Free Press
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
FREE PRESS WAS CREATED TO GIVE PEOPLE A VOICE IN THE CRUCIAL DECISIONS THAT SHAPE OUR MEDIA. WE BELIEVE THAT POSITIVE SOCIAL CHANGE, RACIAL JUSTICE AND MEANINGFUL ENGAGEMENT IN PUBLIC LIFE REQUIRE EQUITABLE ACCESS TO TECHNOLOGY, DIVERSE AND INDEPENDENT OWNERSHIP OF MEDIA PLATFORMS, AND JOURNALISM THAT HOLDS LEADERS ACCOUNTABLE AND TELLS PEOPLE WHAT'S ACTUALLY HAPPENING IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. FREE PRESS CLOSELY MONITORS DECISIONS SHAPING THE MEDIA LANDSCAPE ARE MADE AND SOUNDS THE ALARM WHEN PEOPLE'S RIGHTS TO CONNECT AND COMMUNICATE ARE IN DANGER. WE FOCUS ON ACHIEVING AFFORDABLE INTERNET FOR ALL, SAVING NET NEUTRALITY, UPLIFTING THE VOICES OF PEOPLE OF COLOR IN THE MEDIA, CHALLENGING OLD AND NEW MEDIA GATEKEEPERS TO SERVE THE PUBLIC INTEREST, ENDING UNWARRANTED SURVEILLANCE, DEFENDING PRESS FREEDOM, AND REIMAGINING LOCAL JOURNALISM.
- Income
- $8.8 million
- Spending
- $8.7 million
- Spent on programs
- 87%
- Reserves
- 11.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 96%
- Employees
- 43
- Volunteers
- 7,356
- Highest pay
- $215,525, president, co-ceo
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 78% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 11.6 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 6% of what it owns.
Living within its means
12 of 15Income exceeded spending by 0% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 50% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1587% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 255 of 6 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 (4)
- $1.1 million spent. FUTURE OF THE INTERNET AND MEDIA: CONTINUED EFFORTS TO ENSURE THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION PROTECTS PEOPLE FROM INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDERS' PRIVACY INVASIONS, PROMOTE BROADBAND COMPETITION AND DEPLOYMENT, AND ENSURE CONSUMER PROTECTIONS. CONTINUED TO DOCUMENT AND OPPOSE MEDIA CONSOLIDATION AND EFFORTS TO LIMIT MEDIA-OWNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES FOR WOMEN AND PEOPLE OF COLOR. FILED COMMENTS IN THE FCC'S QUADRENNIAL REGULATORY REVIEW THAT CALLED ON THE AGENCY TO REJECT LOCAL MEDIA CONSOLIDATION AND DEBUNKED BROADCASTERS' CLAIMS THAT CONSOLIDATION IS IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST, SHOWING THAT COMMUNITIES HAVE ALWAYS SUFFERED WHENEVER THE FCC HAS LOOSENED LOCAL OWNERSHIP LIMITS. UNDERSCORED HOW MERGERS OF MASSIVE MEDIA COMPANIES LEAD TO HIGHER PRICES, JOB LOSSES, FEWER CHOICES, LESS OPPORTUNITY AND DIVERSITY IN MAJOR SECTORS OF THE ECONOMY. ISSUED A REPORT EVALUATING THE INDEPENDENCE OF THE 35 LARGEST MEDIA CONGLOMERATES IN THE UNITED STATES AND DOCUMENTING A PERVASIVE TREND OF CAPITULATING TO POLITICAL PRESSURE THAT INVOLVES NEARLY ALL MAJOR COMMERCIAL MEDIA, INCLUDING CABLE AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS FIRMS AND ONLINE PLATFORMS. TEAMED UP WITH A COALITION OF MEDIA-JUSTICE GROUPS AND LABOR UNIONS TO FILE A FORMAL FCC PETITION TO DENY THE NEXSTAR-TEGNA MERGER NOTING THAT THE COMBINED COMPANY WOULD REACH OVER 80 PERCENT OF U.S. HOUSEHOLDS, FAR EXCEEDING THE LEGAL LIMIT CONGRESS SET. PROVIDED SUPPORT TO THE COMMITTEE FOR THE FIRST AMENDMENT AT A GATHERING OF ACTORS, PRODUCERS, DIRECTORS AND WRITERS TO SHOW HOW CORPORATE MEGA-MERGERS AND MEDIA CONSOLIDATION HARM THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY AND SOCIETY AT LARGE. PROTESTED ATTACKS ON GOVERNMENT FUNDING OF PUBLIC MEDIA AND PROMOTED THE IDEA THAT A VIBRANT, INDEPENDENT PUBLIC-MEDIA SYSTEM IS ESSENTIAL TO A HEALTHY DEMOCRACY.
