Skip to main content

Nonprofit · EIN 52-0972043

REPORTERS COMMITTEE FOR FREEDOM OF THE PRESS

Tax-exempt · WASHINGTON, DC 20005

Financials

$3.7M$6.3M2023$8.4M$6.9M2024$15.9M$7.8M2025
Revenue Expenses · by fiscal year end
Financials of REPORTERS COMMITTEE FOR FREEDOM OF THE PRESS by year, from its e-filed returns
Year endedFormRevenueExpensesNet incomeTotal assetsLiabilitiesNet assets
December 31, 2025990$15,862,155$7,801,300$8,060,855$31,226,043$2,206,659$29,019,384
December 31, 2024990$8,352,123$6,899,947$1,452,176$22,087,216$2,457,743$19,629,473
December 31, 2023990$3,683,642$6,318,619-$2,634,977$20,400,053$2,907,119$17,492,934
Financial details: 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025

Revenue

Contributions, gifts and grants
$14,981,169
Program service revenue
$222,047
Investment income
$843,661
Net gain from sales of assets
$251,880
Net income from fundraising events
-$191,671
Other revenue
-$184,722

Expenses

Grants and similar amounts paid
$0
Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
$536,304
Other salaries and wages
$4,754,921
Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
$6,331,833
Professional fundraising fees
$115,000
Legal fees
$89,513
Accounting fees
$25,000
Occupancy
$324,591
Travel
$149,766
Depreciation
$57,263
Program services (functional)
$5,969,326
Management and general (functional)
$931,397
Fundraising (functional)
$900,577

Balance sheet and other

Total assets, start of year
$22,087,216
Total assets, end of year
$31,226,043
Total liabilities, end of year
$2,206,659
Net assets, end of year
$29,019,384
Land, buildings and equipment
$197,200
Publicly traded securities
$19,785,130
Net assets without donor restrictions
$14,297,453
Net assets with donor restrictions
$14,721,931
Gross receipts
$16,395,656
Employees
52
Volunteers
48
Year formed
1970
State of legal domicile
DC

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.

