2023-04-26T08:22:29-05:00 2022-12-31 470900880 CALIBRE CPA GROUP PLLC 7501 WISCONSIN AVENUE SUITE 1200 WEST BETHESDA MD 20814 990 2022-01-01 412106721 FREE PRESS FREE 2022651490 PO BOX 60238 FLORENCE MA 01062 KIMBERLY LONGEY CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER 2022651490 2023-04-26 1 KIMBERLY LONGEY 999009999 1 KRISTIN A JACQUELIN CPA P01325865 2023319880 2 AAL1 IAL1 2022 2023-04-26 12:10:37Z CRAIG AARON PO BOX 60238 FLORENCE MA 01062 10157505 0 X WWW.FREEPRESS.NET X 2003 DC FREE PRESS IS A NATIONAL, NONPARTISAN ORGANIZATION WORKING TO REFORM THE MEDIA. FREE PRESS CONDUCTS RESEARCH ON HOW THE CURRENT MEDIA SYSTEM INFLUENCES THE DEVELOPMENT OF PUBLIC POLICY AND EDUCATES THE PUBLIC AND POLICY-MAKERS ON HOW A MORE DIVERSE AND PUBLIC SERVICE-ORIENTED MEDIA SYSTEM CAN STRENGTHEN AMERICAN DEMOCRACY. FREE PRESS PROMOTES DIVERSE AND INDEPENDENT MEDIA OWNERSHIP, STRONG PUBLIC MEDIA AND UNIVERSAL ACCESS TO COMMUNICATIONS. 9 8 39 7009 0 0 2962133 10063720 93970 59223 8441 34530 0 32 3064544 10157505 310600 301500 0 0 3268349 3816440 86400 0 499188 896766 1137678 4562115 5255618 -1497571 4901887 5225748 10689315 501020 1062700 4724728 9626615 X FREE PRESS WAS CREATED TO GIVE PEOPLE A VOICE IN THE CRUCIAL DECISIONS THAT SHAPE OUR MEDIA. WE BELIEVE THAT POSITIVE SOCIAL CHANGE, RACIAL JUSTICE AND MEANINGFUL ENGAGEMENT IN PUBLIC LIFE REQUIRE EQUITABLE ACCESS TO TECHNOLOGY, DIVERSE AND INDEPENDENT OWNERSHIP OF MEDIA PLATFORMS, AND JOURNALISM THAT HOLDS LEADERS ACCOUNTABLE AND TELLS PEOPLE WHAT'S ACTUALLY HAPPENING IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. FREE PRESS CLOSELY WATCHES AS THE DECISIONS SHAPING THE MEDIA LANDSCAPE ARE MADE AND SOUNDS THE ALARM WHEN PEOPLE'S RIGHTS TO CONNECT AND COMMUNICATE ARE IN DANGER. WE FOCUS ON SAVING NET NEUTRALITY, ACHIEVING AFFORDABLE INTERNET ACCESS FOR ALL, UPLIFTING THE VOICES OF PEOPLE OF COLOR IN THE MEDIA, CHALLENGING OLD AND NEW MEDIA GATEKEEPERS TO SERVE THE PUBLIC INTEREST, ENDING UNWARRANTED SURVEILLANCE, DEFENDING PRESS FREEDOM AND REIMAGINING LOCAL JOURNALISM. 0 0 1208917 1000 250 FUTURE OF THE INTERNET: HIGHLIGHTED THE IMPORTANCE OF CLOSING THE DIGITAL DIVIDE AND BRINGING AFFORDABLE BROADBAND SERVICE TO MILLIONS OF PEOPLE LACKING SUCH SERVICE. PROMOTED AWARENESS OF THE AFFORDABLE CONNECTIVITY PROGRAM TO HELP LOWER INCOME PEOPLE AFFORD PHONE AND INTERNET ACCESS DURING THE PANDEMIC. URGED PASSAGE OF A CONGRESSIONAL RESOLUTION THAT DECLARES THAT ACCESS TO BROADBAND, WATER, POWER, HEATING AND COOLING ARE HUMAN RIGHTS. PUBLISHED RESEARCH THAT EXPOSED BILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF WASTE IN THE RURAL DIGITAL OPPORTUNITY FUND. WORKED ON THE CREATION OF A BROADBAND-NUTRITION LABEL TO INFORM PEOPLE ABOUT THE COST AND BASIC TERMS OF THEIR INTERNET-SERVICE PLANS, AND URGED THE FCC TO MAKE THE LABEL CLEAR AND VISIBLE TO CUSTOMERS ON THEIR MONTHLY BILLS. PROVIDED PUBLIC TESTIMONY, ANALYSIS AND FILINGS RELATED TO PUBLIC INTEREST ORIENTED BROADBAND PROPOSALS IN NUMEROUS STATE AND FEDERAL REGULATORY AGENCY PROCEEDINGS. URGED THAT THE UNITED STATES JOIN DOZENS OF OTHER COUNTRIES IN SIGNING THE DECLARATION OF THE FUTURE OF THE INTERNET, WHICH PROMOTES A SHARED VISION OF A MORE OPEN, AFFORDABLE, SECURE AND DEMOCRATIC INTERNET. AMONG THE DECLARATION'S PRINCIPLES ARE CALLS FOR NET NEUTRALITY, AFFORDABLE AND INCLUSIVE INTERNET ACCESS, AND DATA-PRIVACY PROTECTIONS. 