Skip to content
Nonprofiteer
← THE 74 MEDIA INC

Form 990 for tax year 2024

Filed by THE 74 MEDIA INC.

Totals

Total revenue
$3,186,574
Total expenses
$4,191,025
Contributions and grants received
$3,014,757
Grants paid
$0
Program service revenue
$0
Investment income
$158,048
Other revenue
$13,769
Total assets, end of year
$8,364,765
Total liabilities, end of year
$2,267,028
Net assets or fund balances, end of year
$6,097,737
Program services expenses (Part IX)
$3,538,217
Management and general expenses
$543,715
Fundraising expenses
$109,093
Program service expenses (Part III)
$3,538,217

Program services were 84.4% 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.

  • 1f · All other contributions, gifts and grants

    $3,014,757

  • 1g · Noncash contributions included above

    $298,955

  • 3 · Investment income

    total $158,048 · excluded $158,048

  • 5 · Royalties

    total $13,469 · excluded $13,469

  • 11a · Other revenue: MISCELLANEOUS REVENUE

    total $300 · related or exempt $300

  • 11e · Other revenue, total

    $300

Functional expenses

Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.

  • 5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees

    total $283,885 · program services $244,141 · management and general $31,227 · fundraising $8,517

  • 6 · Compensation of disqualified persons

    total $146,624 · program services $126,097 · management and general $16,129 · fundraising $4,398

  • 7 · Other salaries and wages

    total $2,203,991 · program services $1,895,432 · management and general $242,439 · fundraising $66,120

  • 8 · Pension plan contributions

    total $55,318 · program services $47,573 · management and general $6,085 · fundraising $1,660

  • 9 · Other employee benefits

    total $383,002 · program services $329,382 · management and general $42,130 · fundraising $11,490

  • 10 · Payroll taxes

    total $207,265 · program services $178,248 · management and general $22,799 · fundraising $6,218

  • 11b · Fees: legal

    total $51,612 · program services $18,786 · management and general $31,659 · fundraising $1,167

  • 11c · Fees: accounting

    total $107,838 · program services $39,252 · management and general $66,148 · fundraising $2,438

  • 11g · Fees: other

    total $84,000 · program services $30,575 · management and general $51,526 · fundraising $1,899

  • 13 · Office expenses

    total $13,191 · program services $11,344 · management and general $1,451 · fundraising $396

  • 14 · Information technology

    total $23,107 · program services $23,107

  • 16 · Occupancy

    total $72,376 · program services $62,244 · management and general $7,961 · fundraising $2,171

  • 17 · Travel

    total $96,070 · program services $96,070

  • 22 · Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    total $4,396 · program services $220 · management and general $4,044 · fundraising $132

  • 23 · Insurance

    total $11,499 · program services $575 · management and general $10,579 · fundraising $345

  • 24a · Other expenses: SPECIAL PROJECTS

    total $373,742 · program services $373,742

  • 24b · Other expenses: DUES AND SUBSCRIPTIONS

    total $42,312 · program services $36,389 · management and general $4,654 · fundraising $1,269

  • 24c · Other expenses: SUPPLIES

    total $17,167 · program services $14,764 · management and general $1,888 · fundraising $515

  • 24d · Other expenses: PAYROLL EXPENSES

    total $10,321 · program services $8,876 · management and general $1,135 · fundraising $310

  • 24e · All other expenses

    total $3,309 · program services $1,400 · management and general $1,861 · fundraising $48

Balance sheet

Part X, book values.

