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Pro Publica Inc

EIN 14-2007220 · New York, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

PRO PUBLICA IS AN INDEPENDENT, NON-PROFIT, PULITZER PRIZE-WINNING NEWSROOM THAT PRODUCES INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST. OUR WORK FOCUSES EXCLUSIVELY ON TRULY IMPORTANT STORIES. [SEE CONTINUATION ON SCHEDULE O] WE PRODUCE JOURNALISM THAT SHINES A LIGHT ON EXPLOITATION OF THE WEAK BY THE STRONG AND ON THE FAILURES OF THOSE WITH POWER TO VINDICATE THE TRUST PLACED IN THEM. IN THE BEST TRADITIONS OF AMERICAN JOURNALISM IN THE PUBLIC SERVICE, WE AIM TO STIMULATE POSITIVE CHANGE, UNCOVERING UNSAVORY PRACTICES AND ABUSES OF POWER IN ORDER TO PROD REFORM. WE DO THIS IN AN ENTIRELY NON-PARTISAN AND NON-IDEOLOGICAL MANNER, ADHERING TO THE STRICTEST STANDARDS OF JOURNALISTIC IMPARTIALITY.OUR STATED MISSION IS "TO EXPOSE ABUSES OF POWER AND BETRAYALS OF THE PUBLIC TRUST BY GOVERNMENT, BUSINESS, AND OTHER INSTITUTIONS, USING THE MORAL FORCE OF INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM TO SPUR REFORM THROUGH THE SUSTAINED SPOTLIGHTING OF WRONGDOING."

Income
$64.3 million
Spending
$45.7 million
Spent on programs
80%
Reserves
14.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 95%
Employees
230
Volunteers
15
Highest pay
$518,182, co-ceo & editor-in-chief

