Form 990 for tax year 2025
Filed by REPORTERS COMMITTEE FOR FREEDOM OF THE PRESS.
Totals
- Total revenue
- $15,862,155
- Total expenses
- $7,801,300
- Contributions and grants received
- $14,981,169
- Grants paid
- $0
- Program service revenue
- $222,047
- Investment income
- $843,661
- Other revenue
- -$184,722
- Total assets, end of year
- $31,226,043
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $2,206,659
- Net assets or fund balances, end of year
- $29,019,384
- Program services expenses (Part IX)
- $5,969,326
- Management and general expenses
- $931,397
- Fundraising expenses
- $900,577
- Program service expenses (Part III)
- $5,969,326
Program services were 76.5% 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.
-
1c · Fundraising events
$1,828,989
-
1f · All other contributions, gifts and grants
$13,152,180
-
2a · Program service revenue: PROGRAM SERVICES
total $222,047 · related or exempt $222,047
-
3 · Investment income
total $591,781 · excluded $591,781
-
7a · Gross sales of assets other than inventory
securities $433,815
-
7b · Less cost or other basis and sales expenses
securities $181,935
-
7c · Gain or loss
securities $251,880
-
7d · Net gain or loss
total $251,880 · excluded $251,880
-
8a · Fundraising events: gross income
$159,895
-
8a · Fundraising events: contributions included on line 1c
$1,828,989
-
8b · Fundraising events: direct expenses
$351,566
-
8c · Net income from fundraising events
total -$191,671 · excluded -$191,671
-
11a · Other revenue: MISCELLANEOUS
total $4,549 · excluded $4,549
-
11b · Other revenue: HONORARIUM
total $2,400 · excluded $2,400
-
11e · Other revenue, total
$6,949
Functional expenses
Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.
-
5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
total $536,304 · program services $431,832 · management and general $50,031 · fundraising $54,441
-
7 · Other salaries and wages
total $4,754,921 · program services $3,835,063 · management and general $438,516 · fundraising $481,342
-
8 · Pension plan contributions
total $218,784 · program services $172,961 · management and general $22,944 · fundraising $22,879
-
9 · Other employee benefits
total $385,912 · program services $305,083 · management and general $40,472 · fundraising $40,357
-
10 · Payroll taxes
total $435,912 · program services $353,995 · management and general $39,117 · fundraising $42,800
-
11b · Fees: legal
total $89,513 · program services $89,513
-
11c · Fees: accounting
total $25,000 · management and general $25,000
-
11e · Fees: professional fundraising services
total $115,000 · fundraising $115,000
-
11f · Fees: investment management
total $64,148 · management and general $64,148
-
11g · Fees: other
total $215,910 · program services $67,896 · management and general $119,609 · fundraising $28,405
-
12 · Advertising and promotion
total $37,965 · program services $31,996 · management and general $1,819 · fundraising $4,150
-
13 · Office expenses
total $114,572 · program services $64,150 · management and general $19,759 · fundraising $30,663
-
14 · Information technology
total $65,994 · program services $65,994
-
16 · Occupancy
total $324,591 · program services $260,932 · management and general $28,851 · fundraising $34,808
-
17 · Travel
total $149,766 · program services $107,650 · management and general $31,092 · fundraising $11,024
-
22 · Depreciation, depletion and amortization
total $57,263 · program services $46,185 · management and general $5,281 · fundraising $5,797
-
23 · Insurance
total $24,469 · program services $22,129 · management and general $1,058 · fundraising $1,282
-
24a · Other expenses: COMPUTER RESEARCH
total $104,866 · program services $94,348 · management and general $6,318 · fundraising $4,200
-
24b · Other expenses: DUES AND SUBSCRIPTIONS
total $63,695 · program services $19,599 · management and general $37,306 · fundraising $6,790
-
24c · Other expenses: TAXES AND LICENSES
total $16,715 · management and general $76 · fundraising $16,639
Balance sheet
Part X, book values.
