The Poynter Institute for Media Studies
The Poynter Institute for Media Studies reported $18.6 million in revenue and $18.5 million in expenses for calendar year 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $88.95 went to program services, $9.64 to management and general costs and $1.41 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 56.6% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $410,668 (Trustee). 8 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 25% between 2019 and 2025. Source: Form 990, 2025.
Where $100 of spending went
Calendar year 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $19MFor context, the median across 5,499 covered education charities: $85.56 programs, $13.59 management, $0.85 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 $19MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | 2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 89.0% | 84.4% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 9.6% | 13.4% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 1.4% | 0.8% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.02 | $0.04 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 56.6% | 19.1% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 0.1% | 1.1% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 37.0% | 69.9% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $410,668 | $331,578 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 2.21% | 1.28% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 33.0 | 13.3 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 6 of 10 | 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 expensePoynter provides in-depth, non-partisan fact-checking both with guidelines and governance for fact-checkers worldwide. The international fact-checking network (ifcn) is a unit of the Poynter Institute dedicated to bringing together fact-checkers wordlwide. The ifcn was launched in september 2015 to support fact-checking initiatives by promoting best practices and exchanges in this field. In addition to supporting a code of principles with over 170 organizations participating in the verification process for fact-checkers worldwide, the ifcn also provides global training and summits to improve…
The Poynter Institute in st.petersburg,fl, is a school dedicated to the belief that the practice of excellent journalism is essential to a successful democracy. Poynter employs a full-time faculty and staff, as well as numberous adjunct teachers to reach its principal audiences of professional and nonprofessional jouralists, media leaders and content creators. In addition, the institute offers reporting and programs for citizens interested in learning more about journalism and its impact on society
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trustee Director/trustee, 1.00 hrs/week | $0 | $409,428 | $1,240 | $410,668 |
| President Director/trustee, officer, 37.50 hrs/week | $361,783 | $0 | $22,471 | $384,254 |
| COO & CFO Director/trustee, officer, 37.50 hrs/week | $234,622 | $0 | $26,818 | $261,440 |
| SENIOR VP Director/trustee, officer, 37.50 hrs/week | $208,625 | $0 | $18,652 | $227,277 |
| VP TEACHING & ORGN Listed in Part VII, 37.50 hrs/week | $218,860 | $0 | $3,520 | $222,380 |
| VP SALES & STRATEG Listed in Part VII, 37.50 hrs/week | $178,285 | $0 | $3,118 | $181,403 |
| CHIEF DEVLOP OFCR Listed in Part VII, 37.50 hrs/week | $170,781 | $0 | $2,877 | $173,658 |
| DIRECTOR OF IFCN Listed in Part VII, 37.50 hrs/week | $142,981 | $0 | $20,403 | $163,384 |
8 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from The Poynter Institute for Media Studies (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $1.8M (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–1b10 · 6 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 26Yes
- Lobbying, or a 501(h) election in effect Part IV 4No
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18No
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bYes
- Employees Part I, line 586
- Volunteers Part I, line 64
Largest outside contractors
2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| GREAT PLAINS STRATEGIES Professional services | $218,787 |
| SCARLETT INK & ASSOCIATES Contracted program manag | $148,077 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 4 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
15 private foundations reported grants to The Poynter Institute for Media Studies totaling $1.2M 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 The Poynter Institute for Media Studies's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for The Poynter Institute for Media Studies, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 The Poynter Institute for Media Studies spent in 2025, $88.95 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Aspen Public SchoolsFresno, CA · revenue $19M · programs 90.2% · FY2025
- Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe UniversityHayward, WI · revenue $19M · programs 69.2% · FY2025
- Kansas State University Veterinary Clinical OutreachManhattan, KS · revenue $19M · programs 93.5% · FY2025
- Robotics Education & Competition FoundationGreenville, TX · revenue $19M · programs 91.5% · FY2025
- Dedham Country Day SchoolDedham, MA · revenue $19M · programs 75.5% · FY2025
Questions people ask
How much of The Poynter Institute for Media Studies's spending goes to programs?
In calendar year 2025, The Poynter Institute for Media Studies reported that 89.0% of its $18.5 million in expenses went to program services, 9.6% to management and general and 1.4% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does The Poynter Institute for Media Studies pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation The Poynter Institute for Media Studies reported for one person in calendar year 2025 was $410,668, for the role of Trustee (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does The Poynter Institute for Media Studies get its money?
Of $18.6 million in revenue in calendar year 2025, 56.6% came from contributions and grants (including 0.1% from government grants) and 37.0% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is The Poynter Institute for Media Studies a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 59-1630423 as a 501(c)(3) organization (school), 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 202642619349301009 · read the filing
- 2024: Form 990 for calendar year 2024, object 202523039349300822 · read the filing
- 2023: Form 990 for calendar year 2023, object 202433059349301613 · read the filing
- 2022: Form 990 for calendar year 2022, object 202323189349303962 · read the filing
- 2021: Form 990 for calendar year 2021, object 202222979349300812 · read the filing
- 2020: Form 990 for calendar year 2020, object 202133099349300613 · read the filing
- 2019: Form 990 for calendar year 2019, object 202043179349302774 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 59-1630423: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.