2026-03-14T11:28:29-07:00 2025-12-31 990 2025-01-01 521071448 FOOTHILLS FORUM FOOT 7036153720 PO Box 153 Washington VA 22747 Stephen Vick Treasurer 7036153720 2026-03-15 2025 2025-03-06 01:10:19Z Andrew Alexander PO Box 153 Washington VA 22747 409272 0 X foothills-forum.org X 2016 VA Foothills Forum provides its community with in-depth, locally focused journalism that is fair, fact-based, and nonpartisan. Its news reporting, distributed through local media, increases community awareness and civic engagement. 16 16 2 20 0 0 307801 364138 0 0 13821 20109 0 0 321622 384247 12000 12000 0 0 121260 142710 0 0 31648 172751 160170 306011 314880 15611 69367 401639 469161 3829 1984 397810 467177 Foothills Forum is a community-supported nonprofit organization dedicated to serving the residents of Rappahannock County, Virginia, through the creation and dissemination of deeply researched, well-sourced independent local journalism. Since 2014, Foothills Forum has earned -- through the production of its original, authoritative reporting and its distribution through the respected, century-old weekly broadsheet Rappahannock News and through virtual and social media platforms -- substantial backing throughout its rural county in the Virginia Piedmont. 0 0 211034 12000 0 1. Journalism - Foothills Forum journalists produced a record number of outstanding deep-dive stories during 2025. Some of the top stories for Foothills Forum during 2025 emphasized issues of importance to the residents of Rappahannock County including the county budget and options being considered for a new county courthouse. In addition, stories addressed the continued expansion of data centers in neighboring counties, and the impact of federal budget cuts on the county. In the Virginia Press Association annual competition, Foothills Forum journalists won 30 awards, and together with our partners at the Rappahannock News, won a combined 46 awards, including the Grand Sweepstakes award as the top news organization of its size in Virginia for the fifth consecutive year. Over half of these awards were first place and many were in "open" competition, meaning they were from all news organizations including the Washington Post and Virginia's other major news outlets. 29497 0 0 2. Community Outreach - In 2025, Foothills Forum offered the first Ethics Palooza, which was an entertaining evening event intended to demonstrate the ethical decisions faced by journalists when researching and writing stories. The event engaged about 70 people from the community, placing them in groups of 8 and presenting them with scenarios based on historical facts. Led by a facilitator, the groups presented and discussed their suggestions. Additionally, our Annual Meeting in October 2025 was well attended and featured a short presentation followed by a question-and-answer session with national journalist Judy Woodruff, with the primary topic of discussion being local journalism. 14889 0 0 3. Youth and Journalism - Foothills Forum continued to offer and expand a countywide "Storytelling Contest." As in past years, a record number of local high school and middle school students (from public and private schools) submitted entries (written, digital, musical, artistic, etc.) telling stories about themselves and their community. In addition, Foothills Forum worked with the local public high school to develop a journalism class. The class has been offered during the first semester of 2026. 0 0 0 255420 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 17 0 1 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 X 16 16 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 VA X X Stephen Vick 7036153720 PO Box 153 Washington VA 22747 Emily A Oaks Executive Director 40 0 X 67500 0 0 Andrew Alexander Board Chairman 5 0 X X 0 0 0 Stephen Brooks Vice Chair 5 0 X X 0 0 0 Lynn Dolnick Vice-Chair 5 0 X X 0 0 0 A W Smith Vice Chair 5 0 X X 0 0 0 Edward Timeplerlake Secretary 5 0 X X 0 0 0 Stephen R Vick Treasurer 5 0 X X 0 0 0 Jay Ward Brown Director 5 0 X 0 0 0 Cindy Griffin Director 5 0 X 0 0 0 John Jacquemin Director 5 0 X 0 0 0 Lawrence Myers Director 5 0 X 0 0 0 Berni Olson Director 5 0 X 0 0 0 Al Regnery Director 5 0 X 0 0 0 Tac Taceloskey Director 5 0 X 0 0 0 Cathy Trost Director 5 0 X 0 0 0 Scott Willis Director 5 0 X 0 0 0 Paula Wolferseder-Yabar Director 5 0 X 0 0 0 67500 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 364138 25025 364138 0 0 0 0 0 20126 20126 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 25008 0 25025 0 -17 0 -17 -17 0 0 0 0 384247 20109 0 0 X 12000 12000 0 0 0 0 0 0 67500 50625 6750 10125 0 54350 54350 11522 8641 1153 1728 9338 8045 517 776 680 680 83725 83725 16968 16968 5166 5166 5606 5416 190 0 0 4800 4800 6400 6400 Community Outreach - Story Telling Contest 3543 3543 0 0 Community Outreach - Other 18152 18152 0 0 Social Media 10608 10608 0 0 4522 315 2156 2051 314880 255420 27812 31648 104928 87021 252495 293444 900 1000 974 1169 42342 86527 401639 469161 3829 1984 3829 1984 X 380438 467177 17372 0 397810 467177 401639 469161 69367 0 0 0 0 0 X 0 0 0 X 219762 239999 298167 307801 364138 1429867 219762 239999 298167 307801 364138 1429867 637153 792714 1258 0 7468 13820 20109 42655 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1472522 0 0.53834 0.56163 X 219762 239999 298167 307801 364138 1429867 219762 239999 298167 307801 364138 1429867 107600 151000 138000 143490 191937 732027 107600 151000 138000 143490 191937 732027 697840 23 -72 7373 13820 20109 41253 23 -72 7373 13820 20109 41253 219785 239927 305540 321621 384247 1471120 0.47436 0.48577 0.02804 0.01638 X RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED 1 Rappahannock Media PO Box 59 Washington VA 22747 544055374 12000 0 Support for a daily newsletter for residence of Rappahannock County & subscribers to the newsletter 0 1 Schedule I, Part I, Line 2 The amount and purpose of the grant was presented to and approved by the Board of Directors prior to being distributed. In addition, Foothills Forum is made aware to review the content in each of the daily newsletters prior to publishing. X 5 25025 FMV 0 0 0 0 Form 990, Part VI, Section A, Line 2 The Board Chair and the Treasurer are in-laws related through marriage. The wives of the two officers are sisters. Form 990, Part VI, Section B, Line 11b The Form 990 is prepared by the Treasurer. A draft of the Form 990 is distributed via email to each member of the Board of Directors prior to the Board meeting in March. The draft is reviewed and approved at the Board meeting in March. Any revisions are noted and made prior to the submission to the IRS. Form 990, Part VI, Section B, Line 12c The organization's Conflict of Interest Policy is reviewed annually at the first meeting of the Board each year. At that meeting all Board Members are required to return a signed copy of the policy confirming their understanding and that they are in compliance or stating any conflicts they may have. Board members are also to report immediately any conflicts which may arise subsequetly. Form 990, Part VI, Section B, Line 15 The proposed annual salary increase of the Executive Director was determined by reviewing salaries of Executive Directors in comparable organizations in the area by the Finance Committee of the Board. The proposed salary increase was then presented to, discussed, and approved by the Full Board of Directors prior to being implemented. Form 990, Part VI, Section C, Line 19 All governing documents are made available on the organization's website and are also made available upon written request. This includes the minutes of the Board of Directors meetings and the Form 990. In addition, all meetings of the Board of Directors are open to the public. Form 990, Part IX, Line 11g This represents payments to independent contractors for the costs of publishing stories, including reporting, editing, photography and graphics.