FOOD AND ENVIRONMENT REPORTING NETWORK: Form 990, tax year 2017

View the entire original 990 at ProPublica ↗

Organization
FOOD AND ENVIRONMENT REPORTING NETWORK (EIN 27-4108978)
Tax period
2017-01-01 to 2017-12-31
Filed
2018-05-15
IRS object ID
201841359349302504
Schema version
2017v2.2
Source
Download XML · Original 990 at ProPublica

Every field in the e-filed return. Faint text is the IRS element name, for citing.

Return header ReturnHeader

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Return2018-05-15T09:06:07-05:00ReturnTs
Tax Period End2017-12-31TaxPeriodEndDt

Preparer Firm PreparerFirmGrp

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Preparer Firm EIN271728945PreparerFirmEIN

Preparer Firm Name PreparerFirmName

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Business Name Line1PKF O'CONNOR DAVIES LLPBusinessNameLine1Txt

Preparer US Address PreparerUSAddress

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Address Line1665 FIFTH AVENUEAddressLine1Txt
CityNEW YORKCityNm
State AbbreviationNYStateAbbreviationCd
ZIP10022ZIPCd
FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Return Type990ReturnTypeCd
Tax Period Begin2017-01-01TaxPeriodBeginDt

Filer Filer

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
EIN274108978EIN

Business Name BusinessName

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Business Name Line1FOOD AND ENVIRONMENT REPORTING NETWORKBusinessNameLine1Txt
Business Name Line2INCBusinessNameLine2Txt
FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Business Name ControlFOODBusinessNameControlTxt
Phone6462486014PhoneNum

US Address USAddress

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Address Line1576 FIFTH AVENUE NO 903AddressLine1Txt
CityNEW YORKCityNm
State AbbreviationNYStateAbbreviationCd
ZIP10036ZIPCd

Business Officer BusinessOfficerGrp

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
PersonTHOMAS LASKAWYPersonNm
Person TitleEXECUTIVE DIRECTORPersonTitleTxt
Phone6462486014PhoneNum
Signature2018-05-15SignatureDt
Discuss With Paid PreparerYes (1)DiscussWithPaidPreparerInd

Preparer Person PreparerPersonGrp

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Preparer PersonGARRETT M HIGGINSPreparerPersonNm
PTINP00543209PTIN
Phone2122862600PhoneNum
Preparation2018-05-15PreparationDt

Filing Security Information FilingSecurityInformation

IP Address IPAddress

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
I Pv4 Address4.15.211.182IPv4AddressTxt
FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
IP2018-05-15IPDt
IP Tm07:33:51IPTm
IP TimezoneEDIPTimezoneCd
Filing License TypePFilingLicenseTypeCd
At Submission Creation Device IdDA39A3EE5E6B4B0D3255BFEF95601890AFD80709AtSubmissionCreationDeviceId
At Submission Filing Device IdF1414B3F3FD8BCF368F99BE899BC5EFCA72B4395AtSubmissionFilingDeviceId
FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Tax2017TaxYr
Build TS2021-01-29 14:40:06ZBuildTS

Form 990 IRS990

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Principal OfficerTHOMAS LASKAWYPrincipalOfficerNm

