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Missouri Press Foundation Inc

EIN 43-1342904 · Columbia, MO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceStrong94 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Only 40% of its spending went to programs.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

PROVIDING JOURNALISM SCHOLARSHIPS AND FACULTY HONORARIUMS, CONDUCTING JOURNALISM SEMINARS, MAKING JOURNALISM MERIT AWARDS, COLLECTING & PRESERVING OLD PRINTING PRESSES & PRINTING EQUIPMENT AND OPERATING HISTORICAL MUSEUMS.

Income
$230,330
Spending
$209,969
Spent on programs
40%
Reserves
21.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 76%
Employees
1
Volunteers
17
Highest pay
$84,176, previous exe

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

Good: 85 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 21.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 9% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 8% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    40% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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: 94 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    17 of 17 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.

  • 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 (5)
  1. $5,733 spent. NEWSPAPERS IN EDUCATION: THIS PROGRAM'S PURPOSE IS TO GET PRINTED NEWSPAPERS INTO SCHOOL CLASSROOMS, INSTRUCTING CLASSROOM TEACHERS HOW TO USE THE NEWSPAPER AS A TEACHING TOOL, ENGAGING YOUNG STUDENTS IN READING NEWSPAPERS, PROMOTING CIVIC EDUCATION, PROMOTING HISTORY OF MISSOURI AND THE UNITED STATES.
  2. $11,981 spent. BETTER NEWSPAPER CONTEST: FOR MORE THAN 60 YEARS, THE PRESS ASSOCIATION HAS HONORED ITS MEMBERS ANNUALLY FOR THEIR BEST WORK IN NEWSPAPER REPORTING, EDITING, PHOTOGRAPHY, DESIGN, EDITORIAL WRITING, ADVERTISING, COMMUNITY SERVICE, GENERAL EXCELLENCE, ETC. NEWPAPERS SUBMIT CONTEST ENTRIES AND JUDGING IS CONDUCTED BY A PRESS ASSOCIATION'S MEMBERS IN ANOTHER STATE. PLAQUES AND CERTIFICATES ARE PRESENTED TO THE WINNERS DURING THE ANNUAL AWARDS LUNCHEON AT THE MISSOURI PRESS CONVENTION IN THE FALL.
  3. $6,813 spent. PHOTOJOURNALISM HALL OF FAME: THE MISSOURI PHOTOJOURNALISM HALL OF FAME ENDEAVORS TO RECOGNIZE THOSE PEOPLE WHO HAVE MADE OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTIONS TO MISSOURI PHOTOJOURNALISM, AND TO PROVIDE AN EXHIBIT VENUE TO SHOWCASE THESE VISUAL REPORTING PIONEERS, AND THE WORK OF CURRENT PHOTOJOURNALISTS. INDUCTEES ARE RECOGNIZED FOR ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING: OUTSTANDING PHOTOJOURNALISM ACHIEVEMENT; LONG-TERM PHOTOGRAPHY FOR A MISSOURI NEWSPAPER OR OTHER PUBLICATION OR JOURNALISM OUTLET; LEADERSHIP IN EDUCATION; ETHICAL VALUES AND INTEGRITY; AND CONTRIBUTIONS TO COMMUNITY.
  4. $59,522 spent. OTHER PROGRAMS CONSIST OF ACTIVITIES TO PROMOTE THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION AS STATED BELOW: PROVIDING JOURNALISM SCHOLARSHIPS AND FACULTY HONORARIUMS, CONDUCTING JOURNALISM SEMINARS, MAKING JOURNALISM MERIT AWARDS, COLLECTING & PRESERVING OLD PRINTING PRESSES & PRINTING EQUIPMENT AND OPERATING HISTORICAL MUSEUMS.
  5. OTHER PROGRAMS CONSIST OF ACTIVITIES TO PROMOTE THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION AS STATED BELOW: PROVIDING JOURNALISM SCHOLARSHIPS AND FACULTY HONORARIUMS, CONDUCTING JOURNALISM SEMINARS, MAKING JOURNALISM MERIT AWARDS, COLLECTING & PRESERVING OLD PRINTING PRESSES & PRINTING EQUIPMENT AND OPERATING HISTORICAL MUSEUMS.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since March 1985.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.