2019-06-18T06:56:45-05:00 2018-12-31 EISNERAMPER LLP 750 THIRD AVENUE NEW YORK NY 100172703 990 2018-01-01 462265729 Solutions Journalism Network Inc % JULIA POWER BURNS SOLU 6467191443 79 MADISON AVENUE Suite 224 NEW YORK NY 10016 JULIA POWER BURNS CFO 6467191443 2019-06-12 true CANDICE METH P01306891 2129498700 64.238.150.4 26505220191695000002 2019-06-18 P D611A41C46BF25E5A65C9B6AAB3989918C636A13 D611A41C46BF25E5A65C9B6AAB3989918C636A13 2018 2019-02-21 02:37:17Z JULIA POWER BURNS 79 MADISON AVENUE224 NEW YORK NY 10016 5022601 false X www.solutionsjournalism.org X 2013 DE TO ESTABLISH SOLUTIONS JOURNALISM AS A CORE FUNCTION IN JOURNALISM CONFORMING TO THE PROFESSION'S HIGHEST STANDARDS OF INDEPENDENCE AND ACCURACY. 11 8 34 0 14047 5158674 4999012 37761 23886 1523 1331 2790 -1628 5200748 5022601 143500 1297370 0 0 1546597 2468388 27885 6250 130791 1483319 1724446 3201301 5496454 1999447 -473853 5902930 6103541 498303 1172767 5404627 4930774 X SOLUTIONS JOURNALISM NETWORK, INC. WORKS TO DEFINE, LEGITIMIZE AND SPREAD THE PRACTICE OF "SOLUTIONS JOURNALISM" - RIGOROUS, UNBIASED REPORTING ABOUT CREDIBLE RESPONSES TO SOCIAL PROBLEMS. THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION IS TO ESTABLISH SOLUTIONS JOURNALISM AS A CORE FUNCTION IN JOURNALISM, CONFORMING TO THE PROFESSION'S HIGHEST STANDARDS OF INDEPENDENCE AND ACCURACY. IN KEEPING WITH JOURNALISM'S HISTORIC RESPONSIBILITY TO SPOTLIGHT AND CONTEXTUALIZE SIGNIFICANT ACTIVITY IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST, SOLUTIONS JOURNALISM WILL CIRCULATE RELIABLE INFORMATION ABOUT HOW SOCIETY IS CONFRONTING AND ADAPTING TO MAJOR SOCIAL, ECONOMIC, AND ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES. false false 2899097 1259224 Newsroom Practice Change (formerly known as "Practice Change"): The Organization leverages its curriculum to catalyze and sustain the practice of solutions journalism in news organizations. It cultivates relationships with individual outlets or with groups of outlets, often resulting in high-impact solutions-focused reporting projects. Representative recent collaborations include those with The Miami Herald, Mississippi Today, and WBEZ public radio in Chicago, as well as with collaborations of multiple news organizations in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Montana, New Hampshire, and Connecticut. These relationships typically begin with a workshop introducing newsroom staff to the solutions approach. The Organization then provides research and editorial consulting support to reporters, producers, and editors. In many cases, the Organization also offers modest financial resources to support reporter travel and other high-value activities. In 2018, the Organization supported projects focused on strengthening democracy, health, education and other topics. Having built a network of over 160 news outlets, the Organization is now also focused on ensuring the sustainability of the solutions-journalism technique in these newsrooms and on fostering shared-learning across its newsroom partners. In certain special relationships, cases that promise to generate great visibility, impact, and learning, the Organization invests in longer-term, higher-impact newsroom projects. In 2018, it extended its "Education Lab" collaboration with The Seattle Times for a sixth year. "Education Lab" has generated dozens of prominent feature stories, hundreds of blog posts and interactive features, and a series of live events - which together have increased audience engagement around education issues and catalyzed notable policy changes. As a fiscal sponsor, the Organization has also supported Honeyguide Media, a start-up online news organization that produces solutions oriented coverage of education, health, and international development issues. The fiscal sponsorship agreement with Honeyguide Media ended on June 30, 2018. 