US Address USAddress

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Address Line1576 FIFTH AVENUE NO 903AddressLine1Txt
CityNEW YORKCityNm
State AbbreviationNYStateAbbreviationCd
ZIP10036ZIPCd
FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Gross Receipts$760,225GrossReceiptsAmt
Group Return For Affiliates0GroupReturnForAffiliatesInd
Organization501c3Yes (X)Organization501c3Ind
Website AddressHTTP://THEFERN.ORGWebsiteAddressTxt
Type Of Organization CorpYes (X)TypeOfOrganizationCorpInd
Formation2010FormationYr
Legal Domicile StateNYLegalDomicileStateCd
Activity Or MissionOUR ORGANIZATION'S PRIMARY EXEMPT PURPOSE IS TO EVALUATE, COMMISSION AND DISTRIBUTE INVESTIGATIVE NEWS ARTICLES OF BETWEEN 1,500 AND 5,000 WORDS IN LENGTH. THIS INCLUDES PLANNING, CONTRACTING WITH PROFESSIONAL JOURNALISTS FOR WRITING SERVICES, PROVIDING EDITORIAL OVERSIGHT, AND COPY EDITING, FACT CHECKING AND PROVIDING PRE-PUBLICATION LEGAL REVIEWS OF SUBMITTED STORIES. WE THEN DISTRIBUTE OUR REPORTS AT NO CHARGE TO MAINSTREAM PUBLICATIONS.ActivityOrMissionDesc
Voting Members Governing Body7VotingMembersGoverningBodyCnt
Voting Members Independent6VotingMembersIndependentCnt
Total Employee7TotalEmployeeCnt
Total Volunteers9TotalVolunteersCnt
Total Gross UBI$0TotalGrossUBIAmt
Net Unrelated Bus Txbl Incm$0NetUnrelatedBusTxblIncmAmt
PY Contributions Grants$806,648PYContributionsGrantsAmt
CY Contributions Grants$639,205CYContributionsGrantsAmt
PY Program Service Revenue$40,673PYProgramServiceRevenueAmt
CY Program Service Revenue$109,921CYProgramServiceRevenueAmt
PY Investment Income$1,359PYInvestmentIncomeAmt
CY Investment Income$357CYInvestmentIncomeAmt
PY Other Revenue-$3,929PYOtherRevenueAmt
CY Other Revenue-$18,737CYOtherRevenueAmt
PY Total Revenue$844,751PYTotalRevenueAmt
CY Total Revenue$730,746CYTotalRevenueAmt
PY Grants And Similar Paid$0PYGrantsAndSimilarPaidAmt
CY Grants And Similar Paid$0CYGrantsAndSimilarPaidAmt
PY Benefits Paid To Members$0PYBenefitsPaidToMembersAmt
CY Benefits Paid To Members$0CYBenefitsPaidToMembersAmt
PY Salaries Comp Emp Bnft Paid$453,713PYSalariesCompEmpBnftPaidAmt
CY Salaries Comp Emp Bnft Paid$510,689CYSalariesCompEmpBnftPaidAmt
PY Total Prof Fndrsng Expns$0PYTotalProfFndrsngExpnsAmt
CY Total Prof Fndrsng Expns$0CYTotalProfFndrsngExpnsAmt
CY Total Fundraising Expense$0CYTotalFundraisingExpenseAmt
PY Other Expenses$458,949PYOtherExpensesAmt
CY Other Expenses$547,486CYOtherExpensesAmt
PY Total Expenses$912,662PYTotalExpensesAmt
CY Total Expenses$1,058,175CYTotalExpensesAmt
PY Revenues Less Expenses-$67,911PYRevenuesLessExpensesAmt
CY Revenues Less Expenses-$327,429CYRevenuesLessExpensesAmt
Total Assets BOY$496,960TotalAssetsBOYAmt
Total Assets EOY$188,926TotalAssetsEOYAmt
Total Liabilities BOY$54,252TotalLiabilitiesBOYAmt
Total Liabilities EOY$73,647TotalLiabilitiesEOYAmt
Net Assets Or Fund Balances BOY$442,708NetAssetsOrFundBalancesBOYAmt
Net Assets Or Fund Balances EOY$115,279NetAssetsOrFundBalancesEOYAmt
Info In Schedule O Part IIIYes (X)InfoInScheduleOPartIIIInd
MissionSEE SCHEDULE OMissionDesc
Significant New Program Srvc0SignificantNewProgramSrvcInd
Significant Change0SignificantChangeInd
Expense$654,607ExpenseAmt
Revenue$79,525RevenueAmt
DescSEE SCHEDULE OIN 2017, WE PRODUCED 32 STORIES, INCLUDING THREE INTERNATIONAL STORIES, ON SUBJECTS RANGING FROM THE MAN KNOWN AS "THE CODFATHER," WHO EXPLOITED LOOPHOLES IN THE NEW ENGLAND'S CATCH-SHARE SYSTEM OUR FIRST PIECE TO BE OPTIONED FOR FILM PRODUCTION, TO WHETHER CUBA'S NEW FARMING MODEL CAN PROVIDE TRUE FOOD SECURITY FOR THAT ISLAND NATION.WE ADDED SEVERAL IMPORTANT NEW PARTNERS, INCLUDING HIGHLINE (HUFFINGTON POST'S LONGFORM CHANNEL), GRAVY, THE AWARD-WINNING PODCAST BY THE SOUTHERN FOODWAYS ALLIANCE, THE LENS, A NEW ORLEANS-BASED OUTLET DEVOTED TO IN-DEPTH, PUBLIC-INTEREST REPORTING, NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC, THE NEW REPUBLIC, VOGUE, GRIST, THE WEATHER CHANNEL AND MORE.FERN'S REPORTING GARNERED SEVERAL AWARDS IN 2017. WE WON THE SPJ NORCAL EXCELLENCE IN JOURNALISM AWARD, IN THE "FEATURES AND LONGFORM STORYTELLING (RADIO/AUDIO)" CATEGORY, FOR LISA MOREHOUSE'S STORY, "75 YEARS LATER, JAPANESE AMERICANS RECALL INCARCERATION, FORCED FARM LABOR," WHICH WAS PRODUCED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH KQED'S CALIFORNIA REPORT. AND RICHARD MANNING'S DEEP DIVE INTO THE INFLUENCE OF AGRIBUSINESS IN IOWA POLITICS, PUBLISHED IN HARPER'S MAGAZINE, WON AN INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CULINARY PROFESSIONALS AWARD FOR "WRITING THAT MAKES A DIFFERENCE.""NAPA'S WATER WAR WITH BIG WINE" WON A CALIFORNIA NEWS PUBLISHERS ASSOCIATION BETTER NEWSPAPERS CONTEST AWARD FOR ENVIRONMENTAL REPORTING. THE PIECE "A LOOK INTO THE GROWING INDUSTRIAL WINE INDUSTRY IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA AND THE FIGHT FOR WATER RIGHTS" WAS WRITTEN BY STETT HOLBROOK AND CO-PRODUCED BY FERN AND THE BOHEMIAN.IN 2017, FERN'S SOCIAL-MEDIA PRESENCE CONTINUED TO EXPAND ITS REACH AND INFLUENCE. WE ARE ACTIVE ON THREE SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS, TWITTER, FACEBOOK AND INSTAGRAM AND ARE STARTING TO USE LINKEDIN TO A LIMITED EXTENT. OUR FULL-TIME AUDIENCE ENGAGEMENT EDITOR SUPERVISES ACTIVITY ON THESE PLATFORMS, INCLUDING THE JUDICIOUS USE OF PAID PROMOTION (A.K.A. "BOOSTS") IN ORDER TO REACH BEYOND OUR FOLLOWERS (AND IN THE CASE OF FACEBOOK, TO REACH A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF OUR FOLLOWERS). WE ALSO WORK CLOSELY WITH OUR PUBLICATION PARTNERS' SOCIAL MEDIA STAFF, WHO ARE CONTRACTUALLY OBLIGATED TO PROMOTE OUR COLLABORATIONS AS WELL AS TO "TAG" US WITHIN THE INDIVIDUAL PLATFORMS IN WHICH THEY OPERATE. PAID SOCIAL MEDIA PROMOTION HAS BEEN A VERY EFFECTIVE, LOW-COST WAY TO BROADEN THE REACH OF INDIVIDUAL STORIES AND INCREASE FERN'S BRAND AWARENESS. OUR SOCIAL AUDIENCE IS APPROXIMATELY 40,000 USERS AND TOTAL IMPRESSIONS FOR OUR POSTS AND TWEETS IS APPROXIMATELY 3 MILLION PER YEAR. OUR WEBSITE, WHILE NOT DESIGNED TO BE A DESTINATION SITE, REACHES 160,000 UNIQUE USERS A YEAR, AND WE HAVE AN EMAIL NEWSLETTER AUDIENCE OF 5,500 PEOPLE. IT'S WORTH NOTING THAT OUR EXPECTATION IS THAT OUR WORK FINDS ITS AUDIENCE PRIMARILY THROUGH OUR PUBLICATION PARTNERS.IN ADDITION, OVER THE PAST YEAR, OUR