Is it real?
Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in Apr 1976.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS Auto-Revocation List · IRS Business Master File
Where the money goes
82 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.
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
10 people listed on the 990; $50K paid to officers and key staff.
Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 1 named individual · Part VII
| Name | FY2025 | FY2024 | FY2023 | FY2022 | FY2021 | FY2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Richard Kaplar | $49,500 | $106,250 | $150,000 | $150,000 | $150,000 | $150,000 |
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.
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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 15aYes
- Loans to or from officersSch L · Pt II1 listed
Programs and updates
Promotes free speech, a competitive media, and excellent journalism.
Questions for The Media Institute
Your first name shows with your question. The Media Institute answers here, for everyone.
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Free Speech America
An Institute event held every fall that presents two awards to deserving individuals. The American Horizon Award recognizes leadership in promoting the vitality and independence of American media and communications.
Communications Forum
A luncheon program held in Washington, D.C. eight times per year. The Forum gives newsmakers from the government and communications industry an opportunity to address a select audience of media and corporate executives and journalists.
Funders
Who pays for it.
From grant filings on record. Receipts are incomplete: individual donors are never listed.
Grants
By the numbers
The FY2025 990, line by line.
Download 990
| Line | Start FY25 | End FY25 |
|---|---|---|
| Cash and savingsLn 1–2 | $18K | $37K |
| Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c | $900 | $2K |
| Total assetsLn 16 | $98K | $65K |
| LiabilitiesLn 26 | $139K | $95K |
| Net assetsLn 32 | −$40K | −$30K |
| Line | Total | Programs | Management | Fundraising |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5 | $59K | $44K | $15K | |
| Other salaries and wagesLn 7 | $60K | $45K | $15K | |
| Pension plan contributionsLn 8 | $5K | $4K | $1K | |
| Other employee benefitsLn 9 | $2K | $2K | $521 | |
| Payroll taxesLn 10 | $8K | $6K | $2K | |
| Accounting feesLn 11c | $9K | $7K | $2K | |
| Other fees for servicesLn 11g | $38K | $27K | $10K | |
| Advertising and promotionLn 12 | $1K | $809 | $269 | |
| Office expensesLn 13 | $21K | $16K | $5K | |
| Information technologyLn 14 | $12K | $9K | $3K | |
| OccupancyLn 16 | $38K | $28K | $9K | |
| TravelLn 17 | $351 | $263 | $88 | |
| Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19 | $150K | $150K | ||
| InterestLn 20 | $11K | $11K | ||
| Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22 | $981 | $736 | $245 | |
| InsuranceLn 23 | $6K | $5K | $2K | |
| Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24 | $138 | $103 | $35 | |
| Total functional expensesLn 25 | $422K | $345K | $77K | $0 |
Filing history
| Year | Money in | Money out | In minus out | Net assets | Download |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2025 Latest Viewing | $432K | $422K | $10K | −$30K | 990 PDF |
| FY2024 | $420K | $477K | −$58K | −$40K | 990 PDF |
| FY2023 | $427K | $484K | −$57K | $17K | 990 PDF |
| FY2022 | $376K | $458K | −$82K | $74K | 990 PDF |
| FY2021 | $546K | $476K | $70K | $156K | 990 PDF |
| FY2020 | $485K | $475K | $9K | $86K | 990 PDF |
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Schedules filed Part IV
See the full FY2025 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $432,040 revenue, 12 lines filed
Part VI · Governance 9 of 10 board members independent, no flags
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $432,040 across 4 lines filed
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $421,824 across 17 lines filed
Part X · Balance sheet $64,882 assets, 12 lines filed
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets −$30,219 net assets at year end
Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2025 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File
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