734282 Knowledge Dissemination - (formerly known as "Pattern Change"): The Organization continues to expand and manage the Solutions Story Tracker, which now contains over 5,500 stories tagged by issue and problem-solving approach, as well as SolutionsU, a suite of tools to help all learners easily find, integrate, and share solutions stories, to support teaching and learning in social innovation and other topics. In 2018, the Organization launched the Story Fellowship. Fellows vet stories for high-caliber, solutions-focused journalism for the Solutions Story Tracker. The inaugural nine Story Fellows doubled the number of stories in the Story Tracker, adding 2,748 stories. They also curated more than 150 story collections. The community of registered SolutionsU users tripled in 2018, increasing by 2,203 users. The Organization continues to support faculty in developing and sharing teaching materials based on solutions journalism stories in a range of disciplines. Since the original "Story Tracker" launched in 2016, faculty members have used solutions journalism stories in 130 courses including 87 courses in 2018 alone, in disciplines ranging from anthropology to business to public policy. To date, faculty members have reported that more than 5,200 students have been exposed to solutions journalism stories through their courses. 942311 38146 23886 Journalist Practice Change - (formerly known as "Mass Spread"): Complementing its work with news organizations, the Organization seeks to advance the adoption of the solutions approach by individual journalists. Online network: The Organization's member website, The Hub, continued to act as the central repository for all the resources and programs we offer. New to the Hub includes a list of 20+ editors accepting solutions pitches, a mentorship program with four active cohorts, as well as almost a dozen translations of the SJ Basic Toolkit. On average, users spent 21% longer on the site than in 2016, and total visits increased by 11%. Membership in the Hub grew by 218% in 2018, increasing from 1,075 to 3,415 members. The Organization continues to perform well within its social media communities. In 2018 on Twitter, the Organization's following increased by 50% to more than 17,000 followers. Its Facebook group grew by 73%, averaging 4.7% growth per month. Community building: The Organization held its second annual summit in November 2018, bringing together 90 journalists and journalism-school professors for collaborations around solutions journalism. As with last year, feedback from this anchor event was strong: 81% of attendees who responded to our survey said it exceeded their expectations. Additionally, the Organization held key events such as the West Coast Regional Convening, connecting and supporting members from three states, and a gathering that highlighted responses to the #metoo movement. The Organization's volunteer-led communities continued to hold smaller events throughout 2018 in six U.S. cities. Journalism schools: The Organization's work to integrate solutions reporting into journalism-school curriculum has created a core of four beacon journalism schools who champion the practice in their institutions. The Organization has also established meaningful relationships with at least two dozen other institutions that have committed to incorporating the solutions approach into their curricula. Finally, 2018 brought the launch of the Journalism School Curriculum Builder, a resource that supports educators interested in incorporating solutions elements into their journalism courses. Hub membership of journalism-school professors grew by 20% within a week of launching the toolkit. 224796 4800486 true true false false false false false false false false false false false false false true true false false false true false false false false false false true true true false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false true X 65 0 true 34 true true true false false false false false false false false false false false false false X 11 8 false false false false false false false true true false false true true true true true true true true false AK CA CO CT DE DC FL IL MA MI NH NJ NM NY NC OH OR PA VA WA X X JULIA POWER BURNS 6467191443 79 MADISON AVENUE NEW YORK NY 10016 DAVID BOARDMAN CHAIRMAN / DIRECTOR 2.0 0.0 X X 0 0 0 SUSAN DAVIS VICE-CHAIR / DIRECTOR 2.0 0.0 X X 0 0 0 DAVID BORNSTEIN CEO / CO-FOUNDER / DIRECTOR 55.0 0.0 X X 180457 0 8196 NATHALIE LAIDLER-KYLANDER SECRETARY / DIRECTOR 2.0 0.0 X X 0 0 0 DEAN FURBUSH TREASURER / DIRECTOR 2.0 0.0 X X 0 0 0 TINA ROSENBERG VARENIK CO-FOUNDER / DIRECTOR 30.0 0.0 X 128550 0 30 MORGAN DIXON DIRECTOR (AS OF 10/2018) 2.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 BARNABY MARSH DIRECTOR 2.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 COURTNEY MARTIN CO-FOUNDER / DIRECTOR 2.0 0.0 X 21200 0 0 NICCO MELE DIRECTOR (AS OF 05/2018) 2.