- $1.2 million spent. DEMOCRACY AND DIGITAL CIVIL RIGHTS: CONTINUED TO CALL ON MEDIA AND TECH COMPANIES TO PRIORITIZE TRUTH OVER SENSATIONALISM, ACCOUNTABILITY OVER PROFITS AND DEMOCRACY OVER DIVISION. CONTINUED TO PUSH TECH PLATFORMS TO ADOPT CONTENT-MODERATION POLICIES AND PRACTICES THAT ARE MORE ROBUST, TRANSPARENT AND RESPONSIVE TO THE INTERESTS AND NEEDS OF USERS. CONVENED A SERIES OF WEBINARS TO OFFER PUBLIC EDUCATION ABOUT THE FIRST AMENDMENT AND THE IMPORTANCE OF PUBLIC EXPRESSION OF OPINIONS WITHOUT GOVERNMENT CENSORSHIP AND THE RIGHT TO PROTEST GOVERNMENTAL ACTIONS. CONDUCTED ANALYSIS AND RELEASED REPORTS ON GOVERNMENT CENSORSHIP AND CORPORATE CAPITULATION. . DOCUMENTED MORE THAN 200 GOVERNMENT ATTACKS ON FREE SPEECH. TESTIFIED BEFORE CONGRESS ON THE EMERGING FREE-SPEECH EMERGENCY AND DEFENDED THE RIGHT TO SPEAK AND WRITE WITHOUT FEAR OF INTIMIDATION AND HARASSMENT BY GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, WITHOUT FEAR OF UNLAWFUL GOVERNMENT SURVEILLANCE, AND WITHOUT FEAR OF UNCONSTITUTIONAL CENSORSHIP AND RETALIATION. PRESENTED RESEARCH ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF DATA CENTERS AND THEIR ROLE IN FACILITATING CORPORATE AND GOVERNMENT SURVEILLANCE. URGED REGULATORY INTERVENTION TO SAFEGUARD PEOPLE'S DIGITAL PRIVACY AND CURB CORPORATE HUNGER FOR PERSONAL DATA.