ABILITY TO PLACE STORIES WITH MAJOR MEDIA ORGANIZATIONS, SUCH AS NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC AND VOGUE, HAS INCREASED OUR REACH SIGNIFICANTLY. ORGANIZATIONS AT THEIR SCALE REACH A NATIVE AUDIENCE IN THE MILLIONS THROUGH THEIR PUBLICATIONS, AND ADDITIONAL MILLIONS THROUGH THEIR OWN SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS. THIS BRINGS OUR WORK OUT OF THE SILO OF FOOD AND ENVIRONMENT REPORTING, AND ENGAGES MUCH BROADER AUDIENCES.FOR EARNED MEDIA THROUGHOUT 2017, FERN HAS BUILT AN IMPRESSIVE LIST, BOTH FOR OUR STORIES AND FOR AWARENESS OF THE ORGANIZATION ITSELF. OUR STORIES AND REPORTERS HAVE BEEN FEATURED IN INTERVIEWS WITH WNYC'S THE TAKEAWAY, KCRW'S GOOD FOOD, NPR'S ALL THINGS CONSIDERED, WHYY'S THE PULSE, NEW ENGLAND NEWS COLLABORATIVE, HERITAGE RADIO NETWORK, GASTROPOD, WISCONSIN PUBLIC RADIO'S THE KATHLEEN DUNN SHOW, NIEMAN STORYBOARD AND MORE. FERN STORIES HAVE BEEN MENTIONED BY POPULAR SITES SUCH AS LONGFORM, DIGG, NEWSER, AND VOX. INFLUENTIAL GROUPS LIKE SLOWFOOD, UC FOOD OBSERVER, STONE BARNS, AND FOOD TANK HAVE BEEN VOCAL ABOUT FERN'S WORK. AND INFLUENCERS SUCH AS MARION NESTLE, MARK BITTMAN, MICHAEL POLLAN, AND TOM COLICCHIO CONTINUE TO BOOST FERN'S PROFILE VIA THEIR SOCIAL MEDIA AND PERSONAL BLOGS. MEANWHILE, BOTH THE AMERICAN PRESS INSTITUTE AND NIEMAN LAB CITED FERN IN PIECES THEY DID ON THE SUCCESS, AND IMPORTANCE, OF COLLABORATIVE JOURNALISM. AND OUR EDITOR-IN-CHIEF WAS PART OF A PANEL ON MEDIA AT THE 2017 INSTITUTE FOR NONPROFIT NEWS CONFERENCE.WE CONTINUE TO PRODUCE FERN'S FRIDAY FEED NEWSLETTER, A.K.A. #FFF, A WEEKLY MUST-READ LIST OF STORIES IN OUR AREAS OF INTEREST PUBLISHED BY OTHER OUTLETS. SOME SELECTIONS ARE AT THE TOP OF THE NEWS WHILE OTHERS ARE PRESCIENT OR IN-DEPTH FEATURES THAT WE THINK OUR READERS SHOULD KNOW ABOUT. WE SEND THIS NEWSLETTER WEEKLY TO A SUBSCRIBER BASE OF 3,100 AS A WAY TO ENHANCE ENGAGEMENT WITH AN AUDIENCE THAT IS MOSTLY DISTINCT FROM OUR SOCIAL-MEDIA AUDIENCE. THIS INITIATIVE IS DESIGNED TO ESTABLISH FERN AS A SOURCE FOR CURATION AND GUIDANCE IN NAVIGATING FOOD MEDIA, AND NOT ONLY A PRODUCER OF ORIGINAL JOURNALISM. THIS ADDED TOUCH OF ENGAGEMENT HAS ALSO HELPED US TO DISCERN WHICH TOPICS RESONATE MOST WITH OUR AUDIENCE. WE CONTINUED TO EXPAND OUR FOOD AND AGRICULTURE POLICY NEWS SERVICE, FERN'S AG INSIDER. FOR A SMALL ANNUAL FEE, SUBSCRIBERS GAIN ACCESS TO REPORTING, INCLUDING A FULL ARCHIVE ON OUR WEBSITE, WITH A SUBJECT-TAG ORGANIZATION. THE EMAIL NEWSLETTER, NOW INCLUDING ONLY SUMMARIES OF THE FULL STORIES, REMAINS FREE. WE HAVE A MODEST BUT GROWING NUMBER OF INDIVIDUAL AND CORPORATE SUBSCRIBERS AND A GROWING NUMBER OF ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONAL SUBSCRIBERS, INCLUDING STANFORD UNIVERSITY, NEW YORK UNIVERSITY, HARVARD LAW SCHOOL AND THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, BERKELEY. IN 2017 WE ADDED TUFTS AND YALE TO OUR INSTITUTIONAL SUBSCRIBERS. IN ADDITION, AGRICULTURE.COM (ONE OF THE FOREMOST NEWS OUTLETS FOR COMMODITY FARMERS), SUCCESSFUL FARMER MAGAZINE, NPR'S THE SALT AND MOTHER JONES CURRENTLY SYNDICATE SELECTED AG INSIDER ARTICLES. WE SEE FERN'S AG INSIDER, PARTICULARLY INSTITUTIONAL AND CORPORATE SALES, AS A SIGNIFICANT AREA FOR EARNED REVENUE GROWTH.AT THE END OF THE YEAR, WE PRODUCED AND PUBLISHED OUR LATEST PRINT COLLECTION, THE DIRT 2017 SIX OF OUR FAVORITE STORIES FROM THE PAST YEAR.OUR RANGE OF IMPACT IS RISING. WE CONTINUE TO EMPHASIZE A VARIETY OF PARTNERS AND AUDIENCES. SOME ARE SMALL BUT HIGHLY FOCUSED, SUCH AS ENSIA, WHICH CATERS TO ENVIRONMENTAL POLICYMAKERS, ADVOCATES AND MEDIA, OR THE LENS, WHICH IS NEW ORLEANS' FIRST INDEPENDENT, NONPROFIT NEWS SITE. OTHERS ARE BROAD AND MAINSTREAM, LIKE EATINGWELL, NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC AND VOGUE. WE BELIEVE WE SUCCEEDED IN ALERTING MILLIONS OF "NEW TO THE ISSUES" READERS AND PRIMING THEM FOR REFORM.FEBRUARY SAW THE RELEASE OF "REVENGE OF THE LUNCH LADY: HOW AN UNASSUMING BUREAUCRAT OUTSMARTED JAMIE OLIVER AND PULLED OFF AN HONEST-TO-GOD MIRACLE IN ONE OF AMERICA'S UNHEALTHIEST CITIES," BY JANE BLACK, PUBLISHED WITH THE HUFFINGTON POST HIGHLINE. THIS STORY REALLY STRUCK A NERVE, GARNERING SHOUT-OUTS FROM A HOST OF INFLUENTIAL FOLKS, INCLUDING TOM COLICCHIO, KIMBAL MUSK, MICHAEL POLLAN, JONATHAN BLOOM, THE NEW YORK TIMES' IAN URBINA, AND QUESTLOVE. BLACK WAS INTERVIEWED ON WISCONSIN PUBLIC RADIO'S THE KATHLEEN DUNN SHOW, ON CHEDDAR, A BUSINESS-NEWS SHOW THAT BROADCASTS FROM THE NYSE, AND ON THE HUFFINGTON POST. THE PIECE WAS CITED IN A NUMBER OF PLACES, INCLUDING FOOD POLITICS, MARION NESTLE'S INFLUENTIAL SITE, NEWSER, AND LONGFORM, AND HAD A TOTAL SOCIAL REACH OF 22 MILLION. "THE DELICIOUSLY FISH CASE OF THE CODFATHER: NEW ENGLAND'S FISHING INDUSTRY IS IN DEEP TROUBLE, THANKS IN NO SMALL PART TO ONE MOGUL'S SERIOUSLY SHADY BUSINESS," BY BEN GOLDFARB, WAS PUBLISHED WITH MOTHER JONES. IT READS LIKE A MOVIE SCRIPT, AND IN FACT HAS BEEN OPTIONED FOR FILM PRODUCTION. BEYOND THE INTEREST FROM HOLLYWOOD, GOLDFARB WAS ALL OVER THE MEDIA. HE WAS INTERVIEWED BY HARTFORD'S WNCR (WHICH FEEDS STATIONS THROUGHOUT NEW ENGLAND), HERITAGE PUBLIC RADIO, KCRW, AND NIEMAN STORYBOARD AND MOTHER JONES' THE BITE PODCAST. IT ALSO WAS INCLUDED ON LONGFORM, AND GOT A LOT OF LOVE ON SOCIAL MEDIA, WITH A TOTAL REACH OF 1.2 MILLION."RECLAIMING NATIVE GROUND: CAN LOUISIANA'S TRIBES RESTORE THEIR TRADITIONAL DIETS AS WATERS RISE?" BY BARRY YEOMAN, WAS PUBLISHED BY THE LENS, AND BROADCAST ON THE PODCAST GRAVY. WE LIKED THIS PIECE FROM THE START, BUT WERE SURPRISED BY HOW MUCH RESPONSE IT GOT FROM THE WIDER MEDIA WORLDWEEKEND MORNING EDITION, AND WNYC'S THE TAKEAWAY, PLUS A SOCIAL REACH OF NEARLY 7,000 READERS. YEOMAN ALSO PARTICIPATED IN A PANEL DISCUSSION IN NEW ORLEANS ABOUT THE STORY WHICH WAS ARRANGED BY THE LENS. BEYOND THAT, THOUGH, THIS WAS OUR FIRST FULLY MULTIMEDIA PIECE, WITH THE PODCAST, ONLINE STORY, PHOTOGRAPHY AND INFOGRAPHIC ELEMENTS. IT IS PART OF OUR ONGOING EFFORT TO DIVERSIFY THE WAYS THAT FERN STORIES REACH MULTIPLE AUDIENCES. "75 YEARS LATER, JAPANESE-AMERICANS RECALL INCARCERATION, FORCED FARM LABOR FARMERS IN JAPANESE INTERNMENT CAMPS DURING WWII," BY LISA MOREHOUSE, AIRED ON MORE THAN TWO DOZEN RADIO STATIONSDesc

