PRO PUBLICA INC: Form 990, tax year 2015

View the entire original 990 at ProPublica ↗

Organization
PRO PUBLICA INC (EIN 14-2007220)
Tax period
2015-01-01 to 2015-12-31
Filed
2016-08-11
IRS object ID
201612249349301181
Schema version
2015v2.1
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)
Return2016-08-11T11:06:06-05:00ReturnTs
Tax Period End2015-12-31TaxPeriodEndDt

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 Begin2015-01-01TaxPeriodBeginDt

Filer Filer

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
EIN142007220EIN

Business Name BusinessName

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Business Name Line1PRO PUBLICA INCBusinessNameLine1Txt
FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Business Name ControlPROPBusinessNameControlTxt
Phone2125145250PhoneNum

US Address USAddress

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Address Line1155 AVE OF THE AMERICAS NO 13 FLAddressLine1Txt
CityNEW YORKCityNm
State AbbreviationNYStateAbbreviationCd
ZIP10013ZIPCd

Business Officer BusinessOfficerGrp

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
PersonRICHARD J TOFELPersonNm
Person TitlePRESIDENTPersonTitleTxt
Phone2125145250PhoneNum
Signature2016-08-11SignatureDt
Discuss With Paid PreparerYes (1)DiscussWithPaidPreparerInd

Preparer Person PreparerPersonGrp

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Preparer PersonGARRETT M HIGGINSPreparerPersonNm
PTINP00543209PTIN
Phone2122862600PhoneNum
Preparation2016-08-11PreparationDt
FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Tax2015TaxYr
Build TS2016-12-15 16:53:06ZBuildTS

Form 990 IRS990

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Principal OfficerRICHARD J TOFELPrincipalOfficerNm

US Address USAddress

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Address Line1155 AVE OF THE AMERICAS NO 13 FLAddressLine1Txt
CityNEW YORKCityNm
State AbbreviationNYStateAbbreviationCd
ZIP10013ZIPCd
FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Gross Receipts$17,112,241GrossReceiptsAmt
Group Return For Affiliates0GroupReturnForAffiliatesInd
Organization501c3Yes (X)Organization501c3Ind
Website AddressWWW.PROPUBLICA.ORGWebsiteAddressTxt
Type Of Organization CorpYes (X)TypeOfOrganizationCorpInd
Formation2007FormationYr
Legal Domicile StateDELegalDomicileStateCd
Activity Or MissionTO EXPOSE ABUSES OF POWER AND BETRAYALS OF THE PUBLIC TRUST - SEE "SCHEDULE O" FOR CONTINUATIONBY GOVERNMENT, BUSINESS, AND OTHER INSTITUTIONS, USING THE MORAL FORCE OF INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM TO SPUR REFORM THROUGH THE SUSTAINED SPOTLIGHTING OF WRONGDOING.ActivityOrMissionDesc
Voting Members Governing Body10VotingMembersGoverningBodyCnt
Voting Members Independent9VotingMembersIndependentCnt
Total Employee76TotalEmployeeCnt
Total Volunteers9TotalVolunteersCnt
Total Gross UBI$19,799TotalGrossUBIAmt
Net Unrelated Bus Txbl Incm$9,360NetUnrelatedBusTxblIncmAmt
PY Contributions Grants$10,169,976PYContributionsGrantsAmt
CY Contributions Grants$16,882,164CYContributionsGrantsAmt
PY Program Service Revenue$0PYProgramServiceRevenueAmt
CY Program Service Revenue$60,000CYProgramServiceRevenueAmt
PY Investment Income$4,176PYInvestmentIncomeAmt
CY Investment Income$3,919CYInvestmentIncomeAmt
PY Other Revenue$150,123PYOtherRevenueAmt
CY Other Revenue$100,847CYOtherRevenueAmt
PY Total Revenue$10,324,275PYTotalRevenueAmt
CY Total Revenue$17,046,930CYTotalRevenueAmt
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$8,589,013PYSalariesCompEmpBnftPaidAmt
CY Salaries Comp Emp Bnft Paid$9,360,011CYSalariesCompEmpBnftPaidAmt
PY Total Prof Fndrsng Expns$0PYTotalProfFndrsngExpnsAmt
CY Total Prof Fndrsng Expns$0CYTotalProfFndrsngExpnsAmt
CY Total Fundraising Expense$465,121CYTotalFundraisingExpenseAmt
PY Other Expenses$2,897,439PYOtherExpensesAmt
CY Other Expenses$3,101,138CYOtherExpensesAmt
PY Total Expenses$11,486,452PYTotalExpensesAmt
CY Total Expenses$12,461,149CYTotalExpensesAmt
PY Revenues Less Expenses-$1,162,177PYRevenuesLessExpensesAmt
CY Revenues Less Expenses$4,585,781CYRevenuesLessExpensesAmt
Total Assets BOY$6,865,118TotalAssetsBOYAmt
Total Assets EOY$11,552,064TotalAssetsEOYAmt
Total Liabilities BOY$184,272TotalLiabilitiesBOYAmt
Total Liabilities EOY$285,437TotalLiabilitiesEOYAmt
Net Assets Or Fund Balances BOY$6,680,846NetAssetsOrFundBalancesBOYAmt
Net Assets Or Fund Balances EOY$11,266,627NetAssetsOrFundBalancesEOYAmt
Info In Schedule O Part IIIYes (X)InfoInScheduleOPartIIIInd
MissionPRO PUBLICA IS AN INDEPENDENT, NON-PROFIT, PULITZER PRIZE-WINNING NEWSROOM THAT PRODUCES INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST. OUR WORK FOCUSES EXCLUSIVELY ON TRULY IMPORTANT STORIES. SEE "SCHEDULE O" FOR CONTINUATION.WE PRODUCE JOURNALISM THAT SHINES A LIGHT ON EXPLOITATION OF THE WEAK BY THE STRONG AND ON THE FAILURES OF THOSE WITH POWER TO VINDICATE THE TRUST PLACED IN THEM. IN THE BEST TRADITIONS OF AMERICAN JOURNALISM IN THE PUBLIC SERVICE, WE AIM TO STIMULATE POSITIVE CHANGE, UNCOVERING UNSAVORY PRACTICES AND ABUSES OF POWER IN ORDER TO PROD REFORM. WE DO THIS IN AN ENTIRELY NON-PARTISAN AND NON-IDEOLOGICAL MANNER, ADHERING TO THE STRICTEST STANDARDS OF JOURNALISTIC IMPARTIALITY.OUR STATED MISSION IS "TO EXPOSE ABUSES OF POWER AND BETRAYALS OF THE PUBLIC TRUST BY GOVERNMENT, BUSINESS, AND OTHER INSTITUTIONS, USING THE MORAL FORCE OF INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM TO SPUR REFORM THROUGH THE SUSTAINED SPOTLIGHTING OF WRONGDOING."MissionDesc
Significant New Program Srvc0SignificantNewProgramSrvcInd
Significant Change0SignificantChangeInd
Expense$10,716,533ExpenseAmt
Revenue$111,000RevenueAmt
DescINVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST - SEE SCHEDULE O FOR DETAILSDesc
Total Program Service Expenses$10,716,533TotalProgramServiceExpensesAmt
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 EquipmentYes (1)ReportLandBuildingEquipmentInd
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 Activities0FundraisingActivitiesInd
Gaming Activities0GamingActivitiesInd
Operate Hospital0OperateHospitalInd
Grants To Organizations0GrantsToOrganizationsInd
Grants To Individuals0GrantsToIndividualsInd
Schedule J RequiredYes (1)ScheduleJRequiredInd
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 ContriYes (1)DeductibleNonCashContriInd
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 Document56IRPDocumentCnt
IRP Document W2 G0IRPDocumentW2GCnt
Employee76EmployeeCnt
Employment Tax Returns FiledYes (1)EmploymentTaxReturnsFiledInd
Unrelated Bus Incm Over LimitYes (1)UnrelatedBusIncmOverLimitInd
Form990 T FiledYes (1)Form990TFiledInd
Foreign Financial Account0ForeignFinancialAccountInd
Prohibited Tax Shelter Trans0ProhibitedTaxShelterTransInd
Taxable Party Notification0TaxablePartyNotificationInd
Nondeductible Contributions0NondeductibleContributionsInd
Quid Pro Quo Contributions0QuidProQuoContributionsInd
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 Members10GoverningBodyVotingMembersCnt
Independent Voting Member9IndependentVotingMemberCnt
Family Or Business Rln0FamilyOrBusinessRlnInd
Delegation Of Mgmt DutiesYes (1)DelegationOfMgmtDutiesInd
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 BodyYes (1)Form990ProvidedToGvrnBodyInd
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 FldDCStatesWhereCopyOfReturnIsFldCd
States Where Copy Of Return Is FldALStatesWhereCopyOfReturnIsFldCd
States Where Copy Of Return Is FldAKStatesWhereCopyOfReturnIsFldCd
States Where Copy Of Return Is FldAZStatesWhereCopyOfReturnIsFldCd
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States Where Copy Of Return Is FldMSStatesWhereCopyOfReturnIsFldCd
States Where Copy Of Return Is FldNHStatesWhereCopyOfReturnIsFldCd
States Where Copy Of Return Is FldNJStatesWhereCopyOfReturnIsFldCd
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States Where Copy Of Return Is FldNYStatesWhereCopyOfReturnIsFldCd
States Where Copy Of Return Is FldNCStatesWhereCopyOfReturnIsFldCd
States Where Copy Of Return Is FldNDStatesWhereCopyOfReturnIsFldCd
States Where Copy Of Return Is FldOHStatesWhereCopyOfReturnIsFldCd
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States Where Copy Of Return Is FldORStatesWhereCopyOfReturnIsFldCd
States Where Copy Of Return Is FldPAStatesWhereCopyOfReturnIsFldCd
States Where Copy Of Return Is FldRIStatesWhereCopyOfReturnIsFldCd
States Where Copy Of Return Is FldSCStatesWhereCopyOfReturnIsFldCd
States Where Copy Of Return Is FldTNStatesWhereCopyOfReturnIsFldCd
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States Where Copy Of Return Is FldWVStatesWhereCopyOfReturnIsFldCd
States Where Copy Of Return Is FldWIStatesWhereCopyOfReturnIsFldCd
Own WebsiteYes (X)OwnWebsiteInd
Other WebsiteYes (X)OtherWebsiteInd
Upon RequestYes (X)UponRequestInd

