Fairs organizational mission is to monitor, research and document media Reporting for inaccuracies and bias and make this information available to the public. This purpose is fulfilled with publication of the newsletter extra!, the broadcast of the weekly radio show counterspin and publishing this information on its website fair.org.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
81¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$1K 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

FY2025 · Form 990Independent: from IRS data, not the org
Download 990
IRS status
501(c)(3)
not on the IRS revocation list
Looks good: listed by the IRS and not on the revocation list.
IRS BMF · Auto-Revocation List
Tax-deductible gifts
Yes
Donations are tax-deductible
Looks good: the IRS lists gifts to it as deductible.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS BMF
Latest return
FY2025
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2025, 1 tax year back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
2 of 6
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $19K a year · 3% of revenue · last 6 filings
Worth a look: a surplus in 2 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 filings
Spent on programs
81%
of spending
Looks good: 81% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$1K
to officers and key staff · 0.2% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 0% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
3 mo
of spending, in cash
Plus $525K in investments, Pt X · Ln 11–13
Fine: 2.8 months of spending in cash; 1 to 3.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
7
named funders · $95K
Looks good: 7 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$151K
19% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 19% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
4
of 4 voting members
Looks good: 4 of 4 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$551K
+25% vs prior year
Spent
$629K
To programs
81%
Net assets
$651K
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$551K
FY2025▲ +25%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$631K
FY2021$953K
FY2022$454K
FY2023$462K
FY2024$442K
FY2025$551K
Expenses
$629K
FY2025▲ +5%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$483K
FY2021$507K
FY2022$576K
FY2023$586K
FY2024$600K
FY2025$629K
Net assets
$651K
FY2025▼ -10%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$698K
FY2021$1.1M
FY2022$1.0M
FY2023$880K
FY2024$726K
FY2025$651K

From the FY2025 Form 990 (year ending June 2025) · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in May 1988.

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

Where the money goes

81 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 81% · $511K Management & general 13% · $83K Fundraising 6% · $35K

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

5 people listed on the 990; $1K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2024); the FY2025 filing did not itemize Part VII
Secretary
$600Pt VII · Sec A
$600Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Member (deceased-March 25, 2025)
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Karl Grossman’s $600 as Secretary is at the 1st percentile of top reported officer pay among 1708 $100K–1M community development 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 · 3 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2021FY2020
Deborah Thomas——$68,320$66,752
Robin Andersen$600$900——
Karl Grossman$600———

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 Fairness & Accuracy in Reporting INC executive salaries →

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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 15aNo

Programs and updates

Helps people with disabilities access community resources and live independently.

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3 programs · $511K · in their own filed words · FY2024
01

Fair is the publisher of the newsletter extra! Extra! Publishes well-documented articles examining inaccurate or bias reporting, censored news, PRESS/STATE cronyism, the power of corporate owners and advertisers, and the exclusion of progressive voices in the mainstream media.

$217Kprogram expense
02

Fair researches and analyzes news reports for examples of bias and inaccuracies. It also documents instances of corporate and advertising influence in the news. With studies, reports and interviews fair presents fact-based information to the public with its print newsletter, weekly radio show and website.

$172Kprogram expense
03

Counterspin is the weekly half-hour radio show of fair that broadcasts on over 150 non-commercial stations across the country. It is also available online. The show covers a number of news items from the past week and then conducts interviews on two major news stories by experts in the field.

$121Kprogram 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
See all 7 funders →