  • 1 · Cash, non-interest-bearing

    beginning of year $3,164,481 · end of year $53,128

  • 2 · Savings and temporary cash investments

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $6,564,021

  • 3 · Pledges and grants receivable

    beginning of year $3,934,668 · end of year $1,693,251

  • 9 · Prepaid expenses and deferred charges

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $39,593

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

    $169,405

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

    $165,943

  • 10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net

    beginning of year $6,444 · end of year $3,462

  • 15 · Other assets

    beginning of year $11,310 · end of year $11,310

  • 17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses

    beginning of year $14,715 · end of year $28,709

  • 19 · Deferred revenue

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $2,238,319

  • 27 · Net assets without donor restrictions

    beginning of year $3,134,820 · end of year $4,079,487

  • 28 · Net assets with donor restrictions

    beginning of year $3,967,368 · end of year $2,018,250

Mission and programs · 2024

Mission

THE 74 IS A NON-PROFIT, NON-PARTISAN NEWS SITE COVERING EDUCATION IN AMERICA. WE BELIEVE OUR PUBLIC EDUCATION SYSTEM IS IN CRISIS. IN THE UNITED STATES, FEWER THAN HALF OUR STUDENTS CAN READ OR DO MATH AT GRADE-LEVEL, YET THE EDUCATION DEBATE IS DOMINATED BY MISINFORMATION.

Activities or mission (Part I)

THE 74 IS A NON-PROFIT NEWS SITE COVERING EDUCATION IN AMERICA.

  • STUDENT PROGRESS (AND STRUGGLES) AFTER COVID: NOW FOUR YEARS REMOVED FROM THE FIRST CLASSROOM CLOSURES CAUSED BY COVID, 2024 PROVED TO BE A PIVOTAL YEAR IN CONFRONTING STUDENT ABSENTEEISM AND DECLINING SCHOOL ENROLLMENT TRENDS AND COVERING THE RAPID EXPANSION OF INNOVATIVE SCHOOL MODELS, AS FAMILIES SOUGHT ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION OPTIONS. THE 74 WAS COMMITTED TO COVERING THIS SEA CHANGE IN THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM, FROM SHIFTING FAMILY PREFERENCES TO THE EMERGENCE OF A NEW WAVE OF EDUCATIONAL ENTREPRENEURS AND EMERGING STATE POLICIES THAT GAVE FAMILIES GREATER AUTONOMY IN PURSUING ALTERNATIVE EDUCATIONAL SETTINGS.

    Expenses $707,643

  • THE FUTURE OF COLLEGE AND CAREER: 2024 SAW CONTINUED DISRUPTIONS TO THE NATION'S COLLEGE PIPELINE AND A CORRESPONDING REASSESSMENT OF HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMAS. HOW SHOULD TODAY'S HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES BE PREPARED FOR BOTH COLLEGE AND CAREER TODAY? AND HOW SHOULD THE HIGH SCHOOL EXPERIENCE BE RECONCEIVED, TO BETTER PREPARE THE TEENS OF 2024 FOR THE FUTURE WORKFORCE? THE 74 DEDICATED SIGNIFICANT BANDWIDTH TO EXPLORING THESE QUESTIONS, BY CONTINUING OUR "FUTURE OF HIGH SCHOOL" SERIES THAT CAST A SPOTLIGHT ON THE MOST UNIQUE CAMPUSES ACROSS THE NATION. FROM WORKFORCE PREPAREDNESS TO BETTER SUPPORT FOR HIGH SCHOOL GRADS TRANSITIONING TO BOTH COMMUNITY COLLEGES AND FOUR-YEAR PROGRAMS, OUR JOURNALISTS COVERED THE CAMPUSES ON THE CUTTING EDGE OF A HIGH SCHOOL REVOLUTION.

    Expenses $530,732 · Revenue $300

  • EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY AND THE RISE OF AI TOOLS: WE DEEPENED OUR FEATURE REPORTING ABOUT THE CREATION OF CLASSROOM TOOLS TO AID BOTH TEACHERS IN THEIR JOBS AND STUDENTS IN THEIR LEARNING. AS WE PUT A SPOTLIGHT ON ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, WE ALSO PRIORITIZED COVERAGE OF HOW EDUCATORS ARE BEING BROUGHT INTO THE INNOVATIVE PROCESS AND CASE STUDIES OF HOW NEW TOOLS ARE BEING DEPLOYED (BOTH SUCCESSFULLY AND UNSUCCESSFULLY) IN THE CLASSROOM SETTING.

