Nonprofit · EIN 27-2072772
THE LENS
Tax-exempt · NEW ORLEANS, LA 70185
Financials
| Year ended | Form | Revenue | Expenses | Net income | Total assets | Liabilities | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 31, 2025 | 990 | $561,131 | $641,181 | -$80,050 | $156,647 | $0 | $156,647 |
| December 31, 2024 | 990 | $651,227 | $641,349 | $9,878 | $236,697 | $0 | $236,697 |
| December 31, 2023 | 990 | $692,338 | $520,098 | $172,240 | $226,819 | $0 | $226,819 |
Financial details: 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025
Revenue
- Contributions, gifts and grants
- $555,920
- of which government grants
- $53,301
- Membership dues
- $58,423
- Program service revenue
- $4,589
- Investment income
- $0
- Other revenue
- $622
Expenses
- Grants and similar amounts paid
- $0
- Other salaries and wages
- $446,175
- Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
- $507,220
- Professional fundraising fees
- $0
- Accounting fees
- $4,292
- Occupancy
- $13,200
- Program services (functional)
- $425,456
- Management and general (functional)
- $82,001
- Fundraising (functional)
- $133,724
Balance sheet and other
- Total assets, start of year
- $236,697
- Total assets, end of year
- $156,647
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $0
- Net assets, end of year
- $156,647
- Net assets without donor restrictions
- $56,647
- Net assets with donor restrictions
- $100,000
- Gross receipts
- $561,131
- Employees
- 11
- Volunteers
- 0
- Year formed
- 2010
- State of legal domicile
- LA
From the e-filed returns the IRS publishes as XML (latest three processing years; amended returns replace the original). PDF copies at the IRS.
Officers, directors and key employees
As listed on the 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025, highest compensation first.
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ANNE M MUELLER | CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Officer | 40 | $87,045 |
| KAREN GADBOIS | SECRETARY EX OFFICIO Officer | 1 | $73,500 |
| MARTIN PEDERSEN | TREASURER Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 |
| BEVERLY NICHOLS | PRESIDENT Trustee or director, Officer | 3 | $0 |
| ARIELLA COHEN | DIRECTOR/CO-FOUNDER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| ROBERTA GRATZ | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| HARRY SHEARER | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| STEVEN OSTERTAG | DIRECTOR Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 |
990 for the year ended December 31, 2024: 10 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ANNE M MUELLER | CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Officer | 40 | $75,815 |
| KATY RECHDAHL | MANAGING EDITOR Officer | 40 | $75,000 |
| KAREN GADBOIS | FOUNDER/DIRECTOR Officer | 40 | $73,500 |
| MARTA JEWSON | DEPUTY EDITOR/REPORTER Trustee or director | 40 | $64,785 |
| MARTIN PEDERSEN | PRESIDENT Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 |
| BEVERLY NICHOLS | TREASURER/DIRECTOR Trustee or director, Officer | 3 | $0 |
| ARIELLA COHEN | DIRECTOR/CO-FOUNDER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| ROBERTA GRATZ | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| HARRY SHEARER | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| STEVEN OSTERTAG | DIRECTOR Trustee or director, Officer | 40 | $0 |
990 for the year ended December 31, 2023: 9 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| KATY RECHDAHL | MANAGING EDITOR Officer | 40 | $75,000 |
| ANNE M MUELLER | CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Officer | 40 | $72,204 |
| KAREN GADBOIS | FOUNDER/DIRECTOR Officer | 40 | $68,426 |
| MARTA JEWSON | DEPUTY EDITOR/REPORTER Trustee or director | 40 | $61,700 |
| MARTIN PEDERSEN | CHAIR/SECRETARY Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 |
| BEVERLY NICHOLS | TREASURER/DIRECTOR Trustee or director, Officer | 3 | $0 |
| ARIELA S COHEN | DIRECTOR/CO-FOUNDER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| ROBERTA GRATZ | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| HARRY SHEARER | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
Address and contacts
- Address (IRS master file)
- PO BOX 13242, NEW ORLEANS, LA 70185-3242
- Principal officer (990 for 2025)
- BEVERLY NICHOLS, PO BOX 13242, NEW ORLEANS, LA 70185
- Signed the 990
- BEVERLY NICHOLS, PRESIDENT
- Phone
- (504) 606-6013
- Website
- WWW.THELENSNOLA.ORG
- Return prepared by
- HIENZ & MACALUSO LLC
Mission
TO EDUCATE,ENGAGE AND EMPOWER THE RESIDENTS OF THE CITY OF NEW ORLEANS AND THE GULF COAST BY PROVIDING INFORMATION AND ANALYSIS NECESSARY TO ADVOCATE FOR MORE ACCOUNTABLE AND JUST GOVERNANCE.
