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Minnesota News Media Institute Inc

EIN 27-1628407 · Minneapolis, MN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair67 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MINNESOTA NEWS MEDIA INSTITUTE (MNI) IS A PARTNERSHIP OF THE MORE THAN 250 WEEKLY AND DAILY NEWSPAPER AND DIGITAL NEWS MEMBERS OF THE MINNESOTA NEWSPAPER ASSOCIATION. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)THE MINNESOTA NEWS MEDIA INSTITUTE'S MISSION IS TO PROVIDE HIGH-QUALITY, ACCESSIBLE AND AFFORDABLE EDUCATION, TRAINING AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR CURRENT AND FUTURE NEWS MEDIA PROFESSIONALS; TO PROMOTE FAIR AND TRUSTED JOURNALISM; AND TO WORK TO INCREASE THE PUBLIC'S UNDERSTANDING OF THE ROLE AND OBLIGATION OF A FREE PRESS IN OUR SOCIETY.

Income
$71,376
Spending
$79,758
Spent on programs
53%
Reserves
36.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
investment income, 63%
Employees
0
Volunteers
11
Highest pay
$165,331, executive director

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: 67 out of 100. Higher than 32% of charities in its peer group (education, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 36.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 4% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 12% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 60% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    53% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 45 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 92% of charities in its peer group (education, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 11 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.

  • 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. $23,370 spent. CITIZEN JOURNALISM UNIVERSITY: CITIZEN JOURNALISM UNIVERSITY WAS LAUNCHED IN 2022 BY MNI, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH BETHEL UNIVERSITY, IN RESPONSE TO AN OBVIOUS LABOR CRISIS AMONG MINNESOTA'S COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS. CJU IS AN INTENSIVE, FIVE-WEEK ONLINE TRAINING PROGRAM THAT TAKES COMMUNITY MEMBERS FROM INTERESTED BYSTANDERS TO FLEDGLING REPORTERS WHO ARE EQUIPPED TO REPORT ON COMMUNITY TOPICS FOR THEIR SPONSORING NEWSPAPER. THE CJU COURSE IS TAUGHT ONLINE BY SEASONED MINNESOTA NEWSPAPER PROFESSIONALS AND BETHEL UNIVERSITY JOURNALISM FACULTY. STUDENTS ARE SUPPORTED THROUGHOUT BY VOLUNTEER MENTORS. FOURTEEN PEOPLE FROM THREE STATES SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED THE COURSE IN 2024 AND EARNED CITIZEN JOURNALIST CERTIFICATION. (CONTINUTED ON SCHEDULE O)MNI SUBSIDIZES THE PROGRAM AND TUITION FOR MINNESOTA STUDENTS SPONSORED BY MNA MEMBERS. OTHER SPONSOR NEWS ORGANIZATIONS PAY FULL TUITION. THERE IS NO COST TO STUDENTS.
  2. $9,425 spent. MNI INTERNSHIP PROGRAM: THE MNI-SPONSORED INTERNSHIP PROGRAM PROVIDES WAGE SUBSIDIES FOR HIGH SCHOOL OR COLLEGE AGED SUMMER INTERNS AT MNA MEMBER NEWSPAPERS. THE GOAL IS TO HELP THE STUDENT GAIN SKILLS TO SUCCEED IN THE WORKFORCE AND ENCOURAGE THEM TO PURSUE CAREERS AS NEWS MEDIA PROFESSIONALS. IN 2022, THE PROGRAM PROVIDED A 75% INTERN WAGE SUBSIDY, UP TO $1,000, FOR 12 INTERNSHIPS (AN INCREASE FROM 10 IN PREVIOUS YEARS). DUE TO HIGH DEMAND, THE 12 MNA MEMBER NEWSPAPERS TO HOST MNI INTERNS WERE CHOSEN BY LOTTERY.
  3. $6,196 spent. ON-DEMAND AND IN-PERSON TRAINING FOR NEWS MEDIA PROFESSIONALS: ANNUALLY, MNI PRESENTS MORE THAN 30 TRAINING PROGRAMS, SEMINARS AND WEBINARS, REACHING OUR MEMBERS FROM WIDE VARIETY OF MEDIA OUTLETS. THESE PROGRAMS COVER A RANGE OF TOPICS ESSENTIAL TO HELPING PROFESSIONALS IN THE FIELD IMPROVE THEIR JOB PERFORMANCE AND SERVE THEIR COMMUNITIES. MNI SUPPORT CREATES NO-COST TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES FOR HUNDREDS OF SALES, EDITORIAL AND NEWS BUSINESS PROFESSIONALS THROUGH ONLINE MEDIA CAMPUS, DIGIVERSITY TV, MNI STUDENT SESSIONS AND IN-PERSON AND ONLINE MNI PROFESSIONAL SESSIONS.
  4. $3,611 spent. MINNESOTA NEWS MEDIA INSTITUTE WORKS WITH THE MINNESOTA NEWSPAPER ASSOCIATION TO PRESENT AN ANNUAL CONVENTION. THE 2025 CONVENTION WAS A THREE-DAY EVENT IN BROOKLYN PARK, MN. APPROXIMATELY 600 NEWS MEDIA PROFESSIONALS AND STUDENTS ATTENDED TRAINING SESSIONS COVERING: INCREASING REVENUE; BEST PRACTICES; REPORTING; CIRCULATION; LEGAL ISSUES; PHOTOGRAPHY AND NEWSPAPER DESIGN. THE BETTER NEWSPAPER CONTEST AWARDS CELEBRATE EXCELLENCE BY RECOGNIZING AWARD WINNING NEWSPAPERS AND NEWS MEDIA PROFESSIONALS.

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 July 2011.

    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.