Minnesota Newspaper Association
Public records raise at least one point you should look into before giving.
What it says it does
THE MINNESOTA NEWSPAPER ASSOCIATION IS A TRADE ASSOCIATION THAT PERFORMS VARIOUS SERVICES FOR THE NEWS INDUSTRY OF MINNESOTA AND LOBBIES STATE AND SOMETIMES NATIONAL LAWMAKERS ON BEHALF OF ITS MORE THAN 250 MEMBERS AND RELATED BUSINESSES. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)MNA'S SERVICES INCLUDE REPRESENTING THE INDUSTRY'S BUSINESS AND FIRST AMENDMENT INTERESTS AT THE MINNESOTA LEGISLATURE AND U.S. CONGRESS; PROVIDING IN-STATE AND NATIONWIDE ADVERTISING SERVICES IN COOPERATION WITH MEMBERS; FACILITATING PROFESSIONAL AND STUDENT DEVELOPMENT THROUGH ITS ASSOCIATED 501(C)3 NONPROFIT, THE MINNESOTA NEWS MEDIA INSTITUTE; ACTING AS AN INFORMATION CENTER FOR MEMBERS AND THE PUBLIC; PROMOTING A FRATERNAL ENVIRONMENT AMONG ASSOCIATION MEMBERS; PROMOTING KNOWLEDGE ABOUT MINNESOTA NEWS ORGANIZATIONS AS VITAL COGS IN AND INDICATORS OF HEALTHY COMMUNITIES; AND SUPPORTING NEWSPAPERS AND RELATED NEWS ORGANIZATIONS IN THEIR VITAL ROLES AS PROMOTERS OF THE PUBLIC INTEREST.
- Income
- $3.3 million
- Spending
- $3.4 million
- Employees
- 7
- Volunteers
- 25
- Highest pay
- $165,331, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. How we rate
Financial health
We do not score finances when yearly spending is very small or the return has too little detail. The ratios stop meaning much at that size.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. How we rate
Governance
This return does not answer enough of the governance questions to score.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. 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)
- LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY: A KEY PART OF MNA'S MISSION IS TO ADVOCATE WITH STATE AND SOMETIMES NATIONAL LAWMAKERS ON BEHALF OF MEMBERS WHEN LEGISLATION OR RULEMAKING COULD AFFECT THE BUSINESS OR NEWSGATHERING INTERESTS OF THE MINNESOTA NEWSPAPERS, NEWS WEBSITES, AND RELATED ENDEAVORS. MNA CONTRACTS WITH THE COOK STRONG SELLWOOD PUBLIC POLICY FIRM, AND WORKS CLOSELY WITH THEIR PERSONNEL, TO ADVOCATE ON ISSUES INCLUDING PUBLIC LEGAL NOTICES; GOVERNMENT TRANSPARENCY; EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES AS THEY RELATE TO MEMBERS; AND GENERAL BUSINESS MATTERS.
- MNA CONVENTION & TRADE SHOW: MNA STAGES A THREE-DAY ANNUAL CONFERENCE FOR MEMBERS EACH JANUARY. THE 2025 CONVENTION BROUGHT TOGETHER MORE THAN 400 MEMBERS TO PARTICIPATE IN HIGH-LEVEL SALES AND NEWS TRAINING, SEMINARS AND SALES ACTIVITIES. THE CONVENTION, NOW IN ITS 158TH YEAR, INCLUDED LUNCHEON ADDRESSES BY MINNESOTA GOV. TIM WALZ AND U.S. SEN. AMY KLOBUCHAR AND KEYNOTES FROM UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA HUBBARD SCHOOL OF JOURNALISM AND COMMUNICATIONS ELISIA COHEN, AND NOTED LION BIOLOGIST DR. CRAIG PACKER. PROFESSIONAL TRAINERS FROM AROUND THE NATION PRESENTED TWO DAYS OF TRAINING SESSIONS. MORE THAN 700 AWARDS WERE PRESENTED AT THE ANNUAL BETTER NEWSPAPER CONTEST AWARDS BANQUET. A STUDENT RECEPTION FACILITATED NETWORKING WITH POTENTIAL FUTURE EMPLOYERS. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)A TRADE SHOW PROVIDED A VENUE FOR MINNESOTA NEWS PROFESSIONALS TO CONNECT WITH VENDORS AND EXPERTS FROM RELATED BUSINESSES, SERVICES, NONPROFITS AND EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS. FUNDRAISING ACTIVITIES INCLUDING A SILENT AUCTION, RAFFLE AND PADDLE RAISE WERE CONDUCTED TO HELP SUPPORT OUR ASSOCIATED NONPROFIT, THE MINNESOTA NEWS MEDIA INSTITUTE, PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL AND STUDENT TRAINING PROGRAMS.
- BETTER NEWSPAPER CONTEST: HELD ANNUALLY, MNA'S BETTER NEWSPAPER CONTEST IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR MEMBER NEWSPAPERS TO COMPETE FOR RECOGNITION IN PROFESSIONAL AND STUDENT CONTESTS JUDGED BY NEWS PROFESSIONALS FROM OTHER STATE ASSOCIATIONS. MINNESOTA'S CONTEST IS ONE OF THE LARGEST IN THE NATION AND DREW ALMOST 4,000 ENTRIES FROM MNA MEMBERS THIS YEAR. MORE THAN 700 AWARDS WERE PRESENTED AT THE MNA CONVENTION & TRADE SHOW IN JANUARY. THE CONTESTS PROVIDE VITAL PROFESSIONAL FEEDBACK AND PEER SUPPORT FOR THE WORK OF MNA MEMBERS IN ALL ASPECTS OF NEWSPAPER AND MAGAZINE PUBLISHING, FROM CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING TO PHOTOJOURNALISM TO ONLINE DISCIPLINES.
- LEGAL HOTLINE: MINNESOTA NEWSPAPER ASSOCIATION PROVIDES AN OPT-IN, ON-DEMAND LEGAL HOTLINE FOR MEMBER ASSISTANCE. THE HOTLINE IS STAFFED BY MARK ANFINSON, A VETERAN FIRST AMENDMENT ATTORNEY. MEMBERS MAY USE THE HOTLINE FOR PRE-PUBLICATION REVIEW OF SENSITIVE STORIES; TO GAIN ADVICE ON LEGAL MATTERS PERTAINING TO PUBLIC RECORDS AND OPEN MEETINGS; FOR EMPLOYMENT LAW AND ADVERTISING QUESTIONS AND OTHER LEGAL MATTERS PERTAINING TO MNA MEMBERS.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(6) business league.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.
Are donations tax-deductible? Caution.
The IRS master file records contributions to this 501(c)(6) business league as not deductible.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since August 2022.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.