-
1 · Cash, non-interest-bearing
beginning of year $370,469 · end of year $472,819
-
2 · Savings and temporary cash investments
beginning of year $6,885,644 · end of year $4,517,396
-
3 · Pledges and grants receivable
beginning of year $1,568,263 · end of year $4,737,363
-
9 · Prepaid expenses and deferred charges
beginning of year $66,818 · end of year $84,646
-
10a · Land, buildings and equipment: cost or other basis
$713,232
-
10b · Land, buildings and equipment: accumulated depreciation
$516,032
-
10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net
beginning of year $254,463 · end of year $197,200
-
11 · Investments: publicly traded securities
beginning of year $11,233,418 · end of year $19,785,130
-
15 · Other assets
beginning of year $1,708,141 · end of year $1,431,489
-
17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses
beginning of year $300,522 · end of year $387,922
-
25 · Other liabilities
beginning of year $2,157,221 · end of year $1,818,737
-
27 · Net assets without donor restrictions
beginning of year $10,115,671 · end of year $14,297,453
-
28 · Net assets with donor restrictions
beginning of year $9,513,802 · end of year $14,721,931
Mission and programs · 2025
Mission
TO PROTECT THE RIGHT TO GATHER AND DISTRIBUTE NEWS; TO KEEP GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABLE BY ENSURING ACCESS TO PUBLIC RECORDS, MEETINGS AND COURTROOMS; AND TO PRESERVE THE PRINCIPLES OF FREE SPEECH AND UNFETTERED PRESS, AS GUARANTEED BY THE FIRST AMENDMENT OF THE U.S. CONSTITUTION.
-
LEGAL DEFENSE AND RESEARCHTHE COMMITTEE PROVIDES AROUND-THE-CLOCK, PRO BONO SERVICES TO ALL NEWS MEDIA. IT OFFERS FREE LEGAL ASSISTANCE AND RESEARCH TO JOURNALISTS AND ATTORNEYS, FILES AMICUS BRIEFS, PUBLISHES NUMEROUS GUIDES AND MATERIALS, AND SPEAKS OUT AGAINST THREATS TO THE FREEDOM OF THE PRESS. THE COMMITTEE UNDERTAKES LEGAL DEFENSE AND RESEARCH PROJECTS IN ALL AREAS OF MEDIA LAW, AND ASSISTS JOURNALISTS AND NEWS ORGANIZATIONS WITH FREEDOM OF INFORMATION AND ACCESS-TO-COURT CASES. THE LEGAL DEFENSE AND RESEARCH PROGRAM INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING:PRE-PUBLICATION LEGAL SERVICES - THE COMMITTEE PROVIDES THESE SERVICES TO FREELANCE AND INDEPENDENT JOURNALISTS INCLUDING DOCUMENTARY FILMMAKERS.PUBLICATIONS - THE COMMITTEE PUBLISHES AND MAINTAINS A BLOG, VARIOUS ONLINE LEGAL GUIDES AND OTHER MATERIALS, INCLUDING THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA) WIKI, FOR GATHERING AND DISSEMINATING THE NEWS. THE COMMITTEE'S INTERNET WEBSITE PROVIDES CONTENT ON MEDIA LAW AND JOURNALISM, WHICH IS UPDATED ON A DAILY BASIS.FELLOWSHIP/INTERNSHIP PROGRAMS - THE COMMITTEE OFFERS LAW FELLOWSHIPS FOR RECENT LAW SCHOOL GRADUATES AND AN INTERNSHIP PROGRAM FOR JOURNALISM AND LAW STUDENTS EACH SUMMER AND DURING AN ACADEMIC SEMESTER.THE COMMITTEE'S LITIGATION PRACTICE, WHICH INCLUDES ITS STAFF ATTORNEYS IN WASHINGTON, D.C., AS WELL AS COLORADO, INDIANA, LOUISIANA, MISSISSIPPI, OKLAHOMA, PENNSYLVANIA, AND TENNESSEE, COMPLEMENTS ITS TRADITIONAL AMICUS BRIEF WORK AT A TIME OF INCREASED NEED IN THE NEWS MEDIA FOR IMPACT LITIGATION AND PRO BONO LEGAL SERVICES. THE COMMITTEE'S ATTORNEYS HELP JOURNALISTS AND NEWS ORGANIZATIONS DEFEND THEIR RIGHTS TO GATHER AND REPORT THE NEWS AND GAIN ACCESS TO PUBLIC RECORDS AND COURT PROCEEDINGS. THE COMMITTEE HAS A NETWORK OF LAWYERS AROUND THE COUNTRY WHO, FROM TIME TO TIME, SERVE AS LOCAL COUNSEL ON AMICUS BRIEFS OR PARTNERS WITH THE COMMITTEE IN OTHER WAYS.
