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← FREE PRESS ACTION FUND

Form 990 for tax year 2024

Filed by FREE PRESS ACTION FUND.

Totals

Total revenue
$470,620
Total expenses
$766,570
Contributions and grants received
$449,566
Grants paid
$0
Program service revenue
$0
Investment income
$21,054
Other revenue
$0
Total assets, end of year
$1,154,697
Total liabilities, end of year
$212,920
Net assets or fund balances, end of year
$941,777
Program services expenses (Part IX)
$550,288
Management and general expenses
$59,476
Fundraising expenses
$156,806
Program service expenses (Part III)
$550,288

Program services were 71.8% 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

    $83,737

  • 1f · All other contributions, gifts and grants

    $365,829

  • 3 · Investment income

    total $21,054 · excluded $21,054

Functional expenses

Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.

  • 5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees

    total $50,197 · program services $21,943 · management and general $15,166 · fundraising $13,088

  • 7 · Other salaries and wages

    total $371,677 · program services $280,999 · management and general $13,954 · fundraising $76,724

  • 8 · Pension plan contributions

    total $16,077 · program services $12,251 · management and general $527 · fundraising $3,299

  • 9 · Other employee benefits

    total $54,769 · program services $39,143 · management and general $3,779 · fundraising $11,847

  • 10 · Payroll taxes

    total $25,398 · program services $18,776 · management and general $1,352 · fundraising $5,270

  • 11b · Fees: legal

    total $802 · program services $579 · management and general $223

  • 11c · Fees: accounting

    total $11,330 · management and general $11,330

  • 11g · Fees: other

    total $127,820 · program services $98,435 · management and general $7,175 · fundraising $22,210

  • 12 · Advertising and promotion

    total $10,652 · program services $9,272 · management and general $283 · fundraising $1,097

  • 13 · Office expenses

    total $12,713 · program services $1,210 · management and general $1,195 · fundraising $10,308

  • 14 · Information technology

    total $61,907 · program services $51,137 · management and general $2,676 · fundraising $8,094

  • 16 · Occupancy

    total $17,162 · program services $13,784 · management and general -$674 · fundraising $4,052

  • 17 · Travel

    total $62 · program services $45 · management and general $5 · fundraising $12

  • 19 · Conferences, conventions and meetings

    total $25 · program services $19 · management and general $5 · fundraising $1

  • 23 · Insurance

    total $2,624 · program services $287 · management and general $2,252 · fundraising $85

  • 24a · Other expenses: PROF DEV & TRAINING

    total $1,701 · program services $1,223 · management and general $120 · fundraising $358

  • 24b · Other expenses: SUBSCRIPTIONS

    total $1,654 · program services $1,185 · management and general $108 · fundraising $361

Balance sheet

Part X, book values.

  • 1 · Cash, non-interest-bearing

    beginning of year $154,808 · end of year $17,173

  • 2 · Savings and temporary cash investments

    beginning of year $523,912 · end of year $609,025

  • 4 · Accounts receivable

    beginning of year $650,000 · end of year $325,000

  • 9 · Prepaid expenses and deferred charges

    beginning of year $1,563 · end of year $1,610

  • 15 · Other assets

    beginning of year $228,203 · end of year $201,889

  • 17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses

    beginning of year $258,907 · end of year $180,775

  • 25 · Other liabilities

    beginning of year $61,852 · end of year $32,145

  • 27 · Net assets without donor restrictions

    beginning of year $1,227,727 · end of year $941,777

  • 28 · Net assets with donor restrictions

    beginning of year $10,000 · end of year $0

Mission and programs · 2024

Mission

FREE PRESS ACTION FUND FIGHTS FOR YOUR RIGHTS TO CONNECT AND COMMUNICATE. WE FIGHT TO SAVE THE FREE AND OPEN INTERNET, CURB RUNAWAY MEDIA CONSOLIDATION, PROTECT PRESS FREEDOM, AND PROMOTE DIGITAL CIVIL RIGHTS. WE BELIEVE THAT CHANGE HAPPENS WHEN PEOPLE HAVE A REAL VOICE IN THE POLITICAL PROCESS. TO THAT END, WE MOBILIZE OUR GROWING BASE OF ACTIVISTS TO SIGN PETITIONS, MEET WITH THEIR ELECTED OFFICIALS, AND ATTEND RALLIES AND TOWN-HALL MEETINGS, TO LOBBY IN SUPPORT OF POLICIES THAT SERVE THEIR INTERESTS AND AGAINST THOSE THAT DON'T. WE ARE ACTIVE IN ALL EFFORTS TO EXPOSE THE IMPACT OF PUBLIC POLICY ON THE MOST VULNERABLE AMONG US, INCLUDING PEOPLE OF COLOR AND LOW INCOME COMMUNITIES.

