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Pro Publica
Pro Publica reported $74.8 million in revenue and $51.3 million in expenses for calendar year 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $79.75 went to program services, $12.53 to management and general costs and $7.72 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 95.1% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $536,582 (CO-CEO & EDITOR-IN-CHIEF). 165 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 91% between 2019 and 2025. Source: Form 990, 2025.
Where $100 of spending went
Calendar year 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $51MFor context, the median across 876 covered arts, culture & humanities charities: $79.98 programs, $13.89 management, $6.13 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
Calendar year 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $75MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | 2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 79.8% | 78.5% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 12.5% | 13.6% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 7.7% | 6.0% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.06 | $0.10 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 95.1% | 57.5% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 1.7% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 0.3% | 20.8% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $536,582 | $385,706 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 1.05% | 2.03% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 165 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 29.4 | 36.6 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 15 of 15 | 100.0% |
A median is context, not a target: hospitals, universities, food banks and grantmakers spend in very different ways. What these measures can and can't tell you.
What the money paid for, in its own words
2025 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseIn 2025, propublica produced deep-dive investigative reporting in the public interest across critical beats, including democracy and government oversight, voting and elections, healthcare, climate change and the environment, immigration, education, housing, racial justice, children and families and criminal justice. Our investigations uncovered abuses of power and systemic failures and led to meaningful impact - including the passage of new laws, reversals of harmful policies and practices, and accountability for leaders and institutions. [see continuation on schedule o]propublica was awarded…
Highest reported compensation
2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section A · roles as filed; names are in the filing, not here| Role | From this org | From related orgs | Other | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CO-CEO & EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $478,858 | $0 | $57,724 | $536,582 |
| CO-CEO & TREASURER Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $462,111 | $0 | $56,644 | $518,755 |
| DEVELOPMENT OFFICER & SECRETARY Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $370,026 | $0 | $18,860 | $388,886 |
| MANAGING EDITOR, LOCAL Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $330,692 | $0 | $57,341 | $388,033 |
| MANAGING EDITOR Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $324,498 | $0 | $40,202 | $364,700 |
| FINANCIAL & ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $285,904 | $0 | $59,636 | $345,540 |
| MANAGING EDITOR Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $307,034 | $0 | $31,073 | $338,107 |
| GENERAL COUNSEL Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $266,561 | $0 | $48,878 | $315,439 |
165 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Pro Publica (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $2.4M (Part IX, line 5).
7 years of filings
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
2025 · the organization's own yes/no answers; explanations, if any, are in Schedule O of the filing · what each means- Voting board members, and how many are independent Part VI, lines 1a–1b15 · 15 independent
- Audited financial statements Part XII 2bYes
- Conflict-of-interest policy Part VI 12aYes
- Whistleblower policy Part VI 13Yes
- Document retention policy Part VI 14Yes
- Independent process for top executive pay Part VI 15aYes
- Board given the 990 before filing Part VI 11aYes
- Family or business ties among insiders Part VI 2No
- Aware of a significant diversion of assets Part VI 5No
- Excess benefit transaction with an insider Part IV 25aNo
- Loans to or from insiders outstanding Part IV 26No
- Lobbying, or a 501(h) election in effect Part IV 4Yes
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18Yes
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bNo
- Employees Part I, line 5258
- Volunteers Part I, line 615
Largest outside contractors
2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| ALLEY INTERACTIVE Data consulting | $336,400 |
| COMMUNITY COUNSELLING SERVICE CO LLC Fundraising consulting | $241,200 |
| AMAZON WEB SERVICES Website hosting services | $227,974 |
| KAUFF MCGUIRE & MARGOLIS LLP Legal consulting | $177,533 |
| DANILLER & COMPANY Fundraising consulting and design | $168,210 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 10 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
219 private foundations reported grants to Pro Publica totaling $24M on their tax year 2023 Form 990-PF returns. See which foundations, on WHOFUNDS.
Source: WHOFUNDS open grant graph, matched from Form 990-PF Part XV.
Correct a figure or respond
Every number above is copied from Pro Publica's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Pro Publica, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
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Of every $100 Pro Publica spent in 2025, $79.75 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Navy PierChicago, IL · revenue $75M · programs 90.4% · 2024
- Academy FoundationBeverly Hills, CA · revenue $76M · programs 98.7% · FY2025
- Royal Ontario MuseumCanada, · revenue $75M · programs 57.7% · FY2025
- Museum of Flight FoundationSeattle, WA · revenue $76M · programs 79.0% · 2024
- New Jersey Performing Arts Center CorporationNewark, NJ · revenue $74M · programs 85.9% · FY2025
All arts, culture & humanities charities · Largest charities in New York
Questions people ask
How much of Pro Publica's spending goes to programs?
In calendar year 2025, Pro Publica reported that 79.8% of its $51.3 million in expenses went to program services, 12.5% to management and general and 7.7% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Pro Publica pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Pro Publica reported for one person in calendar year 2025 was $536,582, for the role of CO-CEO & EDITOR-IN-CHIEF (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Pro Publica get its money?
Of $74.8 million in revenue in calendar year 2025, 95.1% came from contributions and grants and 0.3% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Pro Publica a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 14-2007220 as a 501(c)(3) organization (publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(a)(vi))), and its records show contributions as tax-deductible. Form 990 filings on record here cover tax years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- 2025: Form 990 for calendar year 2025, object 202642669349301029 · read the filing
- 2024: Form 990 for calendar year 2024, object 202523189349307912 · read the filing
- 2023: Form 990 for calendar year 2023, object 202412699349300726 · read the filing
- 2022: Form 990 for calendar year 2022, object 202312619349301136 · read the filing
- 2021: Form 990 for calendar year 2021, object 202242699349300499 · read the filing
- 2020: Form 990 for calendar year 2020, object 202102379349300020 · read the filing
- 2019: Form 990 for calendar year 2019, object 202042889349300439 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 14-2007220: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.