2018-05-09T11:33:16-05:00 2017-12-31 470900880 CALIBRE CPA GROUP 7501 WISCONSIN AVENUE SUITE 1200W BETHESDA MD 20814 990 2017-01-01 412106721 FREE PRESS FREE 2022651490 40 MAIN STREET NO 301 FLORENCE MA 01062 KIMBERLY LONGEY CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER 2022651490 2018-05-09 1 SUBRINA L WOOD CPA P00365899 2023319880 2018-05-09 2017 2022-09-23 18:48:47Z CRAIG AARON 40 MAIN STREET NO 301 FLORENCE MA 01062 5672347 0 X WWW.FREEPRESS.NET X 2003 DC FREE PRESS IS A NATIONAL, NONPARTISAN ORGANIZATION WORKING TO REFORM THE MEDIA. FREE PRESS CONDUCTS RESEARCH ON HOW THE CURRENT MEDIA SYSTEM INFLUENCES THE DEVELOPMENT OF PUBLIC POLICY AND EDUCATES THE PUBLIC AND POLICY-MAKERS ON HOW A MORE DIVERSE AND PUBLIC SERVICE-ORIENTED MEDIA SYSTEM CAN STRENGTHEN AMERICAN DEMOCRACY. FREE PRESS PROMOTES DIVERSE AND INDEPENDENT MEDIA OWNERSHIP, STRONG PUBLIC MEDIA AND UNIVERSAL ACCESS TO COMMUNICATIONS. 7 6 33 760 0 0 4405586 5651707 556 0 18499 20640 0 0 4424641 5672347 0 0 0 0 1774201 2160344 0 0 380539 983924 1117993 2758125 3278337 1666516 2394010 4257600 6548783 531611 428784 3725989 6119999 X FREE PRESS WAS CREATED TO GIVE PEOPLE A VOICE IN THE CRUCIAL DECISIONS THAT SHAPE OUR MEDIA. WE BELIEVE THAT POSITIVE SOCIAL CHANGE, RACIAL JUSTICE AND MEANINGFUL ENGAGEMENT IN PUBLIC LIFE REQUIRE EQUITABLE ACCESS TO TECHNOLOGY, DIVERSE AND INDEPENDENT OWNERSHIP OF MEDIA PLATFORMS, AND JOURNALISM THAT HOLDS LEADERS ACCOUNTABLE AND TELLS PEOPLE WHAT'S ACTUALLY HAPPENING IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. FREE PRESS CLOSELY WATCHES AS THE DECISIONS SHAPING THE MEDIA LANDSCAPE ARE MADE AND SOUNDS THE ALARM WHEN PEOPLE'S RIGHTS TO CONNECT AND COMMUNICATE ARE IN DANGER. WE FOCUS ON SAVING NET NEUTRALITY, ACHIEVING AFFORDABLE INTERNET ACCESS FOR ALL, UPLIFTING THE VOICES OF PEOPLE OF COLOR IN THE MEDIA, CHALLENGING OLD AND NEW MEDIA GATEKEEPERS TO SERVE THE PUBLIC INTEREST, ENDING UNWARRANTED SURVEILLANCE, DEFENDING PRESS FREEDOM AND REIMAGINING LOCAL JOURNALISM. 0 0 2744721 SEE SCHEDULE O FOR A DESCRIPTION OF PROGRAM SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS. 2744721 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 13 0 1 33 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 X 7 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 AK AR AL CA CT FL GA IL KS KY MA ME MN MS NC NH NJ NY OK OR PA RI SC TN VA WA WV WI HI MD UT VT X X KIMBERLY LONGEY CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER 2022651490 40 MAIN STREET SUITE 301 FLORENCE MA 01062 CRAIG AARON PRESIDENT, CEO 34.00 11.00 X X 91254 30418 27255 OLGA DAVIDSON DIRECTOR, SECRETARY 1.00 1.00 X X 0 0 0 LIZA PIKE DIRECTOR, TREASURER 1.00 1.00 X X 0 0 0 D BENJAMIN SCOTT DIRECTOR, CHAIR 1.00 1.00 X X 0 0 0 ALVARO BEDOYA DIRECTOR 1.00 1.00 X 0 0 0 MICHAEL COPPS DIRECTOR 1.00 1.00 X 0 0 0 VICTOR PICKARD DIRECTOR 1.00 1.00 X 0 0 0 KIMBERLY LONGEY COO, ASST TREAS, ASST SECY 34.00 6.00 X 109179 19267 22860 MATTHEW WOOD POLICY DIRECTOR 32.00 8.00 X 102402 25601 27400 S DEREK TURNER RESEARCH DIRECTOR 34.00 6.00 X 88763 15664 15894 JESSICA GONZALEZ DEPUTY DIRECTOR & SNR COUNSEL 34.00 6.00 X 91047 16067 10488 MISTY PEREZ TRUEDSON MANAGING DIRECTOR 34.00 6.00 X 85662 15117 23438 568307 122134 127335 2 0 1 0 ECHO & CO 1101 WILSON BOULEVARD ARLINGTON VA 22209 WEBSITE DEVELOPER AND HOSTING 396431 1 5651707 5651707 20640 20640 5672347 0 0 20640 X 241315 