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Freedom of the Press Foundation

EIN 46-0967274 · Brooklyn, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood70 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

AT FREEDOM OF THE PRESS FOUNDATION (FPF), OUR MISSION IS TO PROTECT AND DEFEND PRESS FREEDOM IN THE 21ST CENTURY. WE DO THIS THROUGH:1.) PUBLIC ADVOCACY ON ISSUES AFFECTING PRESS FREEDOM, INCLUDING GOVERNMENT TRANSPARENCY, THE RIGHT TO PUBLISH, REPORTER'S PRIVILEGE, FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT REFORM, AND PROTECTING WHISTLEBLOWERS.2.) MAINTAINING AND DEVELOPING OPEN-SOURCE DIGITAL SECURITY TOOLS, LIKE SECUREDROP, OUR WHISTLEBLOWER SUBMISSION SYSTEM.3.) EDUCATION ON DIGITAL SECURITY TOOLS THAT JOURNALISTS CAN USE TO PROTECT THEMESELVES AND THEIR SOURCES WHEN COMMUNICATING ONLINE.4.) SYSTEMATICALLY DOCUMENT AND CATALOGUE PRESS FREEDOM VIOLATIONS IN THE UNITED STATES.5.) LEGAL ADVOCACY FOR PRESS FREEDOM AND TRANSPARENCY THROUGH FOIA REQUESTS, AMICUS BRIEFS, AND OTHER AVENUES IN COURT.

Income
$5.2 million
Spending
$7.2 million
Spent on programs
79%
Reserves
30.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 66%
Employees
39
Volunteers
7
Highest pay
$316,648, ed/board member

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: 70 out of 100. Higher than 45% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 30.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 4% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 38% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 69% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    79% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 18 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 65% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    6 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

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • 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 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 (3)
  1. $2.0 million spent. BUILDING TECHNOLOGY FOR PRESS FREEDOM - FPF'S SECUREDROP IS AN OPEN-SOURCE WHISTLEBLOWER SUBMISSION SYSTEM THAT HELPS JOURNALISTS AND SOURCES COMMUNICATE PRIVATELY AND SECURELY. FPF DEVELOPS, MAINTAINS, AND HELPS NEWS ORGANIZATIONS INSTALL THE SYSTEM. SECUREDROP IS CURRENTLY USED AT OVER 60 MAJOR NEWS ORGANIZATIONS WORLDWIDE, INCLUDING THE NEW YORK TIMES, WASHINGTON POST, CNN, THE GUARDIAN, THE ECONOMIST, AND THE INTERCEPT. FPF ALSO MAINTAINS DANGERZONE, AN OPEN-SOURCE APPLICATION THAT HELPS PROTECT JOURNALISTS AGAINST MALWARE.
  2. $2.8 million spent. REPORTING AND ADVOCACY - FPF'S US PRESS FREEDOM TRACKER IS A NEWS SITE AND DATABASE THAT COMPREHENSIVELY DOCUMENTS VIRTUALLY EVERY PRESS FREEDOM VIOLATION IN THE UNITED STATES, INCLUDING THE NUMBER OF JOURNALISTS ARRESTED, STOPPED AT THE BORDER, SUBPOENAED, PHYSICALLY ATTACKED, SURVEILLED, AND MORE. FPF'S ADVOCAY TEAM FIGHTS ON BOTH A LOCAL AND NATIONAL LEVEL FOR ROBUST PRESS FREEDOM RIGHTS ON A VARIETY OF ISSUES INCLUDING REPORTER'S PRIVILEGE, THE RIGHT TO PUBLISH, THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT, THE PROTECTION OF WHISTLEBLOWERS, AND GOVERNMENT TRANSPARENCY.
  3. $869,722 spent. DIGITAL SECURITY TRAINING - FPF'S DIGITAL SECURITY TEAM EDUCATES NEWSROOMS, JOURNALISTS AND FILMMAKERS HOW TO PROTECT THEMSELVES AND THEIR SOURCES ONLINE IN ORDER TO FURTHER PRESS FREEDOM. THESE TRAININGS INCLUDE HOW TO LOCK DOWN SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS, ENCRYPT COMMUNICATIONS, ENHANCE DEVICE SECURITY, AVOID GETTING HACKED, AND MITIGATE ONLINE HARASSMENT. IN 2024, OVER 2000 JOURNALISTS ATTENDED AN FPF DIGITAL SECURITY TRAINING.

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 November 2013.

    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.

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