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Nonprofiteer
← AMERICAN JOURNALISM PROJECT INC

Form 990 for tax year 2022

Filed by AMERICAN JOURNALISM PROJECT INC.

Totals

Total revenue
$42,411,860
Total expenses
$20,645,281
Contributions and grants received
$42,585,194
Grants paid
$14,121,251
Program service revenue
$0
Investment income
-$173,457
Other revenue
$123
Total assets, end of year
$54,991,005
Total liabilities, end of year
$2,413,651
Net assets or fund balances, end of year
$52,577,354
Program services expenses (Part IX)
$18,676,033
Management and general expenses
$1,278,526
Fundraising expenses
$690,722
Program service expenses (Part III)
$18,676,033

Program services were 90.5% 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

    $42,585,194

  • 3 · Investment income

    total $227,596 · excluded $227,596

  • 7a · Gross sales of assets other than inventory

    securities $1,450

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

    securities $402,503

  • 7c · Gain or loss

    securities -$401,053

  • 7d · Net gain or loss

    total -$401,053 · excluded -$401,053

  • 11a · Other revenue: OTHER REVENUE

    total $123 · related or exempt $123

  • 11e · Other revenue, total

    $123

Functional expenses

Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.

  • 1 · Grants to domestic organizations and governments

    total $14,121,251 · program services $14,121,251

  • 5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees

    total $2,185,406 · program services $1,485,048 · management and general $378,627 · fundraising $321,731

  • 7 · Other salaries and wages

    total $1,419,941 · program services $964,892 · management and general $246,009 · fundraising $209,040

  • 9 · Other employee benefits

    total $310,926 · program services $190,186 · management and general $69,761 · fundraising $50,979

  • 10 · Payroll taxes

    total $247,737 · program services $173,920 · management and general $40,412 · fundraising $33,405

  • 11b · Fees: legal

    total $67,117 · program services $213 · management and general $66,904

  • 11c · Fees: accounting

    total $106,415 · management and general $106,415

  • 11g · Fees: other

    total $1,398,755 · program services $1,186,398 · management and general $186,484 · fundraising $25,873

  • 12 · Advertising and promotion

    total $171,719 · program services $152,827 · management and general $16,800 · fundraising $2,092

  • 13 · Office expenses

    total $30,723 · program services $21,837 · management and general $5,845 · fundraising $3,041

  • 16 · Occupancy

    total $70,889 · program services $60,992 · management and general $4,465 · fundraising $5,432

  • 17 · Travel

    total $198,321 · program services $140,361 · management and general $33,465 · fundraising $24,495

  • 22 · Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    total $48,996 · management and general $48,996

  • 24a · Other expenses: EVENT EXPENSES

    total $121,621 · program services $121,029 · management and general $433 · fundraising $159

  • 24b · Other expenses: DUES AND SUBSCRIPTIONS

    total $117,272 · program services $37,001 · management and general $68,126 · fundraising $12,145

  • 24e · All other expenses

    total $28,192 · program services $20,078 · management and general $5,784 · fundraising $2,330

Balance sheet

Part X, book values.