Books In Care Of Detail BooksInCareOfDetail

Business Name BusinessName

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Business Name Line1STEPHANIE N LITTLE DIRECTOR OF FINANCE & HUMAN RESOURCESBusinessNameLine1Txt
FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Phone2125145250PhoneNum

US Address USAddress

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Address Line1155 AVE OF THE AMERICAS NO 13 FLAddressLine1Txt
CityNEW YORKCityNm
State AbbreviationNYStateAbbreviationCd
ZIP10013ZIPCd

Form990 Part VII Section A Form990PartVIISectionAGrp (18 entries)

TitleTitleTxtAverage Hours Per WeekAverageHoursPerWeekRtIndividual Trustee Or DirectorIndividualTrusteeOrDirectorIndOfficerOfficerIndReportable Comp From OrgReportableCompFromOrgAmtReportable Comp From Rltd OrgReportableCompFromRltdOrgAmtOther CompensationOtherCompensationAmtKey EmployeeKeyEmployeeIndHighest Compensated EmployeeHighestCompensatedEmployeeInd
HERBERT M SANDLER
FOUNDING CHAIRMAN3.00Yes (X)Yes (X)$0$0$0
PAUL E STEIGER
EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN30.00Yes (X)Yes (X)$200,482$0$14,274
MARK COLODNY
DIRECTOR1.00Yes (X)$0$0$0
HENRY LOUIS GATES JR
DIRECTOR1.00Yes (X)$0$0$0
CLAIRE HOFFMAN
DIRECTOR1.00Yes (X)$0$0$0
ROBERT CS MONKS
DIRECTOR1.00Yes (X)$0$0$0
RON OLSON
DIRECTOR1.00Yes (X)$0$0$0
PAUL SAGAN
DIRECTOR1.00Yes (X)$0$0$0
KAT TAYLOR
DIRECTOR1.00Yes (X)$0$0$0
TOM UNTERMAN
DIRECTOR1.00Yes (X)$0$0$0
RICHARD TOFEL
PRESIDENT AND CO-EXECUTIVE40.00Yes (X)$385,186$0$36,796
STEPHEN ENGELBERG
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF & CO-EXECUTIVE40.00Yes (X)$381,030$0$49,259
DEBRA GOLDBERG VICE PRESIDENT
DEVELOPMENT UNTIL SEPT. 201540.00$183,138$0$22,268Yes (X)
ROBIN FIELDS
MANAGING EDITOR40.00$239,517$0$15,735Yes (X)
TRACY WEBER
SENIOR EDITOR40.00$202,698$0$30,639Yes (X)
JOSEPH SEXTON
SENIOR EDITOR40.00$199,799$0$28,707Yes (X)
CHARLES ORNSTEIN
SENIOR REPORTER40.00$198,761$0$40,184Yes (X)
THOMAS C MILLER
SENIOR REPORTER40.00$188,291$0$43,447Yes (X)
FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Total Reportable Comp From Org$2,178,902TotalReportableCompFromOrgAmt
Tot Reportable Comp Rltd Org$0TotReportableCompRltdOrgAmt
Total Other Compensation$281,309TotalOtherCompensationAmt
Indiv Rcvd Greater Than100 K32IndivRcvdGreaterThan100KCnt
Former Ofcr Employees Listed0FormerOfcrEmployeesListedInd
Total Comp Greater Than150 KYes (1)TotalCompGreaterThan150KInd
Compensation From Other Srcs0CompensationFromOtherSrcsInd

Contractor Compensation ContractorCompensationGrp (2 entries)

Address Line1ContractorAddress/USAddress/AddressLine1TxtCityContractorAddress/USAddress/CityNmState AbbreviationContractorAddress/USAddress/StateAbbreviationCdZIPContractorAddress/USAddress/ZIPCdServicesServicesDescCompensationCompensationAmt
PREININGER CONTRUCTION GROUP
79 CARROLL AVEBRIDGEPORTCT06607CONSTRUCTION$472,511
ADP TOTALSOURCE
5800 WINDWARD PARKWAYALPHARETTAGA30005PROFESSIONAL EMPLOYER ORGANIZATION$124,347
FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Cntrct Rcvd Greater Than100 K2CntrctRcvdGreaterThan100KCnt
All Other Contributions$16,882,164AllOtherContributionsAmt
Noncash Contributions$46,666NoncashContributionsAmt
Total Contributions$16,882,164TotalContributionsAmt

Program Service Revenue ProgramServiceRevenueGrp

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
DescPROGRAM SERVICE FEESDesc
Business519130BusinessCd
Total Revenue Column$60,000TotalRevenueColumnAmt
Related Or Exempt Func Income$60,000RelatedOrExemptFuncIncomeAmt
FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Total Program Service Revenue$60,000TotalProgramServiceRevenueAmt

Investment Income InvestmentIncomeGrp

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Total Revenue Column$3,919TotalRevenueColumnAmt
Exclusion$3,919ExclusionAmt

Royalties Revenue RoyaltiesRevenueGrp

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Total Revenue Column$70,956TotalRevenueColumnAmt
Related Or Exempt Func Income$51,000RelatedOrExemptFuncIncomeAmt
Exclusion$19,956ExclusionAmt

Gross Amount Sales Assets GrossAmountSalesAssetsGrp

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Securities$65,311SecuritiesAmt

Less Cost Oth Basis Sales Expnss LessCostOthBasisSalesExpnssGrp

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Securities$65,311SecuritiesAmt

Gain Or Loss GainOrLossGrp

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Securities$0SecuritiesAmt

Other Revenue Misc OtherRevenueMiscGrp (2 entries)

DescDescBusinessBusinessCdTotal Revenue ColumnTotalRevenueColumnAmtUnrelated Business RevenueUnrelatedBusinessRevenueAmtExclusionExclusionAmt
ADVERTISING REVENUE541800$19,799$19,799
HONORARIUMS REVENUE900099$10,092$10,092
FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Other Revenue Total$29,891OtherRevenueTotalAmt

Total Revenue TotalRevenueGrp

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Total Revenue Column$17,046,930TotalRevenueColumnAmt
Related Or Exempt Func Income$111,000RelatedOrExemptFuncIncomeAmt
Unrelated Business Revenue$19,799UnrelatedBusinessRevenueAmt
Exclusion$33,967ExclusionAmt

Comp Current Ofcr Directors CompCurrentOfcrDirectorsGrp

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Total$1,272,433TotalAmt
Program Services$645,045ProgramServicesAmt
Management And General$424,384ManagementAndGeneralAmt
Fundraising$203,004FundraisingAmt