Activities or mission (Part I)

FREE PRESS ACTION FUND IS A NATIONAL, NONPARTISAN ORGANIZATION WORKING TO REFORM THE MEDIA. FREE PRESS ACTION FUND EDUCATES ITS MEMBERS AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC ON HOW A DIVERSE AND PUBLIC SERVICE-ORIENTED MEDIA SYSTEM CAN STRENGTHEN AMERICAN DEMOCRACY.

  • FUTURE OF THE INTERNET: CONTINUED WORK ON AVAILABILITY, ACCESS AND AFFORDABILITY OF BROADBAND INTERNET NATIONWIDE. LAUDED BI-PARTISAN LEGISLATION TO APPROPRIATE FISCAL-YEAR 2024 FUNDING FOR THE AFFORDABLE CONNECTIVITY PROGRAM (ACP), A BROADBAND-ACCESS SUBSIDY CREATED AS PART OF THE 2021 BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE PACKAGE, WITH MORE THAN 22 MILLION HOUSEHOLDS ENROLLED. HELPED MOBILIZE A COALITION OF 271 CIVIL-SOCIETY GROUPS AND LOCAL, STATE AND TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS TO EXPRESS THEIR SUPPORT FOR THE BILL. CONTINUED TO EXPOSE THE CONSEQUENCES TO MILLIONS OF PEOPLE LACKING ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE BROADBAND SERVICES, WHEN ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE, SCHOOLING, WORK AND SO MUCH MORE DEPENDS ON A RELIABLE CONNECTION. SUPPORTED THE REINTRODUCTION OF THE UTILITY JUSTICE HUMAN RIGHTS RESOLUTION, WHICH DECLARES THAT ACCESS TO BROADBAND, WATER, POWER, HEATING AND COOLING ARE HUMAN RIGHTS.

    Expenses $249,255

  • DEMOCRACY AND DIGITAL CIVIL RIGHTS: CONTINUED HIGHLIGHTING THE ROLE OF SOCIAL MEDIA COMPANIES IN THE PERPETUATION OF HOAXES, DISINFORMATION, AND HATE SPEECH AND THE IMPACT TO SOCIETY AND ESPECIALLY TO MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES, WOMEN, AND PEOPLE OF COLOR. URGED CONGRESSIONAL ACTION TO RESTRICT DATA BROKERS' SALE OF OUR PERSONAL DATA, INCLUDING TO FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS. LOBBIED FOR PASSAGE OF THE FOURTH AMENDMENT IS NOT FOR SALE ACT, WHICH WOULD PREVENT LAW ENFORCEMENT AND INTELLIGENCE AGENCIES FROM OBTAINING SUBSCRIBER OR CUSTOMER RECORDS IN EXCHANGE FOR ANYTHING OF VALUE, TO ADDRESS COMMUNICATIONS AND RECORDS IN THE POSSESSION OF INTERMEDIARY INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDERS. ORGANIZED A CAPITOL HILL BRIEFING TO HIGHLIGHT THE CRISIS OF ELECTION DISINFORMATION IN NON-ENGLISH LANGUAGES AND TO ISSUE AN URGENT CALL FOR SOCIAL-MEDIA PLATFORMS TO BEEF UP CONTENT MODERATION ACROSS ALL LANGUAGES. LEAD OPPOSITION TO THE STOP TERROR-FINANCING AND TAX PENALTIES ON AMERICAN HOSTAGES ACT, A BILL WHOSE MISLEADING NAME CLOAKED ITS TRUE INTENTION: UNDERMINING FREE SPEECH AND CRUSHING DISSENT. OPPOSED CONTROVERSIAL SURVEILLANCE POWERS UNDER SECTION 702 OF THE FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE SURVEILLANCE ACT. CONTINUED TO ASSERT THAT INSTEAD OF BANNING TIKTOK, LAWMAKERS SHOULD PASS A COMPREHENSIVE FEDERAL PRIVACY LAW THAT LIMITS HOW ALL OF THESE COMPANIES COLLECT, STORE, ANALYZE AND SELL OUR PERSONAL DATA. JOINED AN AMICUS BRIEF ARGUING THAT THE TIKTOK BAN VIOLATES THE FIRST AMENDMENT BY RESTRICTING AMERICANS' RIGHT TO ACCESS INFORMATION AND MEDIA FROM ABROAD.