133365 41557 66393 1522291 1342053 20369 159869 58925 52687 442 5796 205594 153040 39440 13114 132219 111504 4226 16489 1879 1631 210 38 17718 17718 488125 434435 10648 43042 62603 47325 1511 13767 151919 126142 4805 20972 36701 28005 1064 7632 183398 154634 5864 22900 112090 109377 538 2175 32820 32599 46 175 13676 11582 436 1658 7667 5209 1699 759 FILING FEES 7937 2280 5657 TRAINING AND DEV. 1460 1133 224 103 3278337 2744721 153077 380539 302759 499608 1363935 2098381 2285000 3566260 151746 310151 120194 54093 259892 259892 13676 0 20290 20290 4257600 6548783 436611 333784 95000 95000 531611 428784 X 1504744 1729749 2221245 4390250 3725989 6119999 4257600 6548783 2394010 0 X X 0 1 X 1 0 X 3735707 1532084 2438063 4405586 5651707 17763147 3735707 1532084 2438063 4405586 5651707 17763147 11023114 6740033 30314 14537 18058 18499 20640 102048 17865195 201891 0.37730 0.39910 X RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED 0 0 0 2897798 2897798 294890 73723 0 0 251863 242804 270172 294890 1059729 1589594 62966 60701 67543 73723 264933 397400 229146 229146 0 30746 30746 0 0 ADVANCE FROM RELATED ORGANIZATION 95000 95000 X 5672347 0 5672347 0 5672347 3278337 0 3278337 0 3278337 PART X, LINE 2: THE ORGANIZATION ACCOUNTS FOR INCOME TAXES IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ACCOUNTING STANDARDS CODIFICATION (ASC) TOPIC INCOME TAXES. THESE PROVISIONS PROVIDE CONSISTENT GUIDANCE FOR THE ACCOUNTING FOR UNCERTAINTY IN INCOME TAXES RECOGNIZED IN AN ENTITY'S FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND PRESCRIBE A THRESHOLD OF "MORE LIKELY THAN NOT" FOR RECOGNITION AND DERECOGNITION OF TAX POSITIONS TAKEN OR EXPECTED TO BE TAKEN IN A TAX RETURN. THE ORGANIZATION PERFORMED AN EVALUATION OF UNCERTAIN TAX POSITIONS FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2017 AND 2016, AND DETERMINED THAT THERE WERE NO MATTERS THAT WOULD REQUIRE RECOGNITION IN THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OR THAT MAY HAVE AN EFFECT ON ITS TAX-EXEMPT STATUS. AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2017, THE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS FOR TAX YEARS 2014 THROUGH 2016 REMAINS OPEN WITH THE U.S. FEDERAL JURISDICTION AND THE STATE OF MASSACHUSETTS. IT IS THE ORGANIZATION'S POLICY TO RECOGNIZE INTEREST AND/OR PENALTIES RELATED TO UNCERTAIN TAX POSITIONS, IF ANY, IN UNRELATED BUSINESS INCOME TAX EXPENSE. X X 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 KIMBERLY LONGEY COO, ASST TREAS, ASST SECY 109179 19267 0 0 0 0 5514 973 14927 1446 129620 21686 0 0 MATTHEW WOOD POLICY DIRECTOR 102402 25601 0 0 0 0 5354 1338 16566 4142 124322 31081 0 0 FORM 990, PART III, LINE 4A PROGRAM WORK INCLUDES: RESEARCH, EDUCATION, ORGANIZING AND MOBILIZING 1.4 MILLION INDIVIDUALS AND MORE THAN 230 ORGANIZATIONS TO ADVOCATE FOR BETTER MEDIA, OPEN TECHNOLOGY AND A HEALTHIER DEMOCRACY. FREE PRESS WORKS TO PRESERVE RIGHTS TO FREE EXPRESSION, COMMUNICATION AND PRIVACY ONLINE AND IN PERSON. AREAS OF FOCUS INCLUDE NETWORK NEUTRALITY, ONLINE PRIVACY, CORPORATE AND GOVERNMENT SURVEILLANCE, JOURNALISM, PUBLIC MEDIA, MEDIA CONSOLIDATION AND MEDIA DIVERSITY, AND GOVERNMENT TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY. ACCOMPLISHMENTS INCLUDE: 1) GROWING AND LEADING THE MOVEMENT FOR MEDIA REFORM AND JUSTICE. PROVIDED REGULAR INFORMATION VIA EMAIL AND WEBSITE TO 1.4 MILLION CONSTITUENTS HAILING FROM