NameTitleHours / weekCompensationOther / benefits
BRUCE BROWNPRESIDENT
Officer
40$292,612$33,005
LISA ZYCHERMANVP OF LEGAL PROGRAMMING
Highest-paid employee
40$209,443$12,187
DANIEL YUVP OF FINANCE & OPERATIONS
Officer
40$198,627$12,058
GABRIEL ROTTMANVP OF POLICY
Highest-paid employee
40$186,974$20,306
MICHAEL ZWIRNVP OF DEVELOPMENT
Highest-paid employee
40$177,357$22,742
JENNIFER TOPPERVP OF COMMUNICATIONS
Highest-paid employee
40$180,115$10,639
JENNIFER ANNE NELSONDIR. OF PREPUB. REV. & JOURN. SUPP.
Highest-paid employee
40$161,997$10,471
STEPHEN ADLERCHAIR
Trustee or director, Officer
5$0$0
MARGARET LOWVICE CHAIR
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0$0
MASSIMO CALABRESISECRETARY/TREASURER
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0$0
NIK DEOGUNDEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
WOLF BLITZERSTEERING COMMITTEE
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
DAVID BOARDMANEXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Trustee or director
1$0$0
THEODORE BOUTROUSEXECUTIVE - DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEES
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
LYNETTE CLEMETSONFINANCE & INVESTMENT COMMITTEE
Trustee or director
1$0$0
26 more people on this return
NameTitleHours / weekCompensation
MANUEL GARCIADEVELOPMENT - AUDIT COMMITTEES
Trustee or director
1$0
EMILIO GARCIA-RUIZFINANCE & INVESTMENT COMMITTEE
Trustee or director
0.5$0
JOSH GERSTEINPOLICY & PROGRAM COMMITTEE
Trustee or director
0.5$0
ALEXANDER GIBNEYPOLICY & PROGRAM COMMITTEE
Trustee or director
0.5$0
GAIL GOVEEXEC. - POLICY & PROGRAM COMMITTEES
Trustee or director
0.5$0
JAMES GRIMALDIFINANCE & INVESTMENT COMMITTEE
Trustee or director
0.75$0
LAURA HANDMANEXEC. - POLICY & PROGRAM COMMITTEES
Trustee or director
1$0
DIEGO IBARGUENEXEC. - P.&P. - F.&I. COMMITTEES
Trustee or director
1$0
KAREN KAISERPOLICY & PROGRAM - AUDIT COMMITTEES
Trustee or director
0.5$0
DAVID LAUTERAUDIT COMMITTEE UNTIL MAY
Trustee or director
0.75$0
KIMBRIELL KELLYPOLICY & PROGRAM COMMITTEE
Trustee or director
0.5$0
COLLEEN MCCAIN NELSONSTEERING COMMITTEE UNTIL MAY
Trustee or director
0.5$0
JAMES NEFFSTEERING COMMITTEE UNTIL MAY
Trustee or director
0.5$0
NORMAN PEARLSTINEDEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
Trustee or director
1.5$0
THOMAS RUBINEXECUTIVE - DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEES
Trustee or director
1$0
CHARLES SAVAGEPOLICY & PROGRAM COMMITTEE
Trustee or director
0.5$0
JENNIFER SONDAGFIN. & INV. COMMITTEE UNTIL SEP.
Trustee or director
1.25$0
NABIHA SYEDDEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
Trustee or director
1$0
ADAM SYMSONDEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
Trustee or director
0.5$0
MATTHEW THOMPSONPOLICY & PROGRAM COMMITTEE
Trustee or director
0.5$0
VICKIE WALTON-JAMESPOLICY & PROGRAM - AUDIT COMMITTEES
Trustee or director
0.5$0
SEWELL CHANSTEERING COMMITTEE
Trustee or director
0.5$0
JASON CONTIPOLICY & PROGRAM - DEV. COMMITTEES
Trustee or director
0.5$0
MARTY BARONSTEERING COMMITTEE
Trustee or director
0.5$0
ALEXANDRA MACCALLUMSTEERING COMMITTEE
Trustee or director
0.5$0
MATTHEW MURRAYSTEERING COMMITTEE
Trustee or director
0.5$0
990 for the year ended December 31, 2024: 43 people
NameTitleHours / weekCompensationOther / benefits
BRUCE BROWNEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Officer
40$279,855$33,581
KATIELYNN TOWNSENDDEPUTY EXECUTIVE AND LEGAL DIRECTOR
Key employee
40$241,671$24,880
DANIEL YUDIRECTOR OF FINANCE & OPERATIONS
Officer
40$190,186$13,936
GABRIEL ROTTMAN POLICYPRESS FREEDOM PROJECT DIRECTOR
Highest-paid employee
40$178,577$21,187
