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The Lenfest Inst for Journalism Spe Asset Fund of the Phl Foundation

EIN 04-3731829 · Philadelphia, PA

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong90 out of 100GovernanceStrong95 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF THE LENFEST INSTITUTE FOR JOURNALISM SPECIAL ASSET FUND OF THE PHILADELPHIA FOUNDATION (THE INSTITUTE) IS TO RECEIVE, MANAGE, AND DISTRIBUTE ASSETS IN SUPPORT OF THE PHILADELPHIA FOUNDATION (TPF) BY ENABLING QUALITY LOCAL JOURNALISM THAT SERVES ITS COMMUNITIES.

Income
$26.1 million
Spending
$22.8 million
Spent on programs
88%
Reserves
16.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 83%
Employees
19
Volunteers
33
Highest pay
$641,574, chief executive officer - llc

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 53% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 16.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 4% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 13% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 18% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    88% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 95 out of 100. Higher than 30% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    28 of 30 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (1)
  1. $20.0 million spent. THE LENFEST INSTITUTE FOR JOURNALISM, LLC (LLC):THE LLC IS A DISREGARDED ENTITY OF THE INSTITUTE THAT SUPPORTS BOTH THE DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION OF HERITAGE NEWS ORGANIZATIONS AND THE ENTREPRENEURIAL EFFORTS OF YOUNG, INNOVATIVE COMPANIES. THE INSTITUTE BELIEVES THAT QUALITY CIVIC JOURNALISM REQUIRES NEW BUSINESS MODELS, POWERFUL INNOVATIONS AND GROWING, DIVERSE AUDIENCES TO ACHIEVE SUSTAINABILITY IN THE DIGITAL AGE. IT FUNDS PROGRAMS THAT PRODUCE HIGH-IMPACT JOURNALISM, INNOVATIVE NEWS TECHNOLOGY, AND THAT HELP LOCAL NEWS ORGANIZATIONS REACH NEW AUDIENCES AND DEVELOP SUSTAINABLE DIGITAL BUSINESS MODELS.(CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O.)TO ACCOMPLISH THE ORGANIZATION'S EXEMPT PURPOSE, AND CREATE CLARITY OF FOCUS UNDERNEATH THE OVERARCHING PROGRAM OBJECTIVES, THREE CORE CATEGORIES HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED: NATIONAL, PHILADELPHIA, AND THE INQUIRER. THE FOLLOWING SPECIFIC PROGRAMMATIC ACTIVITIES AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS ALL SERVE THE OVERARCHING PROGRAMMATIC OBJECTIVES TO SUPPORT PROGRAMS THAT PRODUCE HIGH-IMPACT JOURNALISM, INNOVATE NEWS TECHNOLOGY, AND LEAD TO HIGHLY ENGAGED, DIVERSE AND GROWING AUDIENCES.THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER:THE LENFEST INSTITUTE IS THE NONPROFIT, NON-CONTROLLING OWNER OF THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, WHICH IS NOW THE LARGEST NEWSPAPER IN AMERICA OPERATED AS A PUBLIC-BENEFIT CORPORATION. THE INSTITUTE'S OWNERSHIP OF THE INQUIRER, WHICH COVERS ONE OF THE LARGEST, MOST DIVERSE METRO REGIONS IN THE COUNTRY, IS THE CORNERSTONE OF ITS ENTHUSIASTIC INVESTMENT IN LOCAL NEWS.THE PHILADELPHIA NEWS ECOSYSTEM:IN THE PHILADELPHIA AREA, THE INSTITUTE FACILITATES A COLLABORATIVE NEWS AND INFORMATION ECOSYSTEM THAT BUILDS ON VALUABLE HISTORY WHILE ALSO FOSTERING ENTREPRENEURIAL VISION AND INNOVATION. DIVERSITY AND REPRESENTATION ARE CRITICAL COMPONENTS OF POSITIVE BUSINESS OUTCOMES. THE INSTITUTE IS WORKING TO DEFINE DIFFERENT PATHWAYS TO SUSTAINABILITY FOR PUBLISHERS WHILE ALSO ENSURING A DIVERSITY OF REPRESENTATIVE VOICES AND LEADERSHIP IN BOTH LEGACY AND INDEPENDENT MEDIA REFLECTIVE OF THE COMMUNITIES THEY ARE SERVING. SPOTLIGHT PA:SPOTLIGHT PA, THE HARRISBURG NEWSROOM LAUNCHED BY THE LENFEST INSTITUTE AND THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, CREATES HIGH-QUALITY NONPARTISAN INVESTIGATIVE AND ACCOUNTABILITY REPORTING FOR THE BENEFIT OF ALL PENNSYLVANIANS. IT PROVIDES ITS REPORTING FREE-OF-CHARGE TO MORE THAN 80 OTHER NEWSPAPERS, PUBLIC RADIO STATIONS, AND WEBSITES THROUGHOUT THE COMMONWEALTH. AS THE STEWARD OF BOTH THE INQUIRER AND SPOTLIGHT PA, THE INSTITUTE IS BLAZING A UNIQUE PATH BY SERVING LEGACY PUBLISHERS AND DIGITAL START-UPS AS THEY AIM TO FILL GAPS AND SERVE NEW AND UNDERREPRESENTED AUDIENCES. NATIONAL SOLUTIONS FOR LOCAL NEWS:NATIONALLY, THE INSTITUTE LEVERAGES ITS INSTITUTIONAL EXPERTISE AND RESOURCES TO FACILITATE CAPACITY BUILDING FOR LOCAL NEWS PUBLISHERS THROUGH TRAINING PROGRAMS AND GRANTMAKING TO SUPPORT THE IMPLEMENTATION OF BUSINESS MODEL BEST PRACTICES. OTHER PROGRAM ACTIVITIES:THE INSTITUTE SUPPORTS BOTH THE DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION OF HERITAGE NEWS ORGANIZATIONS AND THE ENTREPRENEURIAL EFFORTS OF YOUNG, INNOVATIVE COMPANIES. OTHER PROGRAM ACTIVITIES INCLUDE CONVENING, ADVISORY WORK, LEARNINGS SEMINARS, RESEARCH AND OTHER OUTREACH IN SUPPORT OF LOCAL JOURNALISM.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated November 6, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since September 2003.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated November 4, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.