Other Salaries And Wages OtherSalariesAndWagesGrp

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Total$6,628,192TotalAmt
Program Services$6,088,828ProgramServicesAmt
Management And General$396,471ManagementAndGeneralAmt
Fundraising$142,893FundraisingAmt

Pension Plan Contributions PensionPlanContributionsGrp

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Total$263,737TotalAmt
Program Services$252,539ProgramServicesAmt
Management And General$11,198ManagementAndGeneralAmt

Other Employee Benefits OtherEmployeeBenefitsGrp

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Total$655,147TotalAmt
Program Services$593,886ProgramServicesAmt
Management And General$45,351ManagementAndGeneralAmt
Fundraising$15,910FundraisingAmt

Payroll Taxes PayrollTaxesGrp

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Total$540,502TotalAmt
Program Services$460,271ProgramServicesAmt
Management And General$57,456ManagementAndGeneralAmt
Fundraising$22,775FundraisingAmt

Fees For Services Legal FeesForServicesLegalGrp

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Total$13,042TotalAmt
Management And General$489ManagementAndGeneralAmt
Fundraising$12,553FundraisingAmt

Fees For Services Accounting FeesForServicesAccountingGrp

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Total$29,750TotalAmt
Program Services$23,800ProgramServicesAmt
Management And General$2,975ManagementAndGeneralAmt
Fundraising$2,975FundraisingAmt

Fees For Services Other FeesForServicesOtherGrp

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Total$346,103TotalAmt
Program Services$321,885ProgramServicesAmt
Management And General$18,978ManagementAndGeneralAmt
Fundraising$5,240FundraisingAmt

Advertising AdvertisingGrp

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Total$46,297TotalAmt
Program Services$45,446ProgramServicesAmt
Fundraising$851FundraisingAmt

Office Expenses OfficeExpensesGrp

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Total$172,469TotalAmt
Program Services$145,802ProgramServicesAmt
Management And General$18,573ManagementAndGeneralAmt
Fundraising$8,094FundraisingAmt

Information Technology InformationTechnologyGrp

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Total$429,973TotalAmt
Program Services$362,213ProgramServicesAmt
Management And General$31,609ManagementAndGeneralAmt
Fundraising$36,151FundraisingAmt

Occupancy OccupancyGrp

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Total$1,036,179TotalAmt
Program Services$851,354ProgramServicesAmt
Management And General$184,825ManagementAndGeneralAmt

Travel TravelGrp

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Total$476,409TotalAmt
Program Services$459,732ProgramServicesAmt
Management And General$3,677ManagementAndGeneralAmt
Fundraising$13,000FundraisingAmt

Conferences Meetings ConferencesMeetingsGrp

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Total$50,571TotalAmt
Program Services$41,940ProgramServicesAmt
Management And General$8,195ManagementAndGeneralAmt
Fundraising$436FundraisingAmt

Depreciation Depletion DepreciationDepletionGrp

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Total$160,102TotalAmt
Program Services$148,398ProgramServicesAmt
Management And General$11,704ManagementAndGeneralAmt

Insurance InsuranceGrp

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Total$10,302TotalAmt
Program Services$9,029ProgramServicesAmt
Management And General$1,273ManagementAndGeneralAmt

Other Expenses OtherExpensesGrp (4 entries)

DescDescTotalTotalAmtProgram ServicesProgramServicesAmtManagement And GeneralManagementAndGeneralAmtFundraisingFundraisingAmt
PUBLIC REC. COP. & SUBS$197,502$149,030$47,816$656
REPAIRS AND MAINTENANCE$75,179$67,187$7,992
RECRUITMENT & PROF DEVE$51,399$50,148$668$583
UBIT TAX EXPENSE$5,861$5,861

Total Functional Expenses TotalFunctionalExpensesGrp

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Total$12,461,149TotalAmt
Program Services$10,716,533ProgramServicesAmt
Management And General$1,279,495ManagementAndGeneralAmt
Fundraising$465,121FundraisingAmt

Cash Non Interest Bearing CashNonInterestBearingGrp

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
BOY$1,144,084BOYAmt
EOY$1,733,727EOYAmt

Savings And Temp Cash Invst SavingsAndTempCashInvstGrp

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
BOY$3,854,329BOYAmt
EOY$3,408,243EOYAmt

Pledges And Grants Receivable PledgesAndGrantsReceivableGrp

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
BOY$1,435,405BOYAmt
EOY$5,821,936EOYAmt

Accounts Receivable AccountsReceivableGrp

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
BOY$5,817BOYAmt
EOY$1,108EOYAmt

Prepaid Expenses Defrd Charges PrepaidExpensesDefrdChargesGrp

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
BOY$147,817BOYAmt
EOY$171,397EOYAmt
FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Land Bldg Equip Cost Or Other Bss$2,087,196LandBldgEquipCostOrOtherBssAmt
Land Bldg Equip Accum Deprec$1,678,325LandBldgEquipAccumDeprecAmt

Land Bldg Equip Basis Net LandBldgEquipBasisNetGrp

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
BOY$252,239BOYAmt
EOY$408,871EOYAmt

Investments Pub Traded Sec InvestmentsPubTradedSecGrp

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
BOY$21,167BOYAmt
EOY$2,522EOYAmt

Other Assets Total OtherAssetsTotalGrp

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
BOY$4,260BOYAmt
EOY$4,260EOYAmt

Total Assets TotalAssetsGrp

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
BOY$6,865,118BOYAmt
EOY$11,552,064EOYAmt

Accounts Payable Accr Expnss AccountsPayableAccrExpnssGrp

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
BOY$184,272BOYAmt
EOY$136,734EOYAmt

Deferred Revenue DeferredRevenueGrp

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
EOY$148,703EOYAmt

Total Liabilities TotalLiabilitiesGrp

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
BOY$184,272BOYAmt
EOY$285,437EOYAmt
FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Organization Follows SFAS117Yes (X)OrganizationFollowsSFAS117Ind

Unrestricted Net Assets UnrestrictedNetAssetsGrp

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
BOY$3,442,914BOYAmt
EOY$2,792,399EOYAmt

Temporarily Rstr Net Assets TemporarilyRstrNetAssetsGrp

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
BOY$3,237,932BOYAmt
EOY$8,474,228EOYAmt

Total Net Assets Fund Balance TotalNetAssetsFundBalanceGrp

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
BOY$6,680,846BOYAmt
EOY$11,266,627EOYAmt

Tot Liab Net Assets Fund Balance TotLiabNetAssetsFundBalanceGrp

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
BOY$6,865,118BOYAmt
EOY$11,552,064EOYAmt
FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Reconcilation Revenue Expnss$4,585,781ReconcilationRevenueExpnssAmt
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 CommitteeYes (1)AuditCommitteeInd
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$10,115,367CurrentTaxYearMinus4YearsAmt
Current Tax Year Minus3 Years$10,920,019CurrentTaxYearMinus3YearsAmt
Current Tax Year Minus2 Years$13,678,241CurrentTaxYearMinus2YearsAmt
Current Tax Year Minus1 Year$10,169,976CurrentTaxYearMinus1YearAmt
Current Tax Year$16,882,164CurrentTaxYearAmt
Total$61,765,767TotalAmt

Total Calendar Year170 TotalCalendarYear170Grp

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Current Tax Year Minus4 Years$10,115,367CurrentTaxYearMinus4YearsAmt
Current Tax Year Minus3 Years$10,920,019CurrentTaxYearMinus3YearsAmt
Current Tax Year Minus2 Years$13,678,241CurrentTaxYearMinus2YearsAmt
Current Tax Year Minus1 Year$10,169,976CurrentTaxYearMinus1YearAmt
Current Tax Year$16,882,164CurrentTaxYearAmt
Total$61,765,767TotalAmt
FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Substantial Contributors Tot$25,511,962SubstantialContributorsTotAmt
Public Support Total170$36,253,805PublicSupportTotal170Amt

Gross Investment Income170 GrossInvestmentIncome170Grp

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Current Tax Year Minus4 Years$16,263CurrentTaxYearMinus4YearsAmt
Current Tax Year Minus3 Years$17,146CurrentTaxYearMinus3YearsAmt
Current Tax Year Minus2 Years$51,381CurrentTaxYearMinus2YearsAmt
Current Tax Year Minus1 Year$47,898CurrentTaxYearMinus1YearAmt
Current Tax Year$23,875CurrentTaxYearAmt
Total$156,563TotalAmt

