2015-05-13T15:26:28-05:00 2014-12-31 271728945 O'CONNOR DAVIES LLP 665 FIFTH AVENUE NEW YORK NY 10022 990 2014-01-01 274108978 FOOD AND ENVIRONMENT REPORTING NETWORK INC FOOD 6462486014 1133 BROADWAY NO 706 NEW YORK NY 10010 THOMAS LASKAWY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 6462486014 2015-05-13 1 GARRETT M HIGGINS P00543209 2122862600 2015-05-13 2014 2016-02-25 16:41:14Z THOMAS LASKAWY 1133 BROADWAY NO 706 NEW YORK NY 10010 758378 0 X HTTP://THEFERN.ORG X 2010 NY OUR 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. 7 6 2 5 0 0 644113 688331 3350 34369 698 1271 -11065 -53465 637096 670506 0 0 0 0 108223 155859 0 0 0 280498 499377 388721 655236 248375 15270 452257 484985 22084 39542 430173 445443 X THE FOOD & ENVIRONMENT REPORTING NETWORK (FERN) IS THE FIRST AND ONLY INDEPENDENT, NON-PROFIT, NON-PARTISAN NEWS ORGANIZATION THAT PRODUCES AWARD-WINNING INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING ON FOOD, AGRICULTURE, AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH THROUGH PUBLICATION PARTNERSHIPS WITH RESPECTED REGIONAL AND NATIONAL MEDIA OUTLETS. THROUGH IMPARTIAL, UNBIASED, FACT-BASED "WATCHDOG" JOURNALISM FROM EXPERIENCED REPORTERS, WE SEEK TO REVEAL CORRUPTION, ABUSE OF POWER, AND EXPLOITATION AND TO EXPOSE ACTIVITIES AND SUBJECTS THAT ARE HIDDEN OR OFTEN IGNORED. THE FOOD & ENVIRONMENT REPORTING NETWORK UNCOVERS AND EXPLORES NEWS CRITICAL TO THE PUBLIC'S RIGHT TO KNOW ABOUT FOOD, AGRICULTURE, AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH.A REGISTERED 501(C)3 NON-PROFIT CORPORATION BASED IN NEW YORK AND OPERATING SINCE EARLY 2011, FERN HAS WORKED WITH 29 FREELANCE WRITERS TO COMMISSION AND PRODUCE 46 STORIES THAT HAVE APPEARED IN 25 OUTLETS - WE ESTIMATE THAT WE HAVE REACHED NEARLY 70 MILLION AMERICANS WITH OUR STORIES IN VARIOUS MEDIA. FERN 0 0 525296 37220 DURING 2014 OUR PRIMARY PROGRAM WAS THE INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING PROGRAM FOR WHICH WE PRODUCED TWENTY-ONE STORIES WITH EIGHTEEN WRITERS IN THIRTEEN MAINSTREAM NEWS OUTLETS AND HAVE A NUMBER CURRENTLY IN THE WORKS.IN ADDITION, OUR STORY FROM THE MAY 2013 ISSUE OF EATING WELL MAGAZINE ABOUT ANTIBIOTIC-RESISTANT BACTERIA WON THE 2014 INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CULINARY PROFESSIONALS AWARD FOR "CULINARY WRITING THAT MAKES A DIFFERENCE." OUR STORY, "IMAGINING THE POST-ANTIBIOTICS FUTURE," WAS ALSO NOMINATED FOR A JAMES BEARD AWARD IN 2014 (OUR SECOND NOMINATION), AND WAS INCLUDED IN HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT'S COLLECTION THE BEST AMERICAN SCIENCE AND NATURE WRITING, 2014.EARLIER THIS YEAR, WE DEVELOPED A DAILY NEWSLETTER CALLED FERN'S AG INSIDER, WRITTEN BY LONG-TIME AGRICULTURE REPORTER CHUCK ABBOTT. WITH THREE DECADES OF WASHINGTON EXPERIENCE, ABBOTT IS AN OLD HAND AT COVERING