Prog Srvc Accom Acty2 ProgSrvcAccomActy2Grp

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Expense$220,002ExpenseAmt
Revenue$30,396RevenueAmt
DescSEE SCHEDULE OFERN'S AG INSIDER IS A DAILY FOOD AND AGRICULTURE POLICY PAID SUBSCRIPTION NEWS SERVICE. IT INCLUDES ORIGINAL REPORTING, ANALYSIS, AND A DAILY SURVEY OF BREAKING NEWS IN THE AREAS OF FEDERAL AND STATE FOOD AND AGRICULTURE POLICY AS WELL AS RELATED CORPORATE DEVELOPMENTS. THE PRODUCT IS AIMED AT AN AUDIENCE OF POLICYMAKERS, ADVOCATES, JOURNALISTS, AND FOOD INDUSTRY REPRESENTATIVES. FERN'S AG INSIDER PAID SUBSCRIPTION FEATURES INCLUDE:-A, DEDICATED, PAYWALLED AG INSIDER MINI-SITE ON THE FERN WEBSITE-ORIGINAL, IN-DEPTH REPORTING AND ANALYSIS-ARTICLES TAGGED AND VIEWABLE BY SUBJECT-A SEARCHABLE ARCHIVE OF ALL AG INSIDER REPORTINGDesc
FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Total Program Service Expenses$874,609TotalProgramServiceExpensesAmt
Described In Section501c3Yes (1)DescribedInSection501c3Ind
Schedule B RequiredYes (1)ScheduleBRequiredInd
Political Campaign Acty0PoliticalCampaignActyInd
Lobbying Activities0LobbyingActivitiesInd
Subject To Proxy Tax0SubjectToProxyTaxInd
Donor Advised Fund0DonorAdvisedFundInd
Conservation Easements0ConservationEasementsInd
Collections Of Art0CollectionsOfArtInd
Credit Counseling0CreditCounselingInd
Temp Or Permanent Endowments0TempOrPermanentEndowmentsInd
Report Land Building Equipment0ReportLandBuildingEquipmentInd
Report Investments Other Sec0ReportInvestmentsOtherSecInd
Report Program Related Invst0ReportProgramRelatedInvstInd
Report Other Assets0ReportOtherAssetsInd
Report Other Liabilities0ReportOtherLiabilitiesInd
Include FIN48 FootnoteYes (1)IncludeFIN48FootnoteInd
Independent Audit Fincl StmtYes (1)IndependentAuditFinclStmtInd
Consolidated Audit Fincl Stmt0ConsolidatedAuditFinclStmtInd
School Operating0SchoolOperatingInd
Foreign Office0ForeignOfficeInd
Foreign Activities0ForeignActivitiesInd
More Than5000 K To Org0MoreThan5000KToOrgInd
More Than5000 K To Individuals0MoreThan5000KToIndividualsInd
Professional Fundraising0ProfessionalFundraisingInd
Fundraising ActivitiesYes (1)FundraisingActivitiesInd
Gaming Activities0GamingActivitiesInd
Operate Hospital0OperateHospitalInd
Grants To Organizations0GrantsToOrganizationsInd
Grants To Individuals0GrantsToIndividualsInd
Schedule J Required0ScheduleJRequiredInd
Tax Exempt Bonds0TaxExemptBondsInd
Engaged In Excess Benefit Trans0EngagedInExcessBenefitTransInd
PY Excess Benefit Trans0PYExcessBenefitTransInd
Loan Outstanding0LoanOutstandingInd
Grant To Related Person0GrantToRelatedPersonInd
Business Rln With Org Mem0BusinessRlnWithOrgMemInd
Business Rln With Fam Mem0BusinessRlnWithFamMemInd
Business Rln With Officer Ent0BusinessRlnWithOfficerEntInd
Deductible Non Cash Contri0DeductibleNonCashContriInd
Deductible Art Contribution0DeductibleArtContributionInd
Terminate Operations0TerminateOperationsInd
Partial Liquidation0PartialLiquidationInd
Disregarded Entity0DisregardedEntityInd
Related Entity0RelatedEntityInd
Related Organization Ctrl Ent0RelatedOrganizationCtrlEntInd
Trnsfr Exmpt Non Chrtbl Rltd Org0TrnsfrExmptNonChrtblRltdOrgInd
Activities Conducted Prtshp0ActivitiesConductedPrtshpInd
Schedule O RequiredYes (1)ScheduleORequiredInd
IRP Document46IRPDocumentCnt
IRP Document W2 G0IRPDocumentW2GCnt
Employee7EmployeeCnt
Employment Tax Returns FiledYes (1)EmploymentTaxReturnsFiledInd
Unrelated Bus Incm Over Limit0UnrelatedBusIncmOverLimitInd
Foreign Financial Account0ForeignFinancialAccountInd
Prohibited Tax Shelter Trans0ProhibitedTaxShelterTransInd
Taxable Party Notification0TaxablePartyNotificationInd
Nondeductible Contributions0NondeductibleContributionsInd
Quid Pro Quo ContributionsYes (1)QuidProQuoContributionsInd
Quid Pro Quo Contri DisclYes (1)QuidProQuoContriDisclInd
Form8282 Property Disposed Of0Form8282PropertyDisposedOfInd
Rcv Fnds To Pay Prsnl Bnft Cntrct0RcvFndsToPayPrsnlBnftCntrctInd
Pay Premiums Prsnl Bnft Cntrct0PayPremiumsPrsnlBnftCntrctInd
Indoor Tanning Services0IndoorTanningServicesInd
Info In Schedule O Part VIYes (X)InfoInScheduleOPartVIInd
Governing Body Voting Members7GoverningBodyVotingMembersCnt
Independent Voting Member6IndependentVotingMemberCnt
Family Or Business Rln0FamilyOrBusinessRlnInd
Delegation Of Mgmt Duties0DelegationOfMgmtDutiesInd
Change To Org Documents0ChangeToOrgDocumentsInd
Material Diversion Or Misuse0MaterialDiversionOrMisuseInd
Members Or Stockholders0MembersOrStockholdersInd
Election Of Board Members0ElectionOfBoardMembersInd
Decisions Subject To Approva0DecisionsSubjectToApprovaInd
Minutes Of Governing BodyYes (1)MinutesOfGoverningBodyInd
Minutes Of CommitteesYes (1)MinutesOfCommitteesInd
Officer Mailing Address0OfficerMailingAddressInd
Local Chapters0LocalChaptersInd
Form990 Provided To Gvrn Body0Form990ProvidedToGvrnBodyInd
Conflict Of Interest PolicyYes (1)ConflictOfInterestPolicyInd
Annual Disclosure Covered PrsnYes (1)AnnualDisclosureCoveredPrsnInd
Regular Monitoring EnfrcYes (1)RegularMonitoringEnfrcInd
Whistleblower PolicyYes (1)WhistleblowerPolicyInd
Document Retention PolicyYes (1)DocumentRetentionPolicyInd
Compensation Process CEOYes (1)CompensationProcessCEOInd
Compensation Process OtherYes (1)CompensationProcessOtherInd
Investment In Joint Venture0InvestmentInJointVentureInd
States Where Copy Of Return Is FldNYStatesWhereCopyOfReturnIsFldCd
States Where Copy Of Return Is FldCAStatesWhereCopyOfReturnIsFldCd
Other WebsiteYes (X)OtherWebsiteInd
Upon RequestYes (X)UponRequestInd