Unrelated Business Net Incm170 UnrelatedBusinessNetIncm170Grp

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Current Tax Year Minus4 Years$2,401CurrentTaxYearMinus4YearsAmt
Current Tax Year Minus3 Years$8,465CurrentTaxYearMinus3YearsAmt
Current Tax Year Minus2 Years$11,842CurrentTaxYearMinus2YearsAmt
Current Tax Year Minus1 Year$12,775CurrentTaxYearMinus1YearAmt
Current Tax Year$10,286CurrentTaxYearAmt
Total$45,769TotalAmt

Other Income170 OtherIncome170Grp

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Current Tax Year Minus4 Years$7,103CurrentTaxYearMinus4YearsAmt
Current Tax Year Minus3 Years$2,927CurrentTaxYearMinus3YearsAmt
Current Tax Year Minus2 Years$10,100CurrentTaxYearMinus2YearsAmt
Current Tax Year Minus1 Year$23,379CurrentTaxYearMinus1YearAmt
Current Tax Year$10,092CurrentTaxYearAmt
Total$53,601TotalAmt
FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Total Support$62,021,700TotalSupportAmt
Gross Receipts Rltd Activities$171,500GrossReceiptsRltdActivitiesAmt
Public Support CY1700.58450PublicSupportCY170Pct
Public Support PY1700.54900PublicSupportPY170Pct
Thirty Thr Pct Suprt Tests CY170Yes (X)ThirtyThrPctSuprtTestsCY170Ind

Form990 Schedule A Part VI Form990ScheduleAPartVIGrp

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Form And Line ReferenceSCHEDULE A, PART II, LINE 10, EXPLANATION OF OTHER INCOME:FormAndLineReferenceDesc
ExplanationHONORARIUMS REVENUE - 2011 AMOUNT: $ 7,103. 2012 AMOUNT: $ 2,827. 2013 AMOUNT: $ 10,100. 2014 AMOUNT: $ 23,379. 2015 AMOUNT: $ 10,092. OTHER REVENUE - 2012 AMOUNT: $ 100.ExplanationTxt

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

Leasehold Improvements LeaseholdImprovementsGrp

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Other Cost Or Other Basis$140,403OtherCostOrOtherBasisAmt
Depreciation$15,768DepreciationAmt
Book Value$124,635BookValueAmt

Equipment EquipmentGrp

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Other Cost Or Other Basis$770,393OtherCostOrOtherBasisAmt
Depreciation$623,559DepreciationAmt
Book Value$146,834BookValueAmt

Other Land Buildings OtherLandBuildingsGrp

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Other Cost Or Other Basis$1,176,400OtherCostOrOtherBasisAmt
Depreciation$1,038,998DepreciationAmt
Book Value$137,402BookValueAmt
FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Total Book Value Land Buildings$408,871TotalBookValueLandBuildingsAmt
Footnote TextYes (X)FootnoteTextInd
Total Rev Etc Audited Fincl Stmt$17,046,930TotalRevEtcAuditedFinclStmtAmt
Revenue Not Reported$0RevenueNotReportedAmt
Revenue Subtotal$17,046,930RevenueSubtotalAmt
Revenue Not Reported Fincl Stmt$0RevenueNotReportedFinclStmtAmt
Total Revenue Per Form990$17,046,930TotalRevenuePerForm990Amt
Tot Expns Etc Audited Fincl Stmt$12,461,149TotExpnsEtcAuditedFinclStmtAmt
Expenses Not Reported$0ExpensesNotReportedAmt
Expenses Subtotal$12,461,149ExpensesSubtotalAmt
Expenses Not Rpt Fincl Stmt$0ExpensesNotRptFinclStmtAmt
Total Expenses Per Form990$12,461,149TotalExpensesPerForm990Amt

Supplemental Information Detail SupplementalInformationDetail

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Form And Line ReferencePART X, LINE 2:FormAndLineReferenceDesc
ExplanationTHE ORGANIZATION RECOGNIZES THE EFFECT OF INCOME TAX POSITIONS ONLY IF THOSE POSITIONS ARE MORE LIKELY THAN NOT OF BEING SUSTAINED. MANAGEMENT HAS DETERMINED THAT THE ORGANIZATION HAD NO UNCERTAIN TAX POSITIONS THAT WOULD REQUIRE FINANCIAL STATEMENT RECOGNITION OR DISCLOSURE. THE ORGANIZATION IS NO LONGER SUBJECT TO AUDITS BY THE APPLICABLE TAXING JURISDICTIONS FOR PERIODS PRIOR TO 2012.ExplanationTxt

Schedule J IRS990ScheduleJ

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Independent ConsultantYes (X)IndependentConsultantInd
Form990 Of Other OrganizationsYes (X)Form990OfOtherOrganizationsInd
Compensation SurveyYes (X)CompensationSurveyInd
Board Or Committee ApprovalYes (X)BoardOrCommitteeApprovalInd
Severance Payment0SeverancePaymentInd
Supplemental Nonqual Rtr Plan0SupplementalNonqualRtrPlanInd
Equity Based Comp Arrngm0EquityBasedCompArrngmInd
Comp Based On Revenue Of Flng Org0CompBasedOnRevenueOfFlngOrgInd
Comp Bsd On Rev Related Orgs0CompBsdOnRevRelatedOrgsInd
Comp Bsd Net Earns Flng Org0CompBsdNetEarnsFlngOrgInd
Comp Bsd Net Earns Rltd Orgs0CompBsdNetEarnsRltdOrgsInd
Any Non Fixed Payments0AnyNonFixedPaymentsInd
Initial Contract Exception0InitialContractExceptionInd

Rltd Org Officer Trst Key Empl RltdOrgOfficerTrstKeyEmplGrp (9 entries)

TitleTitleTxtBase Compensation Filing OrgBaseCompensationFilingOrgAmtCompensation Based On Rltd OrgsCompensationBasedOnRltdOrgsAmtBonus Filing OrganizationBonusFilingOrganizationAmountBonus Related OrganizationsBonusRelatedOrganizationsAmtOther Compensation Filing OrgOtherCompensationFilingOrgAmtOther Compensation Rltd OrgsOtherCompensationRltdOrgsAmtDeferred Compensation Flng OrgDeferredCompensationFlngOrgAmtDeferred Comp Rltd OrgsDeferredCompRltdOrgsAmtNontaxable Benefits Filing OrgNontaxableBenefitsFilingOrgAmtNontaxable Benefits Rltd OrgsNontaxableBenefitsRltdOrgsAmtTotal Compensation Filing OrgTotalCompensationFilingOrgAmtTotal Compensation Rltd OrgsTotalCompensationRltdOrgsAmtComp Report Prior990 Filing OrgCompReportPrior990FilingOrgAmtComp Report Prior990 Rltd OrgsCompReportPrior990RltdOrgsAmt
PAUL E STEIGER
EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN$196,774$0$0$0$3,708$0$10,000$0$4,274$0$214,756$0$0$0
RICHARD TOFEL
PRESIDENT AND CO-EXECUTIVE$381,574$0$0$0$3,612$0$13,250$0$23,546$0$421,982$0$0$0
STEPHEN ENGELBERG
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF & CO-EXECUTIVE$377,418$0$0$0$3,612$0$13,250$0$36,009$0$430,289$0$0$0
DEBRA GOLDBERG VICE PRESIDENT
DEVELOPMENT UNTIL SEPT. 2015$182,184$0$0$0$954$0$12,393$0$9,875$0$205,406$0$0$0
ROBIN FIELDS
MANAGING EDITOR$238,744$0$0$0$773$0$5,994$0$9,741$0$255,252$0$0$0
TRACY WEBER
SENIOR EDITOR$201,685$0$0$0$1,013$0$10,450$0$20,189$0$233,337$0$0$0
JOSEPH SEXTON
SENIOR EDITOR$197,950$0$0$0$1,849$0$10,225$0$18,482$0$228,506$0$0$0
CHARLES ORNSTEIN
SENIOR REPORTER$198,319$0$0$0$442$0$10,027$0$30,157$0$238,945$0$0$0
THOMAS C MILLER
SENIOR REPORTER$187,680$0$0$0$611$0$9,863$0$33,584$0$231,738$0$0$0

Schedule M IRS990ScheduleM

Securities Publicly Traded SecuritiesPubliclyTradedGrp

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Non Cash CheckboxYes (X)NonCashCheckboxInd
Contribution7ContributionCnt
Noncash Contributions Rpt F990$46,666NoncashContributionsRptF990Amt
Method Of Determining RevenuesFMVMethodOfDeterminingRevenuesTxt
FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Form8283 Received0Form8283ReceivedCnt
Any Property That Must Be Held0AnyPropertyThatMustBeHeldInd
Review Process Unusual NC Gifts0ReviewProcessUnusualNCGiftsInd
Third Parties Used0ThirdPartiesUsedInd

