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← POYNTER INSTITUTE FOR MEDIA STUDIES INC

Form 990 for tax year 2024

Filed by POYNTER INSTITUTE FOR MEDIA STUDIES INC.

Totals

Total revenue
$17,380,983
Total expenses
$19,103,690
Contributions and grants received
$10,334,822
Grants paid
$4,648,670
Program service revenue
$5,771,184
Investment income
$853,411
Other revenue
$421,566
Total assets, end of year
$51,558,444
Total liabilities, end of year
$668,864
Net assets or fund balances, end of year
$50,889,580
Program services expenses (Part IX)
$16,697,598
Management and general expenses
$2,372,978
Fundraising expenses
$33,114
Program service expenses (Part III)
$16,697,598

Program services were 87.4% 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

    $134,592

  • 1e · Government grants (contributions)

    $48,500

  • 1f · All other contributions, gifts and grants

    $10,151,730

  • 2a · Program service revenue: LICENSING REVENUE

    total $1,326,252 · related or exempt $1,326,252

  • 2b · Program service revenue: TEACHING REVENUE

    total $4,444,932 · related or exempt $4,444,932

  • 3 · Investment income

    total $608,086 · excluded $608,086

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

    total $0

  • 5 · Royalties

    total $550 · excluded $550

  • 6a · Gross rents

    real property $224,229

  • 6b · Less rental expenses

    real property $246,470

  • 6c · Rental income or loss

    real property -$22,241

  • 6d · Net rental income or loss

    total -$22,241 · related or exempt -$22,241

  • 7a · Gross sales of assets other than inventory

    securities $500,000

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

    securities $254,675

  • 7c · Gain or loss

    securities $245,325

  • 7d · Net gain or loss

    total $245,325 · related or exempt $245,325

  • 8c · Net income from fundraising events

    total $0

  • 9c · Net income from gaming

    total $0

  • 10c · Net income from sales of inventory

    total $0

  • 11a · Other revenue: CAREER CENTER ADVERTISING

    total $72,437 · unrelated business $72,437

  • 11b · Other revenue: CAREER CENTER REVENUE

    total $273,216 · related or exempt $273,216

  • 11c · Other revenue: POLITIFACT ADVERTISING

    total $97,604 · unrelated business $97,604

  • 11e · Other revenue, total

    $443,257

Functional expenses

Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.

  • 1 · Grants to domestic organizations and governments

    total $537,374 · program services $537,374

  • 2 · Grants to domestic individuals

    total $0

  • 3 · Grants to foreign organizations and individuals

    total $4,111,296 · program services $4,111,296

  • 4 · Benefits paid to or for members

    total $0

  • 5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees

    total $2,222,686 · program services $1,678,734 · management and general $543,952

  • 6 · Compensation of disqualified persons

    total $0

  • 7 · Other salaries and wages

    total $4,636,002 · program services $3,501,447 · management and general $1,134,555

  • 8 · Pension plan contributions

    total $31,207 · program services $20,817 · management and general $10,390

  • 9 · Other employee benefits

    total $779,377 · program services $587,906 · management and general $191,471

  • 10 · Payroll taxes

    total $487,769 · program services $343,145 · management and general $144,624

  • 11a · Fees: management

    total $0

  • 11b · Fees: legal

    total $30,688 · program services $10,600 · management and general $18,627 · fundraising $1,461

  • 11c · Fees: accounting

    total $122,106 · program services $1,883 · management and general $109,037 · fundraising $11,186

  • 11d · Fees: lobbying

    total $0

  • 11e · Fees: professional fundraising services

    total $0

  • 11f · Fees: investment management

    total $0

  • 11g · Fees: other

    total $1,659,734 · program services $1,592,550 · management and general $63,035 · fundraising $4,149

  • 12 · Advertising and promotion

    total $129,038 · program services $129,004 · management and general $3 · fundraising $31

  • 13 · Office expenses

    total $92,455 · program services $88,539 · management and general $3,651 · fundraising $265

  • 14 · Information technology

    total $49,025 · program services $38,955 · management and general $8,700 · fundraising $1,370

  • 15 · Royalties

    total $0

  • 16 · Occupancy

    total $0

  • 17 · Travel

    total $582,764 · program services $560,856 · management and general $21,703 · fundraising $205

  • 18 · Travel or entertainment for public officials

    total $0

  • 19 · Conferences, conventions and meetings

    total $208,868 · program services $200,865 · management and general $7,169 · fundraising $834