U.S. FOOD AND AGRICULTURE POLICY AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL, RANGING FROM THE "NUTRITION FACTS" LABELS ON FOOD AND THE NEVER-ENDING TUSSLE OVER FOOD STAMP RULES TO RENOVATION OF THE FARM PROGRAM. ABBOTT, WHO GREW UP ON A FARM IN NORTHERN ILLINOIS, WAS A LONG-TIME REUTERS COMMODITIES CORRESPONDENT IN WASHINGTON AFTER A STINT AS NATIONAL FARM EDITOR FOR UNITED PRESS INTERNATIONAL. THE IDEA BEHIND THE AG INSIDER IS TO MORE REGULARLY ENGAGE READERS, PROVIDE AN INVALUABLE RESOURCE, AND GAUGE INTEREST IN A POTENTIAL "PRO" REPORTED PRODUCT, WHICH COULD BECOME A REVENUE STREAM FOR FERN. WE HAVE MULTIPLIED SUBSCRIPTIONS SEVERAL TIMES OVER IN A SHORT TIME AND ARE NOW REACHING CLOSE TO 1,000 SUBSCRIBERS PER DAY. THE AG INSIDER IS CONSIDERED AN ESSENTIAL DAILY READ BY POLICY AND INDUSTRY FIGURES.FERN IS ALSO NOW PARTICIPATING IN A NEW CONSUMER ENVIRONMENTAL CHANNEL ON THE GUARDIAN WEB SITE, WHICH HAS A STRONG US PRESENCE, CALLED VITAL SIGNS. UNDER THE CONTENT PARTNERSHIP, WE WILL CONTRIBUTE AT LEAST ONE STORY PER MONTH, BUT OUR GOAL IS TO INCREASE THE OUTPUT. THE FIRST STORY WAS PUBLISHED IN OCTOBER AND WE WE HAVE SEVERAL STORIES IN DEVELOPMENT. WE WERE ATTRACTED BY THE OFFER TO HAVE BRANDED CONTENT WITH A RESPECTED NEWS OUTLET AND ALSO BY THE CONSUMER FOCUS OF THE SECTION, WHICH MIGHT ALLOW US TO REACH MORE GENERAL READERSHIP. WE WILL LEVERAGE EXISTING WRITER RELATIONSHIPS TO GENERATE THESE MODERATE-LENGTH STORIES, AND BRING INFOGRAPHICS TO THE COLUMN AS WELL.IN APRIL, FERN RECEIVED AN INVESTIGATIVE NEWS NETWORK INNOVATION GRANT FOR A NEW EVENT SERIES. THE GOAL OF THE GRANT IS TO "ENCOURAGE INNOVATION AND EXPERIMENTATION IN NONPROFIT NEWS AND PUBLIC MEDIA ORGANIZATIONS." OUR CONCEPT, FERN TALKS & EATS, WAS A LIVE, IMMERSIVE, FOOD AND STORYTELLING EVENT HELD BEFORE A SOLD-OUT AUDIENCE OF 250 PEOPLE IN BROOKLYN, NEW YORK ON NOVEMBER 3, 2014. DURING THE EVENT, FOUR OF OUR REPORTERS DELIVERED COMPELLING SPOKEN STORIES ON TOPICS THEY'VE COVERED. THE EVENT TOOK PLACE IN THE DRAMATIC GREEN BUILDING, A FORMER BRASS FOUNDRY NEAR THE GOWANUS CANAL, AND THE STORIES WERE MATCHED WITH A DELICIOUS ARRAY OF SMALL-PLATE DISHES FROM SOME OF NEW YORK CITY'S MOST NOTABLE CHEFS. PARTICIPATING CHEFS INCLUDED PETER ENDRISS OF RUNNER & STONE, RICHARD KUO OF PEARL & ASH, SEAMUS MULLEN OF TERTULIA, FRANNY STEPHENS OF FRANNY'S, AND JASON WEINER OF ALMOND RESTAURANT. THE EVENING FEATURED SINGERS, DANCERS, ACTORS AND SHADOW PUPPETS, AND WAS CAPPED BY A CONVERSATION BETWEEN FERN EDITOR-IN-CHIEF SAMUEL FROMARTZ AND RENOWNED CHEF AND AUTHOR DAN BARBER. SPONSORS INCLUDED EDIBLE MEDIA, WNYC, ANNIE'S NATURAL FOODS, ORGANIC VALLEY, STONYFIELD ORGANIC, NEW YORK DISTILLING COMPANY, SOVEREIGN CIDER AND FLEISHERS MEATS. FERN HOPES TO CREATE AN EVENT THAT IS REPLICABLE IN OTHER CITIES THAN WILL BE A