By the numbers

The FY2025 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$551K
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$498K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$32K
Investment incomeLn 3$18K
Money outPt IX
$629K
Ln 25
Programscol B$511K
Managementcol C$83K
Fundraisingcol D$35K
Owns and owesPt X
$651K
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$148K
Total assetsLn 16$803K
LiabilitiesLn 26$151K
PeoplePt VI, VII
5
listed · VII A
PaidVII A2
Voting boardVI 1a4
IndependentVI 1b4
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$498K
Noncash giftsLn 1g$5K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$32K
Investment incomeLn 3$18K
Other incomeLn 4–11$3K
Gains on assetsLn 7$7K
Total revenueLn 12$551K
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$57K
SavingsLn 2$91K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$148K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$525K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$938
Other assetsLn 15$101K
Total assetsLn 16$803K
LiabilitiesLn 26$151K
Net assetsLn 32$651K
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 510
VolunteersI 60
Fiscal year endsHeaderJune
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13No
Records policyVI 14No
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY25End FY25
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$207K$148K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$506K$525K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$1K$938
Total assetsLn 16$895K$803K
LiabilitiesLn 26$169K$151K
Net assetsLn 32$726K$651K
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$320K$272K$26K$22K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$8K$7K$688$575
Other employee benefitsLn 9$92K$79K$8K$6K
Payroll taxesLn 10$23K$20K$2K$2K
Legal feesLn 11b$12K$0$12K$0
Investment management feesLn 11f$180$0$180$0
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$8K$8K$0$0
Office expensesLn 13$5K$883$2K$2K
OccupancyLn 16$26K$22K$2K$2K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$489$416$40$33
InsuranceLn 23$5K$4K$381$319
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$48K$46K$996$163
All other expensesLn 24e$81K$52K$29K$379
Total functional expensesLn 25$629K$511K$83K$35K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest Viewing $551K$629K−$78K$651K 990 PDF
FY2024Filed with the IRS Apr 1, 2025 $442K$600K−$159K$726K 990 PDF
FY2023Filed with the IRS Jan 16, 2024 $462K$586K−$124K$880K 990 PDF
FY2022Filed with the IRS Feb 8, 2023 $454K$576K−$122K$1.0M 990 PDF
FY2021Filed with the IRS Jan 7, 2022 $953K$507K$447K$1.1M 990 PDF
FY2020Filed with the IRS Jan 21, 2021 $631K$483K$148K$698K 990 PDF

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Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons I · Grants A · Public support O · Explanations
See the full FY2025 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $551,123 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $397,949$497,605
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $29,240$32,474
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $13,455$18,243
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $1,241$2,801
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $441,885$551,123
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paid$0
I-14 Benefits paid to members$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $427,849$444,316
I-16a Professional fundraising fees$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $172,610$184,602
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $600,459$628,918
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year −$158,574−$77,795
Part VI · Governance 4 of 4 board members independent, 3 to look at
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body4
VI-1b Independent voting members4
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyNo
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyNo
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payNo
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsNo
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $551,123 across 8 lines filed
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$497,605
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$5,269
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$497,605
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $0$32,474
VIII-3 Investment incomeUnrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $10,750$10,750
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsRelated to mission $0 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $7,493$7,493
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Related to mission $2,801 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $0$2,801
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $35,275 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $18,243$551,123
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $628,918 across 13 lines filed
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $271,520 · Management $26,465 · Fundraising $22,040$320,025
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $7,183 · Management $688 · Fundraising $575$8,446
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $78,561 · Management $7,524 · Fundraising $6,285$92,370
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $19,966 · Management $1,912 · Fundraising $1,597$23,475
IX-11b Legal feesPrograms $0 · Management $11,975 · Fundraising $0$11,975
IX-11f Investment management feesPrograms $0 · Management $180 · Fundraising $0$180
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $8,000 · Management $0 · Fundraising $0$8,000
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $883 · Management $1,998 · Fundraising $1,645$4,526
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $21,909 · Management $2,098 · Fundraising $1,753$25,760
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $416 · Management $40 · Fundraising $33$489
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $3,985 · Management $381 · Fundraising $319$4,685
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $46,367 · Management $996 · Fundraising $163$47,526
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $51,879 · Management $29,203 · Fundraising $379$81,461
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $510,669 · Management $83,460 · Fundraising $34,789$628,918
Part X · Balance sheet $802,639 assets, 15 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $207,262$57,177
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investments$91,175
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $50,000$25,000
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $8,293$2,267
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $1,427$938
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $506,049$524,955
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $122,449$101,127
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $895,480$802,639
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $20,024$18,899
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $32,525$35,679
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $116,603$96,777
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $169,152$151,355
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $726,328$651,284
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $726,328$651,284
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $895,480$802,639
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $651,284 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$551,123
XI-2 Total expenses$628,918
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$77,795
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$726,328
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$2,751
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$651,284

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2025 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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