    Expenses $177,477

  • FUTURE OF JOURNALISM: CONTINUED TO WORK IN AND WITH COMMUNITIES SO PEOPLE HAVE A STRONG VOICE IN HOW LOCAL NEWS CAN BE REVIVED, STRENGTHENED AND TRANSFORMED. PROMOTED POLICIES THAT WILL BOOST MEDIA OWNERSHIP AMONG WOMEN AND PEOPLE OF COLOR AND CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR LOCAL MEDIA OWNERS WHO ARE COMMITTED TO ACTUALLY SERVING THEIR COMMUNITIES. DEFENDED A FREE PRESS AND URGED PROTECTIONS FOR JOURNALISTS. OPPOSED PASSAGE OF THE CALIFORNIA JOURNALISM PRESERVATION ACT WHICH WOULD HAVE REWARDED THE MEDIA CONGLOMERATES AND HEDGE FUNDS THAT HAVE DESTROYED LOCAL NEWS AND MADE IT HARDER FOR SMALL COMMUNITY-CENTERED NEWSROOMS TO SURVIVE. EXPANDED JOURNALISM POLICY WORK TO THE GREAT LAKES REGION, WITH AN INITIAL FOCUS ON ILLINOIS AND WISCONSIN. ADVOCATED FOR LEGISLATION THAT WOULD SUPPORT EXISTING NEWS OUTLETS, SUSTAIN REPORTING JOBS AND INVEST IN THE FUTURE OF MEDIA ACROSS MULTIPLE LOCATIONS. TESTIFIED BEFORE A HOUSE COMMITTEE ABOUT THE NEED TO SAFEGUARD PUBLIC MEDIA AND REJECT REPEATED EFFORTS TO DEFUND IT. DEFUNDING THREATS DON'T JUST HARM NPR EXECUTIVES, THEY ENDANGER THE WORK OF MORE THAN 1,000 LOCAL RADIO STATIONS PROVIDING ESSENTIAL INFORMATION TO COMMUNITIES LARGE AND SMALL.

    Expenses $123,556

  • FREE PRESS ACTION FUND CONDUCTS EDUCATION, ORGANIZING AND MOBILIZING EFFORTS TO SUPPORT OUR MEMBERS TO ADVOCATE FOR BETTER MEDIA, OPEN TECHNOLOGY AND A HEALTHIER DEMOCRACY. AREAS OF FOCUS INCLUDE NETWORK NEUTRALITY, AFFORDABLE CONNECTIONS, ONLINE PRIVACY, CORPORATE AND GOVERNMENT SURVEILLANCE, JOURNALISM, LOCAL NEWS AND CIVIC INFORMATION, PUBLIC MEDIA, MEDIA CONSOLIDATION AND MEDIA DIVERSITY, AND GOVERNMENT TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY. IN 2024 FREE PRESS ACTION CONTINUED TO BUILD A STRONG CITIZEN MOVEMENT FOR BETTER MEDIA IN THE U.S BY PROVIDING EDUCATION, RESOURCES AND NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR MEMBERS. OUR MEMBERS ACTED MORE THAN 98,000 TIMES TO SIGN PETITIONS AND MAKE PHONE CALLS TO THEIR LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL ELECTED LEADERS. FREE PRESS ACTION FILED PUBLIC COMMENTS, PARTICIPATED IN SEVERAL FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION AND FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION PROCEEDINGS AND PUBLISHED RECOMMENDED POLICIES RELATED TO INTERNET, JOURNALISM, PUBLIC MEDIA AND DISINFORMATION. WE GARNERED MORE THAN 600 PRESS HITS IN OUTLETS INCLUDING THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, THE GUARDIAN, LA OPININ, MOTHER JONES, THE NEW YORK TIMES, THE NEW YORKER, NBC NEWS, NPR AND THE WASHINGTON POST. WE SECURED FINANCIAL SUPPORT FROM 1,508 UNIQUE DONORS. TOTAL PROGRAM EXPENDITURES ARE DETAILED IN THE THREE CORE PROGRAM AREAS ABOVE:

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

Listed in Part VII

  • CRAG AARON

    CO-CEO

    Total calculated
    $229,987
    From this org
    $15,984
    From related orgs
    $183,810
    Other
    $30,193
    Hours/week
    4 + 36 related

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $15,984 + $183,810 related
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $835 + $9,598 related
    Nontaxable benefits
    $1,580 + $18,180 related
    Filer's total
    $18,399 + $211,588 related

  • VANESSA CARDENAS

    DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1 + 1 related

  • OLGA DAVIDSON

    DIRECTOR, SECRETARY (THROUGH 12/24)

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1 + 1 related

  • BRANDI COLLINS DEXTER

    DIRECTOR, TREASURER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1 + 1 related

  • VICTOR PICKARD

    DIRECTOR, CHAIR

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1 + 1 related

  • HENRY FERNANDEZ

    DIRECTOR (EFF. 12/24)

