2025-11-17T12:30:55-06:00 2024-12-31 362663249 WEISS & COMPANY LLP 2700 PATRIOT BOULEVARD - SUITE 400 GLENVIEW IL 60026 990 2024-01-01 264066298 FRANKLIN NEWS FOUNDATION FRAN 3129801197 20 N CLARK STREET 3300 CHICAGO IL 60602 CHRISTOPHER KRUG PRESIDENT 3129801197 2025-11-06 1 0 JEREMY MORGAN P01241420 8474418800 2024 2025-03-06 01:10:19Z CHRISTOPHER KRUG 20 N CLARK STREET 3300 CHICAGO IL 60602 5756520 0 X FRANKLINNEWS.ORG X 2009 IL THE MISSION OF FRANKLIN NEWS FOUNDATION IS TO PROMOTE SOCIAL WELFARE AND CIVIL BETTERMENT BY UNDERTAKING PROGRAMS THAT PROMOTE JOURNALISM AND THE EDUCATION OF THE PUBLIC ABOUT CORRUPTION, INCOMPETENCE, FRAUD OR TAXPAYER ABUSE BY ELECTION OFFICIALS AT ALL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT. 5 4 0 0 96705 0 4705392 5640900 0 0 0 0 111294 115620 4816686 5756520 500 0 0 0 3219978 3643480 0 192000 423674 2094414 1591444 5314892 5426924 -498206 329596 901000 649934 1086647 726454 -185647 -76520 THE MISSION OF FRANKLIN NEWS FOUNDATION IS TO PROMOTE SOCIAL WELFARE AND CIVIL BETTERMENT BY UNDERTAKING PROGRAMS THAT PROMOTE JOURNALISM AND THE EDUCATION OF THE PUBLIC ABOUT CORRUPTION, INCOMPETENCE, FRAUD OR TAXPAYER ABUSE BY ELECTED OFFICIALS AT ALL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT. 0 0 4469731 THE CENTER SQUARE NEWSWIRE SERVICE 4469731 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 42 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 X 5 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 AL AR CA FL GA HI IL KS KY MD MA MI MN MS NH NJ NM NY NC ND OH OK OR PA RI SC TN UT VA WA WI X BEARING TREE INCORPORATED 3129801197 300 S RIVERSIDE PLAZA SUITE 1625 CHICAGO IL 60606 CHRISTOPHER KRUG CEO 40.00 X X 421650 0 0 JOHN TILLMAN CHAIRMAN 1.00 X X 0 0 0 BRADLEY WALTON SECRETARY/TREASURER 1.00 X X 0 0 0 ERIC SUCHARSKI DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 JENNIFER STEFANO DIRECTOR 1.00 X 0 0 0 JERRY LYLES VICE PRESIDENT OF SYNDICATION & DISTRIBUTION 40.00 X 165941 0 0 LAUREL ABRAHAM CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER 40.00 X 172943 0 0 DANIEL MCCALEB CHIEF CONTENT OFFICER 40.00 X 216988 0 0 COLE LAUTERBACH EMPLOYEE 40.00 X 116658 0 0 1094180 0 0 5 0 1 0 BEARING TREE INCORPORATED 300 S RIVERSIDE PLAZA SUITE 1625 CHICAGO IL 60606 498740 IRON LIGHT INCORPORATED 300 S RIVERSIDE PLAZA SUITE 1625 CHICAGO IL 60606 299999 ALETHEA MEDIA GROUP LLC 1305 W 111TH ST 204 HOUSTON TX 77008 114675 3 5640900 5640900 ADVERTISING 541800 96705 96705 PODCAST 516210 11050 11050 COMMISSION REVENUE 561499 7366 7366 499 499 115620 5756520 18915 96705 0 X 3082368 2837487 47173 197708 335537 317860 7669 10008 225575 210886 2072 12617 21857 7482 14375 22000 22000 192000 192000 1182389 854943 326684 762 109915 109739 176 84910 57368 25073 2469 71227 57045 6072 8110 27839 6664 21175 59815 59815 DUES AND SUBSCRIPTIONS 11231 10246 985 OTHER 261 11 250 5426924 4469731 533519 423674 8200 272742 406243 57364 128907 246727 35810 1731 311715 61245 10125 10125 901000 649934 315819 223466 385000 385000 385828 117988 1086647 726454 X -500494 -102920 314847 26400 -185647 -76520 901000 649934 X 329596 -105143 -115326 X X 0 1 X 0 0 X 2684901 3301261 4715019 4705392 5640900 21047473 2684901 3301261 4715019 4705392 5640900 21047473 6867583 14179890 82 18 100 39061 38510 97000 72544 115620 362735 21410308 0.66230 0.68310 X RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED 0 INVESTMENT IN ADVANCED DIGITAL MEDIA, INC. 61245 C 61245 DUE TO BEARING TREE, INC. 116152 DUE TO ADVANCED DIGITAL MEDIA 1696 DUE TO ILLINOIS POLICY INSTITUTE 140 117988 X 5756520 0 5756520 0 5756520 5542250 115326 115326 5426924 0 5426924 PART