    Board Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • Ashok Ramani

    Board Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • Vincent Robinson

    Board Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • Susan Sachs

    Board Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • Rinku Sen

    Board Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • Gabriel Stricker

    Board Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • Phil Straus

    Board Member

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5

  • Erina Atkins

    Controller

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    37.5

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

None.

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
  • 7 · Other non-fixed payments
  • 8 · Paid under the initial-contract exception

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.

Taxable family on this return

Schedule R Parts I, III and IV, as filed. These record ownership and control, not shared board members or money moved.

Disregarded entities

Part I: entities that legally are the filer and file no return of their own.

  • The Grab LLC

    Entertainment · CA · income $7,400 · assets $84,711

    Directly controlled by Center for Investigative Reporting

  • Center for Investigative Reporting Studi

    Entertainment · DE

    Directly controlled by Center for Investigative Reporting

Assets distributed on this return

Schedule N, as filed: what the organization did with its assets when it liquidated or dissolved, or disposed of more than a quarter of them, and who received them. A recipient with an EIN is usually a successor organization; filers also list expenses such as legal fees here.

  • 942434026

    $13,703,566

    Liquidation · Cash, investments, receivables, PP&E · Feb 1, 2024 · 501(c)(3)

Provenance

Return type
form_990
Tax year
2023
Filed
14 May 2025
IRS schema version
2023v6.0
Source object
202541349349312574

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