Books In Care Of Detail BooksInCareOfDetail

Business Name BusinessName

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Business Name Line1THOMAS LASKAWYBusinessNameLine1Txt
FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Phone2153702765PhoneNum

US Address USAddress

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Address Line1725 WESTVIEW STAddressLine1Txt
CityPHILADELPHIACityNm
State AbbreviationPAStateAbbreviationCd
ZIP19119ZIPCd

Form990 Part VII Section A Form990PartVIISectionAGrp (10 entries)

TitleTitleTxtAverage Hours Per WeekAverageHoursPerWeekRtIndividual Trustee Or DirectorIndividualTrusteeOrDirectorIndOfficerOfficerIndReportable Comp From OrgReportableCompFromOrgAmtReportable Comp From Rltd OrgReportableCompFromRltdOrgAmtOther CompensationOtherCompensationAmt
DAN PULLMAN
CHAIR-TREASURER5.00Yes (X)Yes (X)$0$0$0
SAMUEL FROMARTZ
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF40.00Yes (X)Yes (X)$87,550$0$0
MICHAEL RANKOWITZ UNTIL 1117
SECRETARY5.00Yes (X)Yes (X)$0$0$0
ALISON CAYNE UNTIL 1117
BOARD MEMBER5.00Yes (X)$0$0$0
SUSAN WEST
BOARD MEMBER5.00Yes (X)$0$0$0
LESLIE WILLIAMS
BOARD MEMBER5.00Yes (X)$0$0$0
JOANNE KELLEY
BOARD MEMBER5.00Yes (X)$0$0$0
NATHANIEL BROWN
BOARD MEMBER5.00Yes (X)$0$0$0
LORRAINE FONTES
BOARD MEMBER5.00Yes (X)$0$0$0
THOMAS LASKAWY
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR40.00Yes (X)$90,917$0$0
FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Total Reportable Comp From Org$178,467TotalReportableCompFromOrgAmt
Tot Reportable Comp Rltd Org$0TotReportableCompRltdOrgAmt
Total Other Compensation$0TotalOtherCompensationAmt
Indiv Rcvd Greater Than100 K0IndivRcvdGreaterThan100KCnt
Former Ofcr Employees Listed0FormerOfcrEmployeesListedInd
Total Comp Greater Than150 K0TotalCompGreaterThan150KInd
Compensation From Other Srcs0CompensationFromOtherSrcsInd
Cntrct Rcvd Greater Than100 K0CntrctRcvdGreaterThan100KCnt
Fundraising$77,518FundraisingAmt
All Other Contributions$561,687AllOtherContributionsAmt
Total Contributions$639,205TotalContributionsAmt

Program Service Revenue ProgramServiceRevenueGrp (2 entries)

DescDescBusinessBusinessCdTotal Revenue ColumnTotalRevenueColumnAmtRelated Or Exempt Func IncomeRelatedOrExemptFuncIncomeAmt
EDITORIAL FEE511110$79,525$79,525
SUBSCRIPTIONS REVENUE519130$30,396$30,396
FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Total Program Service Revenue$109,921TotalProgramServiceRevenueAmt

Investment Income InvestmentIncomeGrp

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Total Revenue Column$357TotalRevenueColumnAmt
Exclusion$357ExclusionAmt
FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Fundraising Gross Income$8,209FundraisingGrossIncomeAmt
Contri Rpt Fundraising Event$77,518ContriRptFundraisingEventAmt
Fundraising Direct Expenses$29,479FundraisingDirectExpensesAmt

Net Incm From Fundraising Evt NetIncmFromFundraisingEvtGrp

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Total Revenue Column-$21,270TotalRevenueColumnAmt
Exclusion-$21,270ExclusionAmt

Other Revenue Misc OtherRevenueMiscGrp

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
DescREIMBURSEMENTDesc
Business900099BusinessCd
Total Revenue Column$2,533TotalRevenueColumnAmt
Exclusion$2,533ExclusionAmt
FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Other Revenue Total$2,533OtherRevenueTotalAmt

Total Revenue TotalRevenueGrp

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Total Revenue Column$730,746TotalRevenueColumnAmt
Related Or Exempt Func Income$109,921RelatedOrExemptFuncIncomeAmt
Unrelated Business Revenue$0UnrelatedBusinessRevenueAmt
Exclusion-$18,380ExclusionAmt
FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Info In Schedule O Part IXYes (X)InfoInScheduleOPartIXInd

Comp Current Ofcr Directors CompCurrentOfcrDirectorsGrp

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Total$266,017TotalAmt
Program Services$214,866ProgramServicesAmt
Management And General$51,151ManagementAndGeneralAmt

Other Salaries And Wages OtherSalariesAndWagesGrp

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Total$204,974TotalAmt
Program Services$165,561ProgramServicesAmt
Management And General$39,413ManagementAndGeneralAmt

Payroll Taxes PayrollTaxesGrp

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Total$39,698TotalAmt
Program Services$30,703ProgramServicesAmt
Management And General$8,995ManagementAndGeneralAmt

Fees For Services Accounting FeesForServicesAccountingGrp

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Total$26,750TotalAmt
Management And General$26,750ManagementAndGeneralAmt

Fees For Services Other FeesForServicesOtherGrp

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Total$282,276TotalAmt
Program Services$282,276ProgramServicesAmt

Advertising AdvertisingGrp

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Total$52,398TotalAmt
Program Services$52,398ProgramServicesAmt

Office Expenses OfficeExpensesGrp

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Total$27,814TotalAmt
Program Services$9,007ProgramServicesAmt
Management And General$18,807ManagementAndGeneralAmt

Information Technology InformationTechnologyGrp

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Total$93,744TotalAmt
Program Services$90,138ProgramServicesAmt
Management And General$3,606ManagementAndGeneralAmt

Travel TravelGrp

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Total$45,941TotalAmt
Program Services$27,383ProgramServicesAmt
Management And General$18,558ManagementAndGeneralAmt

Conferences Meetings ConferencesMeetingsGrp

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Total$1,289TotalAmt
Management And General$1,289ManagementAndGeneralAmt