Supplemental Information Detail SupplementalInformationDetail

FieldValueIRS element (for citing)
Form And Line ReferencePART I, COLUMN (B):FormAndLineReferenceDesc
ExplanationTHE ORGANIZATION IS REPORTING THE NUMBER OF CONTRIBUTORS IN PART 1, COLUMN (B) OF SCHEDULE M.ExplanationTxt

Schedule O IRS990ScheduleO

Supplemental Information Detail SupplementalInformationDetail (8 entries)

Form And Line ReferenceFormAndLineReferenceDescExplanationExplanationTxt
FORM 990, PART III, LINE 4AINNOVATIVE APPROACHES ARE ESSENTIAL FOR PROPUBLICA TO SUCCEED IN OUR MISSION OF PRODUCING STORIES THAT EXPOSE ABUSES OF POWER AND BETRAYALS OF PUBLIC TRUST. OUR NEWSROOM'S USE OF DATA - FROM ANALYZING AND FILTERING RAW RECORDS TO CREATING CUTTING-EDGE VISUALIZATIONS AND NEWS APPLICATIONS THAT HELP READERS MAKE SENSE OF IT ALL - IS ONE CRITICAL WAY WE'RE EXPANDING THE FRONTIERS OF CONTEMPORARY JOURNALISM. OUR DATA RESEARCH GENERATED SOME OF 2015'S MOST GAME-CHANGING INVESTIGATIONS. PROPUBLICA'S INVESTIGATION OF THE NATION'S DEBT COLLECTION SYSTEM IS A POWERFUL EXAMPLE. REPORTER PAUL KIEL HAD ALREADY BEEN EXPLORING THIS ISSUE FOR MORE THAN A YEAR, PRODUCING AWARD-WINNING WORK THAT GENERATED THE FIRST EVER NATIONAL STUDY OF WAGE GARNISHMENT RATES. BUT HE WANTED TO DIG DEEPER INTO THE DATA. KIEL SUSPECTED THERE WAS A DIFFERENCE IN DEBT COLLECTION PATTERNS BETWEEN BLACK AND WHITE COMMUNITIES. TO TEST THIS THEORY, HE AND FELLOW ANNIE WALDMAN REQUESTED COURT RECORDS ON CIVIL JUDGMENTS FROM THE HIGHLY SEGREGATED CITIES OF ST. LOUIS, CHICAGO AND NEWARK. THEY WENT THROUGH MORE THAN HALF A MILLION CASES, GEOCODED EVERY ADDRESS AND ASSIGNED EACH TO A CENSUS TRACT. IN ALL THREE REGIONS, THE CORRELATION WAS CLEAR: THE HEAVIEST USE OF COLLECTION LAWSUITS CONSISTENTLY OVERLAPPED WITH MAJORITY BLACK NEIGHBORHOODS. EVEN WHEN ADJUSTING FOR INCOME, THE RATE OF LAWSUITS WAS NEARLY DOUBLE IN PREDOMINATELY BLACK AREAS THAN THAT OF MOSTLY WHITE COMMUNITIES. AFTER JUDGMENTS, DEBTORS IN BLACK NEIGHBORHOODS WERE SIGNIFICANTLY MORE LIKELY TO HAVE THEIR WAGES GARNISHED. OUR JOURNALISTS PUT THESE FINDINGS IN INTERACTIVE DATABASES OF THE THREE CITIES, ILLUSTRATING THE DISPARITIES. WHEN KIEL SPOKE WITH THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN MAYOR OF THE ST. LOUIS SUBURB OF JENNINGS (A SINGLE MOTHER WHO HAD BEEN SUED OVER DEBT HERSELF, AND HAD HER PAYCHECK GARNISHED), HE SHOWED HER PROPUBLICA'S DATABASE. IN MAYOR YOLANDA FOUNTAIN HENDERSON'S SMALL SUBURB, MORE THAN 4,500 COLLECTION LAWSUITS HAD BEEN FILED OVER THE COURSE OF FIVE YEARS. OUT OF 16 HOMES ON HER OWN BLOCK, EIGHT HOUSEHOLDS HAD BEEN SUED. "THEY'RE JUST SUING ALL OF US," HENDERSON SAID IN DISBELIEF. PROPUBLICA DIDN'T ONLY HIGHLIGHT THE PROBLEM; WE OFFERED POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS. IN AN ACCOMPANYING SIDEBAR TO THE STORY AND DATABASE, WE IDENTIFIED SIX WAYS THE DEBT COLLECTION SYSTEM MIGHT BE REFORMED. TWO MONTHS LATER, MISSOURI ATTORNEY GENERAL CHRIS KOSTER PROPOSED A SERIES OF CHANGES TO STATE COURT RULES, INCLUDING A REQUIREMENT FOR DEBT-BUYING COMPANIES TO PROVIDE PROOF THAT THEY OWN A DEBT BEFORE THEY CAN SUE A DEBTOR, AND MEASURES TO PREVENT COMPANIES FROM WINNING JUDGMENTS WHEN THE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS ON A DEBT HAS EXPIRED. "EARLIER THIS YEAR, PROPUBLICA RELEASED A REPORT THAT CONFIRMS WHAT MANY CONSUMER PROTECTION ADVOCATES HAVE LONG SUSPECTED," KOSTER SAID IN A LETTER TO THE MISSOURI SUPREME COURT'S COMMISSION ON RACIAL AND ETHNIC FAIRNESS. "THE SCOPE OF THIS PROBLEM IS VAST, AND THERE IS A GROWING CONSENSUS THAT REFORM IS DESPERATELY NEEDED FOR OUR STATE COURT SYSTEM." PROPUBLICA'S DATA JOURNALISM IN 2015 ALSO IGNITED A NATIONAL CONVERSATION ON PATIENT SAFETY FOLLOWING OUR PUBLICATION OF SURGEON SCORECARD IN JULY. SPEARHEADED BY REPORTER MARSHALL ALLEN AND DEPUTY DATA EDITOR OLGA PIERCE, THIS GROUNDBREAKING TOOL COMPARES THE PERFORMANCE OF NEARLY 17,000 SURGEONS BY ANALYZING MILLIONS OF MEDICARE CLAIMS RECORDS. IT LETS PATIENTS, FOR THE FIRST TIME, WEIGH THE PAST PERFORMANCE OF SURGEONS ON EIGHT COMMON ELECTIVE PROCEDURES, ALLOWING THEM TO MAKE BETTER DECISIONS ABOUT THEIR HEALTHCARE. OUR METHODOLOGY, WHICH ACCOUNTS FOR FACTORS SUCH AS PATIENTS' HEALTH AND AGE, WAS CAREFULLY DESIGNED IN CLOSE CONSULTATION WITH SURGEONS AND OTHER LEADING EXPERTS. AS WE CREATED SURGEON SCORECARD, THEY REPEATEDLY TOLD US THAT MEDICAL ERRORS - IDENTIFIED BY ONE RECENT STUDY AS THE THIRD-LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH IN THE U.S. - CAN AND SHOULD HAPPEN FAR LESS FREQUENTLY. THEY ALSO TOLD US THAT GREATER TRANSPARENCY ABOUT SURGEONS' PERFORMANCE COULD HELP BRING ABOUT THAT GOAL. YET ALMOST UNIVERSALLY, HOSPITALS FAIL TO PUBLICLY REPORT SUCH DATA. TAKING THE POSITION THAT SURGEONS ARE ULTIMATELY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FULL RANGE OF CARE IN AN OPERATION, AND THAT PATIENTS WOULD WANT TO USE DATA ABOUT A DECISION AS CONSEQUENTIAL AS CHOOSING A SURGEON, WE DISCLOSED WHAT HOSPITALS WOULD NOT. IMPORTANT STORIES EMERGED FROM THE DATA. A SMALL SHARE OF DOCTORS, 11 PERCENT, ACCOUNTED FOR ABOUT A QUARTER OF COMPLICATIONS. HUNDREDS OF SURGEONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY HAD RATES DOUBLE AND TRIPLE THE NATIONAL AVERAGE. AND WE FOUND THAT IT'S NOT THE REPUTATION OR STATUS OF A HOSPITAL THAT MATTERS MOST - WHEN IT COMES TO ELECTIVE OPERATIONS, IT IS MUCH MORE IMPORTANT TO PICK THE RIGHT SURGEON. WHILE SOME IN THE SURGICAL COMMUNITY HAVE BEEN CRITICAL OF THIS TOOL, QUESTIONING THE METHODOLOGY AND ALLEGING THAT IT UNFAIRLY TARNISHES SOME DOCTORS' REPUTATIONS, MANY OTHERS HAVE PRAISED IT AS A TRANSFORMATIVE STEP THAT WILL PROTECT PATIENTS. "A KEY VALUE OF THE PROPUBLICA EFFORT IS THAT IT HAS LAUNCHED AN IMPORTANT DEBATE ABOUT HOW WE ASSESS AND REPORT SURGICAL QUALITY," SAID DR. ASHISH JHA, PROFESSOR AT HARVARD SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH. "THE OLD WAY - WHERE ALL THE INFORMATION