1295417 10500 DEMOCRACY AND DIGITAL CIVIL RIGHTS: WORKED TO COMBAT HATE, DISINFORMATION AND CONSPIRACY THEORIES ONLINE WHILE PRESERVING FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND PROTECTING MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES WHEN THEY SPEAK OUT. CALLED ON TECH COMPANIES TO INSTITUTE ELECTION-INTEGRITY MEASURES; ENFORCE THEIR RULES EQUALLY REGARDLESS OF A SPEAKER'S SOCIAL OR POLITICAL STATUS; ENFORCE RULES EQUALLY ACROSS ALL LANGUAGES; AND BE FAR MORE TRANSPARENT ABOUT THEIR CONTENT-MODERATION POLICIES. URGED SOCIAL-MEDIA PLATFORMS TO INVEST SIGNIFICANT RESOURCES IN COMBATING ONLINE HATE AND DISINFORMATION IN LANGUAGES OTHER THAN ENGLISH. PUBLISHED NUMEROUS REPORTS, BLOG POSTS, SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS AND PRESS RELEASES SHOWCASING HOW SOCIAL MEDIA COMPANY SERVICES ARE USED TO STOKE HATE AND REAL-WORLD VIOLENCE TARGETING BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE, WOMEN, LGBTQIA+ PEOPLE, RELIGIOUS MINORITIES AND IMMIGRANTS. URGED COMPANIES TO STUDY ALGORITHMIC BIAS, COMMIT TO INDEPENDENT AUDITS AND TO ENFORCE EXISTING TERMS OF SERVICE. WORKED WITH DOZENS OF GROUPS TO HIGHLIGHT THE NEED TO SAFEGUARD PRIVACY, PROMOTE CIVIL RIGHTS AND SET GUARDRAILS AGAINST THE ABUSE OF DATA ONLINE. PUBLISHED A MAJOR REPORT REVEALING THE ONGOING FAILURES OF META, TIKTOK, TWITTER AND YOUTUBE TO CURB THE SPREAD OF ELECTION DISINFORMATION AND EXTREMISM ACROSS THEIR NETWORKS. 2053866 300500 19700 FUTURE OF JOURNALISM: THROUGH THE MEDIA2070 PROJECT, DOCUMENTED HOW CENTURIES OF HARM THE U.S. MEDIA SYSTEM HAS INFLICTED ON THE BLACK COMMUNITY. EXAMINED HOW HISTORIC AND CONTEMPORARY RACIAL DISCRIMINATION IN ALL MEDIA AND GOVERNMENT POLICIES HAVE EXCLUDED BLACK PEOPLE AND OTHER COMMUNITIES OF COLOR FROM CONTROLLING THE NATION'S COMMUNICATIONS INFRASTRUCTURE. WORKED WITH A GROWING CONSORTIUM OF MEDIA-MAKERS, SCHOLARS AND ACTIVISTS TO BUILD SUPPORT FOR THE FIGHT FOR REPARATIONS. SUPPORTED CREATION OF "BLACK IN THE NEWS ROOM", AN AWARD-WINNING DOCUMENTARY FILM FEATURED IN SEVERAL FESTIVALS AND PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SCREENINGS ACROSS THE U.S. THROUGH THE NEWS VOICES PROJECT PROMOTED AWARENESS OF HOW THE LOCAL-NEWS CRISIS HAS LEFT COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY WITH LITTLE-TO-NO REPORTING ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT, SCHOOLS, PUBLIC HEALTH AND OTHER CRUCIAL MATTERS. URGED PROMINENT NEWSPAPERS TO TRANSFORM COVERAGE OF THE CRIMINAL-LEGAL SYSTEM AND TO CRAFT MORE EQUITABLE REPORTING ON PUBLIC SAFETY, POLICING AND TRAUMA AND TO BETTER SUPPORT ITS JOURNALISTS OF COLOR. PUBLISHED TWO RESOURCE GUIDES. HIGHLIGHTED IMPORTANCE OF REBUILDING LOCAL JOURNALISM AND CREATING NEW FORMS OF PUBLIC FUNDING TO SUSTAIN IT. WORKED IN COALITION, COMMUNITY GROUPS AND ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS TO HIGHLIGHT NEGATIVE IMPACTS OF NEWS DESERTS AND HOW TRANSFORMATIVE JOURNALISM POLICIES WILL BETTER SERVE MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES, MEDIA WORKERS AND SOCIETY. 