Insurance InsuranceGrp

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Total$11,604TotalAmt
Management And General$11,604ManagementAndGeneralAmt

Other Expenses OtherExpensesGrp (2 entries)

DescDescTotalTotalAmtManagement And GeneralManagementAndGeneralAmtProgram ServicesProgramServicesAmt
MISCELLANEOUS EXPENSES$3,393$3,393
PHOTOGRAPH LICENSES$2,277$2,277

Total Functional Expenses TotalFunctionalExpensesGrp

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Total$1,058,175TotalAmt
Program Services$874,609ProgramServicesAmt
Management And General$183,566ManagementAndGeneralAmt
Fundraising$0FundraisingAmt

Cash Non Interest Bearing CashNonInterestBearingGrp

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
BOY$140,857BOYAmt
EOY$102,770EOYAmt

Savings And Temp Cash Invst SavingsAndTempCashInvstGrp

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
BOY$187,756BOYAmt
EOY$17,687EOYAmt

Pledges And Grants Receivable PledgesAndGrantsReceivableGrp

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
BOY$150,000BOYAmt
EOY$60,000EOYAmt

Accounts Receivable AccountsReceivableGrp

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
BOY$18,347BOYAmt
EOY$8,469EOYAmt

Total Assets TotalAssetsGrp

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
BOY$496,960BOYAmt
EOY$188,926EOYAmt

Accounts Payable Accr Expnss AccountsPayableAccrExpnssGrp

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
BOY$41,548BOYAmt
EOY$56,256EOYAmt

Deferred Revenue DeferredRevenueGrp

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
BOY$12,704BOYAmt
EOY$17,391EOYAmt

Total Liabilities TotalLiabilitiesGrp

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
BOY$54,252BOYAmt
EOY$73,647EOYAmt
FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Organization Follows SFAS117Yes (X)OrganizationFollowsSFAS117Ind

Unrestricted Net Assets UnrestrictedNetAssetsGrp

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
BOY$242,708BOYAmt
EOY-$54,147EOYAmt

Temporarily Rstr Net Assets TemporarilyRstrNetAssetsGrp

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
BOY$200,000BOYAmt
EOY$169,426EOYAmt

Total Net Assets Fund Balance TotalNetAssetsFundBalanceGrp

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
BOY$442,708BOYAmt
EOY$115,279EOYAmt

Tot Liab Net Assets Fund Balance TotLiabNetAssetsFundBalanceGrp

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
BOY$496,960BOYAmt
EOY$188,926EOYAmt
FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Reconcilation Revenue Expnss-$327,429ReconcilationRevenueExpnssAmt
Other Changes In Net Assets$0OtherChangesInNetAssetsAmt
Info In Schedule O Part XIIYes (X)InfoInScheduleOPartXIIInd
Method Of Accounting AccrualYes (X)MethodOfAccountingAccrualInd
Accountant Compile Or Review0AccountantCompileOrReviewInd
FS AuditedYes (1)FSAuditedInd

FS Audited Basis FSAuditedBasisGrp

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Separate Basis Fincl StmtYes (X)SeparateBasisFinclStmtInd
FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Audit Committee0AuditCommitteeInd
Federal Grant Audit Required0FederalGrantAuditRequiredInd

Schedule A IRS990ScheduleA

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Public Organization170Yes (X)PublicOrganization170Ind

Gifts Grants Contri Rcvd170 GiftsGrantsContriRcvd170Grp

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Current Tax Year Minus4 Years$644,113CurrentTaxYearMinus4YearsAmt
Current Tax Year Minus3 Years$688,331CurrentTaxYearMinus3YearsAmt
Current Tax Year Minus2 Years$738,848CurrentTaxYearMinus2YearsAmt
Current Tax Year Minus1 Year$806,648CurrentTaxYearMinus1YearAmt
Current Tax Year$639,205CurrentTaxYearAmt
Total$3,517,145TotalAmt

Total Calendar Year170 TotalCalendarYear170Grp

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Current Tax Year Minus4 Years$644,113CurrentTaxYearMinus4YearsAmt
Current Tax Year Minus3 Years$688,331CurrentTaxYearMinus3YearsAmt
Current Tax Year Minus2 Years$738,848CurrentTaxYearMinus2YearsAmt
Current Tax Year Minus1 Year$806,648CurrentTaxYearMinus1YearAmt
Current Tax Year$639,205CurrentTaxYearAmt
Total$3,517,145TotalAmt
FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Substantial Contributors Tot$1,340,752SubstantialContributorsTotAmt
Public Support Total170$2,176,393PublicSupportTotal170Amt

Gross Investment Income170 GrossInvestmentIncome170Grp

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Current Tax Year Minus4 Years$698CurrentTaxYearMinus4YearsAmt
Current Tax Year Minus3 Years$1,271CurrentTaxYearMinus3YearsAmt
Current Tax Year Minus2 Years$1,428CurrentTaxYearMinus2YearsAmt
Current Tax Year Minus1 Year$1,359CurrentTaxYearMinus1YearAmt
Current Tax Year$357CurrentTaxYearAmt
Total$5,113TotalAmt

Other Income170 OtherIncome170Grp

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Current Tax Year Minus2 Years$1,048CurrentTaxYearMinus2YearsAmt
Current Tax Year Minus1 Year$1,500CurrentTaxYearMinus1YearAmt
Current Tax Year$2,533CurrentTaxYearAmt
Total$5,081TotalAmt
FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Total Support$3,527,339TotalSupportAmt
Gross Receipts Rltd Activities$252,661GrossReceiptsRltdActivitiesAmt
Public Support CY1700.61700PublicSupportCY170Pct
Public Support PY1700.67910PublicSupportPY170Pct
Thirty Thr Pct Suprt Tests CY170Yes (X)ThirtyThrPctSuprtTestsCY170Ind

Schedule B IRS990ScheduleB

Contributor Information ContributorInformationGrp

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
ContributorRESTRICTEDContributorNum

Contributor Business Name ContributorBusinessName

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Business Name Line1RESTRICTEDBusinessNameLine1

Contributor US Address ContributorUSAddress

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Address Line1RESTRICTEDAddressLine1
Address Line2RESTRICTEDAddressLine2
CityRESTRICTEDCity
StateRESTRICTEDState
ZIP CodeRESTRICTEDZIPCode
FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Total ContributionsRESTRICTEDTotalContributionsAmt

Schedule D IRS990ScheduleD

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Total Book Value Land Buildings$0TotalBookValueLandBuildingsAmt
Footnote TextYes (X)FootnoteTextInd
Total Rev Etc Audited Fincl Stmt$760,225TotalRevEtcAuditedFinclStmtAmt
Other Revenue$29,479OtherRevenueAmt
Revenue Not Reported$29,479RevenueNotReportedAmt
Revenue Subtotal$730,746RevenueSubtotalAmt
Revenue Not Reported Fincl Stmt$0RevenueNotReportedFinclStmtAmt
Total Revenue Per Form990$730,746TotalRevenuePerForm990Amt
Tot Expns Etc Audited Fincl Stmt$1,087,654TotExpnsEtcAuditedFinclStmtAmt
Other Expenses Included$29,479OtherExpensesIncludedAmt
Expenses Not Reported$29,479ExpensesNotReportedAmt
Expenses Subtotal$1,058,175ExpensesSubtotalAmt
Expenses Not Rpt Fincl Stmt$0ExpensesNotRptFinclStmtAmt
Total Expenses Per Form990$1,058,175TotalExpensesPerForm990Amt