X, LINE 2: THE ORGANIZATION BELIEVES IT HAS APPROPRIATE SUPPORT FOR ANY TAX POSITIONS TAKEN, AND AS SUCH, DO NOT HAVE ANY UNCERTAIN TAX POSITIONS THAT ARE MATERIAL TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. THE FEDERAL AND ILLINOIS EXEMPT ORGANIZATION TAX RETURNS ARE SUBJECT TO EXAMINATION BY THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE AND STATE AUTHORITIES, GENERALLY FOR THREE YEARS AFTER THEY WERE FILED. PART XII, LINE 2D - OTHER ADJUSTMENTS: NET LOSS FROM SUBSIDIARY 115,326. X X X X X 1 BEARING TREE INC 300 S RIVERSIDE PLAZA SUITE 1625 CHICAGO IL 60606 CAGING, RESEARCH, PERSONAL CONTACT 1 5650334 192000 5458334 5650334 192000 5458334 X X X X 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 CHRISTOPHER KRUG CEO 349650 0 72000 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 421650 0 0 0 DANIEL MCCALEB CHIEF CONTENT OFFICER 194988 0 22000 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 216988 0 0 0 LAUREL ABRAHAM CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER 147943 0 25000 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 172943 0 0 0 JERRY LYLES VICE PRESIDENT OF SYNDICATION & DIST 163941 0 2000 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 165941 0 0 0 FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 11B PRIOR TO SUBMISSION TO THE IRS, FORM 990 IS PROVIDED TO THE PRINCIPAL OFFICER AND GOVERNING BODY OF THE ORGANIZATION FOR REVIEW. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 12C THE ORGANIZATION REVIEWS THE CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY ONCE A YEAR WITH THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND EMPLOYEES AND INQUIRES OF ANY MATERIAL CHANGES. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 15 COMPENSATION OF CEO IS DETERMINED BY AN EXAMINATION OF COMPARABLE DATA FOR OTHER CEO'S IN THE INDUSTRY COUNTRYWIDE AND IN THE CHICAGOLAND AREA. THE INFORMATION FROM THAT RESEARCH IS SHARED WITH THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS WHO THEN APPROVE COMPENSATION FOR THE CEO. NOTE THAT AN INDEPENDENT CONSULTANT IS NOT UTILIZED IN THE PROCESS. FOR OTHER OFFICERS AND KEY EMPLOYEES THE COMPENSATION PROCESS IS THE SAME WITH THE CEO HAVING FULL DISCRETION AS DELEGATED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION C, LINE 19 ALL GOVERNING DOCUMENTS, POLICIES AND AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS WILL BE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST. FORM 990, PART IX, LINE 11G CONSULTANTS AND SERVICE PROVIDERS: PROGRAM SERVICE EXPENSES 334,716. MANAGEMENT AND GENERAL EXPENSES 119,748. FUNDRAISING EXPENSES 0. TOTAL EXPENSES 454,464. FEES AND SERVICES: PROGRAM SERVICE EXPENSES 85,868. MANAGEMENT AND GENERAL EXPENSES 206,896. FUNDRAISING EXPENSES 762. TOTAL EXPENSES 293,526. PRODUCTION CONTENT: PROGRAM SERVICE EXPENSES 434,359. MANAGEMENT AND GENERAL EXPENSES 40. FUNDRAISING EXPENSES 0. TOTAL EXPENSES 434,399. FORM 990, PART XI, LINE 9: INCOME FROM SUBSIDIARY - FRANKLIN MEDIA GROUP INC. 48,249. LOSS FROM SUBSIDIARY - ADVANCED DIGITAL MEDIA, INC. -163,575. FORM 990, PART XII, LINE 2C: THERE HAS BEEN NO CHANGE IN THE PROCESS SINCE THE PRIOR YEAR. PART IX, LINE 7 SALARIES AND WAGES ARE PAID THROUGH BEARING TREE, INCORPORATED, FEIN 83-2543436 FRANKLIN MEDIA GROUP INC 200 W MADISON STREET SUITE 3300 CHICAGO IL 60606 822117598 ILLINOIS RADIO NETWORK IL FRANKLIN NEWS FOUNDATION C 1.00000 1 ADVANCED DIGITAL MEDIA INC 1210 E US HIGHWAY 136 PENFIELD IL 61862 202949677 VIDEO PRODUCTION IL FRANKLIN NEWS FOUNDATION C 1.00000 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 ADVANCED DIGITAL MEDIA INC D 246727 ACTUAL CASH