    Expenses $247,675

  • SCHOOL DATA SECURITY AND STUDENT PRIVACY: THE 74 CONTINUED ITS AWARD WINNING COVERAGE OF SCHOOL TECHNOLOGY AND CYBERSECURITY, INCLUDING ADDITIONAL COVERAGE OF CYBERATTACKS THAT RESULTED IN SIGNIFICANT DATA BREACHES AND THE LEAKING OF CONFIDENTIAL STUDENT DATA. AS SCHOOLS CONTINUE TO SERVE AS MAJOR TARGETS OF OPPORTUNITY FOR HACKERS, AND AS THE NUMBER OF SUCH DATA INCIDENTS SKYROCKETED OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS, THE 74 HAS TURNED A GREATER SHARE OF ITS ATTENTION TO FOCUSING ON HOW THESE ATTACKS IMPACT SCHOOL OPERATIONS, STUDENT DATA AND DISTRICT BUDGETS.

    Expenses $176,911

  • EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT: THE 74 MADE A STRATEGIC INVESTMENT IN EXPANDING OUR COVERAGE OF EARLY EDUCATION AND CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT ISSUES. IN THE SUMMER OF 2024, THE ORGANIZATION FORMALIZED A PARTNERSHIP WITH EARLY LEARNING NATION TO LAUNCH NEW COVERAGE OF CHILDREN AGED ZERO TO 5, AND TO FURTHER AMPLIFY EARLY LEARNING NATION'S ARCHIVE OF CONTENT TO OUR NATIONAL MAINSTREAM AUDIENCE. WE INTEND TO EXPAND THIS WORK FURTHER IN 2025.

    Expenses $176,911

  • OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES: EXPANDED THE SEARCH AND IMPACT OF THE 74 THROUGH A POWERFUL MIX OF EDITORIAL, VIDEO, AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES, LIVE EVENTS AND MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES.

    Expenses $1,698,345

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

Listed in Part VII

  • ROMY A DRUCKER

    PRESIDENT/DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.15

  • KEVIN SHAFER

    TREASURER/SECRETARY/DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.15

  • ANDY ROTHERHAM

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.15

  • CAMPBELL BROWN

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.15

  • STEVEN SNYDER

    CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

    Total calculated
    $283,885
    From this org
    $257,695
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $26,190
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $257,695
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $5,520
    Nontaxable benefits
    $20,670
    Filer's total
    $283,885

  • ANDREW BROWNSTEIN

    EXECUTIVE EDITOR

    Total calculated
    $148,889
    From this org
    $128,000
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $20,889
    Hours/week
    40

  • KATHLEEN MOORE O'CONNOR

    EXECUTIVE EDITOR

    Total calculated
    $160,380
    From this org
    $152,120
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $8,260
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $152,120
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $6,010
    Nontaxable benefits
    $2,250
    Filer's total
    $160,380

  • JOANNE WASSERMAN

    EXECUTIVE EDITOR

    Total calculated
    $153,791
    From this org
    $128,915
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $24,876
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $128,915
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $5,100
    Nontaxable benefits
    $19,776
    Filer's total
    $153,791

  • BEVERLY WEINTRAUB

    EXECUTIVE EDITOR

    Total calculated
    $177,179
    From this org
    $151,250
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $25,929
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $151,250
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $6,050
    Nontaxable benefits
    $19,879
    Filer's total
    $177,179

  • EMMELINE ZHAO

    CHIEF CREATIVE OFFICER

    Total calculated
    $221,524
    From this org
    $195,000
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $26,524
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $195,000
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $6,800
    Nontaxable benefits
    $19,724
    Filer's total
    $221,524

  • JAMES ROBERTS

    CONTRIBUTING EDITOR (FORMER OFFICER)

    Total calculated
    $146,624
    From this org
    $122,215
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $24,409
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $122,215
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $4,408
    Nontaxable benefits
    $20,001
    Filer's total
    $146,624

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
2024
Filed
24 October 2025
IRS schema version
2024v5.2
Source object
202503009349300700

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

The source document this was parsed from is served over the API, which is where bulk and document access live.