Program accomplishments
- THE LENS SPENT $425,456 ON PROVIDING HUNDREDS OF UNIQUE, PUBLIC-INTEREST JOURNALISM ARTICLES THAT EDUCATE THE CITIZENS OF NEW ORLEANS ON MATTERS OF INTEREST IN THE AREAS OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE, LAND USE, SCHOOLS, GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS AND THE ENVIRONMENT.Expenses $425,456 · revenue $5,211
What it must file and when
IRS records say it files Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N. Its accounting year ends in December, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.
| Tax year | Year ended | Due | IRS public records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | December 31, 2025 | May 15, 2026 | 990 on file |
| 2024 | December 31, 2024 | May 15, 2025 | 990 on file |
| 2023 | December 31, 2023 | May 15, 2024 | 990 on file |
IRS record
- EIN
- 27-2072772
- Tax-exempt status
- 501(c)(3): Charitable, religious, educational or scientific organization
- Foundation status
- Publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(A)(vi))
- Donations deductible (Pub 78)
- Public charity, 50% deduction limit
- Exempt since
- 2012
- Accounting year ends
- December
- Files
- Form 990 or 990-EZ
- Category (NTEE)
- Education (B990)
- Assets (IRS master file)
- $156,647
- Income (IRS master file)
- $561,131
Filing history
| Form | Year ended | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 990 | December 2025 | $561,131 | $641,181 | $156,647 | XML |
| 990 | December 2024 | $651,227 | $641,349 | $236,697 | XML |
| 990 | December 2023 | $692,338 | $520,098 | $226,819 | XML |
| 990 | December 2022 | $438,303 | $456,490 | $71,767 | IRS |
| 990 | December 2021 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2020 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2018 | – | – | – | IRS |
990-N: the IRS bulk file holds only the latest e-Postcard per organization; earlier years come from archived copies of that file since 2020 and can have gaps (the IRS e-Postcard search lists every one). 990, 990-EZ, 990-PF, 990-T: every e-filed return in the IRS e-file index since 2019; XML for the latest three processing years, amounts from the IRS Statistics of Income extracts before that. PDF copies and determination letters at the IRS (search EIN 27-2072772).
Questions about THE LENS
- What is the EIN of THE LENS?
- The employer identification number (EIN) of THE LENS is 27-2072772.
- Is THE LENS tax-exempt?
- Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 2012.
- Are donations to THE LENS tax-deductible?
- Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
- Which annual return does THE LENS file?
- Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N.
- When is the next return of THE LENS due?
- The return for tax year 2026 (the year ending December 31, 2026) is due May 17, 2027. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
- When did THE LENS last file with the IRS?
- The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended December 2025.
- Who is the principal officer of THE LENS?
- The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 names BEVERLY NICHOLS.
- Who are the officers and directors of THE LENS?
- The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 lists 8 people; 2 received compensation from the organization, the highest $87,045 (ANNE M MUELLER, CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER).
- How much revenue does THE LENS have?
- On its 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 it reported revenue of $561,131, expenses of $641,181 and total assets of $156,647 at year end.
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