  • 1 · Cash, non-interest-bearing

    beginning of year $11,222,772 · end of year $3,810,998

  • 4 · Accounts receivable

    beginning of year $9,644,320 · end of year $27,682,901

  • 9 · Prepaid expenses and deferred charges

    beginning of year $19,749 · end of year $7,667

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

    $147,000

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

    $53,079

  • 10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net

    beginning of year $142,917 · end of year $93,921

  • 11 · Investments: publicly traded securities

    beginning of year $9,986,633 · end of year $23,393,993

  • 15 · Other assets

    beginning of year $810 · end of year $1,525

  • 17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses

    beginning of year $288,308 · end of year $2,413,651

  • 27 · Net assets without donor restrictions

    beginning of year $16,964,059 · end of year $21,134,813

  • 28 · Net assets with donor restrictions

    beginning of year $13,764,834 · end of year $31,442,541

Mission and programs · 2022

Mission

THE AMERICAN JOURNALISM PROJECT, INC. IS A FIRST-OF-ITS-KIND VENTURE PHILANTHROPY DEDICATED TO BUILDING AND SUPPORTING LOCAL NEWS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. AMERICAN JOURNALISM PROJECT MAKES GRANTS TO NONPROFIT NEWS ORGANIZATIONS, PARTNERS WITH COMMUNITIES TO LAUNCH NEW ORGANIZATIONS, AND COACHES LEADERS AS THEY GROW AND SUSTAIN THEIR NEWSROOMS. AMERICAN JOURNALISM PROJECT PAIR FINANCIAL INVESTMENT WITH CAPACITY-BUILDING VENTURE SUPPORT, MAKING TRANSFORMATIVE INVESTMENTS IN THE BUSINESS AND OPERATIONAL CAPACITY OF LOCAL NEWS ORGANIZATIONS TO GROW AND SCALE SUSTAINABLY.

Activities or mission (Part I)

THE AMERICAN JOURNALISM PROJECT, INC. IS A VENTURE PHILANTHROPY DEDICATED TO BUILDING NON-PROFIT LOCAL NEWS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES.

  • GRANTMAKING PROGRAM - THE AMERICAN JOURNALISM PROJECT SUPPORTS THE GROWTH OF INDEPENDENT, NON-PROFIT NEWS ORGANIZATIONS THAT HOLD THE POWERFUL ACCOUNTABLE, COMBAT DISINFORMATION, AND DEEPEN CIVIC PARTICIPATION IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. AS OF THE END OF 2021, AMERICAN JOURNALISM PROJECT HAS MADE GRANT COMMITMENTS TO 32 NEWS ORGANIZATIONS, SELECTED THROUGH A COMPETITIVE GRANTMAKING PROCESS WITH OVERSIGHT FROM OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS.

    Expenses $10,957,507 · Grants $10,626,241

  • GRANTEE SUPPORT PROGRAM - AMERICAN JOURNALISM PROJECT SETS GRANTEES UP FOR SUCCESS THROUGH A UNIQUE VENTURE SUPPORT MODEL. GRANTEES REPRESENT A VARIETY OF MODELS AND STAGES OF DEVELOPMENT, AND AMERICAN JOURNALISM PROJECT PROVIDES EACH WITH TAILORED SUPPORT BASED ON THEIR NEEDS AND BIGGEST STRATEGIC CHALLENGES. STAFF WORK AS A TEAM WITH GRANTEE LEADERS, PARTNERING WITH EACH ORGANIZATION TO HELP THEM STRENGTHEN AND SCALE THROUGH OPERATIONAL AND STRATEGIC SUPPORT, CURATION OF BEST PRACTICES FROM ACROSS THE SECTOR, AND FOSTERING OF PEER LEARNING ACROSS THE PORTFOLIO.

    Expenses $1,852,928 · Grants $185,400

  • STARTUPS PROGRAM - AMERICAN JOURNALISM PROJECT WORKS WITH CIVIC LEADERS, PLACE-BASED FUNDERS, AND COMMUNITY FOUNDATIONS TO IDENTIFY AND ADDRESS INFORMATION GAPS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. AMERICAN JOURNALISM PROJECT PROVIDES LOCAL PHILANTHROPIC PARTNERS WITH SERVICES SUCH AS COMMUNITY LISTENING, INFORMATION ECOSYSTEM RESEARCH, SOLUTION DESIGN, AND BUSINESS MODELING. ADDITIONALLY, EXPERIENCE AND RESOURCES ARE LEVERAGED TO INCUBATE NEW ORGANIZATIONS FROM THE GROUND UP. INCUBATION SUPPORT CAN INCLUDE ORGANIZATION ESTABLISHMENT, TEAM RECRUITMENT, VISIONING AND STRATEGIC PLANNING, RAISING SEED CAPITAL, STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT, AND EQUITABLE ORGANIZATION DESIGN.

