Reporters Committee For Freedom Of The Press is located in Washington, DC. The organization was established in 1973. According to its NTEE Classification (R63) the organization is classified as: Censorship, Freedom of Speech & Press, under the broad grouping of Civil Rights, Social Action & Advocacy and related organizations. As of 12/2021, Reporters Committee For Freedom Of The Press employed 54 individuals. This organization is an independent organization and not affiliated with a larger national or regional group of organizations. Reporters Committee For Freedom Of The Press is a 501(c)(3) and as such, is described as a "Charitable or Religous organization or a private foundation" by the IRS.
For the year ending 12/2021, Reporters Committee For Freedom Of The Press generated $9.6m in total revenue. This organization has experienced exceptional growth, as over the past 7 years, it has increased revenue by an average of 31.4% each year . All expenses for the organization totaled $5.3m during the year ending 12/2021. While expenses have increased by 21.7% per year over the past 7 years. They've been increasing with an increasing level of total revenue. You can explore the organizations financials more deeply in the financial statements section below.
Form
990
Mission & Program ActivityExcerpts From the 990 Filing
TAX YEAR
2021
Describe the Organization's Mission:
Part 3 - Line 1
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.
Describe the Organization's Program Activity:
Part 3 - Line 4a
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. AS SUCH, 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.LITIGATION - THE COMMITTEE'S LITIGATION PRACTICE, WHICH INCLUDES ITS STAFF ATTORNEYS, 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 HAS A NETWORK OF LAWYERS AROUND THE COUNTRY WHO, FROM TIME TO TIME, SERVE AS LOCAL COUNSEL ON AMICUS BRIEFS OR PARTNER WITH THE COMMITTEE IN OTHER WAYS.STARTING IN 2020, THE COMMITTEE EXPANDED ITS PROGRAM WITH LOCAL LEGAL INITIATIVE ATTORNEYS BASED IN FIVE STATES - COLORADO, OKLAHOMA, OREGON, PENNSYLVANIA AND TENNESSEE - TO HELP LOCAL JOURNALISTS AND NEWS ORGANIZATIONS DEFEND THEIR RIGHTS TO GATHER AND REPORT THE NEWS, GAIN ACCESS TO PUBLIC RECORDS AND COURT PROCEEDINGS, AND HOLD STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AND OFFICIALS ACCOUNTABLE. THE STATES WERE SELECTED FROM MORE THAN 45 SUBMISSIONS THE COMMITTEE RECEIVED FROM OVER 30 STATES, REGIONS AND TERRITORIES NATIONWIDE AS PART OF A PROPOSAL PROCESS CONDUCTED IN 2019.
Name (title) | Role | Hours | Compensation |
---|---|---|---|
Bruce Brown Executive Director | Officer | 40 | $218,311 |
Katielynn Townsend Litigation Director | 40 | $181,653 | |
Gabriel Rottman Dir., Press Freedom & Tech Project | 40 | $145,093 | |
Kirsten Poole Operations Director | 40 | $135,167 | |
Jennifer Pelton Development Director | 40 | $133,897 | |
Jennifer Topper Communications Director | 40 | $119,438 |
Vendor Name (Service) | Service Year | Compensation |
---|---|---|
Situation Marketing Llc Marketing | 12/30/21 | $173,290 |
Community Counseling Service Co Llc Fundraising Campaign Consulting | 12/30/21 | $105,000 |
Statement of Revenue | |
---|---|
Federated campaigns | $0 |
Membership dues | $0 |
Fundraising events | $0 |
Related organizations | $0 |
Government grants | $1,017,405 |
All other contributions, gifts, grants, and similar amounts not included above | $4,218,724 |
Noncash contributions included in lines 1a–1f | $0 |
Total Revenue from Contributions, Gifts, Grants & Similar | $5,236,129 |
Total Program Service Revenue | $73,413 |
Investment income | $386,406 |
Tax Exempt Bond Proceeds | $0 |
Royalties | $0 |
Net Rental Income | $0 |
Net Gain/Loss on Asset Sales | $3,934,621 |
Net Income from Fundraising Events | $0 |
Net Income from Gaming Activities | $0 |
Net Income from Sales of Inventory | $0 |
Miscellaneous Revenue | $0 |
Total Revenue | $9,631,208 |
Statement of Expenses | |
---|---|
Grants and other assistance to domestic organizations and domestic governments. | $0 |
