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← THE LENFEST INST FOR JOURNALISM SPE ASSET FUND OF THE PHL FOUNDATION

Form 990 for tax year 2024

Filed by THE LENFEST INST FOR JOURNALISM SPE ASSET FUND OF THE PHL FOUNDATION.

Totals

Total revenue
$26,054,320
Total expenses
$22,756,190
Contributions and grants received
$21,531,115
Grants paid
$15,091,490
Program service revenue
$0
Investment income
$4,349,761
Other revenue
$173,444
Total assets, end of year
$133,928,628
Total liabilities, end of year
$5,672,646
Net assets or fund balances, end of year
$128,255,982
Program services expenses (Part IX)
$20,019,632
Management and general expenses
$1,370,195
Fundraising expenses
$1,366,363
Program service expenses (Part III)
$20,019,632

Program services were 88.0% 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.

  • 1d · Related organizations

    $169,500

  • 1f · All other contributions, gifts and grants

    $21,361,615

  • 3 · Investment income

    total $3,397,957 · excluded $3,397,957

  • 7a · Gross sales of assets other than inventory

    securities $12,225,634 · other assets $1,243

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

    securities $11,273,553 · other assets $1,520

  • 7c · Gain or loss

    securities $952,081 · other assets -$277

  • 7d · Net gain or loss

    total $951,804 · excluded $951,804

  • 11a · Other revenue: FEE FOR SERVICE INCOME

    total $173,444 · excluded $173,444

  • 11e · Other revenue, total

    $173,444

Functional expenses

Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.

  • 1 · Grants to domestic organizations and governments

    total $14,991,490 · program services $14,991,490

  • 2 · Grants to domestic individuals

    total $100,000 · program services $100,000

  • 5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees

    total $1,554,714 · program services $541,118 · management and general $370,023 · fundraising $643,573

  • 7 · Other salaries and wages

    total $1,303,999 · program services $716,387 · management and general $191,324 · fundraising $396,288

  • 8 · Pension plan contributions

    total $57,932 · program services $30,575 · management and general $8,335 · fundraising $19,022

  • 9 · Other employee benefits

    total $55,144 · program services $34,110 · management and general $6,666 · fundraising $14,368

  • 10 · Payroll taxes

    total $154,491 · program services $71,306 · management and general $31,435 · fundraising $51,750

  • 11b · Fees: legal

    total $75,570 · management and general $75,570

  • 11c · Fees: accounting

    total $63,459 · management and general $63,459

  • 11f · Fees: investment management

    total $121,915 · management and general $121,915

  • 11g · Fees: other

    total $3,384,352 · program services $2,986,327 · management and general $347,043 · fundraising $50,982

  • 12 · Advertising and promotion

    total $13,785 · program services $11,513 · management and general $956 · fundraising $1,316

  • 13 · Office expenses

    total $61,630 · program services $9,893 · management and general $23,495 · fundraising $28,242

  • 14 · Information technology

    total $113,463 · program services $53,912 · management and general $26,937 · fundraising $32,614

  • 16 · Occupancy

    total $89,805 · program services $31,521 · management and general $24,517 · fundraising $33,767

  • 17 · Travel

    total $127,848 · program services $69,603 · management and general $19,158 · fundraising $39,087

  • 19 · Conferences, conventions and meetings

    total $319,740 · program services $261,479 · management and general $14,858 · fundraising $43,403

  • 22 · Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    total $14,073 · program services $4,939 · management and general $3,842 · fundraising $5,292

  • 23 · Insurance

    total $34,839 · management and general $34,839

  • 24a · Other expenses: PROGRAM EXPENSES

    total $100,255 · program services $100,255

  • 24b · Other expenses: MEMBERSHIP DUES

    total $17,686 · program services $5,204 · management and general $5,823 · fundraising $6,659

Balance sheet

Part X, book values.