  • 20 · Interest

    total $0

  • 21 · Payments to affiliates

    total $0

  • 22 · Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    total $496,263 · program services $473,539 · management and general $21,369 · fundraising $1,355

  • 23 · Insurance

    total $455,174 · program services $434,330 · management and general $19,601 · fundraising $1,243

  • 24a · Other expenses: FISCAL SPONSORSHIP EXPENSE

    total $758,841 · program services $758,841

  • 24b · Other expenses: PROFESSOR AND FACULTY FEES

    total $566,567 · program services $566,567

  • 24c · Other expenses: EQUIPMENT

    total $436,564 · program services $386,408 · management and general $42,651 · fundraising $7,505

  • 24d · Other expenses: UTILITIES

    total $269,230 · program services $248,710 · management and general $18,490 · fundraising $2,030

  • 24e · All other expenses

    total $440,662 · program services $425,232 · management and general $13,950 · fundraising $1,480

Balance sheet

Part X, book values.

  • 1 · Cash, non-interest-bearing

    beginning of year $5,158,508 · end of year $3,197,790

  • 2 · Savings and temporary cash investments

    end of year $0

  • 3 · Pledges and grants receivable

    end of year $0

  • 4 · Accounts receivable

    end of year $0

  • 5 · Loans and receivables from officers and key people

    end of year $0

  • 6 · Loans and receivables from disqualified persons

    beginning of year $4,988,582 · end of year $4,988,582

  • 7 · Other notes and loans receivable

    end of year $0

  • 8 · Inventories for sale or use

    beginning of year $56,144 · end of year $56,144

  • 9 · Prepaid expenses and deferred charges

    end of year $0

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

    $20,492,186

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

    $15,567,709

  • 10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net

    beginning of year $5,236,054 · end of year $4,924,477

  • 11 · Investments: publicly traded securities

    beginning of year $14,766,670 · end of year $15,491,493

  • 12 · Investments: other securities

    beginning of year $22,366,624 · end of year $22,366,624

  • 13 · Investments: program-related

    end of year $0

  • 14 · Intangible assets

    beginning of year $600,000 · end of year $533,334

  • 15 · Other assets

    end of year $0

  • 17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses

    beginning of year $76,633 · end of year $105,187

  • 21 · Escrow or custodial account liability

    beginning of year $13,621 · end of year $14,821

  • 22 · Loans and payables to officers and key people

    end of year $153,668

  • 25 · Other liabilities

    beginning of year $470,041 · end of year $395,188

  • 27 · Net assets without donor restrictions

    beginning of year $39,967,690 · end of year $38,965,188

  • 28 · Net assets with donor restrictions

    beginning of year $12,644,597 · end of year $11,924,392

Mission and programs · 2024

Mission

THE POYNTER INSTITUE IS A SCHOOL DEDICATED TO TEACHING AND INSPIRING JOURNALISTS AND MEDIA LEADERS. IT PROMOTES EXCELLENCE AND INTEGRITY IN THE PRACTICE OF CRAFT AND IN THE PRACTICAL LEADERSHIP OF SUCCESSFUL BUSINESSES. IT STANDS FOR A JOURNALISM THAT INFORMS CITIZENS AND ENLIGHTENS PUBLIC DISCOURSE. IT CARRIES FORWARD NELSON POYNTER'S BELIEF IN THE VALUE OF INDEPENDENT JOURNALISM.

Activities or mission (Part I)

THE POYNTER INSTITUTE IS A SCHOOL DEDICATED TO TEACHING AND INSPIRING JOURNALISTS AND MEDIA LEADERS.