Grants and other assistance to domestic individuals. | $0 |
Grants and other assistance to Foreign Orgs/Individuals | $0 |
Benefits paid to or for members | $0 |
Compensation of current officers, directors, key employees. | $237,407 |
Compensation of current officers, directors, key employees. | $38,986 |
Compensation to disqualified persons | $0 |
Other salaries and wages | $2,955,844 |
Pension plan accruals and contributions | $140,626 |
Other employee benefits | $248,193 |
Payroll taxes | $260,948 |
Fees for services: Management | $0 |
Fees for services: Legal | $49,686 |
Fees for services: Accounting | $19,000 |
Fees for services: Lobbying | $0 |
Fees for services: Fundraising | $195,000 |
Fees for services: Investment Management | $58,561 |
Fees for services: Other | $384,827 |
Advertising and promotion | $11,266 |
Office expenses | $78,144 |
Information technology | $35,166 |
Royalties | $0 |
Occupancy | $317,307 |
Travel | $27,298 |
Payments of travel or entertainment expenses for any federal, state, or local public officials | $0 |
Conferences, conventions, and meetings | $0 |
Interest | $0 |
Payments to affiliates | $0 |
Depreciation, depletion, and amortization | $80,103 |
Insurance | $15,304 |
All other expenses | $0 |
Total functional expenses | $5,259,115 |
Balance Sheet | |
---|---|
Cash—non-interest-bearing | $481,649 |
Savings and temporary cash investments | $925,367 |
Pledges and grants receivable | $0 |
Accounts receivable, net | $1,082,397 |
Loans from Officers, Directors, or Controlling Persons | $0 |
Loans from Disqualified Persons | $0 |
Notes and loans receivable | $0 |
Inventories for sale or use | $0 |
Prepaid expenses and deferred charges | $108,580 |
Net Land, buildings, and equipment | $465,856 |
Investments—publicly traded securities | $16,014,042 |
Investments—other securities | $0 |
Investments—program-related | $0 |
Intangible assets | $0 |
Other assets | $36,595 |
Total assets | $19,114,486 |
Accounts payable and accrued expenses | $200,809 |
Grants payable | $0 |
Deferred revenue | $40,000 |
Tax-exempt bond liabilities | $0 |
Escrow or custodial account liability | $0 |
Loans and other payables to any current Officer, Director, or Controlling Person | $0 |
Secured mortgages and notes payable | $0 |
Unsecured mortgages and notes payable | $0 |
Other liabilities | $617,408 |
Total liabilities | $858,217 |
Net assets without donor restrictions | $9,427,080 |
Net assets with donor restrictions | $8,829,189 |
Capital stock or trust principal, or current funds | $0 |
Paid-in or capital surplus, or land, building, or equipment fund | $0 |
Retained earnings, endowment, accumulated income, or other funds | $0 |
Total liabilities and net assets/fund balances | $19,114,486 |
Over the last fiscal year, we have identified 3 grants that Reporters Committee For Freedom Of The Press has recieved totaling $40,300.
Awarding Organization | Amount |
---|---|
Gates Family Foundation Denver, CO PURPOSE: PROJECT SUPPORT | $25,000 |
Charles E And Mary Eleizabeth Scripps Foundation Inc Ft Mitchell, KY PURPOSE: CAPITAL CAMPAIGN | $15,000 |
Gannett Foundations Inc Mclean, VA PURPOSE: CHARITABLE PURPOSE | $300 |
Beg. Balance | $7,323,488 |
Earnings | $3,367,731 |
Admin Expense | $4,843 |
Net Contributions | $1,213,739 |
Other Expense | $1,848,349 |
Ending Balance | $10,051,766 |
Organization Name | Assets | Revenue |
---|---|---|
Reporters Committee For Freedom Of The Press Washington, DC | $19,114,486 | $9,631,208 |
Speech First Inc Washington, DC | $350,578 | $2,272,281 |
National Student Legal Defense Network Washington, DC | $1,060,410 | $1,946,982 |
Rutherford Institute Charlottesville, VA | $531,980 | $984,354 |
America Inc Reston, VA | $2,142,837 | $788,242 |
Reporters Without Borders Incorporated Washington, DC | $939,713 | $785,912 |
Center For Digital Democracy Washington, DC | $886,439 | $529,672 |
Broadband For America Washington, DC | $0 | $283,820 |
The Jefferson Council Richmond, VA | $456,162 | $557,044 |
Lede Progress Washington, DC | $17,917 | $0 |