  • 1 · Cash, non-interest-bearing

    beginning of year $139,836

  • 2 · Savings and temporary cash investments

    beginning of year $21,243,859 · end of year $9,610,895

  • 3 · Pledges and grants receivable

    beginning of year $6,839,545 · end of year $14,878,934

  • 9 · Prepaid expenses and deferred charges

    beginning of year $32,176 · end of year $30,874

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

    $121,270

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

    $27,861

  • 10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net

    beginning of year $100,904 · end of year $93,409

  • 11 · Investments: publicly traded securities

    beginning of year $81,598,889 · end of year $94,802,559

  • 12 · Investments: other securities

    beginning of year $13,858,614 · end of year $13,858,614

  • 15 · Other assets

    beginning of year $714,114 · end of year $653,343

  • 17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses

    beginning of year $1,432,854 · end of year $1,326,856

  • 18 · Grants payable

    beginning of year $1,628,754 · end of year $3,668,682

  • 25 · Other liabilities

    beginning of year $726,491 · end of year $677,108

  • 27 · Net assets without donor restrictions

    beginning of year $32,301,963 · end of year $31,690,173

  • 28 · Net assets with donor restrictions

    beginning of year $88,437,875 · end of year $96,565,809

Mission and programs · 2024

Mission

THE MISSION OF THE LENFEST INSTITUTE FOR JOURNALISM SPECIAL ASSET FUND OF THE PHILADELPHIA FOUNDATION (THE INSTITUTE) IS TO RECEIVE, MANAGE, AND DISTRIBUTE ASSETS IN SUPPORT OF THE PHILADELPHIA FOUNDATION (TPF) BY ENABLING QUALITY LOCAL JOURNALISM THAT SERVES ITS COMMUNITIES.

Activities or mission (Part I)