MICHAEL ZWIRNDIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT
Highest-paid employee
40$171,364$21,426
LISA ZYCHERMAN DEPUTYLEGAL DIRECTOR & POLICY COUNSEL
Highest-paid employee
40$176,010$12,186
JENNIFER TOPPERCOMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR
Highest-paid employee
40$169,828$11,841
JENNIFER ANNE NELSONSENIOR STAFF ATTORNEY
Highest-paid employee
40$150,780$11,517
STEPHEN ADLERCHAIRMAN
Trustee or director, Officer
5$0$0
MARGARET LOWVICE CHAIR
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0$0
MASSIMO CALABRESISECRETARY/TREASURER
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0$0
NIK DEOGUNSTEERING COMMITTEE
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
WOLF BLITZERSTEERING COMMITTEE
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
DAVID BOARDMANEXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Trustee or director
1$0$0
THEODORE BOUTROUSSTEERING COMMITTEE
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
LYNETTE CLEMETSONFINANCE & INVESTMENT COMMITTEE
Trustee or director
1$0$0
MANUEL GARCIASTEERING COMMITTEE
Trustee or director
1$0$0
EMILIO GARCIA-RUIZSTEERING COMMITTEE
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
JOSH GERSTEINSTEERING COMMITTEE
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
ALEXANDER GIBNEYSTEERING COMMITTEE
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
GAIL GOVESTEERING COMMITTEE
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
JAMES GRIMALDIAUDIT COMMITTEE
Trustee or director
0.75$0$0
LAURA HANDMANEXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Trustee or director
1$0$0
DIEGO IBARGUENEXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Trustee or director
1$0$0
KAREN KAISERSTEERING COMMITTEE
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
DAVID LAUTERAUDIT COMMITTEE
Trustee or director
0.75$0$0
KIMBRIELL KELLYSTEERING COMMITTEE
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
COLLEEN MCCAIN NELSONSTEERING COMMITTEE
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
JAMES NEFFSTEERING COMMITTEE
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
NORMAN PEARLSTINEEXECUTIVE & DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
Trustee or director
1.5$0$0
THOMAS RUBINEXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Trustee or director
1$0$0
CHARLES SAVAGESTEERING COMMITTEE
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
JENNIFER SONDAGFINANCE & AUDIT COMMITTEE
Trustee or director
1.25$0$0
NABIHA SYEDFINANCE & INVESTMENT COMMITTEE
Trustee or director
1$0$0
ADAM SYMSONSTEERING COMMITTEE
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
MATTHEW THOMPSONSTEERING COMMITTEE
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
VICKIE WALTON-JAMESSTEERING COMMITTEE
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
SEWELL CHANSTEERING COMMITTEE
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
JASON CONTI POLICY PROGRAM& DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE AS OF MAY
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
SUSAN GOLDBERGSTEERING COMMITTEE UNTIL MAY
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
JEREMY JOJOLASTEERING COMMITTEE UNTIL MAY
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
BRUCE SANFORDSTEERING COMMITTEE UNTIL MAY
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
SUSAN ZIRINSKYSTEERING COMMITTEE UNTIL MAY
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
990 for the year ended December 31, 2023: 45 people
NameTitleHours / weekCompensationOther / benefits
BRUCE BROWNEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Officer
40$262,543$21,332
KATIELYNN TOWNSENDDEPUTY EXECUTIVE AND LEGAL DIRECTOR
