2023-05-11T10:46:06-05:00 2022-06-30 873231666 PKF O'CONNOR DAVIES LLP 665 FIFTH AVENUE NEW YORK NY 10022 990 2021-07-01 274108978 FOOD AND ENVIRONMENT REPORTING NETWORK INC FOOD 6462486014 580 FIFTH AVENUE 820 NEW YORK NY 10036 THOMAS LASKAWY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 6462486014 2023-05-11 1 THOMAS LASKAWY 999009999 EVA MRUK P00543254 2122862600 2023-05-11 3 AAL1 IAL1 2021 2023-04-26 12:10:37Z THOMAS LASKAWY 580 FIFTH AVENUE 820 NEW YORK NY 10036 1421598 0 X WWW.THEFERN.ORG X 2010 NY TO PRODUCE EXPLANATORY AND INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING ON FOOD, AGRICULTURE, AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH THROUGH PUBLICATION PARTNERSHIPS WITH RESPECTED LOCAL AND NATIONAL MEDIA OUTLETS. 7 6 6 6 0 0 942796 1284542 107961 96542 326 122 0 1787 1051083 1382993 0 0 0 0 572316 704958 0 0 60672 474139 599386 1046455 1304344 4628 78649 713615 709191 182805 99732 530810 609459 X THE FOOD & ENVIRONMENT REPORTING NETWORK (FERN) IS THE FIRST AND ONLY INDEPENDENT, NON-PROFIT, NON-PARTISAN NEWS ORGANIZATION THAT PRODUCES EXPLANATORY AND INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING ON FOOD, AGRICULTURE, AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH THROUGH PUBLICATION PARTNERSHIPS WITH RESPECTED LOCAL AND NATIONAL MEDIA OUTLETS. 0 0 848123 0 64276 THE FOOD & ENVIRONMENT REPORTING NETWORK CONTINUES TO DEMONSTRATE AN ABILITY TO DELIVER SMART, POWERFUL JOURNALISM THAT HELPS DEFINE, AND OFTEN LEADS THE MEDIA COVERAGE OF ITS AREAS OF FOCUS. DURING THE FISCAL YEAR, WE PRODUCED 23 EXPLANATORY OR INVESTIGATIVE REPORTS ON A RANGE OF TOPICS PUBLISHED WITH 13 OUTLETS, INCLUDING NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC, THE GUARDIAN, SMITHSONIAN MAGAZINE, THE NATION, THE ATLANTIC, AND OTHERS. DURING THE FIRST HALF OF THE FISCAL YEAR, COVID-19 RECEDED AS A MAJOR ISSUE FOR THE FOOD SYSTEM AND OUR REPORTING BALANCE RETURNED TO A MORE TYPICAL MIX OF STORIES IN OUR INTEREST AREAS. IN ADDITION TO RETURNING REPORTERS TO THE FIELD, WE ALSO BEGAN PRODUCTION ON A LIMITED-SERIES PODCAST BASED IN THE MIDWEST AND FOCUSED ON THE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE ON AGRICULTURE. FOR THE SECOND HALF OF THE YEAR, OUR FOCUS WAS ON FINISHING AND LAUNCHING HOT FARM, FERN'S FIRST PODCAST. IT TOOK A YEAR TO PRODUCE AND IT HAS RECEIVED ALMOST 90,000 DOWNLOADS AND COUNTING. EVEN NEW CELEBRITY-DRIVEN PODCASTS RARELY SEE THAT KIND OF IMMEDIATE SUCCESS. IT WAS IDENTIFIED ON BOTH NPR ONE AND APPLE PODCASTS AS A "NEW AND NOTEWORTHY" PODCAST. IN ADDITION, A COMPANION HOUR-LONG RADIO DOCUMENTARY CULLED FROM THE PODCAST MATERIAL HAS BEEN BROADCAST BY OVER 35 NPR AFFILIATES NATIONWIDE, STATIONS LARGE AND SMALL, RURAL AND URBAN. THE RECEPTION GREATLY EXCEEDED OUR PROJECTIONS MAKING ADDITIONAL SEASONS AND OTHER LIMITED-SERIES PODCASTS MORE LIKELY. 109089 0 32266 WE PRODUCED DOZENS OF ORIGINAL REPORTED PIECES FOR OUR FERN'S AG INSIDER POLICY NEWS SERVICE. TOPICS THAT RECEIVED EXTENSIVE COVERAGE THIS YEAR, INCLUDED CLIMATE POLICY, CALIFORNIA WATER ISSUES, AND FOOD ACCESS POLICY. WE NOW HAVE MORE THAN 349 INDIVIDUAL AND CORPORATE SUBSCRIBERS TO OUR SUBSCRIPTION ONLY NEWS SERVICE AND A GROWING NUMBER OF ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONAL SUBSCRIBERS, INCLUDING NEW YORK UNIVERSITY, HARVARD LAW SCHOOL, UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, BERKELEY, TUFTS UNIVERSITY, YALE UNIVERSITY, AND THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA. IN ADDITION, NEARLY 2,200 PEOPLE RECEIVE THE FREE NEWSLETTER VERSION EVERY WEEKDAY. 