Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Journalism Education Association Inc

EIN 41-0947788 · Manhattan, KS

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair63 out of 100GovernanceStrong95 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE JOURNALISM EDUCATION ASSOCIATION SUPPORTS FREE AND RESPONSIBLE SCHOLASTIC JOURNALISM BY PROVIDING RESOURCES AND EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, BY PROMOTING PROFESSIONALISM, BY ENCOURAGING AND REWARDING STUDENT EXCELLENCE AND TEACHER ACHIEVEMENT, AND BY FOSTERING AN ATMOSPHERE WHICH ENCOMPASSES DIVERSITY YET BUILDS UNITY.

Income
$939,213
Spending
$1.1 million
Spent on programs
61%
Reserves
14.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 61%
Employees
0
Volunteers
180
Highest pay
$147,299, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 63 out of 100. Higher than 32% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 14.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 7% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 19% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 29% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    61% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 95 out of 100. Higher than 90% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 7 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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 June 30, 2025, 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 (3)
  1. $423,843 spent. TO ACCOMPLISH OUR MISSION OF PROVIDING RESOURCES AND EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, WE SERVE BOTH MEMBERS AND THEIR STUDENTS BY PROGRAMMING AND HOSTING TWO NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL JOURNALISM CONVENTIONS EACH YEAR. THE TWO CONVENTIONS COMBINED TO BRING TOGETHER 6,842 ATTENDEES FOR A WEEKEND OF COLLABORATION AND LEARNING THROUGH SESSIONS, WORKSHOPS AND CRITIQUES.
  2. $90,598 spent. TO ACCOMPLISH OUR MISSION PROMOTING PROFESSIONALISM AND BY FOSTERING AN ATMOSPHERE WHICH ENCOMPASSES DIVERSITY YET BUILDS UNITY, WE DEVELOP PROGRAMS FOR TEACHER SUPPORT, SUCH AS MENTORING, OUTREACH AND CURRICULUM. THESE PROGRAMS SUPPORT A MEMBERSHIP OF 2,376 TEACHER ADVISERS.
  3. $39,592 spent. THE JEA AWARDS COMMITTEE MEETS AT EACH JEA/NSPA NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL JOURNALISM CONVENTION TO PLAN AND COORDINATE ALL OF JEA'S AWARD PROGRAMS.THE JEA CONTESTS COMMITTEE OVERSEES THE NATIONAL STUDENT MEDIA CONTESTS AND NATIONAL JOURNALISM QUIZ BOWL AT EACH NATIONAL CONVENTION. THEY ALSO OVERSEE THE JUNIOR HIGH/MIDDLE SCHOOL MEDIA CONTEST.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, 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 June 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 June 2015.

    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.