Free Press Action Fund FY2020 filing

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Free Press Action Fund fights for your rights to connect and communicate. We fight to save the Free and open internet, curb runaway media consolidation, protect Press freedom, and promote digital civil rights. We believe that change happens when people have a real voice in the political process. To that end, we mobilize our growing base of activists to sign petitions, meet with their elected officials, and attend rallies and town-hall meetings, to lobby in support of policies that serve their interests and against those that don't. We are active in all efforts to expose the impact of public policy on the most vulnerable among US, including people of color and low income communities.

Form 990 Part I, line 1, FY2020. The organization’s own words, as filed with the IRS. Find it at the IRS (EIN 04-3771598) · Dispute this line
501(c)(4) social-welfare organization; gifts are not tax-deductible as charitable contributions.
65¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$78K paid to officers and key staff.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · Pay: Part VII

Before you give

FY2020 · Form 990Independent: from IRS data, not the org
Download 990
IRS status
501(c)(4)
not on the IRS revocation list
Listed by the IRS and not on the revocation list.
IRS BMF · Auto-Revocation List
Tax-deductible gifts
No
Donations are not tax-deductible
The IRS does not list gifts to it as deductible.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS BMF
Latest return
FY2025
latest Form 990
The latest return is for FY2025, 1 tax year back.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
5 of 6
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $159K a year · 18% of revenue · last 6 filings
A surplus in 5 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 filings
Spent on programs
65%
of spending
65% of spending went to programs.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$78K
to officers and key staff · 14% of spending
Pay to officers and key staff is 14% of spending.
Part VII, Section A
11.1 mo
of spending, in cash
11.1 months of spending in cash.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
2
named funders · $360K
2 funders name it on their filings.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$139K
18% of total assets
Liabilities are 18% of assets.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
9
of 10 voting members
9 of 10 voting members are independent.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Revenue
$947K
Spent
$547K
To programs
65%
Net assets
$617K
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$947K
FY2020
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$947K
FY2021$848K
FY2022$788K
FY2023$1.4M
FY2024$471K
FY2025$890K
Expenses
$547K
FY2020
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$547K
FY2021$825K
FY2022$593K
FY2023$967K
FY2024$767K
FY2025$661K
Net assets
$617K
FY2020
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$617K
FY2021$641K
FY2022$836K
FY2023$1.2M
FY2024$942K
FY2025$1.2M

From the FY2020 Form 990 · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

You’re viewing the FY2020 filing — not the latest on file. See the latest (FY2025) →

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in Nov 2004.

IRS Pub. 78 · IRS Auto-Revocation List · IRS Business Master File

Where the money goes

65 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 65% · $358K Management & general 6% · $30K Fundraising 29% · $159K

Form 990 Part IX, line 25, columns B–D. Every line is in By the numbers.

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Who runs it and what they're paid

17 people listed on the 990; $78K paid to officers and key staff (Part VII, Section A).

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
VP of Policy and General Counsel
$27,416Pt VII · Sec A
President, Co-CEO
$14,325Pt VII · Sec A
$8,759Pt VII · Sec A
COO, Asst Treas, Asst Secy
$7,560Pt VII · Sec A
Research Director
$5,862Pt VII · Sec A
Senior Director of Strategy & Communications
$5,352Pt VII · Sec A
Senior Policy Director
$5,053Pt VII · Sec A
Chief of Staff
$3,937Pt VII · Sec A

Matthew Wood’s $32K as VP of Policy and General Counsel is at the 17th percentile of top reported officer pay among 1031 $100K–1M civil rights & advocacy nonprofits. Peer set: organizations in the same NTEE major field of work and revenue-size band, compared on each org’s own highest-paid officer/key-employee, from Form 990 Part VII / 990-PF Part VIII. Descriptive placement, not a verdict on whether the pay is appropriate.

Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 8 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Jessica Gonzalez—$15,803$29,667$16,088$36,481$8,759
Mathew Wood—$26,078$32,337———
Matthew Wood$31,823——$23,022$28,510$27,416
Kimberly Longey$12,439$14,284$18,608$23,953$29,645$7,560
Jessica Gonzales$28,423—————
Crag Aaron—$15,984$28,150———
Craig Aaron$27,410——$15,089$21,334$14,325
Misty Perez Truedson$3,476—$24,428$7,153$13,344$3,937

Total reportable compensation (Form 990 Part VII column D / Schedule J column E) by filing year, matched by name within this organization. The Schedule J base / bonus / deferred breakdown is not parsed into this dataset.

See Free Press Action Fund executive salaries →

Questions the 990 asks

The form asks each of these directly. These are the filed answers.

  • Family or business ties among officersPt VI · Ln 2No
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aYes

Programs and updates

Advocates for media reform to strengthen democracy by educating the public.

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3 programs · $358K · in their own filed words · FY2020
01

Internet Freedom

Advocated for expanded broadband access for households struggling to afford high-speed internet access during COVID-19 pandemic. Issued a comprehensive set of policies to connect and keep people online during and beyond the crisis.

Form 990 Part III, line 4, FY2020. The organization’s own words, as filed with the IRS. Find it at the IRS (EIN 04-3771598) · Dispute this line
$186Kprogram expense
02

Government/Platform Accountability

Educated congressional staff on the patriot act harms, especially from disparate targeting of activists and communities of color. Urged congress to defund police surveillance and stop spying on the racial justice movement. Opposed reauthorization of the us patriot act.