SUPPORT THE PHILADELPHIA FOUNDATION BY ENABLING QUALITY LOCAL JOURNALISM IN ITS COMMUNITIES

  • THE LENFEST INSTITUTE FOR JOURNALISM, LLC (LLC):THE LLC IS A DISREGARDED ENTITY OF THE INSTITUTE THAT SUPPORTS BOTH THE DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION OF HERITAGE NEWS ORGANIZATIONS AND THE ENTREPRENEURIAL EFFORTS OF YOUNG, INNOVATIVE COMPANIES. THE INSTITUTE BELIEVES THAT QUALITY CIVIC JOURNALISM REQUIRES NEW BUSINESS MODELS, POWERFUL INNOVATIONS AND GROWING, DIVERSE AUDIENCES TO ACHIEVE SUSTAINABILITY IN THE DIGITAL AGE. IT FUNDS PROGRAMS THAT PRODUCE HIGH-IMPACT JOURNALISM, INNOVATIVE NEWS TECHNOLOGY, AND THAT HELP LOCAL NEWS ORGANIZATIONS REACH NEW AUDIENCES AND DEVELOP SUSTAINABLE DIGITAL BUSINESS MODELS.(CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O.)TO ACCOMPLISH THE ORGANIZATION'S EXEMPT PURPOSE, AND CREATE CLARITY OF FOCUS UNDERNEATH THE OVERARCHING PROGRAM OBJECTIVES, THREE CORE CATEGORIES HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED: NATIONAL, PHILADELPHIA, AND THE INQUIRER. THE FOLLOWING SPECIFIC PROGRAMMATIC ACTIVITIES AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS ALL SERVE THE OVERARCHING PROGRAMMATIC OBJECTIVES TO SUPPORT PROGRAMS THAT PRODUCE HIGH-IMPACT JOURNALISM, INNOVATE NEWS TECHNOLOGY, AND LEAD TO HIGHLY ENGAGED, DIVERSE AND GROWING AUDIENCES.THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER:THE LENFEST INSTITUTE IS THE NONPROFIT, NON-CONTROLLING OWNER OF THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, WHICH IS NOW THE LARGEST NEWSPAPER IN AMERICA OPERATED AS A PUBLIC-BENEFIT CORPORATION. THE INSTITUTE'S OWNERSHIP OF THE INQUIRER, WHICH COVERS ONE OF THE LARGEST, MOST DIVERSE METRO REGIONS IN THE COUNTRY, IS THE CORNERSTONE OF ITS ENTHUSIASTIC INVESTMENT IN LOCAL NEWS.THE PHILADELPHIA NEWS ECOSYSTEM:IN THE PHILADELPHIA AREA, THE INSTITUTE FACILITATES A COLLABORATIVE NEWS AND INFORMATION ECOSYSTEM THAT BUILDS ON VALUABLE HISTORY WHILE ALSO FOSTERING ENTREPRENEURIAL VISION AND INNOVATION. DIVERSITY AND REPRESENTATION ARE CRITICAL COMPONENTS OF POSITIVE BUSINESS OUTCOMES. THE INSTITUTE IS WORKING TO DEFINE DIFFERENT PATHWAYS TO SUSTAINABILITY FOR PUBLISHERS WHILE ALSO ENSURING A DIVERSITY OF REPRESENTATIVE VOICES AND LEADERSHIP IN BOTH LEGACY AND INDEPENDENT MEDIA REFLECTIVE OF THE COMMUNITIES THEY ARE SERVING. SPOTLIGHT PA:SPOTLIGHT PA, THE HARRISBURG NEWSROOM LAUNCHED BY THE LENFEST INSTITUTE AND THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, CREATES HIGH-QUALITY NONPARTISAN INVESTIGATIVE AND ACCOUNTABILITY REPORTING FOR THE BENEFIT OF ALL PENNSYLVANIANS. IT PROVIDES ITS REPORTING FREE-OF-CHARGE TO MORE THAN 80 OTHER NEWSPAPERS, PUBLIC RADIO STATIONS, AND WEBSITES THROUGHOUT THE COMMONWEALTH. AS THE STEWARD OF BOTH THE INQUIRER AND SPOTLIGHT PA, THE INSTITUTE IS BLAZING A UNIQUE PATH BY SERVING LEGACY PUBLISHERS AND DIGITAL START-UPS AS THEY AIM TO FILL GAPS AND SERVE NEW AND UNDERREPRESENTED AUDIENCES. NATIONAL SOLUTIONS FOR LOCAL NEWS:NATIONALLY, THE INSTITUTE LEVERAGES ITS INSTITUTIONAL EXPERTISE AND RESOURCES TO FACILITATE CAPACITY BUILDING FOR LOCAL NEWS PUBLISHERS THROUGH TRAINING PROGRAMS AND GRANTMAKING TO SUPPORT THE IMPLEMENTATION OF BUSINESS MODEL BEST PRACTICES. OTHER PROGRAM ACTIVITIES:THE INSTITUTE SUPPORTS BOTH THE DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION OF HERITAGE NEWS ORGANIZATIONS AND THE ENTREPRENEURIAL EFFORTS OF YOUNG, INNOVATIVE COMPANIES. OTHER PROGRAM ACTIVITIES INCLUDE CONVENING, ADVISORY WORK, LEARNINGS SEMINARS, RESEARCH AND OTHER OUTREACH IN SUPPORT OF LOCAL JOURNALISM.

    Expenses $20,019,632 · Grants $15,091,490

As filed on the 2024 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here.

Listed in Part VII

  • James Friedlich

    CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER - LLC

    Total calculated
    $641,574
    From this org
    $553,995
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $87,579
    Hours/week
    37

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $552,807
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $1,188
    Deferred
    $36,102
    Nontaxable benefits
    $51,477
    Filer's total
    $641,574
  • Pedro A Ramos

    SECRETARY, PRESIDENT & CEO

    Total calculated
    $528,416
    From this org
    $0
    From related orgs
    $451,338
    Other
    $77,078
    Hours/week
    1.2 + 37.1 related