Key employee
40$233,907$19,370
GABRIEL ROTTMAN POLICYPRESS FREEDOM PROJECT DIRECTOR
Highest-paid employee
40$172,941$16,221
MICHAEL ZWIRNDIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT
Highest-paid employee
40$164,928$16,024
LISA ZYCHERMAN DEPUTY LEGALDIRECTOR & POLICY COUNSEL
Highest-paid employee
40$161,274$9,071
JENNIFER TOPPERCOMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR
Highest-paid employee
40$156,483$8,687
JENNIFER ANNE NELSONSENIOR STAFF ATTORNEY
Highest-paid employee
40$140,058$4,324
KIRSTEN POOLEOPERATIONS DIRECTOR
Officer
40$83,764$2,457
DANIEL YUDIRECTOR OF FINANCE & OPERATIONS
Officer
40$65,109$4,357
STEPHEN ADLERCHAIRMAN
Trustee or director, Officer
5$0$0
MARGARET LOWVICE CHAIR
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0$0
MASSIMO CALABRESISECRETARY/TREASURER
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0$0
NIK DEOGUNSTEERING COMMITTEE
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
WOLF BLITZERSTEERING COMMITTEE
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
DAVID BOARDMANEXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Trustee or director
1$0$0
THEODORE BOUTROUSSTEERING COMMITTEE
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
LYNETTE CLEMETSONFINANCE & INVESTMENT COMMITTEE
Trustee or director
1$0$0
MANUEL GARCIAEXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Trustee or director
1$0$0
EMILIO GARCIA-RUIZSTEERING COMMITTEE
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
JOSH GERSTEINSTEERING COMMITTEE
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
ALEXANDER GIBNEYSTEERING COMMITTEE
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
SUSAN GOLDBERGSTEERING COMMITTEE
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
GAIL GOVESTEERING COMMITTEE
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
JAMES GRIMALDIAUDIT COMMITTEE
Trustee or director
0.75$0$0
LAURA HANDMANEXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Trustee or director
1$0$0
DIEGO IBARGUENFINANCE & INVESTMENT COMMITTEE
Trustee or director
1$0$0
JEREMY JOJOLASTEERING COMMITTEE
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
KAREN KAISERSTEERING COMMITTEE
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
DAVID LAUTERAUDIT COMMITTEE
Trustee or director
0.75$0$0
KIMBRIELL KELLYSTEERING COMMITTEE
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
COLLEEN MCCAIN NELSONSTEERING COMMITTEE
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
MAGGIE MULVIHILLSTEERING COMMITTEE UNTIL MAY 2023
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
JAMES NEFFSTEERING COMMITTEE
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
NORMAN PEARLSTINEEXECUTIVE & DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
Trustee or director
1.5$0$0
THOMAS RUBINEXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Trustee or director
1$0$0
BRUCE SANFORDSTEERING COMMITTEE
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
CHARLES SAVAGESTEERING COMMITTEE
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
JENNIFER SONDAGFINANCE & AUDIT COMMITTEE
Trustee or director
1.25$0$0
NABIHA SYEDFINANCE & INVESTMENT COMMITTEE
Trustee or director
1$0$0
ADAM SYMSONSTEERING COMMITTEE
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
PIERRE THOMASEXECUTIVE COMMITTEE UNTIL MAY 2023
Trustee or director
1$0$0
MATTHEW THOMPSONSTEERING COMMITTEE
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
VICKIE WALTON-JAMESSTEERING COMMITTEE
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
SUSAN ZIRINSKYSTEERING COMMITTEE
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0
SEWELL CHANSTEERING COMMITTEE AS OF OCT. 2023
Trustee or director
0.5$0$0