REVENUE GENERATOR FOR THE ORGANIZATION.IN MAY, WE CO-HOSTED A PUBLIC PANEL DISCUSSION AT SUNSET MAGAZINE ON THE TOPIC OF FRACKING IN CALIFORNIA, BASED ON OUR STORY NERVOUS ENERGY, FEATURED IN THE MAGAZINE. THE PANEL FEATURED BARRY YEOMAN, AUTHOR OF THE STORY, AMY QUINTON, WHO PRODUCED A COMPANION RADIO STORY FOR CAPITAL PUBLIC RADIO, PAULA GETZELMAN, A WINE GROWER IN MONTEREY COUNTY WHO WAS FEATURED IN THE STORY, AND JAYNI HEIN, AUTHOR OF A REPORT ON THE POTENTIAL IMPACTS OF FRACKING. FROMARTZ MODERATED THE PANEL.ALSO IN MAY, FROMARTZ MODERATED A PANEL AT THE EDIBLE INSTITUTE, A CONFERENCE ON FOOD AND FOOD POLICY, WHICH TOOK PLACE IN NEW YORK CITY. THE PANEL WAS TITLED, "MEDIA: DOES INDEPENDENT FOOD JOURNALISM MATTER (AND CAN IT SURVIVE)?"IN JUNE, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF SAM FROMARTZ TOOK PART IN A PANEL DISCUSSION ON THE CHANGE-MAKING POWER OF INDEPENDENT JOURNALISM AT THE SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE AND FOOD SYSTEMS FUNDERS MEETING IN DENVER, COLORADO. FROMARTZ SAT ON THE PANEL ALONG WITH LAURA FRANK OF THE NON-PROFIT OUTLET I-NEWS NETWORK.OUR INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING PROGRAM CREATED THE FOLLOWING CONTENT AND SERVED THE FOLLOWING AUDIENCES: -ORGANIC DAIRY FARMERS HIT BY CALIFORNIA DROUGHT IS A SHORT STORY WE PRODUCED ON THE DROUGHT FOR MEDIUM.COM.-WARNING SIGNS: HOW PESTICIDES HARM THE YOUNG BRAIN IS A COVER STORY WE PRODUCED ON A LONGTERM STUDY ON PESTICIDES AND HOW THEY IMPACT THE CHILDREN OF FARMWORKERS, WHICH WAS PUBLISHED IN THE NATION MAGAZINE. IT REACHED 300,000 READERS IN PRINT AND ONLINE AND WAS SHARED ON SOCIAL MEDIA OVER 10,000 TIMES.-NERVOUS ENERGY IS A STORY THAT FOCUSES ON FRACKING IN CALIFORNIA AND HOW IT COULD IMPACT THE FOOD SYSTEM. IT WAS PUBLISHED IN SUNSET MAGAZINE, WHICH HAS 1.3 MILLION SUBSCRIBERS. WE ALSO WORKED WITH A REPORTER AT CAPITAL PUBLIC RADIO TO PRODUCE A COMPANION PIECE FOR AN AUDIENCE OF 470,000 LISTENERS.-PALAU'S PLANS TO BAN COMMERCIAL FISHING COULD SET PRECEDENT FOR TUNA INDUSTRY IS A FOLLOW-UP REPORT TO OUR EARLIER REPORTING ON THE TUNA INDUSTRY IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC. IT WAS PUBLISHED ON THE GUARDIAN'S NEW SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS VERTICAL.-PLOWED UNDER IS A REPORT FOR THE AMERICAN PROSPECT ON HOW NATIVE GRASSLAND ACROSS AMERICA'S WESTERN CORN BELT IS BEING PLOWED UP TO PLANT ROW CROPS AT A RATE UNPRECEDENTED SINCE THE 1920S. THE STORY REACHED 650,000 READERS IN PRINT AND ONLINE.-THE QUINOA QUARREL IS A STORY ABOUT THE BATTLE OVER THE INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OF QUINOA SEEDS BETWEEN BREEDERS AND THE BOLIVIAN PEOPLE. IT WAS FEATURED IN HARPER'S, WHICH HAS A READERSHIP OF 175,000.