28773 FREE PRESS WORKS TO PRESERVE RIGHTS TO FREE EXPRESSION, COMMUNICATION AND PRIVACY ONLINE AND IN PERSON. AREAS OF FOCUS INCLUDE FUTURE OF THE INTERNET; DEMOCRACY AND DIGITAL CIVIL RIGHTS; AND FUTURE OF JOURNALISM. IN 2022 FREE PRESS CONDUCTED RESEARCH, EDUCATION, AND ALSO ORGANIZED AND MOBILIZED TO ADVOCATE FOR BETTER MEDIA, OPEN TECHNOLOGY AND A HEALTHIER DEMOCRACY. PROVIDED REGULAR INFORMATION VIA EMAIL, WEBSITE, AND WEBINARS TO 1.4 MILLION CONSTITUENTS HAILING FROM ALL 50 STATES, THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA AND PUERTO RICO. ATTRACTED 333,000 OVERALL WEBSITE VISITS AND VIRTUAL EVENTS ATTRACTED HUNDREDS OF PARTICIPANTS. INTERACTED WITH 132,000 SOCIAL MEDIA FOLLOWERS AND EARNED 3,500 PRESS HITS. CREATED AND DISSEMINATED RESOURCE MATERIALS INCLUDING RESEARCH REPORTS, ISSUE BRIEFS, FACTSHEETS, AND BROCHURES. PROVIDED TRAINING AND SUPPORT TO DOZENS OF LOCAL AND REGIONAL MEDIA REFORM GROUPS AND TO THOUSANDS OF LOCAL MEDIA ACTIVISTS. FILED PUBLIC COMMENTS, AND PARTICIPATED IN SEVERAL FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION PROCEEDINGS AND SEVERAL FEDERAL COURT PROCEEDINGS. WORKED WITH DOZENS OF ORGANIZATIONS TO PLAN AND IMPLEMENT HIGH PROFILE EDUCATIONAL EVENTS. SECURED FINANCIAL SUPPORT FROM 1,482 DONORS. 28773 4558200 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 1 12 0 1 39 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 X 9 8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 AK AR AL CA CT FL GA IL KS KY MA ME MN MS NC NH NJ NY OK OR PA RI SC TN VA WA WV WI HI MD UT VT X X KIMBERLY LONGEY 2022651490 1025 CONNECTICUT AVE NW WASHINGTON DC 20036 CRAIG AARON PRESIDENT, CO-CEO 36.00 4.00 X X 135805 15089 28484 VICTOR PICKARD DIRECTOR, CHAIR 1.00 1.00 X X 0 0 0 BRYAN MERCER DIRECTOR, TREASURER (THROUGH 12/16/22) 1.00 1.00 X X 0 0 0 OLGA DAVIDSON DIRECTOR, SECRETARY 1.00 1.00 X X 0 0 0 D BENJAMIN SCOTT DIRECTOR 1.00 1.00 X 0 0 0 ASHLEY ALLISON DIRECTOR 1.00 1.00 X 0 0 0 JOAN DONOVAN DIRECTOR 1.00 1.00 X 0 0 0 MARTHA FUENTES-BAUTISTA DIRECTOR 1.00 1.00 X 0 0 0 VANESSA CARDENAS DIRECTOR 1.00 1.00 X 0 0 0 BRANDI COLLINS DEXTER DIRECTOR, TREASURER (EFF. 12/17/22) 0.00 X X 0 0 0 JESSICA GONZALEZ CO-CEO 36.00 4.00 X 144796 16088 8919 KIMBERLY LONGEY COO, ASST TREASURER/SECRET 34.00 6.00 X 135733 23953 8941 MATTHEW WOOD VP OF POLICY AND GENERAL C 34.00 6.00 X 130458 23022 28484 S DEREK TURNER RESEARCH DIRECTOR 40.00 X 123385 0 14709 MISTY PEREZ TRUEDSON CHIEF OF STAFF 38.00 2.00 X 135908 7153 28037 COLLETTE BLAKENY WATSON VP OF CULTURAL STRATEGIES 40.00 X 130381 0 6802 NORA BENAVIDEZ DIRECTOR, SENIOR COUNSEL 38.00 2.00 X 114488 6026 10410 1050954 91331 134786 13 0 1 0 FRESH EYES DIGITAL 2821 N SPAULDING AVENUE CHICAGO IL 60618 COMMUNICATIONS CONSULTANT 179627 1 10063720 160979 10063720 FEE FOR SERVICE 900099 33423 33423 HONORARIA 900099 25800 25800 59223 34530 34530 32 32 10157505 59223 0 34562 301500 301500 457595 267452 64675 125468 2590147 2365643 52249 172255 109732 101099 1825 6808 419342 368601 16027 34714 239624 207547 8919 23158 4309 3713 158 438 16500 16500 372022 310278 5167 56577 70811 64784 1886 4141 34457 18463 422 15572 395941 339879 14452 41610 156772 134904 6926 14942 35239 33820 391 1028 6181 6115 18 48 5126 4458 501 167 10128 3402 6350 376 TRAINING AND DEV 17605 15493 1343 