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 TRABIAN SHORTERS DIRECTOR 2.0 0.0 X 0 0 0 KEITH H HAMMONDS PRESIDENT AND COO 55.0 0.0 X 169641 0 30 JULIA POWER BURNS CFO AND GENERAL MANAGER 55.0 0.0 X 177674 0 6606 MAURISSE JOHNSON VP, FINANCE AND ACCOUNTING 55.0 0.0 X 147858 0 30 MARIA ELISA GROSS DIR NEWSROOM PRACTICE CHANGE 55.0 0.0 X 121982 0 6606 SAMANTHA MCCANN DIR JOURNALIST PRACTICE CHANGE 55.0 0.0 X 101972 0 6246 1049334 0 27744 7 false true false 0 4999012 4999012 CURRICULUM - PROGRAM TRAINING 611430 23886 23886 23886 1331 1331 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 LOSS ON FOREIGN CURRENCY EXCHANGE 900099 -3908 -3908 OTHER REVENUE 813990 2280 2280 -1628 5022601 26166 -2577 1244570 1244570 52800 52800 0 0 840272 649059 138038 53175 0 1354157 1151317 189163 13677 0 94883 77627 14267 2989 179076 147077 26435 5564 0 19150 17649 1501 97224 76680 20544 0 6250 6250 0 550565 480705 64535 5325 11706 8285 1176 2245 85463 68088 15856 1519 31523 12654 18869 0 102702 74983 27719 266915 226788 11395 28732 0 140813 136504 3901 408 0 0 106111 104573 1538 15423 12264 2896 263 CURRICULUM/TRAINING/RESEARCH 196063 194925 1138 WEBSITE DESIGN/MAINTENANCE 20818 20050 768 OTHER EXPENSES 79970 43888 25438 10644 5496454 4800486 565177 130791 1109166 1622646 1993158 2044989 0 0 2576516 2317837 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 73801 25828 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 150289 92241 5902930 6103541 206286 240665 292017 932102 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 498303 1172767 X 604489 367354 4800138 4563420 0 0 5404627 4930774 5902930 6103541 -473853 X false true X true false X 2457697 2869020 4886200 5158674 4999012 20370603 0 0 2457697 2869020 4886200 5158674 4999012 20370603 10360408 10010195 768 1360 1416 1523 1331 6398 0 815 14 140 2790 -1628 2131 20379132 0.49120 0.00000 X 0 0 X 5069806 47205 47205 5022601 5022601 5543659 47205 47205 5496454 5496454 FORM 990, SCHEDULE D, PART X, LINE 2 The Organization is subject to the provisions of the Financial Accounting Standards Board's (the "FASB") Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") Topic 740, Income Taxes, as it relates to accounting and reporting for uncertainty in income taxes. FOR THE ORGANIZATION, THESE PROVISIONS COULD BE APPLICABLE TO THE INCURRENCE OF UNRELATED BUSINESS INCOME TAX ("UBIT") ON THE DISALLOWED TRANSIT AND QUALIFIED PARKING FRINGE BENEFITS. Because the Organization HAS ACCRUED THE TAX LIABILITY FOR UBIT AND because of its general NOT-FOR-PROFIT status, management believes ASC Topic 740 has not had, and is not anticipated to have, a material impact on the Organization's financial statements. Sub-Saharan Africa 0 0 Program Services training/workshops 91629 Europe (Including Iceland and Greenland) 0 0 Program Services training/workshops 47679 South America 0 0 Program Services training/workshops 7870 North America 0 0 Program Services training/workshops 489 0 0 0 0 147667 147667 false false false false false false FORM 990, SCHEDULE F, PART I, LINE 3, COLUMN F AMOUNTS REPORTED ON THE ACCRUAL BASIS OF ACCOUNTING. true THE SEATTLE TIMES 100 DENNY WAY SEATTLE WA 98109 910403890 825000 fmv SUPPORT TRAINING THE MONTGOMERY ADVERTISER 425 MOLTON STREET MONTGOMERY AL 36104 630458983 75000 FMV SUPPORT TRAINING US NEWS AND WORLD REPORT 1050 T JEFFERSON ST WASHINGTON DC 35203 521399776 50000 FMV SUPPORT TRAINING PURPLE STATES LLC 407 HUMPHREY STREET NEW HAVEN CT 06511 205877775 49750 FMV SUPPORT TRAINING NEW HAMPSHIRE PUBLIC BROADCASTING 268 MAST ROAD DURHAM NH 03824 943443883 501(C)(3) 45000 FMV SUPPORT TRAINING THE GROUNDTRUTH PROJECT INC 10 UEST STREET BOSTON MA 02135 460908502 501(C)(3) 40000 FMV SUPPORT TRAINING LENFEST INSTITUTE FOR JOURNALISM 801 MARKET STREET PHILADELPHIA PA 19107 043731829 501(C)(3) 25000 FMV SUPPORT TRAINING ARIZONA DAILY STAR 4850 S PARK AVENUE TUCSON AZ 85714 860621785 10000 FMV SUPPORT TRAINING HONOLULU CIVIL BEAT 3465 WALALAE AVVENUE HONOLULU HI 96816 812803662 8000 FMV SUPPORT TRAINING 3 5 JOURNALIST GRANTS 60 52800 FMV FORM 990, SCHEDULE I, PART I, LINE 2: THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES GRANTS TO NEWSROOMS AND INDIVIDUAL JOURNALISTS TO PRODUCE JOURNALISM CONTENT CONSISTENT WITH THE ORGANIZATIONS MISSION. ORGANIZATIONAL STAFF EVALUATE ALL PROPOSALS SUBMITTED BY NEWSROOMS, INDIVIDUAL JOURNALISTS, AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS FOR THEIR ALIGNMENT WITH THE PRACTICE OF SOLUTIONS JOURNALISM. UPON APPROVAL OF A GRANT APPLICATION, AND WITH