-ARE STORES MAKING BANK OFF FOOD STAMPS? IS A REPORT THAT LOOKS AT A COURT CASE THAT COURT FORCE THE USDA TO REVEAL HOW MUCH MONEY FROM THE SNAP PROGRAM GOES TOWARD GROCERY RETAILERS. IT WAS PUBLISHED AT MOTHER JONES, WHICH HAS 500,000 MONTHLY UNIQUE VISITORS.-MEXICO IS WAGING WAR AGAINST AMERICAN APPLES IS A RADIO REPORT THAT LOOKED AT HOW TRADE IS IMPACTING LOCAL FARMING IN MEXICO, AND WAS FEATURED ON PRI'S THE WORLD, WHICH HAS 2.75 MILLION WEEKLY LISTENERS.-THE ABSTINENCE METHOD IS AN INVESTIGATION ON THE NETHERLANDS, WHERE THEY HAVE ELIMINATED SUB-THERAPEUTIC USE OF ANTIBIOTICS IN ANIMAL AGRICULTURE. THE STORY WAS FEATURED IN MODERN FARMER MAGAZINE, WHICH HAS 2 MILLION MONTHLY PAGE VIEWS AND A PRINT CIRCULATION OF 100,000.-REHABILITATING HOSPITAL FOOD: AIMING FOR HEALTHY, SUSTAINABLE AND SAVORY IS A REPORT ABOUT A GROUP OF SAN FRANCISCO HOSPITALS ARE WORKING TO TRANSFORM HOSPITAL FOOD, WHICH APPEARED AT THE GUARDIAN. -WITH IMPORTED SEAFOOD FLOODING US, ARE INSPECTIONS ENOUGH? LOOKS AT OUR REGULATORY FRAMEWORK FOR IMPORTED SEAFOOD IN THE US, AND APPEARED AT MEDIUM.COM. -APPLE GROWERS IN MEXICO CALL FOUL ON TRADE WITH US APPEARED IN THE SEATTLE TIMES ON A SUNDAY, WHICH HAS A CIRCULATION OF OVER 830,000.-CAVIAR'S LAST STAND INVESTIGATED ILLEGAL CAVIAR-SMUGGLING IN THE OZARKS FOR MEDIUM.COM.-WANT TO FIND OUT WHERE YOUR FRUIT WAS GROWN? GOOD LUCK. THIS REPORT LOOKED AT THE DIFFICULTIES OF TRACING PRODUCE PURCHASED AT A GROCERY STORE BACK TO THE FIELD WHERE IT WAS GROWN, AND APPEARED AT MOTHER JONES.-CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR VETOES 'UNNECESSARY' LIVESTOCK ANTIBIOTICS BILL COVERED WATERED DOWN LEGISLATION THAT CONSUMER GROUPS FELT WOULD NOT CURB RESISTANCE, AND WAS FEATURED AT THE GUARDIAN.-TOXIC CHICKEN: PETITION DEMANDS USDA CRACK DOWN ON SALMONELLA WAS FEATURED ON NBCNEWS.COM, WHICH HAS 63 MILLION PAGEVIEWS PER MONTH.-TUNA FIRM'S BUNGLED IPO EXPOSES CHINA'S FLOUTING OF GLOBAL FISHING RULES WAS FEATURED AT THE GUARDIAN AND LED TO THE ABANDONMENT OF THE IPO WEEKS LATER-CAN WHOLE FOODS CHANGE THE WAY POOR PEOPLE EAT? WAS AN IN DEPTH LOOK AT HOW A GROCER IS ATTEMPTING TO ALTER EATING HABITS IN DETROIT, AND WAS FEATURED ON SLATE, WHICH HAS OVER 10 MILLION MONTHLY PAGE VIEWS.-DEATH OF A FAMILY FARM LOOKED AT THE COMPLICATIONS OF FARM SUCCESSION AND APPEARED AT FAST COMPANY, WHICH HAS OVER 39 MILLION AVERAGE MONTHLY PAGE VIEWS. 525296 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 46 0 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 X 7 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 NY CA X THOMAS LASKAWY 2153702765 725 WESTVIEW ST PHILADELPHIA PA 19119 DANIEL PULLMAN CHAIR/TREASURER 5.00 X X 0 0 0 RALPH LOGLISCI SECRETARY 5.00 X X 0 0 0 SAMUEL FROMARTZ EDITOR-IN-CHIEF 40.00 X X 72000 0 0 NATHANIEL BROWN TRUSTEE 5.00 X 0 0 0 ALISON CAYNE TRUSTEE 5.00 X 0 0 0 MICHAEL RANKOWITZ TRUSTEE 5.00 X 0 0 0 LESLIE