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Solutions Journalism Network Inc

EIN 46-2265729 · New York, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

DEFINE, LEGITIMIZE AND SPREAD "SOLUTIONS JOURNALISM" - RIGOROUS, UNBIASED REPORTING ABOUT CREDIBLE RESPONSES TO SOCIAL PROBLEMS BY ESTABLISHING SOLUTIONS JOURNALISM AS A CORE FUNCTION IN JOURNALISM, CONFORMING TO THE HIGHEST STANDARDS OF INDEPENDENCE AND ACCURACY.

Income
$8.7 million
Spending
$8.0 million
Spent on programs
81%
Reserves
6.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 94%
Employees
34
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$270,300, ceo/co-founder

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

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 83% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 5% 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 77% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    81% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 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 74% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    10 of 12 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 (2)
  1. $5.8 million spent. SYSTEMS CHANGE - SEE SCHEDULE OSYSTEMS CHANGE:SOLUTIONS JOURNALISM NETWORK, INC. (THE ORGANIZATION") LEVERAGES ITS CURRICULUM AND NETWORK TO CATALYZE AND SUSTAIN THE PRACTICE OF SOLUTIONS JOURNALISM IN NEWS ORGANIZATIONS, JOURNALISM SCHOOLS, AND WITH INDIVIDUAL JOURNALISTS AROUND THE WORLD. THE ORGANIZATION CULTIVATES RELATIONSHIPS WITH INDIVIDUAL OUTLETS OR WITH GROUPS OF OUTLETS, OFTEN RESULTING IN HIGH-IMPACT, SOLUTIONS-FOCUSED REPORTING PROJECTS. THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES TRAININGS, WEBINARS, AND RESEARCH AND EDITORIAL CONSULTING SUPPORT TO REPORTERS, PRODUCERS, AND EDITORS. IN SOME CASES, THE ORGANIZATION OFFERS MODEST FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR REPORTER TIME AND TRAVEL, AUDIENCE ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITIES, OR OTHER HIGH-VALUE ACTIVITIES IN THE FORM OF SUBGRANTS.IN CERTAIN SPECIAL RELATIONSHIPSCASES THAT PROMISE TO GENERATE GREAT VISIBILITY, IMPACT, AND LEARNINGTHE ORGANIZATION INVESTS IN LONGER-TERM, HIGHER-IMPACT NEWSROOM PROJECTS. THE ORGANIZATION COMPLEMENTS ITS DIRECT SERVICE WORK WITH NEWS ORGANIZATIONS BY NETWORK MECHANISMS THAT SEEK TO ADVANCE THE ADOPTION OF THE SOLUTIONS APPROACH BY INDIVIDUAL JOURNALISTS, JOURNALISM SCHOOLS, AND NEWSROOMS, INCLUDING THROUGH WEBINARS, ONLINE AND IN-PERSON COMMUNITIES OF PRACTICE, ONLINE RESOURCES, AND TRAIN THE TRAINERS PROGRAMS, WHICH HAVE ACCREDITED 144 TRAINERS WORLDWIDE. SINCE ITS FOUNDING, SJN HAS TRAINED OVER 550 NEWSROOMS AND 68,000 JOURNALISTS IN THE PRACTICE OF SOLUTIONS JOURNALISM.
  2. $627,703 spent. SOLUTIONS INSIGHTS LAB THE ORGANIZATION GROWS AND MANAGES THE SOLUTIONS STORY TRACKER, A CURATED DATABASE OF SOLUTIONS JOURNALISM STORIES THAT HAVE BEEN REVIEWED, EVALUATED, AND TAGGED BY A TEAM OF SOLUTIONS SPECIALISTS. SEARCHABLE BY ISSUE, LOCATION, AUTHOR, NEWSROOM, AND STRATEGIC INSIGHTS, THIS DATABASE GREW IN 2025 TO INCLUDE MORE THAN 17,000 STORIES BY 9,700 JOURNALISTS ABOUT RESPONSES TO PROBLEMS IN 199 COUNTRIES. THE ORGANIZATION ALSO SUPPORTS UNIVERSITY FACULTY IN DEVELOPING AND SHARING TEACHING MATERIALS BASED ON SOLUTIONS JOURNALISM STORIES IN A RANGE OF DISCIPLINES.

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 June 2014.

    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.