WAS PRIVILEGED AND KNOWN ONLY AMONG PHYSICIANS - IS GONE. AND IT IS NOT COMING BACK." IN COLLABORATION WITH NPR'S HOWARD BERKES, REPORTER MICHAEL GRABELL INVESTIGATED HOW OUR NATION'S WORKERS' COMPENSATION SYSTEM IS BEING DISMANTLED, OFTEN AT THE BEHEST OF BIG BUSINESS AND INSURANCE COMPANIES. SINCE 2013, 33 STATES HAVE CUT BENEFITS TO INJURED WORKERS, CREATED HURDLES TO GETTING CARE, OR MADE IT HARDER FOR WORKERS WITH CERTAIN INJURIES TO QUALIFY FOR WORKERS' COMP AT ALL. REPORTING ON THE GROUND IN 16 STATES AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, GRABELL AND BERKES INTERVIEWED MORE THAN 200 INJURED WORKERS, WORKERS' COMP LAWYERS, EMPLOYERS, LAWMAKERS AND OTHERS. THE SCOPE OF THESE CHANGES HAD ATTRACTED ALMOST NO NATIONAL ATTENTION, AS POLITICIANS PASSED LAWS UNDER THE BANNER OF "REFORMS" THAT WOULD PROVIDE COST SAVINGS WHILE INJURED WORKERS OSTENSIBLY REMAINED PROTECTED. PROVIDING A MUCH-NEEDED FACT CHECK, PROPUBLICA COMBED THROUGH LAWS IN ALL 50 STATES SINCE 2003 AND BUILT A FIRST-EVER DATABASE OF THE CHANGES. WE PRESENTED OUR FINDINGS IN A NEWS APPLICATION SHOWING THE MAXIMUM COMPENSATION WORKERS COULD RECEIVE FOR EACH BODY PART IN EACH JURISDICTION. THIS REVEALED DRAMATIC DISCREPANCIES BETWEEN STATES IN THE BENEFITS PAID. FOR EXAMPLE, A LOST ARM IS WORTH $45,000 IN WORKERS' COMP IN ALABAMA, BUT MORE THAN $740,000 OVER A LIFETIME IN NEIGHBORING GEORGIA. A FURTHER STORY DEMONSTRATED THAT A MOVE IN SOME STATES TO PERMIT EMPLOYERS TO OPT-OUT OF LOCAL SYSTEMS WAS FURTHER HURTING THE VERY WORKERS THE SYSTEM IS SUPPOSEDLY DESIGNED TO PROTECT. THE STORIES PROMPTED NEW LEGISLATION TO RAISE BENEFITS IN ALABAMA. TEN MEMBERS OF CONGRESS, CITING PROPUBLICA'S INVESTIGATION, URGED THE U.S. LABOR SECRETARY TO DEVISE AN OVERSIGHT PLAN FOR STATE WORKERS' COMP PROGRAMS. "THE RACE TO THE BOTTOM NOW APPEARS TO BE NEARLY BOTTOMLESS," THE MEMBERS OF CONGRESS WROTE. OVER AND OVER AGAIN IN 2015, PROPUBLICA REPORTERS AND EDITORS EXAMINED AND DISTILLED MASSIVE DATA SETS TO HELP READERS MAKE SENSE OF IMPORTANT ISSUES. WE WORKED WITH DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION DATA, WHICH INVOLVED 2,000 VARIABLES FOR EACH OF ABOUT 7,800 COLLEGES, TO BUILD AN INTERACTIVE DATABASE SHOWING READERS THE DISCOUNTS COLLEGES GIVE TO THEIR LEAST WEALTHY STUDENTS AND HOW MUCH DEBT AVERAGE STUDENTS TAKE ON. IN OUR INVESTIGATION WITH AL.COM OF AN ALABAMA "CHEMICAL ENDANGERMENT" STATUTE THAT MAKES PRENATAL DRUG USE A FELONY, REPORTERS OBTAINED RECORDS ON EVERY PERSON PROSECUTED UNDER THE MEASURE SINCE 2006, SIFTING THROUGH MORE THAN 6,000 CASES TO IDENTIFY NEARLY 500 WOMEN WHOSE PROSECUTIONS WERE PREGNANCY RELATED, IN ADDITION TO POLLING EVERY HOSPITAL IN THE STATE THAT DELIVERS BABIES ABOUT THEIR DRUG-TESTING POLICIES. WE WERE ALSO GUIDED BY SHOE-LEATHER REPORTING, KNOCKING ON DOORS TO REPORT ON THE MISHANDLING OF HORRIFYING SERIAL RAPE CASES, ABUSE AND NEGLECT AT A CALIFORNIA GROUP HOME FOR TROUBLED CHILDREN, THE UNSOLVED MURDER CASES OF FIVE VIETNAMESE-AMERICAN JOURNALISTS, THE FAILURES OF GUN CONTROL ADVOCATES TO ADDRESS THE CAUSES OF URBAN GUN VIOLENCE, AND THE WILLINGNESS OF NEW YORK CITY LANDLORDS TO FLOUT A LAW THAT GAVE THEM LUCRATIVE TAX BREAKS IN EXCHANGE FOR LIMITS ON RENT INCREASES AND GUARANTEES IN WORKER PAY. SUCH STORIES HAVE REAL POWER, AND CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN A DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY. PROPUBLICA'S WORK IN 2015 DEMONSTRATED AGAIN THAT SOME OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT OPPORTUNITIES FOR TELLING SUCH STORIES LIE AT THE INTERSECTION OF DATA AND REPORTING. WE LOOK FORWARD TO ANOTHER YEAR OF FINDING IMPORTANT BUT HIDDEN STORIES, AND BRINGING THEM TO LIGHT. THE MOST IMPORTANT TEST OF PROPUBLICA IS WHETHER OUR WORK IS HAVING IMPACT. BY THIS, WE MEAN NOT AUDIENCE SIZE OR PRIZES, BUT REAL-WORLD CHANGE. EXAMPLES OF WHAT WE MEAN, AND DISCUSSIONS OF HOW WE THINK AB
FORM 990, PART III, LINE 4A, DESCRIPTION OF PROGRAM SERVICE CON'T:ANOTHER SIGNIFICANT TEST IS RECOGNITION FROM PEERS IN JOURNALISM. PROPUBLICA WAS THE FIRST ONLINE NEWS ORGANIZATION TO WIN A PULITZER PRIZE (2010) AND THE FIRST TO WIN A PULITZER FOR STORIES NOT PUBLISHED IN PRINT (2011). OUR WORK WAS HONORED IN 2015 AS FOLLOWS: PROPUBLICA'S PROJECT WITH PBS FRONTLINE, "FIRESTONE AND THE WARLORD," ABOUT THE AMERICAN TIRE COMPANY'S ACTIVITIES IN LIBERIA DURING THE COUNTRY'S CIVIL WAR, WON TWO NEWS & DOCUMENTARY EMMY AWARDS IN THE CATEGORIES OF OUTSTANDING INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM AND OUTSTANDING RESEARCH. T. CHRISTIAN MILLER AND JONATHAN JONES' REPORTING ON THIS STORY ALSO RECEIVED THE ROBERT F. KENNEDY JOURNALISM AWARD FOR NEW MEDIA, THE INVESTIGATIVE REPORTERS AND EDITORS AWARD FOR MULTIPLATFORM PROJECTS FOR LARGE ORGANIZATIONS, AND HUNTER COLLEGE'S ARONSON AWARD FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE JOURNALISM. OUR ARTICLE "SEGREGATION NOW," ON THE RE-SEGREGATION OF AMERICA'S SCHOOLS, PUBLISHED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE ATLANTIC, RECEIVED THE HECHINGER GRAND PRIZE FOR DISTINGUISHED EDUCATION REPORTING, THE HIGHEST HONOR IN EDUCATION JOURNALISM; THE NATIONAL AWARD FOR EDUCATION REPORTING FOR BEAT REPORTING; THE SOCIETY OF PROFESSIONAL JOURNALISTS' SIGMA DELTA CHI AWARD FOR PUBLIC SERVICE IN ONLINE JOURNALISM; THE DEADLINE CLUB AWARD FOR DIGITAL BEAT REPORTING; THE SOCIETY FOR NEWS DESIGN AWARD OF EXCELLENCE FOR FEATURES, SINGLE-SUBJECT PROJECT; HONORABLE MENTION FROM THE AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION'S SILVER GAVEL AWARDS; AND RECOGNITION AS A FINALIST FOR THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF MAGAZINE EDITORS' NATIONAL MAGAZINE AWARD FOR PUBLIC INTEREST. THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BLACK JOURNALISTS NAMED NIKOLE HANNAH-JONES, THE REPORTER ON THIS PROJECT, ITS JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR. JESSE EISINGER'S