Expenses $5,969,326 · Revenue $222,047
As filed on the 2025 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here.
Listed in Part VII
-
Stephen AdlerSTEPHEN ADLER
CHAIR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 5
-
Margaret LowMARGARET LOW
VICE CHAIR
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Massimo CalabresiMASSIMO CALABRESI
SECRETARY/TREASURER
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 2
-
Nik DeogunNIK DEOGUN
DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 0.5
-
Wolf BlitzerWOLF BLITZER
STEERING COMMITTEE
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 0.5
-
David BoardmanDAVID BOARDMAN
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Theodore BoutrousTHEODORE BOUTROUS
EXECUTIVE - DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEES
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 0.5
-
Lynette ClemetsonLYNETTE CLEMETSON
FINANCE & INVESTMENT COMMITTEE
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Manuel GarciaMANUEL GARCIA
DEVELOPMENT - AUDIT COMMITTEES
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Emilio Garcia-RuizEMILIO GARCIA-RUIZ
FINANCE & INVESTMENT COMMITTEE
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 0.5
-
Josh GersteinJOSH GERSTEIN
POLICY & PROGRAM COMMITTEE
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 0.5
-
Alexander GibneyALEXANDER GIBNEY
POLICY & PROGRAM COMMITTEE
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 0.5
-
Gail GoveGAIL GOVE
EXEC. - POLICY & PROGRAM COMMITTEES
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 0.5
-
James GrimaldiJAMES GRIMALDI
FINANCE & INVESTMENT COMMITTEE
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 0.75
-
Laura HandmanLAURA HANDMAN
EXEC. - POLICY & PROGRAM COMMITTEES
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Diego IbarguenDIEGO IBARGUEN
EXEC. - P.&P. - F.&I. COMMITTEES
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Karen KaiserKAREN KAISER
POLICY & PROGRAM - AUDIT COMMITTEES
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 0.5
-
David LauterDAVID LAUTER
AUDIT COMMITTEE UNTIL MAY
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 0.75
-
Kimbriell KellyKIMBRIELL KELLY
POLICY & PROGRAM COMMITTEE
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 0.5
-
Colleen McCain NelsonCOLLEEN MCCAIN NELSON
STEERING COMMITTEE UNTIL MAY
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 0.5
-
James NeffJAMES NEFF
STEERING COMMITTEE UNTIL MAY
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 0.5
-
Norman PearlstineNORMAN PEARLSTINE
DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1.5
-
Thomas RubinTHOMAS RUBIN
EXECUTIVE - DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEES
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Charles SavageCHARLES SAVAGE
POLICY & PROGRAM COMMITTEE
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 0.5
-
Jennifer SondagJENNIFER SONDAG
FIN. & INV. COMMITTEE UNTIL SEP.