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1 + 1 related

  • JOAN DONOVAN

    DIRECTOR (THROUGH 12/24)

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1 + 1 related

  • MARTHA FUENTES-BAUTISTA

    DIRECTOR, SECRETARY (EFF 12/24)

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1 + 1 related

  • KIMBERLY LONGEY

    CFO/COO, ASST TREASURER/SECRET

    Total calculated
    $215,540
    From this org
    $14,284
    From related orgs
    $189,778
    Other
    $11,478
    Hours/week
    6 + 34 related

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $14,284 + $189,778 related
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $715 + $9,502 related
    Nontaxable benefits
    $88 + $1,173 related
    Filer's total
    $15,087 + $200,453 related

  • JESSICA GONZALEZ

    CO-CEO

    Total calculated
    $208,866
    From this org
    $15,803
    From related orgs
    $181,736
    Other
    $11,327
    Hours/week
    4 + 36 related

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $15,803 + $181,736 related
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $805 + $9,261 related
    Nontaxable benefits
    $101 + $1,160 related
    Filer's total
    $16,709 + $192,157 related

  • MATHEW WOOD

    VICE PRESIDENT

    Total calculated
    $202,931
    From this org
    $26,078
    From related orgs
    $147,775
    Other
    $29,078
    Hours/week
    6 + 34 related

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $26,078 + $147,775 related
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $1,398 + $7,919 related
    Nontaxable benefits
    $2,964 + $16,797 related
    Filer's total
    $30,440 + $172,491 related

  • MISTY PEREZ TRUEDSON

    CHIEF OF STAFF

    Total calculated
    $202,404
    From this org
    $0
    From related orgs
    $173,508
    Other
    $28,896
    Hours/week
    0 + 40 related

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $0 + $173,508 related
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $0 + $9,135 related
    Nontaxable benefits
    $0 + $19,761 related
    Filer's total
    $0 + $202,404 related

  • CANDACE CLEMENT

    MANAGING DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $169,448
    From this org
    $21,296
    From related orgs
    $120,676
    Other
    $27,476
    Hours/week
    2 + 38 related

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $21,296 + $120,676 related
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $1,157 + $6,558 related
    Nontaxable benefits
    $2,964 + $16,797 related
    Filer's total
    $25,417 + $144,031 related

  • DEREK TURNER

    SENIOR ADVISOR, ECONOMIC AND POLICY ANALYSIS

    Total calculated
    $149,961
    From this org
    $0
    From related orgs
    $141,662
    Other
    $8,299
    Hours/week
    0 + 40 related

  • NORA BENAVIDEZ

    SENIOR COUNSEL AND DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $148,030
    From this org
    $0
    From related orgs
    $139,587
    Other
    $8,443
    Hours/week
    0 + 40 related

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

The filer's explanations (Part III)

PART I, LINE 3
EACH POSITION AT FREE PRESS (A RELATED ORGANIZATION) HAS A PAY RANGE. RANGES ARE DETERMINED AFTER REVIEW OF COMPARABILITY DATA, INCLUDING COMPENSATION INFORMATION RECEIVED DIRECTLY FROM PEER ORGANIZATIONS, COMPENSATION DATA FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PAY SCALE, AND RESEARCH ON NON-PROFIT COMPENSATION CONDUCTED BY GUIDESTAR, REGIONAL EMPLOYER ASSOCIATIONS, AND JOB POSTINGS. MANAGEMENT INCLUDES COMPENSATION DATA FOR ALL STAFF, INCLUDING THE CO-CEOS AND KEY EMPLOYEES, IN THE ANNUAL BUDGET THAT IS REVIEWED AND APPROVED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS IN ADVANCE OF EACH FISCAL YEAR. A DETAILED MEMO OUTLINING THE ORGANIZATION'S VALUES AROUND COMPENSATION, THE HIGHEST AND LOWEST PAID EMPLOYEE AND HOW COMPENSATION CHANGES WITHIN ANY FISCAL YEAR IS PROVIDED ALONG WITH THE BUDGET. THE BOARD APPROVES THE BUDGET IN ADVANCE OF EACH FISCAL YEAR. COMPENSATION CHANGES DURING ANY FISCAL YEAR ARE AT THE DISCRETION OF MANAGEMENT, AND MUST REMAIN WITHIN THE BOARD APPROVED BUDGET. MID-YEAR CHANGES TO THE CEO'S COMPENSATION, IF ANY, MUST BE REVIEWED AND APPROVED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.

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.

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.

  • FREE PRESS

    501(C)(3) · RESEARCH AND EDUCATION ON MEDIA REFORM · DC

Provenance

Return type
form_990
Tax year
2024
Filed
8 May 2025
IRS schema version
2024v5.1
Source object
202531289349301118

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