Supplemental Information Detail SupplementalInformationDetail (3 entries)

Form And Line ReferenceFormAndLineReferenceDescExplanationExplanationTxt
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 2014 REMAIN OPEN TO EXAMINATION BY THE APPLICABLE TAXING AUTHORITIES. THERE ARE CURRENTLY NO EXAMINATIONS IN PROGRESS.
PART XI, LINE 2D - OTHER ADJUSTMENTS:DIRECT FUNDRAISING EXPENSES REPORTED ON FORM 990, PART VIII, LINE 8B 29,479.
PART XII, LINE 2D - OTHER ADJUSTMENTS:DIRECT FUNDRAISING EXPENSES REPORTED ON FORM 990, PART VIII, LINE 8B 29,479.

Schedule G IRS990ScheduleG

Fundraising Event Information FundraisingEventInformationGrp

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Event1NYC DINNEREvent1Nm
Gross Receipts Event1$55,742GrossReceiptsEvent1Amt
Charitable Contri Event1$51,392CharitableContriEvent1Amt
Gross Revenue Event1$4,350GrossRevenueEvent1Amt
Rent Facility Costs Event1$4,000RentFacilityCostsEvent1Amt
Food And Beverage Event1$716FoodAndBeverageEvent1Amt
Other Direct Expenses Event1$2,791OtherDirectExpensesEvent1Amt
Event2DC DINNEREvent2Nm
Gross Receipts Event2$24,750GrossReceiptsEvent2Amt
Charitable Contri Event2$21,882CharitableContriEvent2Amt
Gross Revenue Event2$2,868GrossRevenueEvent2Amt
Food And Beverage Event2$1,440FoodAndBeverageEvent2Amt
Other Direct Expenses Event2$482OtherDirectExpensesEvent2Amt
Other Events Total1OtherEventsTotalCnt
Gross Receipts Other Events$5,235GrossReceiptsOtherEventsAmt
Charitable Contri Other Events$4,244CharitableContriOtherEventsAmt
Gross Revenue Other Events$991GrossRevenueOtherEventsAmt
Food And Beverage Other Events$3,196FoodAndBeverageOtherEventsAmt
Oth Direct Expnss Other Events$16,854OthDirectExpnssOtherEventsAmt
Gross Receipts Total$85,727GrossReceiptsTotalAmt
Charitable Contributions Tot$77,518CharitableContributionsTotAmt
Gross Revenue Total Events$8,209GrossRevenueTotalEventsAmt
Rent Fclty Costs Total Events$4,000RentFcltyCostsTotalEventsAmt
Food And Beverage Total Events$5,352FoodAndBeverageTotalEventsAmt
Oth Direct Expnss Total Events$20,127OthDirectExpnssTotalEventsAmt
Direct Expense Summary Events$29,479DirectExpenseSummaryEventsAmt
Net Income Summary-$21,270NetIncomeSummaryAmt

Schedule O IRS990ScheduleO

Supplemental Information Detail SupplementalInformationDetail (7 entries)