ALL 50 STATES. OUR WEBSITE ATTRACTED MORE THAN 4 MILLION UNIQUE VISITORS AND OUR FIELD EVENTS ATTRACTED THOUSANDS OF PARTICIPANTS. WE INTERACTED WITH 125,000 SOCIAL MEDIA FOLLOWERS AND EARNED 3,000 PRESS HITS. CREATED AND DISSEMINATED RESOURCE MATERIALS INCLUDING RESEARCH REPORTS, ISSUE BRIEFS, FACTSHEETS, AND BROCHURES. PROVIDED TRAINING AND SUPPORT TO DOZENS OF LOCAL AND REGIONAL MEDIA REFORM GROUPS AND TO THOUSANDS OF LOCAL MEDIA ACTIVISTS. FILED PUBLIC COMMENTS, AND PARTICIPATED IN SEVERAL FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION PROCEEDINGS. WORKED WITH DOZENS OF ORGANIZATIONS TO PLAN AND IMPLEMENT HIGH PROFILE EDUCATIONAL EVENTS. SECURED FINANCIAL SUPPORT FROM 1,084 FOUNDATIONS, PUBLIC CHARITIES AND INDIVIDUAL DONORS. 2)INTERNET: PROMOTED POLICIES THAT PROTECT CONSUMERS, ENSURE INTERNET ACCESS AND AFFORDABILITY AND ENCOURAGE COMPETITION AND INNOVATION IN THE BROADBAND MARKETPLACE. EDUCATED CONSUMERS ABOUT PRICING, COMPETITION, AND SERVICE PRACTICES IN THE CABLE AND WIRELESS SERVICES INDUSTRY. EXPOSED UNFAIR TRADE PRACTICES AND VIOLATIONS OF NET NEUTRALITY. PROMOTED EFFORTS TO DEFEND NETWORK NEUTRALITY AND TREAT THE INTERNET AS A COMMUNICATIONS SERVICE UNDER TITLE II OF THE COMMUNICATIONS ACT. ISSUED GROUNDBREAKING REPORT DEMONSTRATING THE TITLE II RULES WERE FOSTERING INNOVATION AND INVESTMENT. TESTIFIED BEFORE CONGRESS TO DEFEND THE LIFELINE PROGRAM. 3)JOURNALISM: ENCOURAGED PUBLIC BROADCASTERS TO INVEST IN LOCAL NEWS AND INFORMATION NEEDS. EXPOSED THE NEGATIVE IMPACT OF MARGINALIZATION AND SUPPRESSION OF INDEPENDENT VOICES. PROMOTED FREEDOM OF THE PRESS. MONITORED AND EXPOSED INCIDENTS WHERE MEMBERS OF THE PRESS ARE HARASSED WHILE DOING THEIR JOBS. WORKED WITH DOZENS OF NEW JERSEY AND NORTH CAROLINA BASED ORGANIZATIONS AND HUNDREDS OF INDIVIDUALS TO EXPLORE HOW LOCAL NEWS CAN CONTRIBUTE TO A BROAD, SOLUTIONS-ORIENTED EFFORT TOWARD DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION AND COMMUNITY SELF-DETERMINATION. PROMOTED THE CREATION OF THE NEW JERSEY CIVIC INFORMATION CONSORTIUM TO HELP BOLSTER PUBLIC-INTEREST JOURNALISM, CIVIC INFORMATION AND MEDIA INNOVATION FOR DECADES TO COME. 4) MEDIA CONTROL: WORKED TO PREVENT FURTHER CONSOLIDATION OF MEDIA OWNERSHIP AND TO PROMOTE POLICIES THAT SUPPORT PLURALISM AND DIVERSITY. PROMOTED COMPETITIVE, DIVERSE AND INDEPENDENT LOCAL MEDIA. OPPOSED MULTIPLE CORPORATE MERGER PLANS. PROMOTED REGULATION THAT PROVIDES MEDIA OWNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES FOR UNDERREPRESENTED COMMUNITIES. ENCOURAGED MEDIA OUTLETS TO ADOPT BUSINESS POLICIES AND PRACTICES TO DIVERSIFY NEWSROOMS. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION A, LINE 8B THE ORGANIZATION HAS NO COMMITTEES THAT ARE AUTHORIZED TO ACT ON BEHALF OF THE GOVERNING BODY. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 11B GENERALLY, AN ELECTRONIC COPY OF FORM 990 IS DISTRIBUTED TO MEMBERS OF THE AUDIT OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE (CHAIR, TREASURER, AND ASSISTANT TREASURER) WHO REVIEWS IT AND THE ORGANIZATION'S FINANCIAL STATEMENTS IN A MEETING WITH THE CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANT RETAINED TO PREPARE THESE DOCUMENTS. ONCE THE AUDIT OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE IS SATISFIED WITH THE ACCURACY OF THE INFORMATION PRESENTED, A COPY OF THE FORM 990 IS SENT TO ALL BOARD MEMBERS PRIOR TO FILING. EACH YEAR THE ENTIRE GOVERNING BODY IS OFFERED THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH THE ORGANIZATION'S CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANT TO REVIEW THE AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND DISCUSS THE FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT PRACTICE OF THE ORGANIZATION. THIS IS AN OPTIONAL MEETING DESIGNED TO ALLOW THE GOVERNING BODY DIRECT ACCESS TO THE INDEPENDENT AUDITOR. