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Media Development Investment Fund Inc

EIN 13-4052259 · New York, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood80 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

MDIF PROVIDES AFFORDABLE FINANCING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO INDEPENDENT NEWS AND INFORMATION ORGANIZATIONS IN CHALLENGING ENVIRONMENTS, HELPING THEM TO BECOME FINANCIALLY SUSTAINABLE. SEE SCHEDULE O FOR CONTINUATION.

Income
$14.7 million
Spending
$13.9 million
Spent on programs
84%
Reserves
24.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 78%
Employees
10
Volunteers
7
Highest pay
$411,995, chief executive officer

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

Good: 80 out of 100. Higher than 37% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 24.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 36% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 17% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    83% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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 37% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 8 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 (4)
  1. $8.5 million spent. MDIF PROVIDES LOAN AND EQUITY FINANCING BY WAY OF "PROGRAM RELATED INVESTMENTS" (PRIS) TO FURTHER ITS CHARITABLE MISSION. MDIF MAINTAINS A SEGREGATED POOL OF FUNDS FROM WHICH IT MAKES PRIS. RETURN OF INVESTED CAPITAL IS RECYCLED THROUGH THE POOL FOR REINVESTMENT.WITH EVERY PRI, MDIF PROVIDES CUSTOMIZED TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO MEDIA ORGANIZATIONS AT VARYING STAGES OF THE BUSINESS LIFE CYCLE. IN ADDITION, MDIF TRAINS MEDIA ORGANIZATIONS IN THE USE OF DIGITAL AND TRANSFORMATIONAL TECHNOLOGY FOR ENHANCING THE SUSTAINABILITY OF THE MEDIA ORGANIZATION.SEE SCHEDULE O FOR CONTINUATION. IN DETERMINING WHETHER TO MAKE A PRI, MDIF FACES BOTH COUNTRY AND LEGAL RISKS. MDIF MAKES PRIS IN COUNTRIES WHERE POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC STABILITY MAY BE OF CONCERN. THIS TYPE OF RISK IS ASSESSED BEFORE THE ORGANIZATION STARTS OPERATIONS IN A CERTAIN COUNTRY. THE LEGAL RISK MAY ARISE AS A RESULT OF MAKING LOANS AND OTHER PROGRAM RELATED INVESTMENTS IN COUNTRIES WITH DIFFERING LEGAL SYSTEMS THAN THOSE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. THOSE SYSTEMS ARE SOMETIMES CHARACTERIZED BY UNCERTAINTY AND A LACK OF INDEPENDENT LEGAL INSTITUTIONS, INCLUDING THE JUDICIARY.
  2. $949,589 spent. THE MYANMAR MEDIA PROGRAM ("SIDA MYANMAR") PROVIDES A RANGE OF HIGHLY TAILORED MEDIA BUSINESS-ORIENTED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO MYANMAR'S INDEPENDENT MEDIA COMPANIES, INCLUDING ONE-TO-ONE EXPERT CONSULTING, GROUP WORKSHOPS, PEER-TO-PEER KNOWLEDGE SHARING AND DIRECT GRANTS FOR BUILDING MANAGEMENT CAPACITY.
  3. $816,621 spent. IN ITS GLOBAL PROGRAM, SUPPORTED BY SIDA, ("SIDA GLOBAL") MDIF UTILIZES ITS FINANCING AND CAPACITY BUILDING EXPERTISE TO IDENTIFY, DEVELOP, AND TRANSFORM MEDIA COMPANIES IN NEED, GLOBALLY, COMBINED WITH SIDA'S SUPPORT, TO PROVIDE LOAN AND EARLY STAGE EQUITY FINANCING, AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, PARTICULARLY IN BUILDING DIGITAL CAPACITY AND STRENGTHENING MEDIA BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT.
  4. $1.3 million spent. ADVISORY PROGRAMS.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since August 1999.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 2026.

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