WILLIAMS TRUSTEE 5.00 X 0 0 0 THOMAS LASKAWY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 40.00 X 72000 0 0 144000 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 142244 546087 688331 EDITORIAL FEE 511110 22619 22619 SPONSORSHIP FEE 511110 11500 11500 WRITERS FEE 511110 250 250 34369 1271 1271 31556 142244 87872 -56316 -56316 REIMBURSEMENT 900099 2851 2851 2851 670506 37220 0 -55045 X 144000 72000 72000 11859 5775 6084 104500 104500 21222 21222 299087 299087 3025 3025 16201 16201 223 223 43934 43934 11185 11185 655236 525296 129940 0 449257 253448 179969 3000 51568 452257 484985 22084 39542 22084 39542 X 430173 395443 50000 430173 445443 452257 484985 15270 0 X X 0 1 X 1 0 X 74858 382669 644113 688331 1789971 74858 382669 644113 688331 1789971 442949 1347022 698 1271 1969 1791940 37719 X RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED 0 X 758378 87872 87872 670506 0 670506 743108 87872 87872 655236 0 655236 PART X, LINE 2: UNCERTAINTY IN INCOME TAXES MANAGEMENT OF FERN HAS DETERMINED THAT THERE ARE NO MATERIAL UNCERTAIN TAX POSITIONS THAT REQUIRE RECOGNITION OR DISCLOSURE IN THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. FERNS TAX RETURNS FOR ALL YEARS SINCE 2010 (INITIAL FILING) 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 87,872. PART XII, LINE 2D - OTHER ADJUSTMENTS: DIRECT FUNDRAISING EXPENSES REPORTED ON FORM 990, PART VIII, LINE 8B 87,872. NYC DINNER 79300 76244 3056 2453 1166 TALK & EATS PERFORMANCE 66500 38000 28500 8400 20234 55619 1 28000 28000 173800 142244 31556 10853 21400 55619 87872 -56316 FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 11 THE 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 12C BOARD 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 15 TO 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 2014. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION C, LINE 19 THE ORGANIZATION MAKES ITS FORM 990 AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC INSPECTION AS REQUIRED UNDER SECTION 6104 OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE BY POSTING IT ON GUIDESTAR.ORG. IN ADDITION, THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY, ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION AND BY-LAWS ARE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST. FORM 990, PART IX, LINE 11G WRITERS: PROGRAM SERVICE EXPENSES 96,090. MANAGEMENT AND GENERAL EXPENSES 0. FUNDRAISING EXPENSES 0. TOTAL EXPENSES 96,090. CONTRACTORS - EDITORS: PROGRAM SERVICE EXPENSES 11,000. MANAGEMENT AND GENERAL EXPENSES 0. FUNDRAISING EXPENSES 0. TOTAL EXPENSES 11,000. CONTRACTORS - DESIGN/COMMUNICATIONS: PROGRAM SERVICE EXPENSES 191,997. MANAGEMENT AND GENERAL EXPENSES 0. FUNDRAISING EXPENSES 0. TOTAL EXPENSES 191,997. FORM 990, PART XII, LINE 2C: THE PROCESS HAS NOT CHANGED FROM THE PRIOR PERIOD.