THE IMPLEMENTATION OF A GRANT, THE ORGANIZATION MONITORS THE FINANCIAL REPORTING AND JOURNALISM PRODUCED BY THE GRANTEE THROUGHOUT THE GRANT PERIOD FOR COMPLIANCE WITH THE TERMS OF THE ORGANIZATIONS GRANT AGREEMENTS. RECORDS OF GRANTS, INCLUDING BUDGETS AND SUBSEQUENT DELIVERABLES ARE KEPT IN A CENTRAL DATABASE. FORM 990, SCHEDULE I, PART II LINE 1(H) AND PART III, LINE 1 GRANTS ARE AWARDED TO SUPPORT THE TRAINING IN, AND PRODUCTION OF, SOLUTIONS JOURNALISM. X X false false false false false false false false false DAVID BORNSTEIN CEO / CO-FOUNDER / DIRECTOR 180457 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 8196 0 188653 0 0 0 KEITH H HAMMONDS PRESIDENT AND COO 169641 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 30 0 169671 0 0 0 JULIA POWER BURNS CFO AND GENERAL MANAGER 167674 0 10000 0 0 0 0 0 6606 0 184280 0 10000 0 FORM 990, PART I, LINES 7A AND 7B; PART V, LINES 3A AND 3B DUE TO THE TAX CUTS AND JOBS ACT, THE ORGANIZATION IS SUBJECT TO UNRELATED BUSINESS INCOME TAX ON THE DISALLOWED TRANSIT AND QUALIFIED PARKING FRINGE BENEFITS AND, ACCORDINGLY, FILED THE FEDERAL FORM 990-T. FORM 990, PART III, LINE 4D, OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES Curriculum - (formerly known as "Education"): The Organization has created a core curriculum designed to introduce its distinctive approach to journalism professionals and students; and to further develop and strengthen the skills of those who already integrate solutions-oriented reporting into their work. The Organization provides an online suite of courses, the "Learning Lab," which is free to access. It includes core training in solutions journalism, as well as specialized guides for editors and reporters focusing on specific beats, such as violence, education, and health. These resources, in addition to a growing archive of thousands of model-solutions stories, are intended to advance the understanding and practice of solutions-journalism for reporters and editors who do not have access to its direct trainings. Working with partners, the Organization is translating some of these resources into multiple languages, making them accessible to non-English-speaking constituents. EXPENSES $224,796 INCLUDING GRANTS OF $0 REVENUE $0 FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 11B THE CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER AND GENERAL MANAGER, THE PRESIDENT AND THE CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER REVIEW THE FORM 990. UPON THEIR SATISFACTION, THE FORM 990 IS DISTRIBUTED TO THE FULL BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR REVIEW AND APPROVAL PRIOR TO THE ELECTRONIC FILING WITH THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 12C The conflict of interest policy is distributed annually to be reviewed and signed by all members of the board of directors and staff. The annual notification states that all directors and staff are required to disclose any conflicts to the organizations designated compliance officer or the Chief Executive Officer. As a part of the Organizations ongoing monitoring of compliance with the policy, all directors and staff are asked to remain cognizant of their activities. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 15 The independent members of the Organizations board of Directors review the New York Salary data published in Guidestars annual non-profit compensation report to assist in evaluating compensation levels for all officers and key employees of the organization. In addition, THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE of the board of directors reviewS all salary offers extended to newly-hired key employees and officers to determine appropriate levels of compensation. Following a review of the aforementioned data and inputs, compensation for those key employees and officers of the organization are discussed and set in an executive session meeting of the independent members of the board of directors. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION C, LINE 19 The organizations financial statements and public disclosure copy of the form 990 are published on the organizations website and are available upon request. The organization does not make any of its governing documents available to the general public. FORM 990 PART IX LINE 11G DESCRIPTION:PROGRAM CONSULTING FEES TOTAL FEES:480705 FORM 990 PART IX LINE 11G DESCRIPTION:OTHER GENERAL CONSULTING FEES TOTAL FEES:69860