769 SUBSCRIPTIONS AND DUES 12587 11049 421 1117 5255618 4558200 198230 499188 44020 110456 3832833 4771950 700000 4645726 565163 500945 63144 95120 25631 23050 7707 2581 12881 562537 5225748 10689315 376020 310993 125000 751707 501020 1062700 X 3271728 3325097 1453000 6301518 4724728 9626615 5225748 10689315 4901887 0 X X 0 1 X 1 0 X 1995817 4610385 6270716 2962133 10063720 25902771 1995817 4610385 6270716 2962133 10063720 25902771 13520294 12382477 25158 31889 16381 8441 34562 116431 26019202 210537 0.47590 0.44130 X RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED 354291 334895 354398 1043584 1565376 150000 125000 100000 375000 88573 83724 88600 260897 391346 37500 31250 25000 93750 25631 23050 2581 2581 SECURITY DEPOSIT 12881 ROU ASSET 549656 562537 ADVANCE FROM RELATED ORGANIZATION 125000 OPERATING LEASE LIABILITY 626707 751707 X 10157505 0 10157505 0 10157505 5255618 0 5255618 0 5255618 PART X, LINE 2: THE ORGANIZATION ACCOUNTS FOR INCOME TAXES IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ACCOUNTING STANDARDS CODIFICATION (ASC) TOPIC INCOME TAXES. THESE PROVISIONS PROVIDE CONSISTENT GUIDANCE FOR THE ACCOUNTING FOR UNCERTAINTY IN INCOME TAXES RECOGNIZED IN AN ENTITY'S FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND PRESCRIBE A THRESHOLD OF "MORE LIKELY THAN NOT" FOR RECOGNITION AND DERECOGNITION OF TAX POSITIONS TAKEN OR EXPECTED TO BE TAKEN IN A TAX RETURN. THE ORGANIZATION PERFORMED AN EVALUATION OF UNCERTAIN TAX POSITIONS FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2022 AND 2021, AND DETERMINED THAT THERE WERE NO MATTERS THAT WOULD REQUIRE RECOGNITION IN THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OR THAT MAY HAVE AN EFFECT ON ITS TAX-EXEMPT STATUS. 1 THE MEDIA FREEDOM FOUNDATION PO BOX 1177 FAIR OAKS CA 95628 943383394 501(C)(3) 300000 0 GENERAL SUPPORT OF MEDIA FREEDOM FOUNDATION'S PROJECT CENSORED ACTIVITIES 1 PART I, LINE 2: GRANTEES ARE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE PERIODIC FINANCIAL AND NARRATIVE REPORTS DOCUMENTING AMOUNTS EXPENDED AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS. GRANTEE REPORTS ARE REVIEWED BY MANAGEMENT. X X X 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 MATTHEW WOOD VP OF POLICY AND GENERAL C 130458 23022 0 0 0 0 6811 1202 17400 3071 154669 27295 0 0 CRAIG AARON PRESIDENT, CO-CEO 135805 15089 0 0 0 0 7212 801 18424 2047 161441 17937 0 0 MISTY PEREZ TRUEDSON CHIEF OF STAFF 135908 7153 0 0 0 0 7188 378 19447 1024 162543 8555 0 0 JESSICA GONZALEZ CO-CEO 144796 16088 0 0 0 0 7212 801 815 91 152823 16980 0 0 KIMBERLY LONGEY COO, ASST TREASURER/SECRET 135733 23953 0 0 0 0 6811 1202 789 139 143333 25294 0 0 X 3 160979 FMV 0 0 0 PART I, COLUMN (B): COLUMN B REPRESENTS THE NUMBER OF DONATIONS FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION A, LINE 8B THE ORGANIZATION HAS NO COMMITTEES THAT ARE AUTHORIZED TO ACT ON BEHALF OF THE GOVERNING BODY. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 11B GENERALLY, AN ELECTRONIC COPY OF FORM 990 IS DISTRIBUTED TO MEMBERS OF THE AUDIT OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE (CHAIR, TREASURER, AND ASSISTANT TREASURER) WHO REVIEWS IT AND THE ORGANIZATION'S FINANCIAL STATEMENTS IN A MEETING WITH THE CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANT RETAINED TO PREPARE THESE DOCUMENTS. ONCE THE AUDIT OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE IS SATISFIED WITH THE ACCURACY OF THE INFORMATION PRESENTED, A COPY OF THE FORM 990 IS SENT TO ALL BOARD MEMBERS PRIOR TO FILING. EACH YEAR THE ENTIRE GOVERNING BODY IS OFFERED THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH THE ORGANIZATION'S CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANT TO REVIEW THE AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND DISCUSS THE FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT PRACTICE OF THE ORGANIZATION. THIS IS AN OPTIONAL MEETING DESIGNED TO ALLOW THE GOVERNING BODY DIRECT ACCESS TO THE INDEPENDENT AUDITOR. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 12C ALL OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, TRUSTEES, AND KEY EMPLOYEES ARE REQUIRED TO DISCLOSE ANNUALLY INTERESTS THAT COULD GIVE RISE TO CONFLICTS. SIGNED DOCUMENTS ARE COLLECTED AT THE ANNUAL MEETING OF THE GOVERNING BODY. IF A REAL OR PERCEIVED CONFLICT IS REPORTED, THE PROCEDURES IN THE POLICY ARE FOLLOWED. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 15 EACH POSITION AT FREE PRESS HAS A PAY RANGE. RANGES ARE DETERMINED AFTER REVIEW OF SALARY COMPARABILITY DATA, INCLUDING COMPENSATION INFORMATION RECEIVED FROM PEER ORGANIZATIONS, COMPENSATION DATA FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PAY SCALES, AND RESEARCH ON NON PROFIT COMPENSATION GATHERED FROM GUIDESTAR, REGIONAL EMPLOYER COMPENSATION SURVEYS, AND JOB POSTINGS. MANAGEMENT INCLUDES STAFF COMPENSATION INFORMATION, INCLUDING THE CEOS AND KEY EMPLOYEES, IN THE ANNUAL BUDGET THAT IS REVIEWED AND APPROVED BY THE GOVERNING BODY IN ADVANCE OF EACH FISCAL YEAR. A MEMO OUTLINED THE ORGANIZATION'S COMPENSATION POLICY AND VALUES, HIGHEST AND LOWEST PAID EMPLOYEES, AND OTHER COMPENSATION RELATED INFORMATION IS INCLUDED WITH THE PROPOSED BUDGET. THE GOVERNING BODY APPROVES THE BUDGET IN ADVANCE OF EACH FISCAL YEAR. COMPENSATION CHANGES DURING ANY FISCAL YEAR ARE AT THE DISCRETION OF SENIOR MANAGEMENT, AND MUST REMAIN WITHIN THE BOARD APPROVED BUDGET. MID YEAR CHANGES TO CEO COMPENSATION, IF ANY, MUST BE REVIEWED AND APPROVED BY THE GOVERNING BODY. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION C, LINE 19 FREE PRESS WILL PROVIDE COPIES OF GOVERNING DOCUMENTS, CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY, AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS UPON REQUEST AND WITHIN 10 DAYS OF ANY REQUEST. FORM 990, PART XII, LINE 2C THE ORGANIZATION'S CHAIR, TREASURER AND CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR OVERSIGHT OF THE AUDIT OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SELECTION OF AN INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANT. THE PROCESS HAS NOT CHANGED FROM THE PRIOR YEAR. FREE PRESS ACTION FUND PO BOX 60238 FLORENCE MA 01062 043771598 PROMOTING MEDIA REFORM IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST DC 501(C)(4) N/A 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 FREE PRESS ACTION FUND N 205912 ACTUAL COSTS, TIME SHEETS FREE PRESS ACTION FUND O 345134 ACTUAL COSTS, TIME SHEETS FREE PRESS ACTION FUND Q 603894 REIMBURSEMENTS ACTUALLY RECEIVED