  • POYNTER PROVIDES IN-DEPTH, NON-PARTISAN FACT-CHECKING BOTH WITH GUIDELINES AND GOVERNANCE FOR FACT-CHECKERS WORLDWIDE. THE INTERNATIONAL FACT-CHECKING NETWORK (IFCN) IS A UNIT OF THE POYNTER INSTITUTE DEDICATED TO BRINGING TOGETHER FACT-CHECKERS WORDLWIDE. THE IFCN WAS LAUNCHED IN SEPTEMBER 2015 TO SUPPORT FACT-CHECKING INITIATIVES BY PROMOTING BEST PRACTICES AND EXCHANGES IN THIS FIELD. IN ADDITION TO SUPPORTING A CODE OF PRINCIPLES WITH OVER 170 ORGANIZATIONS PARTICIPATING IN THE VERIFICATION PROCESS FOR FACT-CHECKERS WORLDWIDE, THE IFCN ALSO PROVIDES GLOBAL TRAINING AND SUMMITS TO IMPROVE THE CRAFT. FOR ITS COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS, THE IFCN WAS NOMINATED IN 2021 FOR THE NOBEL PEACE PRICE. POYNTER ALSO MANAGES ONE OF THE FOREMOST NATIONAL FACT-CHECKING BRANDS, POLITIFACT. POLITIFACT PROVIDES DAILY FACT-CHECKING AND RESOURCES TO BOTH JOURNALISTS AND THE PUBLIC. IN ADDITION, POLITIFACT TRAINS AND EDUCATES OTHER FACT-CHECKERS AS WELL AS HOLDS CITIZEN TRAINING EVENTS.

    Expenses $8,301,640 · Grants $4,531,296 · Revenue $8,680,314

  • THE POYNTER INSTITUTE IN ST.PETERSBURG,FL, IS A SCHOOL DEDICATED TO THE BELIEF THAT THE PRACTICE OF EXCELLENT JOURNALISM IS ESSENTIAL TO A SUCCESSFUL DEMOCRACY. POYNTER EMPLOYS A FULL-TIME FACULTY AND STAFF, AS WELL AS NUMBEROUS ADJUNCT TEACHERS TO REACH ITS PRINCIPAL AUDIENCES OF PROFESSIONAL AND NONPROFESSIONAL JOURALISTS, MEDIA LEADERS AND CONTENT CREATORS. IN ADDITION, THE INSTITUTE OFFERS REPORTING AND PROGRAMS FOR CITIZENS INTERESTED IN LEARNING MORE ABOUT JOURNALISM AND ITS IMPACT ON SOCIETY.

    Expenses $6,560,564 · Grants $117,374 · Revenue $5,263,794

  • MEDIAWISE TEACHES DIGITAL MEDIA AND AI LITERACY TO EMPOWER ANYONE TO FIND FACTS AND AVOID MISLEADING OR FALSE CONTENT - WHETHER HUMAN OR AI GENERATED - SO THEY CAN MAKE HEALTHY, INFORMED DECISIONS BASED ON TIER VALUES AND MAINTAIN MEANINGFUL RELATIONSHIPS WITH THEIR FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES. PROGRAMMING IS DESIGNED FOR YOUTH, COLLEGE STUDENTS AND OLDER ADULTS. IN 2024, MEDIAWISE RESOURCES GENERATED MORE THAN 15 MILLION VIEWS, AND SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN 2018, THE INTIATIVE HAS REACHED OVER 143 MILLION PEOPLE GLOABALLY.

    Expenses $1,835,394 · Revenue $2,198,734

As filed on the 2024 return.

Listed in Part VII

  • Conan Gallaty

    Trustee

    Total calculated
    $378,849
    From this org
    $0
    From related orgs
    $378,022
    Other
    $827
    Hours/week
    1 + 37.5 related

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    not reported + $378,022 related
    Bonus
    not reported
    Other
    not reported
    Deferred
    not reported
    Nontaxable benefits
    $827
    Filer's total
    $827 + $378,022 related

  • Neil Brown

    President

    Total calculated
    $376,991
    From this org
    $356,248
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $20,743
    Hours/week
    37.5 + 5 related

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $353,077
    Bonus
    not reported
    Other
    $3,171
    Deferred
    $3,357
    Nontaxable benefits
    $17,386
    Filer's total
    $376,991

  • Jessica M Navarro

    COO & CFO

    Total calculated
    $263,728
    From this org
    $238,941
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $24,787
    Hours/week
    37.5 + 5 related

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $234,808
    Bonus
    not reported
    Other
    $4,133
    Deferred
    $2,348
    Nontaxable benefits
    $22,439
    Filer's total
    $263,728

  • Kelly B McBride

    SENIOR VP

    Total calculated
    $236,590
    From this org
    $219,171
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $17,419
    Hours/week
    37.5 + 1 related

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $216,000
    Bonus
    not reported
    Other
    $3,171
    Deferred
    $2,160
    Nontaxable benefits
    $15,259
    Filer's total
    $236,590

  • Sitara S Nieves

    VP TEACHING & ORGN

    Total calculated
    $217,904
    From this org
    $214,423
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $3,481
    Hours/week
    37.5