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $0 + $450,564 related
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0 + $774 related
    Deferred
    $0 + $47,590 related
    Nontaxable benefits
    $0 + $29,488 related
    Filer's total
    $0 + $528,416 related
  • Annie Madonia

    CHIEF ADVANCEMENT OFFICER - LLC

    Total calculated
    $380,822
    From this org
    $291,759
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $89,063
    Hours/week
    37

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $265,985
    Bonus
    $25,000
    Other
    $774
    Deferred
    $34,037
    Nontaxable benefits
    $55,026
    Filer's total
    $380,822
  • Ken Herts

    CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER - LLC

    Total calculated
    $353,121
    From this org
    $316,150
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $36,971
    Hours/week
    37

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $289,962
    Bonus
    $25,000
    Other
    $1,188
    Deferred
    $34,037
    Nontaxable benefits
    $2,934
    Filer's total
    $353,121
  • Orlando Esposito

    TPF CHIEF FINANCIAL OFCR TO JUN 2024

    Total calculated
    $257,597
    From this org
    $0
    From related orgs
    $200,568
    Other
    $57,029
    Hours/week
    1 + 35.1 related

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $0 + $199,380 related
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0 + $1,188 related
    Deferred
    $0 + $20,400 related
    Nontaxable benefits
    $0 + $36,629 related
    Filer's total
    $0 + $257,597 related
  • Shawn Mooring

    HEAD OF PHILADELPHIA PROGRAMS - LLC

    Total calculated
    $222,329
    From this org
    $173,941
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $48,388
    Hours/week
    35

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $173,671
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $270
    Deferred
    $18,392
    Nontaxable benefits
    $29,996
    Filer's total
    $222,329
  • Rebecca Forman

    HEAD OF DEVEL & DONOR RELATIONS -LLC

    Total calculated
    $217,115
    From this org
    $189,326
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $27,789
    Hours/week
    35

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $189,159
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $167
    Deferred
    $19,185
    Nontaxable benefits
    $8,604
    Filer's total
    $217,115
  • Karen Cleary

    CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER - LLC

    Total calculated
    $193,574
    From this org
    $145,764
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $47,810
    Hours/week
    28

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $145,764
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $16,157
    Nontaxable benefits
    $31,653
    Filer's total
    $193,574
  • Joseph Lichterman

    HEAD OF EDITORIAL AND COMMS - LLC

    Total calculated
    $159,265
    From this org
    $143,334
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $15,931
    Hours/week
    35

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $143,213
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $121
    Deferred
    $14,838
    Nontaxable benefits
    $1,093
    Filer's total
    $159,265
  • Karen Morris

    CONTROLLER - LLC

    Total calculated
    $134,499
    From this org
    $114,162
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $20,337
    Hours/week
    35
  • Christine Conti

    TPF CHIEF FINANCIAL & ADMIN OFFICER

    Total calculated
    $128,510
    From this org
    $0
    From related orgs
    $116,827
    Other
    $11,683
    Hours/week
    1 + 35.1 related
  • Jacqueline Galiani

    HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGER - LLC

    Total calculated
    $116,597
    From this org
    $105,029
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $11,568
    Hours/week
    35
  • Lon Greenberg

    CHAIR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1 + 4.3 related
  • William J Burke

    TREASURER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1 + 4.3 related
  • Rosalind Remer

    CHAIR - LLC

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Michael X Delli Carpini PhD

    VICE CHAIR - LLC

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Kate Allison

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1 + 2.3 related
  • Holly Flanagan

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1 + 2.3 related
  • Christina Mesires Fournaris

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1 + 2.3 related
  • William P Hankowsky

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1 + 2.3 related
  • Dixieanne James

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1 + 2.3 related
  • Aldustus Aj Jordan

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1 + 2.3 related
  • Shirin Karsan

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1 + 2.3 related
  • Sharmain Matlock-Turner

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1 + 2.3 related
  • Evelyn McNiff

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1 + 2.3 related
  • Michael K Pearson

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1 + 2.3 related
  • Wendell Pritchett