Form And Line ReferenceFormAndLineReferenceDescExplanationExplanationTxt
FORM 990, PART III, LINE 1:THE FOOD & ENVIRONMENT REPORTING NETWORK (FERN) IS THE FIRST AND ONLY INDEPENDENT, NONPROFIT NEWS ORGANIZATION THAT PRODUCES AWARD-WINNING INVESTIGATIVE AND EXPLANATORY REPORTING ON FOOD, AGRICULTURE, AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS WITH REGIONAL AND NATIONAL MEDIA OUTLETS. THROUGH IMPARTIAL, FACT-BASED JOURNALISM, FERN EXPLORES THE FULL IMPACT OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ON PUBLIC HEALTH AND THE ENVIRONMENT. WITHIN THE FOOD AND AGRICULTURE SPACE, WE SHINE A LIGHT ON INJUSTICES AND ABUSES OF POWER, BOTH CORPORATE AND GOVERNMENTAL, AND ACT AS A BULWARK AGAINST THE GROWING SUPPRESSION OF SCIENCE WITHIN GOVERNMENT. WE UNCOVER AND EXPLAIN NEWS THAT IS CRITICAL TO THE PUBLIC'S RIGHT TO KNOW ABOUT FOOD, AGRICULTURE, AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH. FERN PRIMARILY PRODUCES NEWS ARTICLES OF BETWEEN 1,500 AND 5,000 WORDS, AND FUNCTIONS AS A FULL-SERVICE NEWS ORGANIZATION. FERN'S PROCESS INCLUDES STORY AND PITCH DEVELOPMENT, CONTRACTING WITH JOURNALISTS, PROVIDING EDITORIAL SUPPORT AND SERVICES AND NEGOTIATING DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENTS WITH MAINSTREAM PUBLICATIONS. FERN COMPLEMENTS ITS WRITTEN REPORTS WITH INFOGRAPHICS AND OTHER VISUALIZATIONS, WITH SOCIAL MEDIA ACTIVITY, THROUGH RADIO AND TELEVISION BROADCAST COLLABORATIONS, AND THROUGH LIVE EVENTS. FERN RIGOROUSLY TRACKS THE IMPACT OF ITS STORIES USING A RANGE OF METRICS. THE ISSUES FERN COVERS ARE AT THE HEART OF TODAY'S POLITICAL BATTLES. TRADE, IMMIGRATION, PUBLIC HEALTH, TOXIC CHEMICALS, LABOR, NUTRITION AND WATER QUALITY, ALL FALL WITHIN OUR REPORTING MANDATE AND GROW MORE CONTENTIOUS WITH EACH PASSING DAY. FERN PROVIDES THE EDITORIAL EXPERTISE TO EXPLORE, EXPLAIN AND INVESTIGATE ALL CORNERS OF THE FOOD SYSTEM AS WELL AS TO FILL GAPS IN COVERAGE THAT HAVE ARISEN DUE TO THE ONGOING AND ACCELERATING DISRUPTION OF THE TRADITIONAL MEDIA BUSINESS MODEL. FERN EXPANDS PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING OF THESE CRUCIAL ISSUES AT A TIME WHEN TRUSTED SOURCES OF FACTS ARE ESSENTIAL. FERN STORIES HAVE APPEARED IN A WIDE RANGE OF OUTLETS, INCLUDING ABC'S WORLD NEWS TONIGHT, NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC, THE WASHINGTON POST, THE NEW YORKER, SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN, EATING WELL, MOTHER JONES, PACIFIC STANDARD, HARPER'S, THE NATION, FAST COMPANY, THE GUARDIAN, SUNSET MAGAZINE, PRI'S THE WORLD, NPR'S LATINO USA, CALIFORNIA SUNDAY, AND VOGUE. WE HAVE REPEATEDLY DEMONSTRATED AN ABILITY TO DELIVER HIGH-IMPACT JOURNALISM THAT REACHES A LARGE AUDIENCE. IN THE LAST FEW YEARS, SEVERAL OF OUR STORIES HAVE HELPED SPUR POLICY CHANGES AT THE INTERNATIONAL, NATIONAL, AND STATE LEVELS. OUR COLLABORATIVE DISTRIBUTION MODEL GIVES US THE RARE ABILITY TO REACH AUDIENCES THAT ARE NOT ALREADY EXPOSED TO, OR FAMILIAR WITH, THE ISSUES BOUND UP IN FOOD AND AGRICULTURE. OUR CAPACITY TO DELIVER SUCH RESULTS IS SIGNIFICANT AT A TIME WHEN THE PHILANTHROPIC COMMUNITY IS FOCUSED ON THE SOCIAL RETURN ON ITS INVESTMENTS AND IMPACT. FERN MAINTAINS THAT SUPPORT OF CIVIC COMMUNICATION PARTICULARLY THE STYLE OF INDEPENDENT JOURNALISM WE PRACTICE IS CRITICAL IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN A FUNCTIONING DEMOCRACY AND IS A GROWING OBLIGATION OF THE PHILANTHROPIC COMMUNITY. INDEED, INDEPENDENT REPORTING FROM A TRUSTED SOURCE CAN HAVE AN OUTSIZED EFFECT ON PUBLIC-POLICY DEBATES. WE'VE SHOWN THE POWER OF TAKING THOSE ISSUES AND THE FACTS AND SCIENCE TIED UP WITHIN THEM AND WRAPPING THEM IN CAPTIVATING STORYTELLING. A 501(C)3 NONPROFIT CORPORATION BASED IN NEW YORK AND OPERATING SINCE 2011, FERN HAS WORKED WITH 50 FREELANCE WRITERS ON OVER 116 STORIES THAT HAVE APPEARED IN 50 OUTLETS. FERN IS A MEMBER OF THE INSTITUTE FOR NONPROFIT NEWS, THE PRIMARY INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION FOR NONPROFIT NEWS ORGANIZATIONS, AND HAS BUILT KEY PARTNERSHIPS WITH OTHER NONPROFIT NEWS OUTLETS LIKE THE INTERNATIONAL CONSORTIUM FOR INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM, THE PULITZER CENTER FOR CRISIS REPORTING AND PUBLIC RADIO INTERNATIONAL. WE SHARE THE ULTIMATE GOAL OF ALL INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISTS: TO EMPOWER INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS TO ADVOCATE FOR CHANGE AT THE CORPORATE AND GOVERNMENTAL LEVEL. IN AGGREGATE, OUR STORIES HAVE REACHED OVER 150 MILLION AMERICANS. WE ALSO PRODUCE FERN'S AG INSIDER, A DAILY FOOD AND AGRICULTURE POLICY PAID SUBSCRIPTION NEWS SERVICE AND HAVE RELEASED TWO PRINT COLLECTIONS, THE DIRT: DISPATCHES FROM THE FRONT LINES OF FOOD AND FARMING 2011-2016, AN ANTHOLOGY OF OUR FIRST FIVE YEARS OF REPORTING AND THE DIRT 2017.
FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 11BTHE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR PRESENTS A DRAFT FORM 990 TO THE CHAIR-TREASURER OF THE BOARD ELECTRONICALLY. HE REVIEWS AND APPROVES PRIOR TO SUBMISSION TO THE IRS.
FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 12CBOARD MEMBERS AND OFFICERS ARE REQUIRED TO DISCLOSE ANY ACTUAL OR POSSIBLE CONFLICT OF INTEREST WITH THE GOVERNING BOARD. AFTER DISCLOSURE, AN INVESTIGATION IS HELD DURING WHICH THE INDIVIDUAL MUST RECUSE THEMSELVES FROM VOTING ON THE MATTER. IF THE BOARD DETERMINES THAT AN INDIVIDUAL HAS FAILED TO DISCLOSE ANY ACTUAL OR POSSIBLE CONFLICT OF INTEREST, APPROPRIATE DISCIPLINARY AND CORRECTIVE ACTION WILL BE TAKEN. SUCH MATTERS INVOLVING THE EXISTENCE OF CONFLICTS OF INTEREST ARE TO BE 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.
FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 15TO DETERMINE COMPENSATION FOR THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, THE BOARD UTILIZES COMPENSATION DATA FOR EACH POSITION AMONG PEER ORGANIZATIONS. A PROPOSED AMOUNT FOR EACH POSITIION IS THEN APPROVED BY THE BOARD AND RECORDED IN THE MINUTES OF THE GOVERNING BOARD. THE PROCESS WAS LAST CONDUCTED IN 2016.
FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION C, LINE 19THE ORGANIZATION'S FORM 990 AND THE AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENT IS MADE AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC INSPECTION AS REQUIRED UNDER SECTION 6104 OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE. IT IS POSTED ON NEW YORK STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL WEBSITE, GUIDESTAR.ORG AND OTHER SIMILAR TYPES OF WEBSITES. IN ADDITION, THE CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY, ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION AND BY-LAWS ARE ALSO AVAILABLE UPON WRITTEN REQUEST AT 576 FIFTH AVENUE, NEW YORK, NY 10036 OR BY CALLING THE ORGANIZATION DIRECTLY AT (646)248-6014.
FORM 990, PART IX, LINE 11GWRITERS: PROGRAM SERVICE EXPENSES 147,194. MANAGEMENT AND GENERAL EXPENSES 0. FUNDRAISING EXPENSES 0. TOTAL EXPENSES 147,194. STORY EDITORS: PROGRAM SERVICE EXPENSES 22,000. MANAGEMENT AND GENERAL EXPENSES 0. FUNDRAISING EXPENSES 0. TOTAL EXPENSES 22,000. PHOTOGRAPHER: PROGRAM SERVICE EXPENSES 31,305. MANAGEMENT AND GENERAL EXPENSES 0. FUNDRAISING EXPENSES 0. TOTAL EXPENSES 31,305. COPYEDITING & FACT CHECKING: PROGRAM SERVICE EXPENSES 18,804. MANAGEMENT AND GENERAL EXPENSES 0. FUNDRAISING EXPENSES 0. TOTAL EXPENSES 18,804. PROJECT MANAGER: PROGRAM SERVICE EXPENSES 1,080. MANAGEMENT AND GENERAL EXPENSES 0. FUNDRAISING EXPENSES 0. TOTAL EXPENSES 1,080. GENERAL: PROGRAM SERVICE EXPENSES 61,793. MANAGEMENT AND GENERAL EXPENSES 0. FUNDRAISING EXPENSES 0. TOTAL EXPENSES 61,793. REPUBLICATION: PROGRAM SERVICE EXPENSES 100. MANAGEMENT AND GENERAL EXPENSES 0. FUNDRAISING EXPENSES 0. TOTAL EXPENSES 100.
FORM 990, PART XII, LINE 2C:THE ORGANIZATION HAS A COMMITTEE THAT ASSUMES RESPONSIBILITY FOR OVERSIGHT OF THE AUDIT OF ITS FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SELECTION OF AN INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANT. THE PROCESS HAS NOT CHANGED FROM THE PRIOR YEAR.

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