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $214,423
    Bonus
    not reported
    Other
    not reported
    Deferred
    $2,144
    Nontaxable benefits
    $1,337
    Filer's total
    $217,904

  • Aaron M Sharockman

    VP SALES & STRATEG

    Total calculated
    $172,940
    From this org
    $169,904
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $3,036
    Hours/week
    37.5

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $169,904
    Bonus
    not reported
    Other
    not reported
    Deferred
    $1,699
    Nontaxable benefits
    $1,337
    Filer's total
    $172,940

  • Angie Holan

    DIRECTOR OF IFCN

    Total calculated
    $171,594
    From this org
    $153,171
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $18,423
    Hours/week
    37.5

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $150,000
    Bonus
    not reported
    Other
    $3,171
    Deferred
    $1,500
    Nontaxable benefits
    $16,923
    Filer's total
    $171,594

  • Deborah W Read

    CHIEF DEVLOP OFCR

    Total calculated
    $170,877
    From this org
    $168,000
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $2,877
    Hours/week
    37.5 + 10 related

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $168,000
    Bonus
    not reported
    Other
    not reported
    Deferred
    $1,680
    Nontaxable benefits
    $1,197
    Filer's total
    $170,877

  • Jennifer L Orsi

    VP OF PUBLISHING

    Total calculated
    $160,211
    From this org
    $157,346
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $2,865
    Hours/week
    37.5

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $154,327
    Bonus
    not reported
    Other
    $3,019
    Deferred
    $1,543
    Nontaxable benefits
    $1,322
    Filer's total
    $160,211

  • Paul Tash

    Chairman

    Total calculated
    $50,000
    From this org
    $50,000
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Hours/week
    5

  • Monica Davey

    Trustee

    Total calculated
    $4,000
    From this org
    $4,000
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Robert King

    Trustee

    Total calculated
    $4,000
    From this org
    $4,000
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Ann Marie Lipinski

    Trustee

    Total calculated
    $4,000
    From this org
    $4,000
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Lori Bergen

    Trustee

    Total calculated
    $3,000
    From this org
    $3,000
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Stephen Buckley

    Trustee

    Total calculated
    $3,000
    From this org
    $3,000
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Lori Waldon-Deadwyler

    Trustee

    Total calculated
    $3,000
    From this org
    $3,000
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • Paula Ellis

    Trustee

    Total calculated
    $2,000
    From this org
    $2,000
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $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

  • 3 · Form 990 of other organizations
  • 3 · Compensation survey or study
  • 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

  • Wisconsin Center for Investig

    $100,000

    IFCN

  • Trustees of The Univ of Penn

    $50,000

    IFCN

  • USA Today

    $50,000

    IFCN Global Fact Check Fund

  • Univision Communications Inc

    $45,000

    IFCN

  • USA Today

    $45,000

    IFCN Climate Misinformation Grant

  • Factchequeado

    $40,000

    IFCN Spread The Facts 2024

  • Factly Media & Research

    $40,000

    IFCN

  • News Detective

    $25,000

    IFCN Spread The Facts 2024

  • Check Your Fact

    $12,500

    IFCN

  • Snopes Media Group Inc

    $12,500

    IFCN

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.

Related corporations and trusts

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

  • TIMES HOLDING CO

    C CORP · HOLDING CO · FL · 100% owned · share of income $59,348,563 · share of assets $15,152,112 · controlled entity

    Directly controlled by THE POYNTER INSTITUT

  • TIMES PUBLISHING CO

    C CORP · MEDIA CO · FL · 100% owned · controlled entity

    Directly controlled by TIMES HOLDING CO

  • TREND MAGAINZES INC

    C CORP · PERIODICAL · FL · 100% owned · controlled entity

    Directly controlled by TIMES PUBLISHING CO

  • TAMPA BAY NEWSPAPERS INC

    C CORP · NEWSPAPERS · FL · 100% owned · controlled entity

    Directly controlled by TIMES HOLDING CO

  • TIMES MEDIA SERVICES INC

    C CORP · PERIODICAL · FL · 100% owned · controlled entity

    Directly controlled by TIMES HOLDING CO

  • TIMES MEDIA GROUP LLC

    C CORP · MEDIA CO · FL · 100% owned · controlled entity

    Directly controlled by TIMES PUBLISHING CO

Provenance

Return type
form_990
Tax year
2024
Filed
29 October 2025
IRS schema version
2024v5.2
Source object
202523039349300822

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