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 12C ALL OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, TRUSTEES, AND KEY EMPLOYEES ARE REQUIRED TO DISCLOSE ANNUALLY INTERESTS THAT COULD GIVE RISE TO CONFLICTS. SIGNED DOCUMENTS ARE COLLECTED AT THE ANNUAL MEETING OF THE GOVERNING BODY. IF A REAL OR PERCEIVED CONFLICT IS REPORTED, THE PROCEDURES IN THE POLICY ARE FOLLOWED. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 15 EACH POSITION AT FREE PRESS HAS A PAY RANGE. RANGES ARE DETERMINED AFTER REVIEW OF COMPARABILITY DATA, INCLUDING COMPENSATION INFORMATION RECEIVED DIRECTLY FROM PEER ORGANIZATIONS, COMPENSATION DATA FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PAY SCALE, AND RESEARCH ON NONPROFIT COMPENSATION CONDUCTED UTILIZING DATA OBTAINED FROM GUIDESTAR, REGIONAL EMPLOYER ASSOCIATIONS AND JOB POSTINGS. MANAGEMENT INCLUDES COMPENSATION DATA FOR ALL STAFF, INCLUDING THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND KEY EMPLOYEES, IN THE ANNUAL BUDGET THAT IS REVIEWED AND APPROVED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS IN ADVANCE OF EACH FISCAL YEAR. A DETAILED MEMO OUTLINING THE ORGANIZATION'S VALUES AROUND COMPENSATION, THE HIGHEST AND LOWEST PAID EMPLOYEE AND HOW COMPENSATION CHANGES WITHIN ANY FISCAL YEAR IS PROVIDED ALONG WITH THE BUDGET. THE BOARD APPROVES THE BUDGET IN ADVANCE OF EACH FISCAL YEAR. COMPENSATION CHANGES DURING ANY FISCAL YEAR ARE AT THE DISCRETION OF MANAGEMENT, AND MUST REMAIN WITHIN THE BOARD APPROVED BUDGET. MIDYEAR CHANGES TO CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER'S COMPENSATION, IF ANY, MUST BE REVIEWED AND APPROVED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION C, LINE 19 FREE PRESS WILL PROVIDE COPIES OF GOVERNING DOCUMENTS, CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY, AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS UPON REQUEST AND WITHIN 10 DAYS OF ANY REQUEST. FORM 990, PART IX, LINE 11G OTHER CONSULTANTS: PROGRAM SERVICE EXPENSES 430,540. MANAGEMENT AND GENERAL EXPENSES 10,500. FUNDRAISING EXPENSES 42,464. TOTAL EXPENSES 483,504. PAYROLL SERVICE: PROGRAM SERVICE EXPENSES 3,895. MANAGEMENT AND GENERAL EXPENSES 148. FUNDRAISING EXPENSES 578. TOTAL EXPENSES 4,621. FORM 990, PART XII, LINE 2C THE ORGANIZATION'S CHAIR, TREASURER AND CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR OVERSIGHT OF THE AUDIT OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SELECTION OF AN INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANT. THE PROCESS HAS NOT CHANGED FROM THE PRIOR YEAR. FREE PRESS ACTION FUND 40 MAIN STREET SUITE 301 FLORENCE MA 01062 043771598 PROMOTING MEDIA REFORM IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST DC 501(C)(4) N/A 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 FREE PRESS ACTION FUND N 665285 ACTUAL COSTS, TIME SHEETS FREE PRESS ACTION FUND O 424722 ACTUAL COSTS, TIME SHEETS FREE PRESS ACTION FUND Q 1090007 ACTUAL COSTS, TIME SHEETS