- $5.3 million spent. FUTURE OF JOURNALISM: CONTINUED TO DEFEND THE RIGHTS OF JOURNALISTS AND OPPOSE THE UNLAWFUL DETENTION OF JOURNALISTS COVERING PROTESTS ACROSS THE NATION. CONDUCTED A STUDY AND ISSUED A REPORT THAT OFFERS A NUMBER OF SOLUTIONS TO THE CRISIS OF MEDIA CAPITULATION TO GOVERNMENTAL POWER, INCLUDING FUNDING INDEPENDENT JOURNALISM THAT HOLDS THE POWERFUL ACCOUNTABLE AND PROVIDES SPACE FOR DISSENTING VOICES. ISSUED A REPORT OUTLINING WAYS THAT COMMUNITIES CAN CREATE NEWS AND INFORMATION SYSTEMS THAT FOSTER INDEPENDENCE AND CONNECTION. CONDUCTED A LISTENING TOUR IN MASSACHUSETTS TO MEET WITH LOCAL JOURNALISTS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS. EMBARKED ON A SIMILAR TOUR IN WISCONSIN, WHICH HAS LOST ROUGHLY 60 PERCENT OF ITS NEWSPAPERS SINCE 2004. CONTINUED PUBLIC EDUCATION AND LEADERSHIP OF ORGANIZING EFFORTS IN CALIFORNIA, MASSACHUSETTS, NEW JERSEY, PENNSYLVANIA, WASHINGTON STATE AND WISCONSIN FOCUSED ON CREATION OF NEW PUBLICLY SUPPORTED MEDIA SYSTEMS THAT EXPAND INDEPENDENT LOCAL NEWS AND SERVE PEOPLE ACROSS CLASS, CULTURES AND LANGUAGES. THROUGH THE MEDIA 2070 PROJECT, DOCUMENTED HOW CENTURIES OF HARM THE U.S. MEDIA SYSTEM HAS INFLICTED ON THE BLACK COMMUNITY. WORKED WITH ALLIED ORGANIZATIONS TO BRING THE BLACK FUTURE NEWSSTAND TO LOS ANGELES AND HOUSTON. SUPPORTED THE MEDIA 2070 PROJECT'S MOVE TOWARD INDEPENDENCE THROUGH TECHNICAL SUPPORT AND GRANTMAKING TO ESTABLISH THE PROJECT WITHIN ANOTHER PUBLIC CHARITY.
- FREE PRESS WORKS TO PRESERVE RIGHTS TO OPEN COMMUNICATION, FREE EXPRESSION AND PRIVACY. AREAS OF FOCUS INCLUDE FUTURE OF THE INTERNET AND MEDIA; DEMOCRACY AND DIGITAL CIVIL RIGHTS; AND FUTURE OF JOURNALISM. IN 2025, FREE PRESS CONDUCTED RESEARCH AND EDUCATION, WHILE ORGANIZING AND MOBILIZING FOR BETTER MEDIA, OPEN TECHNOLOGY AND A HEALTHIER DEMOCRACY. PROVIDED REGULAR INFORMATION VIA EMAIL, WEBSITE, AND WEBINARS TO 1.4 MILLION CONSTITUENTS HAILING FROM ALL 50 STATES, THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA AND PUERTO RICO. ATTRACTED 500,000 OVERALL WEBSITE VISITS AND VIRTUAL EVENTS ATTRACTED HUNDREDS OF PARTICIPANTS. INTERACTED WITH OVER 150,000 SOCIAL MEDIA FOLLOWERS AND EARNED 2,160 PRESS HITS. CREATED AND DISSEMINATED RESOURCE MATERIALS INCLUDING RESEARCH REPORTS, ISSUE BRIEFS, FACTSHEETS, AND BROCHURES. LAUNCHED "PRESSING ISSUES," A TWICE-WEEKLY NEWSLETTER HIGHLIGHTING IDEAS AND ANALYSIS ABOUT EVERYTHING HAPPENING AT THE INTERSECTION OF MEDIA, TECHNOLOGY AND DEMOCRACY. PROVIDED TRAINING AND SUPPORT TO DOZENS OF LOCAL AND REGIONAL MEDIA REFORM GROUPS AND TO THOUSANDS OF LOCAL MEDIA ACTIVISTS. FILED PUBLIC COMMENTS, AND PARTICIPATED IN SEVERAL FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION PROCEEDINGS AND SEVERAL FEDERAL COURT PROCEEDINGS. TESTIFIED BEFORE CONGRESS ON MATTERS PERTAINING TO FREE SPEECH AND GOVERNMENT CENSORSHIP. WORKED WITH DOZENS OF ORGANIZATIONS TO PLAN AND IMPLEMENT HIGH-PROFILE EDUCATIONAL EVENTS. SECURED FINANCIAL SUPPORT FROM 3,397 DONORS. TOTAL PROGRAM EXPENDITURES ARE DETAILED IN THE THREE CORE PROGRAM AREAS ABOVE.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. 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)(3) charitable organization.
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? 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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since January 2004.
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.