Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Committee to Protect Journalists Inc

EIN 13-3081500 · New York, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair64 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE COMMITTEE TO PROTECT JOURNALISTS PROMOTES PRESS FREEDOM WORLDWIDE AND DEFENDS THE RIGHT OF JOURNALISTS TO REPORT THE NEWS SAFELY AND WITHOUT FEAR OF REPRISAL. CPJ ENSURES THE FREE FLOW OF NEWS AND COMMENTARY BY TAKING ACTION WHEREVER JOURNALISTS ARE ATTACKED, IMPRISONED, KILLED, KIDNAPPED, THREATENED, CENSORED, OR HARASSED. HUNDREDS OF JOURNALISTS ARE KILLED, HARASSED, OR IMPRISONED EVERY YEAR. FOR MORE THAN 40 YEARS, CPJ HAS ADVOCATED FOR THEIR RELEASE, FOR JUSTICE AND FOR FREEDOM.

Income
$12.3 million
Spending
$13.8 million
Spent on programs
72%
Reserves
1.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 93%
Employees
49
Volunteers
35
Highest pay
$371,520, ceo

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

Fair: 64 out of 100. Higher than 21% of charities in its peer group (civil rights, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 14% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 12% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 9% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    72% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 13 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 39% of charities in its peer group (civil rights, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    35 of 35 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

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • 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. $9.9 million spent. SINCE 1981, CPJ HAS DEFENDED THE RIGHT OF JOURNALISTS TO REPORT THE NEWS SAFELY AND FREELY WORLDWIDE. OUR ORGANIZATION COMPRISES JOURNALISTS AND ADVOCATES WHO USE JOURNALISM TO EXPOSE AND ADVOCATE ON A BROAD RANGE OF VIOLATIONS. WE FOCUS ON REDUCING THE NUMBER OF JOURNALISTS IN PRISON, FIGHTING AGAINST INJUSTICE, AND BATTLING CENSORSHIP AND REPRESSIVE LEGISLATION THAT GOVERNS OUR WORLD'S INCREASINGLY COMPLEX INFORMATION LANDSCAPE. WE DOCUMENT VIOLATIONS AND MEET WITH GOVERNMENT LEADERS TO PUSH FOR CHANGE, SECURE CONVICTIONS IN MURDERS, AND FREE JAILED JOURNALISTS. OUR REPORTING AND DOCUMENTATION INFORM AND EMPOWER OUR ADVOCACY. IN DOING SO, WE ENSURE ACCESS TO INDEPENDENT INFORMATION THAT ENABLES ALL PEOPLE TO MAKE DECISIONS AND HOLD THE POWERFUL TO ACCOUNT. (CONT. ON SCH O)

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 October 13, 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 February 1982.

    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 October 21, 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.