Form 990 Part III, line 4, FY2020. The organization’s own words, as filed with the IRS. Find it at the IRS (EIN 04-3771598) · Dispute this line
$127Kprogram expense
03

Press Freedom

Organized a coalition of 50 social justice and media organizations to provide major news outlets with a guide to avoid the hazards of 2020 election reporting. Promoted a set of best practices for covering threats to safety and democracy ahead of the 2020 election.

Form 990 Part III, line 4, FY2020. The organization’s own words, as filed with the IRS. Find it at the IRS (EIN 04-3771598) · Dispute this line
$45Kprogram expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

From grant filings on record. Receipts are incomplete: individual donors are never listed.

Grants

Schedule I · funders on record
Grants received · FY2024
Free PressFY2024$300K
Total grants receivedfrom 2 funders$360K

By the numbers

The FY2020 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$947K
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$945K
Investment incomeLn 3$3K
Money outPt IX
$547K
Ln 25
Programscol B$358K
Managementcol C$30K
Fundraisingcol D$159K
Owns and owesPt X
$617K
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$505K
Total assetsLn 16$757K
LiabilitiesLn 26$139K
PeoplePt VI, VII
17
listed · VII A
PaidVII A8
Voting boardVI 1a10
IndependentVI 1b9
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$945K
Investment incomeLn 3$3K
Total revenueLn 12$947K
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$36K
SavingsLn 2$469K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$505K
Pledges and grants receivableLn 3$125K
Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesLn 9$2K
Other assetsLn 15$125K
Total assetsLn 16$757K
LiabilitiesLn 26$139K
Net assetsLn 32$617K
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 543
VolunteersI 6147,006
Fiscal year endsHeaderDecember
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13Yes
Records policyVI 14Yes
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY20End FY20
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$206K$505K
Total assetsLn 16$346K$757K
LiabilitiesLn 26$128K$139K
Net assetsLn 32$217K$617K
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Pay of officers and key staff (Part IX, line 5)Ln 5$35K$18K$9K$8K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$236K$174K$4K$58K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$11K$8K$162$3K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$33K$23K$916$9K
Payroll taxesLn 10$21K$16K$946$4K
Legal feesLn 11b$428$172$197$59
Accounting feesLn 11c$10K$739$9K$245
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$133K$87K$737$45K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$15K$2K$13K
Office expensesLn 13$7K$6K$247$1K
Information technologyLn 14$7K$5K$316$2K
OccupancyLn 16$31K$13K$2K$16K
TravelLn 17$415$295$31$89
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$355$250$13$92
InsuranceLn 23$2K$97$2K$31
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$4K$3K$89$431
Total functional expensesLn 25$547K$358K$30K$159K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 LatestFiled with the IRS May 6, 2026 $890K$661K$229K$1.2M 990 PDF
FY2024Filed with the IRS May 8, 2025 $471K$767K−$296K$942K 990 PDF
FY2023Filed with the IRS Apr 11, 2024 $1.4M$967K$402K$1.2M 990 PDF
FY2022Filed with the IRS Apr 26, 2023 $788K$593K$195K$836K 990 PDF
FY2021Filed with the IRS May 13, 2022 $848K$825K$23K$641K 990 PDF
FY2020 ViewingFiled with the IRS Apr 19, 2021 $947K$547K$400K$617K 990 PDF

Schedules filed Part IV

A · Public support I · Grants O · Explanations
See the full FY2020 990
Part I · Summary $947,161 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $588,756$944,551
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $0$0
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $773$2,610
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $0$0
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $589,529$947,161
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $0$0
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $375,083$336,662
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $197,030$210,444
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $572,113$547,106
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $17,416$400,055
Part VI · Governance 9 of 10 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body10
VI-1b Independent voting members9
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsNo
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyYes
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyYes
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $947,161 across 6 lines filed
VIII-1b Membership dues$177,692
VIII-1d Related organizations$125,000
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$641,859
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$944,551
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $2,610$2,610
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $0 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $2,610$947,161
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $547,106 across 16 lines filed
IX-5 Pay of officers and key staff (Part IX, line 5)Programs $17,975 · Management $9,379 · Fundraising $7,913$35,267
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $174,300 · Management $3,663 · Fundraising $57,824$235,787
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $8,259 · Management $162 · Fundraising $2,741$11,162
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $23,240 · Management $916 · Fundraising $9,287$33,443
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $15,851 · Management $946 · Fundraising $4,206$21,003
IX-11b Legal feesPrograms $172 · Management $197 · Fundraising $59$428
IX-11c Accounting feesPrograms $739 · Management $9,055 · Fundraising $245$10,039
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $86,967 · Management $737 · Fundraising $45,116$132,820
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $2,500 · Fundraising $12,508$15,008
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $5,692 · Management $247 · Fundraising $1,439$7,378
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $4,829 · Management $316 · Fundraising $1,637$6,782
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $13,153 · Management $2,425 · Fundraising $15,612$31,190
IX-17 TravelPrograms $295 · Management $31 · Fundraising $89$415
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $250 · Management $13 · Fundraising $92$355
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $97 · Management $2,027 · Fundraising $31$2,155
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $3,354 · Management $89 · Fundraising $431$3,874
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $357,673 · Management $30,203 · Fundraising $159,230$547,106
Part X · Balance sheet $756,821 assets, 12 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $32,284$36,202
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $173,249$468,881
X-3 Pledges and grants receivable$125,000
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $1,532$1,738
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $125,000$125,000
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $345,533$756,821
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $128,089$139,322
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $128,089$139,322
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $217,444$317,499
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictions$300,000
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $217,444$617,499
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $345,533$756,821
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $617,499 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$947,161
XI-2 Total expenses$547,106
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$400,055
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$217,444
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$617,499

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2020 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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