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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 86% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 14.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 9% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 29% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 11% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    80% 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 34% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    15 of 15 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. $36.5 million spent. PROPUBLICA IS AN INDEPENDENT, NON-PROFIT NEWSROOM THAT PRODUCES INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST. WE USE IMPACT AS A MEASURE OF SUCCESS AND FOCUS ON SYSTEMIC PROBLEMS THAT DEFY EASY, SHORT-TERM SOLUTIONS. WE DO THIS IN AN ENTIRELY NON-PARTISAN AND NON-IDEOLOGICAL MANNER, ADHERING TO THE STRICTEST STANDARDS OF JOURNALISTIC IMPARTIALITY. OUR FORMAL MISSION IS TO EXPOSE ABUSES OF POWER AND BETRAYALS OF THE PUBLIC TRUST BY GOVERNMENT, BUSINESS, AND OTHER INSTITUTIONS, USING THE MORAL FORCE OF INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM TO SPUR REFORM THROUGH THE SUSTAINED SPOTLIGHTING OF WRONGDOING. OUR REPORTING HAS EMPOWERED READERS, CHANGED LAWS AND POLICIES AND HELPED BRING BAD ACTORS TO JUSTICE.[SEE CONTINUATION ON SCHEDULE O]WE PUBLISH DEEPLY REPORTED AND IMPACTFUL INVESTIGATIONS AT THE NATIONAL AND LOCAL LEVEL FOCUSED ON DEMOCRACY AND GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY, HEALTH CARE, CIVIL RIGHTS, EDUCATION, THE ENVIRONMENT, BUSINESS, CRIMINAL JUSTICE, IMMIGRATION, HOUSING, RACIAL JUSTICE AND MORE; BUILD DATABASES AND TOOLS TO GIVE USERS INFORMATION TO MAKE MORE INFORMED CHOICES AND DIVE DEEPER INTO OUR REPORTING; AND EXPLORE NEW AND INNOVATIVE WAYS TO REPORT AND DISSEMINATE OUR JOURNALISM TO REACH DIVERSE AUDIENCES ACROSS THE COUNTRY. PROPUBLICA WAS FOUNDED IN 2008 TO ADDRESS A BROAD DECLINE IN INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING AMID THE COLLAPSE OF THE BUSINESS MODEL THAT HAD SUPPORTED AMERICAN JOURNALISM FOR MORE THAN A CENTURY. A GROWING NUMBER OF COMMUNITIES NO LONGER HAVE ACCESS TO RELIABLE, FACT-BASED REPORTING, PARTICULARLY ACCOUNTABILITY REPORTING, AND FILLING THIS GAP IS CRUCIAL TO OUR MISSION. THROUGH OUR LOCAL INITIATIVES, PROPUBLICA SUPPORTS A GROWING NETWORK OF LOCAL JOURNALISTS REPORTING ON AND FROM COMMUNITIES WHERE ACCOUNTABILITY JOURNALISM IS SCARCE. WE EMPLOY STAFF REPORTERS ON THE GROUND IN OUR REGIONAL HUBS (IN THE SOUTH, SOUTHWEST, TEXAS, NORTHWEST AND MIDWEST). WE EXPANDED OUR WASHINGTON, DC BUREAU OF INVESTIGATIVE REPORTERS TO PROVIDE COVERAGE OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND ITS IMPACT ON PEOPLE'S LIVES. AND THROUGH OUR LOCAL REPORTING NETWORK PARTNERSHIPS, WE ARE BUILDING CAPACITY IN A GROWING NETWORK OF LOCAL NEWSROOMS AROUND THE COUNTRY. IN 2024, PROPUBLICA'S REPORTING ON MULTIPLE STORIES SPOTLIGHTED THE SYSTEMIC INEQUALITIES, POLICY FAILURES AND DECEPTIVE PRACTICES THAT PERVADE AMERICA'S HEALTH CARE SYSTEM. IN OUR "LIFE OF THE MOTHER" SERIES, REPORTERS REPEATEDLY UNCOVERED THE HEARTBREAKING REALITIES OF RESTRICTIVE ABORTION LAWS, BREAKING STORY AFTER STORY THAT LAID BARE THEIR LIFE-THREATENING CONSEQUENCES AND SPARKING CALLS FOR CHANGE. "AMERICA'S MENTAL BARRIER" EXPOSED THE SYSTEMIC OBSTACLES PREVENTING MILLIONS OF AMERICANS FROM ACCESSING ESSENTIAL MENTAL HEALTH CARE. AND "UNCOVERED" REVEALED HOW HEALTH INSURERS SYSTEMATICALLY DENY COVERAGE FOR CRITICAL TREATMENTS AND PRIORITIZE COST SAVINGS OVER PATIENT CARE. BY SPOTLIGHTING THESE FAILURES, OUR REPORTING FORCED A RECKONING WITH AN INSURANCE SYSTEM THAT TOO OFTEN PRIORITIZES PROFITS OVER PEOPLE. MANY OF THESE STORIES SPURRED ACTION, WITH REGULATORS INTRODUCING REFORMS AND LAWMAKERS TAKING STEPS TO ADDRESS THE INJUSTICES WE EXPOSED.WE WERE ALSO DEEPLY HONORED TO WIN THE 2024 PULITZER PRIZE FOR PUBLIC SERVICE FOR OUR INVESTIGATIONS INTO THE SUPREME COURT THAT SHINED AN UNPRECEDENTED SPOTLIGHT ON INFLUENCE AND ETHICS AT THE NATION'S HIGHEST COURT. THROUGH OUR "FRIENDS OF THE COURT" SERIES, PROPUBLICA REPORTERS BROUGHT RENEWED AND RIGOROUS ATTENTION TO THIS INCREDIBLY CONSEQUENTIAL AND RELATIVELY UNDERSCRUTINIZED BRANCH OF OUR DEMOCRACY. OUR REPORTING EXPOSED THE MOST SERIOUS ETHICAL SCANDAL IN THE MODERN HISTORY OF THE COURT AND IT COMPELLED NEW AVENUES FOR ACCOUNTABILITY. PROMPTED BY OUR REPORTING, THE SUPREME COURT UNANIMOUSLY ADOPTED THE FIRST ETHICS CODE IN ITS 235-YEAR HISTORY. AS THIS SERIES SHOWS, INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING CAN HOLD TO ACCOUNT THE HIGHEST ECHELONS OF POWER, EXPOSE CORRUPTION AND SPUR CHANGE.

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 2025.

    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 2008.

    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.