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Media Research Center
Media Research Center reported $14.6 million in revenue and $12.9 million in expenses for calendar year 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $80.26 went to program services, $11.41 to management and general costs and $8.33 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 81.6% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $369,909 (Chief Operating Officer). 7 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 28% between 2019 and 2025. Source: Form 990, 2025.
Where $100 of spending went
Calendar year 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $13MFor 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 $15MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | 2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 80.3% | 78.5% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 11.4% | 13.6% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 8.3% | 6.0% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.09 | $0.10 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 81.6% | 57.5% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 1.7% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 0.6% | 20.8% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $369,909 | $385,706 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 2.86% | 2.03% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 7 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 6.6 | 36.6 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 10 of 12 | 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 expenseNews Analysis Division - brings political balance to the nation's news media by documenting and countering liberal bias from television network news shows and major print publications. Newsbusters' news archives reached over 1,035,000 hours of programming, storing important historical references that are available to anyone upon request. There were 2,182 related stories, studies, and videos produced in 2025 with over 12 million video views and 222.1 million impressions online. Newsbusters was able to educate its 2.7 million Facebook followers, nearly 250k x followers and over 3.5 million…
MRC Free Speech America - a movement to stop big tech censorship of conservatives. There were 594 stories, studies, and videos used to educate the MRC Free Speech America audience in 2025. In addition, there were 5.5 million video views related to free speech content and 73.2 million impressions online. MRC Free Speech America was able to reach its 815k Facebook followers and nearly 123k x followers throughout the year
MRC Video - an online media platform designed to broadcast conservative values, culture, politics, liberal media bias, and entertainment to a new and diverse audience on a social media optimized sight. MRC Video educated the public with 168.4 million video views in 2025. This contributed to 504.3 million impressions online with 1.000 related stories, studies, and videos created. MRC Video was able to educate its 3.2 million Facebook followers and 97k followers on x throughout the year
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chief Operating Officer Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $314,882 | $0 | $55,027 | $369,909 |
| President Emeritus Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $297,250 | $0 | $20,741 | $317,991 |
| VP of Free Speech America Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $223,082 | $0 | $54,053 | $277,135 |
| VP & Chief Technology Officer Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $187,150 | $0 | $62,138 | $249,288 |
| Director of Major Gifts Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $222,990 | $0 | $6,986 | $229,976 |
| President/Director Director/trustee, officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $214,922 | $0 | $0 | $214,922 |
| VP of Research & Publications Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $189,554 | $0 | $22,502 | $212,056 |
| Secretary Director/trustee, officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $85,880 | $0 | $21,700 | $107,580 |
7 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Media Research Center (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $692K (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–1b12 · 10 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 4No
- 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 597
- Volunteers Part I, line 610
Largest outside contractors
2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| Snapstream Media Maintence for archive system | $260,617 |
| Print Mail Communications printing, postage, mailing services | $245,604 |
| Meta Inc Advertising | $219,082 |
| PMG Mailing services | $189,841 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 9 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
89 private foundations reported grants to Media Research Center totaling $3.4M 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 Media Research Center's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Media Research Center, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Media Research Center spent in 2025, $80.26 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Western New York Public Broadcasting AssociationBuffalo, NY · revenue $15M · programs 53.8% · FY2025
- Portland Museum of ArtPortland, ME · revenue $15M · programs 71.2% · FY2025
- Friends of Montana PBSBozeman, MT · revenue $15M · programs 75.1% · FY2025
- Seattle Repertory TheatreSeattle, WA · revenue $15M · programs 82.0% · FY2025
- Montpelier FoundationOrange, VA · revenue $14M · programs 78.5% · FY2025
All arts, culture & humanities charities · Largest charities in Virginia
Questions people ask
How much of Media Research Center's spending goes to programs?
In calendar year 2025, Media Research Center reported that 80.3% of its $12.9 million in expenses went to program services, 11.4% to management and general and 8.3% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Media Research Center pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Media Research Center reported for one person in calendar year 2025 was $369,909, for the role of Chief Operating Officer (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Media Research Center get its money?
Of $14.6 million in revenue in calendar year 2025, 81.6% came from contributions and grants and 0.6% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Media Research Center a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 54-1429009 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 202642549349300544 · read the filing
- 2024: Form 990 for calendar year 2024, object 202532599349300208 · read the filing
- 2023: Form 990 for calendar year 2023, object 202422749349300802 · read the filing
- 2022: Form 990 for calendar year 2022, object 202323199349302512 · read the filing
- 2021: Form 990 for calendar year 2021, object 202233069349300018 · read the filing
- 2020: Form 990 for calendar year 2020, object 202112919349301141 · read the filing
- 2019: Form 990 for calendar year 2019, object 202023149349301477 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 54-1429009: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.