COLUMN, "THE TRADE," FOCUSED ON WALL STREET ACCOUNTABILITY, WON THE GEORGE LOEB AWARD FOR DISTINGUISHED BUSINESS AND FINANCIAL JOURNALISM FOR COMMENTARY AND THE SOCIETY OF AMERICAN BUSINESS EDITORS AND WRITERS BEST IN BUSINESS AWARD FOR DIGITAL COMMENTARY. OUR REPORTING WITH THE LENS ON THE RAPID LOSS OF LAND ON THE LOUISIANA COAST WON A GOLD MEDAL FROM THE SOCIETY FOR NEWS DESIGN; THE INVESTIGATIVE REPORTERS AND EDITORS GANNETT AWARD FOR INNOVATION IN WATCHDOG JOURNALISM; THE NATIONAL HEADLINER AWARD FOR WRITING FOR A WEBSITE; A NATIONAL EDWARD R. MURROW AWARD IN THE WEBSITE CATEGORY; AN EDWARD R. MURROW REGIONAL AWARD; AND A SILVER MEDAL IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL CATEGORY OF THE MALOFIEJ INTERNATIONAL INFOGRAPHICS AWARDS. THIS PROJECT, REPORTED FOR PROPUBLICA BY AL SHAW AND BRIAN JACOBS, ALSO RECEIVED THREE AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE FROM THE SOCIETY FOR NEWS DESIGN FOR FEATURES, INFOGRAPHICS AND MULTIMEDIA. OUR COVERAGE OF THE DISMANTLING OF WORKERS' COMP, PUBLISHED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH NPR NEWS AND REPORTED FOR PROPUBLICA BY MICHAEL GRABELL, RECEIVED THE ONLINE NEWS ASSOCIATION'S AL NEUHARTH INNOVATION IN INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM AWARD. OUR COVERAGE OF THE RED CROSS AND ITS MISHANDLING OF SUPERSTORM SANDY, IN COLLABORATION WITH NPR NEWS AND REPORTED FOR PROPUBLICA BY JESSE EISINGER AND JUSTIN ELLIOT, WON THE SOCIETY OF SILURIANS EXCELLENCE IN JOURNALISM AWARD FOR PUBLIC SERVICE AND WAS SELECTED AS A FINALIST FOR THE GOLDSMITH PRIZE FOR INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING. OUR ARTICLE ON GUN VIOLENCE IN OUR CITIES AND POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER, REPORTED BY LOIS BECKETT AND PUBLISHED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH ESSENCE, WON THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BLACK JOURNALISTS SALUTE TO EXCELLENCE AWARD FOR MAGAZINE INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM AND THE DEADLINE CLUB AWARD FOR PUBLIC SERVICE. A RELATED INFOGRAPHIC RECEIVED A SOCIETY FOR NEWS DESIGN AWARD OF EXCELLENCE. OUR INVESTIGATION ON THE U.S. GOVERNMENT'S PROGRAM TO IDENTIFY AND REPATRIATE THE BODIES OF MISSING SOLDIERS, REPORTED BY MEGAN MCCLOSKEY WITH NPR NEWS, RECEIVED THE ALLIANCE FOR WOMEN IN MEDIA "GRACIE" AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING INVESTIGATIVE PROGRAM OR FEATURE AND A SOCIETY FOR NEWS DESIGN AWARD OF EXCELLENCE FOR FEATURES. MCCLOSKEY WAS ALSO CHOSEN AS A FINALIST FOR THE LIVINGSTON AWARD FOR YOUNG JOURNALISTS IN NATIONAL REPORTING. OUR COVERAGE ON THE MAGNITUDE OF WAGE GARNISHMENT, PUBLISHED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH NPR NEWS AND REPORTED FOR PROPUBLICA BY PAUL KIEL, WON THE NATIONAL PRESS CLUB JOURNALISM CONTEST AWARD FOR CONSUMER JOURNALISM-BROADCAST. THE SERIES WAS ALSO NAMED A GERALD LOEB AWARD FINALIST FOR VIDEO/AUDIO, AND A FINALIST FOR A SCRIPPS HOWARD AWARD IN THE BUSINESS/ECONOMICS REPORTING CATEGORY. PROPUBLICA'S REPORTING ON THE EXCESSIVE USE OF RESTRAINTS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS, BY HEATHER VOGELL AND ANNIE WALDMAN, RECEIVED THE NATIONAL AWARD FOR EDUCATION REPORTING FOR SINGLE-TOPIC NEWS OR FEATURE AND THE KATHERINE SCHNEIDER JOURNALISM AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN REPORTING ON DISABILITY. OUR REPORTING ON TOBACCO BONDS COSTING STATES BILLIONS WON THE SOCIETY OF SILURIANS EXCELLENCE IN JOURNALISM AWARD FOR ONLINE INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING, AND THE NEW YORK STATE SOCIETY OF CPAS EXCELLENCE IN FINANCIAL JOURNALISM AWARD FOR EXPLANATORY REPORTING, WHILE REPORTER CEZARY PODKUL RECEIVED THE SOCIETY OF AMERICAN BUSINESS EDITORS AND WRITERS' LARRY BIRGER AWARD, WHICH HONORS BUSINESS JOURNALISTS UNDER THE AGE OF 30. REPORTING ON DOPING IN TRACK AND FIELD BY REPORTER DAVID EPSTEIN IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE BBC WON THE BRITISH JOURNALISM AWARD FOR SPORTS JOURNALISM. PROPUBLICA WAS A FINALIST FOR THE ONLINE NEWS ASSOCIATION'S GENERAL EXCELLENCE IN ONLINE JOURNALISM AWARD. THE NEWS APPLICATION "INSIDE THE FIREWALL: TRACKING THE NEWS THAT CHINA BLOCKS," BY SISI WEI, WON THREE AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE FROM THE SOCIETY FOR NEWS DESIGN FOR FEATURES, INFOGRAPHICS AND CONTINUOUS USE, AND WAS SELECTED FOR "BEST AMERICAN INFOGRAPHICS." OUR TREATMENT TRACKER NEWS APPLICATION ON PAYMENTS UNDER MEDICARE PART B WON A DATA JOURNALISM AWARD, AND THE SOCIETY FOR NEWS DESIGN AWARD OF EXCELLENCE FOR PLANNED COVERAGE AND SINGLE-SUBJECT FEATURE. OUR NEWS APPLICATIONS WON SEVERAL AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE FROM THE SOCIETY FOR NEWS DESIGN, INCLUDING HONORS FOR PROPUBLICA'S ORGANIZATIONAL PORTFOLIO AND THE INDIVIDUAL PORTFOLIOS OF DEVELOPERS LENA GROEGER AND SISI WEI; AN APP COMPARING INSURANCE PLANS UNDER THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT; AN APP DETAILING THE MILLIONS THAT NEW YORK COUNTIES LOST IN TOBACCO BONDS; AN APP SHOWING THE SOURCES OF TRACED GUNS; AND AN INFOGRAPHIC TRACKING EXTINCTIONS. ARTICLES ON ALABAMA'S CRIMINALIZATION OF DRUG USE DURING PREGNANCY, PUBLISHED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH AL.COM, WON THE SIDNEY HILLMAN FOUNDATION'S OCTOBER SIDNEY AWARD. EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN OF PROPUBLICA PAUL STEIGER WAS INDUCTED INTO THE DEADLINE CLUB HALL OF FAME, AN HONOR BESTOWED TO JOURNALISTS AND MEDIA EXECUTIVES WHOSE WORK HAS MADE A SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION TO AMERICAN JOURNALISM. FOR THE ROLE OUR INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING PLAYS IN THE BROADER MEDIA INDUSTRY, PROPUBLICA RECEIVED PEN CENTER USA'S AWARD OF HONOR.
FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION A, LINE 3BEGINNING IN 2012, THE ORGANIZATION BEGAN USING ADP TOTALSOURCE, A PROFESSIONAL EMPLOYER ORGANIZATION ("PEO"). AS A PROFESSIONAL EMPLOYER ORGANIZATION, TOTALSOURCE PROVIDES PROFESSIONAL EMPLOYER SERVICES TO PRO PUBLICA. IN THE PEO RELATIONSHIP TOTALSOURCE AND PRO PUBLICA SHARE CERTAIN RESPONSIBILITIES AND ALLOCATE OTHER EMPLOYER RESPONSIBILITIES BETWEEN EACH OTHER. PRO PUBLICA REMAINS AN EMPLOYER OF THE WORKSITE EMPLOYEES AND TOTALSOURCE IS A CO-EMPLOYER OF PRO PUBLICA'S EMPLOYEES. PRO PUBLICA HAS: DIRECTION AND CONTROL OVER EMPLOYEES AS IS NECESSARY TO CONDUCT ITS BUSINESS, DISCHARGE AND FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITY IT MAY HAVE, OR COMPLY WITH ANY APPLICABLE LICENSURE, REGULATORY OR STATUTORY REQUIREMENT OF PRO PUBLICA. CONTROL OVER THE DAY TO DAY JOB DUTIES OF EMPLOYEES AND OVER THE JOB SITES AT WHICH, OR FROM WHICH EMPLOYEES PERFORM SERVICES RESPONSIBILITY OVER THE PROFESSIONAL AND LICENSED ACTIVITIES OF EMPLOYEES INCLUDING ENSURING THAT EMPLOYEES ARE SUPERVISED BY LICENSED INDIVIDUALS AS REQUIRED BY LAW AND FOR DETERMINING WHETHER AN APPLICANT OR EMPLOYEE MEETS PRO PUBLICA'S HIRING CRITERIA AND IS QUALIFIED TO SAFELY AND COMPLETELY PERFORM HIS OR HER JOB TOTALSOURCE RESERVES A RIGHT OF DIRECTION AND CONTROL OVER EMPLOYEES AS IS NECESSARY TO FULFILL ITS OBLIGATIONS AND PROVIDE ITS SERVICES UNDER AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN PRO PUBLICA, INC. AND TOTALSOURCE. TOTALSOURCE AND PRO PUBLICA, INC. HAVE A RIGHT TO HIRE, DISCIPLINE, AND TERMINATE EMPLOYEES AS TO EACH ONE'S EMPLOYMENT RELATIONSHIP WITH EMPLOYEES.
FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 11PRO PUBLICA HAS ITS FORM 990 PREPARED BY AN OUTSIDE ACCOUNTING FIRM AND HAS ESTABLISHED THE FOLLOWING REVIEW PROCESS TO ENSURE THAT THE INFORMATION REPORTED IS COMPLETE AND ACCURATE. WHEN THE FORM 990 HAS BEEN PREPARED, REVIEWED BY MANAGEMENT AND IS READY TO BE FILED WITH THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE, IT'S SUBMITTED ELECTRONICALLY TO MEMBERS OF PRO PUBLICA'S GOVERNING BODY FOR ANY COMMENTS PRIOR TO ITS SUBMISSION. THE GOVERNING BODY IS PROVIDED WITH AT LEAST ONE WEEK TO REVIEW THE PREPARED FORM 990 AND PROVIDE THEIR COMMENTS. ANY COMMENTS ARE THEN GROUPED, SUMMARIZED AND PROVIDED TO THE AUDIT COMMITTEE FOR THEIR REVIEW. EACH ISSUE IS DOCUMENTED AND ADDRESSED UNTIL THE RETURN IS FINALIZED AND APPROVED FOR FILING.
FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 12CPRO PUBLICA HAS A CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY, WHICH APPLIES TO ALL BOARD MEMBERS, OFFICERS, AND EMPLOYEES. EACH OF THE BOARD MEMBERS AND OFFICERS ARE REQUIRED SIGN TO A CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY ANNUALLY. AN INTERESTED PERSON MUST DISCLOSE AS SOON AS PRACTICABLE TO THE SECRETARY THE EXISTENCE OF A POTENTIAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST AND ALL MATERIAL FACTS RELATED TO THE CONFLICT. IF A BOARD MEMBER OR OFFICER IS UNCERTAIN ABOUT WHETHER A CONFLICT EXISTS, HE/SHE SHOULD REPORT THE POSSIBLE CONFLICT IN ALL CASES IN WHICH A CRITICAL EXTERNAL OBSERVER MIGHT REASONABLE PERCEIVE A CONFLICT TO EXIST. THE BOARD COMMITTEE WILL DETERMINE IF A CONFLICT OF INTEREST EXISTS. IN THE EVENT THAT A CONFLICT OF INTEREST ARISES, THE BOARD MEMBER OR OFFICER WITH WHOM THE CONFLICT PERTAINS TO IS EXCLUDED FROM VOTING ON THE ISSUE. HE/SHE WILL LEAVE THE ROOM AND THE OTHER BOARD MEMBERS VOTE ON THE ISSUE PERTAINING TO THAT SPECIFIC TRANSACTION. WITH RESPECT TO ANY BOARD COMMITTEE'S DISCUSSION, DECISION, OR ACTIONS INVOLVING TRANSACTIONS IN WHICH A BOARD MEMBER OR OFFICER HAS A CONFLICT OF INTEREST, THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD COMMITTEE MEETING WILL REFLECT THE BOARD'S DELIBERATIONS AND VOTING PROCESS. IN CASE OF AN INTEREST PARTY WHO IS NOT A BOARD MEMBER OR OFFICER, THE PRESIDENT MONITORS AND ENFORCES THE ORGANIZATION'S COMPLIANCE WITH ITS CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY. IF AN EMPLOYEE HAS A CONFLICT OF INTEREST, HE/SHE EMPLOYEE COULD NOT PARTICIPATE IN THE DECISION MAKING THE CONFLICTED TRANSACTION.
FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 15SALARIES FOR THE CEOS, OFFICERS AND KEY EMPLOYEES ARE SET BY THE BOARD. THE BOARD USES THE SERVICES OF A LAW FIRM (CAPLIN & DRYSDALE, WHO SPECIALIZE IN NOT FOR PROFIT ISSUES) FOR GUIDANCE ON ALL MATTERS OF COMPENSATION. IN 2012 CAPLIN & DRYSDALE UPDATED THE COMPENSATION STUDY FOR THREE KEY EMPLOYEES. CAPLIN & DRYSDALE STUDIED COMPENSATION OF SELECT NATIONAL NEWSPAPERS AND RELIED ON THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF PRO PUBLICA'S OPERATIONS AND STATUS IN THE FIELD OF JOURNALISM. THE BOARD ESTABLISHED COMPENSATION FOR THE CEO, OFFICERS AND KEY EMPLOYEES USING COMPARABLE DATA AND DETERMINED THAT THE SALARY IS REASONABLE. COMPARABLE DATA INCLUDES VARIETY OF INFORMATION FROM JOURNALISM OUTLETS AND OTHER NOT FOR PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS. MINUTES OF THE BOARD MEETINGS ARE KEPT IN FILE. THIS PROCESS WAS LAST COMPLETED IN 2014.
FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION C, LINE 19THE ORGANIZATION MAKES ITS FORM 990 AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC INSPECTION AS REQUIRED UNDER SECTION 6104 OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE. THE RETURN IS POSTED ON GUIDESTAR.ORG AND OTHER SIMILAR TYPES OF WEBSITES. IN ADDITION, THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY, ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION, FORM 990, FORM 1023, AND BY-LAWS ARE ALSO AVAILABLE UPON WRITTEN REQUEST, AND ON THE ORGANIZATION'S WEBSITE (WWW.PROPUBLICA.ORG).
FORM 990, PART XII, LINE 2C:PRO PUBLICA HAS AN AUDIT COMMITTEE THAT ASSUMES RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE OVERSIGHT OF THE AUDIT OF ITS FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND FOR THE SELECTION OF AN INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANT. THE PROCESS HAS NOT CHANGED FROM THE PRIOR YEAR.

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