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1 + 2.3 related
  • Andrew Rogoff

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1 + 2.3 related
  • Jane Scaccetti

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1 + 2.3 related
  • Evan Urbania

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1 + 2.3 related
  • Ellen Sinis Badger

    MANAGER - LLC

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1 + 2.3 related
  • David Boardman

    MANAGER - LLC

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Lasharah Bunting

    MANAGER - LLC

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • David Haas

    MANAGER - LLC

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Errin Haines

    MANAGER - LLC

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Keith Leaphart

    MANAGER - LLC

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Shelton Mercer III

    MANAGER - LLC

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Hong Qu

    MANAGER - LLC

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Sulaiman Rahman

    MANAGER - LLC

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Vijay Ravindran

    MANAGER - LLC

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

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

The filer's explanations (Part III)

PART I, LINE 3
THE INSTITUTE RELIES ON THE PHILADELPHIA FOUNDATION (TPF) TO DETERMINE THE COMPENSATION FOR TPF PRESIDENT & CEO, PEDRO A. RAMOS. TPF USED THE FOLLOWING METHODS TO DETERMINE COMPENSATION FOR THE TPF PRESIDENT & CEO: - COMPENSATION COMMITTEE - FORM 990 OF OTHER ORGANIZATIONS - COMPENSATION SURVEY OR STUDY - APPROVAL BY THE BOARD OR COMPENSATION COMMITTEE THIS PROCESS OCCURS ANNUALLY, AND LAST OCCURRED IN 2023.

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

  • THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER

    $7,847,500

    THE INSTITUTE IS SUPPORTING THE INQUIRERS TRANSITION FROM A TRADITIONAL PRINTED NEWSPAPER TO AN ECONOMICALLY SUSTAINABLE, PRIMARILY DIGITAL, EQUITABLE NEWS ENTERPRISE. A SERIES OF GRANTS WERE MADE TO THE INQUIRER TO FUND (A) HIGH IMPACT JOURNALISM, INCLUDING WORK BY ITS INVESTIGATIVE TEAM, SPOTLIGHT PA AND HEALTH COVERAGE AND (B) NEWS TECHNOLOGY AND PRODUCT IMPROVEMENTS, INCLUDING A GRANT FOR DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION ACCELERATION, BRAND DEVELOPMENT, TECHNOLOGY FOR AUDIENCE GROWTH, DIGITAL SUBSCRIPTION PROCESS IMPROVEMENTS, AND OTHER TECHNOLOGY SUPPORT.

  • (O) = $10,000, (S) = $500,000

  • (G) = $500,000

  • NEWSDAY LLC

    $500,000

    (G) = $500,000

  • SEATTLE TIMES COMPANY

    $500,000

    (G) = $500,000

  • STAR TRIBUNE MEDIA INTERMEDIATE HOLDINGS COMPANY II

    $500,000

    (G) = $500,000

  • (F) = $475,000

  • (A) = $130,000, (E) = $15,000, (M) = $100,000, (N) = $80,000

  • THE HAITIAN TIMES

    $276,625

    (T) = $276,625

  • (A) = $75,000, (M) = $162,000

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

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.

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 LENFEST INSTITUTE FOR JOURNALISM LLC

    FOSTERS INNOVATION TO SUSTAIN INDEPENDENT JOURNALISM · PA · income $26,054,320 · assets $133,928,628

    Directly controlled by THE LENFEST INSTITUTE FOR JOURNALISM SPECIAL ASSET FUND OF TPF

Related corporations and trusts

Part IV: related organizations taxable as a corporation or trust.

  • THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER PBC

    C · NEWS MEDIA PRODUCTION · DE · 99.99% owned · share of income $96,645,031 · share of assets $74,005,096 · controlled entity

    Directly controlled by PMN PBC CHARITABLE TRUST

Provenance

Return type
form_990
Tax year
2024
Filed
31 October 2025
IRS schema version
2024v5.2
Source object
202543079349301754

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