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.
83¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$68K 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

FY2021 · 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
83%
of spending
Looks good: 83% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$68K
to officers and key staff · 13% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 13% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
26 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 25.5 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
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
$50K
4% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 4% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
5
of 5 voting members
Looks good: 5 of 5 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$953K
+51% vs prior year
Spent
$507K
To programs
83%
Net assets
$1.1M
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$953K
FY2021▲ +51%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$631K
FY2021$953K
FY2022$454K
FY2023$462K
FY2024$442K
FY2025$551K
Expenses
$507K
FY2021▲ +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
$1.1M
FY2021▲ +64%
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 FY2021 Form 990 (year ending June 2021) · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

Give Claim
You’re viewing the FY2021 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 May 1988.

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

Where the money goes

83 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 83% · $422K Management & general 14% · $71K Fundraising 3% · $14K

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

Something off? Claim to add context

Who runs it and what they're paid

6 people listed on the 990; $68K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2020); the FY2021 filing did not itemize Part VII
$68,320Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Vice-President
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Secretary
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$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 →

On this list? Claim this org

Something off? Claim to add context

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.

Questions for Fairness & Accuracy in Reporting INC

Tap to ask. Fairness & Accuracy in Reporting INC sees how many people are interested.

Your first name shows with your question. Fairness & Accuracy in Reporting INC answers here, for everyone.

Provided by the organization

Know this org? Add your story

3 programs · $309K · in their own filed words · FY2020
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.

$212Kprogram expense
02

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.

$97Kprogram expense
03

Fair's activism involves encouraging members to communicate to journalists to demand more responsible reporting. Fair works to invigorate the first amendment by advocating for greater diversity in the press and by scrutinizing media practices that marginalize public interest, minority and dissenting viewpoints.

Pt IX · col B

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 FY2021 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$953K
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$872K
Investment incomeLn 3$48K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$32K
Money outPt IX
$507K
Ln 25
Programscol B$422K
Managementcol C$71K
Fundraisingcol D$14K
Owns and owesPt X
$1.1M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$1.1M
Total assetsLn 16$1.2M
LiabilitiesLn 26$50K
PeoplePt VI, VII
6
listed · VII A
PaidVII A1
Voting boardVI 1a5
IndependentVI 1b5
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$872K
Noncash giftsLn 1g$70K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$32K
Investment incomeLn 3$48K
Other incomeLn 4–11$992
Total revenueLn 12$953K
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$1.1M
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$1.1M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$67K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$2K
Other assetsLn 15$8K
Total assetsLn 16$1.2M
LiabilitiesLn 26$50K
Net assetsLn 32$1.1M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 510
VolunteersI 60
Fiscal year endsHeaderJune
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13No
Records policyVI 14No
3More from this return
Abroad and in kindSch F, M
Noncash gifts receivedSch M Pt I$70K
4Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY21End FY21
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$641K$1.1M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$80K$67K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$1K$2K
Total assetsLn 16$749K$1.2M
LiabilitiesLn 26$51K$50K
Net assetsLn 32$698K$1.1M
5Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$58K$26K$26K$6K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$196K$192K$0$4K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$2K$0$2K$0
Other employee benefitsLn 9$50K$43K$5K$2K
Payroll taxesLn 10$20K$17K$2K$783
Accounting feesLn 11c$16K$0$16K$0
Investment management feesLn 11f$150$0$150$0
Office expensesLn 13$3K$0$3K$0
OccupancyLn 16$25K$22K$3K$991
TravelLn 17$124$0$124$0
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$580$0$580$0
InsuranceLn 23$4K$0$4K$0
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$40K$39K$1K$28
All other expensesLn 24e$91K$83K$8K$114
Total functional expensesLn 25$507K$422K$71K$14K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest $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
FY2021 ViewingFiled 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

More to add? Claim this org

Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons I · Grants A · Public support M · Noncash O · Explanations
See the full FY2021 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $953,156 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $577,833$872,257
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $45,731$31,937
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $2,104$47,970
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $5,181$992
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $630,849$953,156
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paid$0
I-14 Benefits paid to members$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $300,406$326,558
I-16a Professional fundraising fees$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $182,644$179,992
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $483,050$506,550
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $147,799$446,606
Part VI · Governance 5 of 5 board members independent, 3 to look at
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body5
VI-1b Independent voting members5
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 $953,156 across 7 lines filed
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$872,257
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$70,256
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$872,257
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $0$31,937
VIII-3 Investment incomeUnrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $47,970$47,970
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Related to mission $992 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $0$992
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $32,929 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $47,970$953,156
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $506,550 across 14 lines filed
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $26,150 · Management $26,150 · Fundraising $5,810$58,110
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $192,163 · Management $0 · Fundraising $4,155$196,318
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $0 · Management $1,950 · Fundraising $0$1,950
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $43,065 · Management $5,158 · Fundraising $1,966$50,189
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $17,153 · Management $2,055 · Fundraising $783$19,991
IX-11c Accounting feesPrograms $0 · Management $16,420 · Fundraising $0$16,420
IX-11f Investment management feesPrograms $0 · Management $150 · Fundraising $0$150
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $0 · Management $2,507 · Fundraising $0$2,507
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $21,705 · Management $2,600 · Fundraising $991$25,296
IX-17 TravelPrograms $0 · Management $124 · Fundraising $0$124
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $0 · Management $580 · Fundraising $0$580
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $0 · Management $3,556 · Fundraising $0$3,556
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $39,152 · Management $1,142 · Fundraising $28$40,322
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $82,700 · Management $8,223 · Fundraising $114$91,037
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $422,088 · Management $70,615 · Fundraising $13,847$506,550
Part X · Balance sheet $1,194,299 assets, 14 lines filed
Asset lines not itemized here account for $9,000; see the IRS return.
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $640,867$1,077,423
X-3 Pledges and grants receivable$30,000
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $1,586$1,277
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $1,110$1,734
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $79,868$67,270
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $8,981$7,595
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $749,212$1,194,299
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $9,509$10,271
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $41,978$39,697
X-25 Other liabilities$0
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $51,487$49,968
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $697,725$1,144,331
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $697,725$1,144,331
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $749,212$1,194,299
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $1,144,331 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$953,156
XI-2 Total expenses$506,550
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$446,606
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$697,725
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$1,144,331

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2021 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

Similar organizations you could support · Compare with another nonprofit

Names, privacy, and removal requests More

The names, titles, and compensation shown on this page are reproduced from IRS Form 990 filings, which are public records.

Philanthropy.org does not alter the content of those filings. All information appears exactly as reported by the filing organization for the tax year shown.

We publish only information contained in the public IRS filing — and less than the filing contains. Our profile pages do not display street addresses, telephone numbers, personal email addresses, or other personal contact information, even where the filing includes them.

Many people share the same name. A name shown on this page reflects only what one organization reported in one IRS filing for one tax year. It should not be interpreted as identifying any other individual with the same or a similar name.

If you are no longer affiliated with the organization, your name will generally stop appearing in future IRS filings once the organization no longer reports you. Pages for tax years in which you were reported remain published because those filings remain part of the public record.

Philanthropy.org does not alter or remove IRS filing records. Removing a page from this website would not remove the underlying IRS filing, which remains publicly available from the IRS and other publishers of the same information.

If you believe the IRS filing itself is inaccurate, corrections must be made by the filing organization or the IRS directly.

Your org? Add context

Made it to the end? Claim this org

All figures are derived from public IRS Form 990 filings and are presented without evaluation of any organization. philanthropy.org does not rate, score, or rank organizations, including the pay comparisons above.