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1.25
-
Nabiha SyedNABIHA SYED
DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 1
-
Adam SymsonADAM SYMSON
DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 0.5
-
Matthew ThompsonMATTHEW THOMPSON
POLICY & PROGRAM COMMITTEE
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 0.5
-
Vickie Walton-JamesVICKIE WALTON-JAMES
POLICY & PROGRAM - AUDIT COMMITTEES
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 0.5
-
Sewell ChanSEWELL CHAN
STEERING COMMITTEE
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 0.5
-
Jason ContiJASON CONTI
POLICY & PROGRAM - DEV. COMMITTEES
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 0.5
-
Marty BaronMARTY BARON
STEERING COMMITTEE
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 0.5
-
Alexandra MaccallumALEXANDRA MACCALLUM
STEERING COMMITTEE
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 0.5
-
Matthew MurrayMATTHEW MURRAY
STEERING COMMITTEE
- Total calculated
- $0
- Hours/week
- 0.5
-
Bruce BrownBRUCE BROWN
PRESIDENT
- Total calculated
- $325,617
- From this org
- $292,612
- From related orgs
- $0
- Other
- $33,005
- Hours/week
- 40
Schedule J breakdown matched by us
- Base
- $292,612
- Bonus
- $0
- Other
- $0
- Deferred
- $15,520
- Nontaxable benefits
- $17,485
- Filer's total
- $325,617
-
Daniel YuDANIEL YU
VP OF FINANCE & OPERATIONS
- Total calculated
- $210,685
- From this org
- $198,627
- From related orgs
- $0
- Other
- $12,058
- Hours/week
- 40
Schedule J breakdown matched by us
- Base
- $198,627
- Bonus
- $0
- Other
- $0
- Deferred
- $9,961
- Nontaxable benefits
- $2,097
- Filer's total
- $210,685
-
Gabriel RottmanGABRIEL ROTTMAN
VP OF POLICY
- Total calculated
- $207,280
- From this org
- $186,974
- From related orgs
- $0
- Other
- $20,306
- Hours/week
- 40
Schedule J breakdown matched by us
- Base
- $186,974
- Bonus
- $0
- Other
- $0
- Deferred
- $9,398
- Nontaxable benefits
- $10,908
- Filer's total
- $207,280
-
Michael ZwirnMICHAEL ZWIRN
VP OF DEVELOPMENT
- Total calculated
- $200,099
- From this org
- $177,357
- From related orgs
- $0
- Other
- $22,742
- Hours/week
- 40
Schedule J breakdown matched by us
- Base
- $177,357
- Bonus
- $0
- Other
- $0
- Deferred
- $9,177
- Nontaxable benefits
- $13,565
- Filer's total
- $200,099
-
Lisa ZychermanLISA ZYCHERMAN
VP OF LEGAL PROGRAMMING
- Total calculated
- $221,630
- From this org
- $209,443
- From related orgs
- $0
- Other
- $12,187
- Hours/week
- 40
Schedule J breakdown matched by us
- Base
- $209,443
- Bonus
- $0
- Other
- $0
- Deferred
- $10,171
- Nontaxable benefits
- $2,016
- Filer's total
- $221,630
-
Jennifer TopperJENNIFER TOPPER
VP OF COMMUNICATIONS
- Total calculated
- $190,754
- From this org
- $180,115
- From related orgs
- $0
- Other
- $10,639
- Hours/week
- 40
Schedule J breakdown matched by us
- Base
- $180,115
- Bonus
- $0
- Other
- $0
- Deferred
- $8,706
- Nontaxable benefits
- $1,933
- Filer's total
- $190,754
-
Jennifer Anne NelsonJENNIFER ANNE NELSON
DIR. OF PREPUB. REV. & JOURN. SUPP.
- Total calculated
- $172,468
- From this org
- $161,997
- From related orgs
- $0
- Other
- $10,471
- Hours/week
- 40
Schedule J breakdown matched by us
- Base
- $161,997
- Bonus
- $0
- Other
- $0
- Deferred
- $7,941
- Nontaxable benefits
- $2,530
- Filer's total
- $172,468
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 · Approval by the board or compensation committee
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.
Provenance
- Return type
- form_990
- Tax year
- 2025
- Filed
- 27 August 2026
- IRS schema version
- 2025v4.2
- Source object
- 202622409349301712
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