957212 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 48 0 6 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 X 7 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 AR CA FL MD MI NJ NY PA WI X X X THOMAS LASKAWY 2153702765 725 WESTVIEW ST PHILADELPHIA PA 19119 SAMUEL FORMARTZ SECRETARY/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF 40.00 X X 98875 0 0 JOANNE KELLEY CHAIR 5.00 X X 0 0 0 NATHANIEL BROWN TREASURER 5.00 X X 0 0 0 SUSAN WEST DIRECTOR 5.00 X 0 0 0 SARENA SNIDER DIRECTOR 5.00 X 0 0 0 LORRAINE FONTANES DIRECTOR 5.00 X 0 0 0 AILEEN BURDICK DIRECTOR 5.00 X 0 0 0 THOMAS LASKAWY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 40.00 X 98875 0 0 197750 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 100000 1184542 38605 1284542 EDITORIAL REVENUE 511110 64276 64276 SUBSCRIPTIONS REVENUE 519130 32266 32266 96542 122 122 38605 38605 0 0 REIMBURSEMENT 900099 1787 1787 1787 1382993 96542 0 1909 X 199971 174388 18657 6926 449594 318325 95728 35541 2803 2126 494 183 52590 39891 9261 3438 30410 30410 201732 188809 12477 446 9258 1815 6361 1082 40042 7850 27511 4681 284981 208431 68716 7834 1905 373 1309 223 18049 15183 2561 305 109 21 75 13 12900 12900 1304344 957212 286460 60672 95739 186956 527261 307385 73764 200000 16851 14850 713615 709191 65969 84571 16836 15161 100000 0 182805 99732 X 191494 61150 339316 548309 530810 609459 713615 709191 78649 0 X X 0 1 X 1 0 X 1004498 561587 1202355 942796 1284542 4995778 1004498 561587 1202355 942796 1284542 4995778 2086479 2909299 23 20 494 326 122 985 2980 1968 1084 1787 7819 5004582 464276 0.58130 0.59490 X SCHEDULE A, PART II, LINE 10, EXPLANATION OF OTHER INCOME: REIMBURSEMENT - 2017 AMOUNT: $ 2,980. 2018 AMOUNT: $ 1,968. 2019 AMOUNT: $ 1,084. 2021 AMOUNT: $ 1,787. PART II, SHORT YEAR EXPLANATION: THE ORGANIZATION IS REPORTING A SHORT YEAR IN COLUMN (B) 2018 AS THE ORGANIZATION CHANGED ITS ACCOUNTING PERIOD FROM A CALENDAR YEAR TO A FISCAL YEAR, STARTING WITH THE TAX PERIOD ENDED JUNE 30, 2019. RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED 0 X 1382993 0 1382993 0 1382993 1304344 0 1304344 0 1304344 PART X, LINE 2: MANAGEMENT OF FERN HAS DETERMINED THAT THERE ARE NO MATERIAL UNCERTAIN TAX POSITIONS THAT REQUIRE RECOGNITION OR DISCLOSURE IN THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. FERN'S TAX RETURNS FOR ALL YEARS SINCE 2019 REMAIN OPEN TO EXAMINATION BY THE APPLICABLE TAXING AUTHORITIES. THERE ARE CURRENTLY NO EXAMINATIONS IN PROGRESS. X 3 38605 AVG. SELLING PRICE 0 0 0 0 PART I, COLUMN (B): THE ORGANIZATION IS REPORTING THE NUMBER OF CONTRIBUTORS IN COLUMN (B). FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 11B THE FORM 990 WAS PREPARED BY AN OUTSIDE ACCOUNTING FIRM, AND THEN REVIEWED BY THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR. A COMPLETE COPY OF THE FORM 990 IS PROVIDED TO ALL MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR THEIR REVIEW PRIOR TO FILING. