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American Journalism Project
American Journalism Project reported $38.1 million in revenue and $30.3 million in expenses for calendar year 2024. Of every $100 it spent, $91.12 went to program services, $5.50 to management and general costs and $3.38 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 95.7% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $369,173 (CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER). 9 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 111% between 2019 and 2024. Source: Form 990, 2024.
Where $100 of spending went
Calendar year 2024 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $30MFor 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 2024 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $38MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | 2024 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 91.1% | 78.5% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 5.5% | 13.6% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 3.4% | 6.0% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.03 | $0.10 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 95.7% | 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 | $369,173 | $385,706 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 1.22% | 2.03% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 9 | 8 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 25.7 | 36.6 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 11 of 11 | 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
2024 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseGrantmaking program - the American Journalism Project supports the growth of independent, non-profit news organizations that hold the powerful accountable, combat disinformation, and deepen civic participation in their communities. As of the end of 2021, American Journalism Project has made grant commitments to 32 news organizations, selected through a competitive grantmaking process with oversight from our board of directors
As part of its work to launch and incubate startup local news organizations, American Journalism Project serves as the early-stage fiscal sponsor to these entities until they receive IRS tax-exempt status and can operate independently. Prior to spinoff, ajp provides financial management, legal and administrative infrastructure, and strategic guidance to help these emerging organizations build capacity and sustainability
Grantee support program - American Journalism Project sets grantees up for success through a unique venture support model. Grantees represent a variety of models and stages of development, and American Journalism Project provides each with tailored support based on their needs and biggest strategic challenges. Staff work as a team with grantee leaders, partnering with each organization to help them strengthen and scale through operational and strategic support, curation of best practices from across the sector, and fostering of peer learning across the portfolio. Seed capital, stakeholder…
Highest reported compensation
2024 · 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 EXECUTIVE OFFICER Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $336,383 | $0 | $32,790 | $369,173 |
| CHIEF ADVANCEMENT OFFICER Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $223,802 | $0 | $39,705 | $263,507 |
| CHIEF INVESTMENT OFFICER Key employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $247,725 | $0 | $10,004 | $257,729 |
| HEAD OF STARTUP STUDIO & LOCAL PHILANTHROPY PARTNE Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $231,620 | $0 | $18,466 | $250,086 |
| CEO, FREE PRESS INDIANA Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $210,252 | $0 | $28,399 | $238,651 |
| CHIEF FINANCIAL & ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER Officer, 40.00 hrs/week | $211,854 | $0 | $19,982 | $231,836 |
| HEAD OF GROWTH INVESTMENTS Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $209,147 | $0 | $18,543 | $227,690 |
| VICE PRESIDENT, GROWTH INVESTMENTS Highest compensated employee, 40.00 hrs/week | $200,510 | $0 | $18,278 | $218,788 |
9 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from American Journalism Project (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $2.5M (Part IX, line 5).
6 years of filings
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
2024 · 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–1b11 · 11 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 18No
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bNo
- Employees Part I, line 590
- Volunteers Part I, line 612
Largest outside contractors
2024 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| OLD TOWN MEDIA Strategy and business model consulting | $288,180 |
| CELERO MEDIA Digital marketing and revenue management | $280,000 |
| BDOFMA Financial management services and consul | $235,986 |
| BRANCHHEAD CONSULTING Community listening and strategy consult | $147,602 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 7 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
29 private foundations reported grants to American Journalism Project totaling $12M 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 American Journalism Project's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for American Journalism Project, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 American Journalism Project spent in 2024, $91.12 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Seattle Symphony OrchestraSeattle, WA · revenue $38M · programs 78.7% · FY2025
- Seattle Art MuseumSeattle, WA · revenue $38M · programs 74.6% · FY2025
- The Toledo Museum of ArtToledo, OH · revenue $38M · programs 79.7% · FY2025
- Jorge M Perez Art Museum of Miami-Dade CountyMiami, FL · revenue $38M · programs 59.3% · 2024
- Common Sense MediaSan Francisco, CA · revenue $38M · programs 72.2% · 2024
All arts, culture & humanities charities · Largest charities in District of Columbia
Questions people ask
How much of American Journalism Project's spending goes to programs?
In calendar year 2024, American Journalism Project reported that 91.1% of its $30.3 million in expenses went to program services, 5.5% to management and general and 3.4% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does American Journalism Project pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation American Journalism Project reported for one person in calendar year 2024 was $369,173, for the role of CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does American Journalism Project get its money?
Of $38.1 million in revenue in calendar year 2024, 95.7% came from contributions and grants and 0.3% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is American Journalism Project a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 83-1772542 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. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- 2024: Form 990 for calendar year 2024, object 202503169349304355 · read the filing · XML
- 2023: Form 990 for calendar year 2023, object 202443189349300539 · read the filing
- 2022: Form 990 for calendar year 2022, object 202302939349300835 · read the filing
- 2021: Form 990 for calendar year 2021 (amended), object 202310339349300836 · read the filing
- 2020: Form 990 for calendar year 2020, object 202141899349300709 · read the filing
- 2019: Form 990 for calendar year 2019, object 202042679349300514 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 83-1772542: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.