    Expenses $1,443,066

  • FISCALLY SPONSORED PROJECTS - AMERICAN JOURNALISM PROJECT SERVES AS THE FISCAL SPONSOR TO THE STARTUP ORGANIZATIONS THAT WE LAUNCH AND INCUBATE, PRIOR TO THEIR ESTABLISHMENT AS INDEPENDENT NONPROFITS. OUR FISCAL SPONSORSHIP SUPPORTS INCLUDE MANAGING LEGAL AND COMPLIANCE REQUIREMENTS, BUILDING FINANCIAL AND OPERATIONAL SYSTEMS, AND ESTABLISHING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES. AUDITED FINANCIALS AND IRS FILINGS REFLECT THE REVENUE WE STEWARD AND EXPENSES WE INCUR ON BEHALF OF THESE STARTUP ORGANIZATIONS, AS WELL AS THE GRANTING OF REMAINING PROJECT FUNDS AT THE END OF THE SPONSORSHIP PERIOD. AMERICAN JOURNALISM PROJECT DOES NOT RECEIVE A FISCAL SPONSOR FEE FOR TAKING ON THIS ROLE.

    Expenses $4,422,532 · Grants $3,309,610

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

Listed in Part VII

  • JOE NATOLI

    CHAIRPERSON

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • IRVING WASHINGTON

    VICE CHAIRPERSON

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • JOHN THORNTON

    SECRETARY

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • ROSENTHAL ALVES

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • JEFF COHEN

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • MICHELLE DE LA ISLA

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • TERESA GORMAN

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • PETER LATTMAN

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • MARIA THOMAS

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • HILLARY SCHNEIDER STARTED 61822

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • SARABETH BERMAN

    CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

    Total calculated
    $269,827
    From this org
    $236,047
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $33,780
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $236,047
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $10,001
    Nontaxable benefits
    $23,779
    Filer's total
    $269,827

  • AMAR RAJWANI

    CHIEF FINANCIAL & ADMIN. OFFICER

    Total calculated
    $192,191
    From this org
    $172,111
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $20,080
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $172,111
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $7,195
    Nontaxable benefits
    $12,885
    Filer's total
    $192,191

  • PATTY SLUTSKY

    CHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER

    Total calculated
    $215,181
    From this org
    $195,225
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $19,956
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $195,225
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $8,213
    Nontaxable benefits
    $11,743
    Filer's total
    $215,181

  • MICHAEL OUIMETTE

    SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT

    Total calculated
    $211,222
    From this org
    $203,606
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $7,616
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $203,606
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $0
    Nontaxable benefits
    $7,616
    Filer's total
    $211,222

  • LORETTA CHAO

    VICE PRESIDENT

    Total calculated
    $203,086
    From this org
    $188,406
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $14,680
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $188,406
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $7,536
    Nontaxable benefits
    $7,144
    Filer's total
    $203,086

  • HERMIONE MALONE

    VICE PRESIDENT

    Total calculated
    $163,113
    From this org
    $151,385
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $11,728
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $151,385
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $4,348
    Nontaxable benefits
    $7,380
    Filer's total
    $163,113

  • RENE GORNALL

    CHIEF OF STAFF

    Total calculated
    $171,976
    From this org
    $156,239
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $15,737
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $156,239
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $6,327
    Nontaxable benefits
    $9,410
    Filer's total
    $171,976

  • MICHELLE SRBINOVICH

    VICE PRESIDENT

    Total calculated
    $198,733
    From this org
    $181,840
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $16,893
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $181,840
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $7,356
    Nontaxable benefits
    $9,537
    Filer's total
    $198,733

  • JASON ALCORN

    VICE PRESIDENT

    Total calculated
    $194,433
    From this org
    $168,535
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $25,898
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $168,535
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $0
    Nontaxable benefits
    $25,898
    Filer's total
    $194,433

  • ANNA THOMAS

    VICE PRESIDENT

    Total calculated
    $191,323
    From this org
    $183,370
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $7,953
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $183,370
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $7,356
    Nontaxable benefits
    $597
    Filer's total
    $191,323

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

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

Provenance

Return type
form_990
Tax year
2022
Filed
11 October 2023
IRS schema version
2022v5.0
Source object
202302939349300835

Check it against the return as filed: the GivingTuesday Data Lake hosts a public copy of the original XML.

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