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 12C ANNUALLY, BOARD MEMBERS AND OFFICERS ARE REQUIRED TO DISCLOSE ANY ACTUAL OR POSSIBLE CONFLICTS OF INTEREST TO THE GOVERNING BOARD. AFTER DISCLOSURE OF ALL THE MATERIAL FACTS, THE INDIVIDUAL MUST RECUSE THEMSELVES WHILE A DETERMINATION OF A CONFLICT OF INTEREST IS DISCUSSED AND VOTED UPON. AN INTERESTED PERSON MAY MAKE A PRESENTATION AT THE GOVERNING BOARD MEETING, BUT AFTER THE PRESENTATION HE/SHE LEAVES THE MEETING DURING THE DISCUSSION OF, AND VOTE ON THE TRANSACTION OR ARRANGEMENT INVOLVING THE POSSIBLE CONFLICT OF INTEREST. SUCH MATTERS INVOLVING THE EXISTENCE OF CONFLICTS OF INTEREST ARE DOCUMENTED IN THE MINUTES OF THE GOVERNING BOARD. ON AN ANNUAL BASIS, EACH BOARD MEMBER AND OFFICER IS REQUIRED TO SIGN A STATEMENT WHICH AFFIRMS THAT THEY RECEIVED A COPY OF THE CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY, READ AND UNDERSTAND IT, AND AGREE TO COMPLY WITH IT. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 15 TO DETERMINE COMPENSATION FOR THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, THE BOARD UTILIZES COMPARABLE COMPENSATION DATA OF PEER ORGANIZATIONS. THE AMOUNT FOR EACH POSITION IS APPROVED BY THE BOARD AND RECORDED IN THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING. THE PROCESS LAST OCCURRED IN 2021. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION C, LINE 19 FERN'S FORM 990 IS MADE AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC INSPECTION AS REQUIRED UNDER SECTION 6104 OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE. THE FORM 990 IS AVAILABLE ON FERN'S WEBSITE, THE NEW YORK STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL WEBSITE, GUIDESTAR.ORG AND OTHER SIMILAR TYPES OF WEBSITES. IN ADDITION, THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ARE AVAILABLE ON FERN'S WEBSITE AND THE CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY, ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION AND BY-LAWS ARE AVAILABLE UPON WRITTEN REQUEST. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION A, LINE 3: FERN CONTRACTED WITH A PROFESSIONAL EMPLOYER ORGANIZATION (PEO) FOR SERVICES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PAYROLL, TIMEKEEPING, EMPLOYEE BENEFITS, HR ADMINISTRATION AND WORKFORCE REGULATORY COMPLIANCE NEEDS. AS THE EMPLOYER OF RECORD FOR TAX PURPOSES, FORMS W-2 AND W-3 ARE ISSUED BY THE PEO AND FILED UNDER THE PEO'S FEDERAL EIN. IN THIS CO-EMPLOYMENT ARRANGEMENT, THE FERN IS THE COMMON LAW EMPLOYER AND, ACCORDINGLY, COMPENSATION IS REPORTED ON FORM 990, PART V, LINE 2A AND PART I, LINE 5. FORM 990, PART IX, LINE 11G DESIGN/DEVELOPMENT: PROGRAM SERVICE EXPENSES 4,008. MANAGEMENT AND GENERAL EXPENSES 10,048. FUNDRAISING EXPENSES 0. TOTAL EXPENSES 14,056. COMMUNICATIONS: PROGRAM SERVICE EXPENSES 15,625. MANAGEMENT AND GENERAL EXPENSES 0. FUNDRAISING EXPENSES 0. TOTAL EXPENSES 15,625. PHOTOGRAPHER: PROGRAM SERVICE EXPENSES 22,500. MANAGEMENT AND GENERAL EXPENSES 0. FUNDRAISING EXPENSES 0. TOTAL EXPENSES 22,500. EDITORS: PROGRAM SERVICE EXPENSES 51,638. MANAGEMENT AND GENERAL EXPENSES 1,226. FUNDRAISING EXPENSES 0. TOTAL EXPENSES 52,864. WRITERS: PROGRAM SERVICE EXPENSES 89,858. MANAGEMENT AND GENERAL EXPENSES 0. FUNDRAISING EXPENSES 0. TOTAL EXPENSES 89,858. PAYROLL SERVICE FEE: PROGRAM SERVICE EXPENSES 5,180. MANAGEMENT AND GENERAL EXPENSES 1,203. FUNDRAISING EXPENSES 446. TOTAL EXPENSES 6,829. FORM 990, PART XII, LINE 2C: THE ORGANIZATION HAS A COMMITTEE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE OVERSIGHT OF THE AUDIT OF ITS FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND THE SELECTION OF AN INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANT. THE PROCESS HAS NOT CHANGED FROM THE PRIOR YEAR.