Address and contacts

Address (IRS master file)
1156 15TH ST NW STE 1020, WASHINGTON, DC 20005-1754
In care of
% BRUCE D BROWN
Principal officer (990 for 2025)
BRUCE BROWN, 1156 15TH STREET NW 1020, WASHINGTON, DC 20005
Signed the 990
BRUCE BROWN, PRESIDENT
Phone
(202) 795-9300
Return prepared by
JM&M

Mission

TO PROTECT THE RIGHT TO GATHER AND DISTRIBUTE NEWS; TO KEEP GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABLE BY ENSURING ACCESS TO PUBLIC RECORDS, MEETINGS AND COURTROOMS; AND TO PRESERVE THE PRINCIPLES OF FREE SPEECH AND UNFETTERED PRESS, AS GUARANTEED BY THE FIRST AMENDMENT OF THE U.S. CONSTITUTION.

990 for the year ended December 31, 2025

Program accomplishments

  • LEGAL DEFENSE AND RESEARCHTHE COMMITTEE PROVIDES AROUND-THE-CLOCK, PRO BONO SERVICES TO ALL NEWS MEDIA. IT OFFERS FREE LEGAL ASSISTANCE AND RESEARCH TO JOURNALISTS AND ATTORNEYS, FILES AMICUS BRIEFS, PUBLISHES NUMEROUS GUIDES AND MATERIALS, AND SPEAKS OUT AGAINST THREATS TO THE FREEDOM OF THE PRESS. THE COMMITTEE UNDERTAKES LEGAL DEFENSE AND RESEARCH PROJECTS IN ALL AREAS OF MEDIA LAW, AND ASSISTS JOURNALISTS AND NEWS ORGANIZATIONS WITH FREEDOM OF INFORMATION AND ACCESS-TO-COURT CASES. THE LEGAL DEFENSE AND RESEARCH PROGRAM INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING:PRE-PUBLICATION LEGAL SERVICES - THE COMMITTEE PROVIDES THESE SERVICES TO FREELANCE AND INDEPENDENT JOURNALISTS INCLUDING DOCUMENTARY FILMMAKERS.PUBLICATIONS - THE COMMITTEE PUBLISHES AND MAINTAINS A BLOG, VARIOUS ONLINE LEGAL GUIDES AND OTHER MATERIALS, INCLUDING THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA) WIKI, FOR GATHERING AND DISSEMINATING THE NEWS. THE COMMITTEE'S INTERNET WEBSITE PROVIDES CONTENT ON MEDIA LAW AND JOURNALISM, WHICH IS UPDATED ON A DAILY BASIS.FELLOWSHIP/INTERNSHIP PROGRAMS - THE COMMITTEE OFFERS LAW FELLOWSHIPS FOR RECENT LAW SCHOOL GRADUATES AND AN INTERNSHIP PROGRAM FOR JOURNALISM AND LAW STUDENTS EACH SUMMER AND DURING AN ACADEMIC SEMESTER.THE COMMITTEE'S LITIGATION PRACTICE, WHICH INCLUDES ITS STAFF ATTORNEYS IN WASHINGTON, D.C., AS WELL AS COLORADO, INDIANA, LOUISIANA, MISSISSIPPI, OKLAHOMA, PENNSYLVANIA, AND TENNESSEE, COMPLEMENTS ITS TRADITIONAL AMICUS BRIEF WORK AT A TIME OF INCREASED NEED IN THE NEWS MEDIA FOR IMPACT LITIGATION AND PRO BONO LEGAL SERVICES. THE COMMITTEE'S ATTORNEYS HELP JOURNALISTS AND NEWS ORGANIZATIONS DEFEND THEIR RIGHTS TO GATHER AND REPORT THE NEWS AND GAIN ACCESS TO PUBLIC RECORDS AND COURT PROCEEDINGS. THE COMMITTEE HAS A NETWORK OF LAWYERS AROUND THE COUNTRY WHO, FROM TIME TO TIME, SERVE AS LOCAL COUNSEL ON AMICUS BRIEFS OR PARTNERS WITH THE COMMITTEE IN OTHER WAYS.
    Expenses $5,969,326 · revenue $222,047

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 yearYear endedDueIRS public records
2025December 31, 2025May 15, 2026990 on file
2024December 31, 2024May 15, 2025990 on file
2023December 31, 2023May 15, 2024990 on file

IRS record

EIN
52-0972043
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
1973
Accounting year ends
December
Files
Form 990 or 990-EZ
Assets (IRS master file)
$31,226,043
Income (IRS master file)
$16,395,656

Filing history

FormYear endedRevenueExpensesAssetsReturn
990December 2025$15,862,155$7,801,300$31,226,043XML
990December 2024$8,352,123$6,899,947$22,087,216XML
990December 2023$3,683,642$6,318,619$20,400,053XML
990December 2022$7,204,901$5,741,599$20,801,567IRS
990December 2021–––IRS
990December 2020–––IRS
990December 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 52-0972043).

Questions about REPORTERS COMMITTEE FOR FREEDOM OF THE PRESS

What is the EIN of REPORTERS COMMITTEE FOR FREEDOM OF THE PRESS?
The employer identification number (EIN) of REPORTERS COMMITTEE FOR FREEDOM OF THE PRESS is 52-0972043.
Is REPORTERS COMMITTEE FOR FREEDOM OF THE PRESS tax-exempt?
Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 1973.
Are donations to REPORTERS COMMITTEE FOR FREEDOM OF THE PRESS tax-deductible?
Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
Which annual return does REPORTERS COMMITTEE FOR FREEDOM OF THE PRESS 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 REPORTERS COMMITTEE FOR FREEDOM OF THE PRESS 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 REPORTERS COMMITTEE FOR FREEDOM OF THE PRESS 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 REPORTERS COMMITTEE FOR FREEDOM OF THE PRESS?
The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 names BRUCE BROWN.
Who are the officers and directors of REPORTERS COMMITTEE FOR FREEDOM OF THE PRESS?
The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 lists 41 people; 7 received compensation from the organization, the highest $292,612 (BRUCE BROWN, PRESIDENT).
How much revenue does REPORTERS COMMITTEE FOR FREEDOM OF THE PRESS have?
On its 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 it reported revenue of $15,862,155, expenses of $7,801,300 and total assets of $31,226,043 at year end.

Other nonprofits in WASHINGTON

All nonprofits in WASHINGTON · District of Columbia