Rfe-Rl INC FY2024 filing

Tax-deductible

Washington, DC501(c)(3)Since 1976Arts & CultureEIN 52-1068522

Rfe/rl's mission is to promote democratic values by providing accurate, uncensored news and open debate in countries where a free press is under threat. (see schedule o)

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
77¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$2.2M 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

FY2024 · 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
FY2024
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2024, 2 tax years back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
1 of 5
filings with a surplus
Average deficit $970K a year · under 1% of revenue · last 5 filings
Concern: a surplus in 1 of the last 5 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 5 filings
Spent on programs
77%
of spending
Looks good: 77% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$2.2M
to officers and key staff · 1% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 1% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
Cash reserves
3 mo
of spending, in cash
Fine: 2.7 months of spending in cash; 1 to 3.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Liabilities
$225.4M
101% of total assets
Concern: liabilities are 101% of assets; over 80%.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
9
of 9 voting members
Looks good: 9 of 9 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$156.5M
-8% vs prior year
Spent
$157.0M
To programs
77%
Net assets
−$1.6M
By yearFY2020–FY2024
Revenue
$156.5M
FY2024▼ -8%
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$122.4M
FY2021$127.1M
FY2022$131.9M
FY2023$170.9M
FY2024$156.5M
FY2024$129.0M
Expenses
$157.0M
FY2024▼ -7%
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$125.8M
FY2021$129.9M
FY2022$132.8M
FY2023$168.2M
FY2024$157.0M
FY2024$133.1M
Net assets
−$1.6M
FY2024▲ +68%
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020−$67.1M
FY2021−$42.5M
FY2022−$32.5M
FY2023−$4.8M
FY2024−$1.6M
FY2024−$3.6M

From the FY2024 Form 990 (year ending September 2024) · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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You’re viewing the FY2024 filing — not the latest on file. See the latest (FY2024) →

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2024. IRS ruling in Sep 1976.

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

Where the money goes

77 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 77% · $121.4M Management & general 23% · $35.5M

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

Who runs it and what they're paid

22 people listed on the 990; $2.2M paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2023); the FY2024 filing did not itemize Part VII
Pres. CEO (until 6/2023) Former Officer
$232,284Pt VII · Sec A
Head of Corporate Security
$207,458Pt VII · Sec A
General Counsel & Secretary
$190,023Pt VII · Sec A
Vice President, CFO, Treasurer
$188,904Pt VII · Sec A
Regional Director
$181,958Pt VII · Sec A
Comptroller
$178,063Pt VII · Sec A
Deputy Head, Corp Security
$177,458Pt VII · Sec A
Head of Human Resources
$174,893Pt VII · Sec A

Stephen Allan Capus’s $272K as President and CEO is at the 9th percentile of top reported officer pay among 53 $100M+ arts & culture 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

NameFY2024FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Jamie Fly—$232,284$308,491$237,271$222,259$141,702
Stephen Allan Capus$271,685—————
James Landis$227,537$207,458————
Karen Johnsen$201,746$178,063$168,843———
Nicola Careem$201,710$85,521————
Benjamin Herman$194,725$190,023$180,648$186,209$168,555$170,385
Marylin Alma Keating$178,001$174,893$185,864$193,614$188,600—
Guy Genovese$190,865$177,458$179,546$183,574$185,811$179,258

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 15aNo

Programs and updates

Reports news in countries without a free press to promote democratic values.

Provided by the organization

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3 program services account for $44.0M of program spending, described in the organization's own filed words · FY2023.
01

Current Time

The current time TV and digital network provides russian speakers across russia, ukraine, central asia, the caucasus, the baltics, and eastern europe with access to factual, accurate, bias-free, topical, and trustworthy information.

$17.5Mprogram expense
02

Russian Language Content

RFE/RL'S russian service, radio svoboda, is a trusted source of balanced information about political, social, civic, cultural, and human rights issues that are unreported or under-reported in russia. It also provides a forum for discussion and debate on these topics.

$17.1Mprogram expense
03

Radio Farda

RFE/RL'S persian service, known as radio farda, offers a persian language alternative to government-controlled media in iran, reporting on local, national, and world events. Radio farda breaks through government censorship, providing accurate news and a platform for informed discussion and debate to audiences in iran on domestic topics…

$9.4Mprogram expense

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Funders

Who pays for it.

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

By the numbers

The FY2024 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$156.5M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$156.3M
Investment incomeLn 3$178K
Money outPt IX
$157.0M
Ln 25
Programscol B$121.4M
Managementcol C$35.5M
Owns and owesPt X
−$1.6M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$35.0M
Total assetsLn 16$223.8M
LiabilitiesLn 26$225.4M
PeoplePt VI, VII
22
listed · VII A
PaidVII A13
Voting boardVI 1a9
IndependentVI 1b9
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$156.3M
Government grantsLn 1e$156.2M
Investment incomeLn 3$178K
Total revenueLn 12$156.5M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$29.9M
SavingsLn 2$5.1M
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$35.0M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$2.8M
Other assetsLn 15$177.5M
Total assetsLn 16$223.8M
LiabilitiesLn 26$225.4M
Net assetsLn 32−$1.6M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 5177
VolunteersI 627
Fiscal year endsHeaderSeptember
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 FY24End FY24
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$38.3M$35.0M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$2.7M$2.8M
Total assetsLn 16$226.2M$223.8M
LiabilitiesLn 26$231.1M$225.4M
Net assetsLn 32−$4.8M−$1.6M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$1.8M$186K$1.6M
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$61.1M$54.2M$6.9M
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$2.9M$2.6M$340K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$15.9M$14.3M$1.6M
Payroll taxesLn 10$9.6M$8.0M$1.7M
Legal feesLn 11b$793K$793K
Accounting feesLn 11c$709K$192K$517K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$22.8M$17.4M$5.4M
Advertising and promotionLn 12$781K$121K$659K
Office expensesLn 13$2.6M$1.9M$676K
Information technologyLn 14$15.1M$14.6M$429K
RoyaltiesLn 15$424K$423K$637
OccupancyLn 16$16.3M$3.6M$12.8M
TravelLn 17$1.5M$1.2M$321K
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$11K$5K$5K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$2.4M$2.2M$218K
InsuranceLn 23$955K$602$954K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$1.3M$665K$589K
Total functional expensesLn 25$157.0M$121.4M$35.5M$0

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2024 Viewing $156.5M$157.0M−$442K−$1.6M 990 PDF
FY2023 $170.9M$168.2M$2.7M−$4.8M 990 PDF
FY2022 $131.9M$132.8M−$908K−$32.5M 990 PDF
FY2021 $127.1M$129.9M−$2.8M−$42.5M 990 PDF
FY2020 $122.4M$125.8M−$3.4M−$67.1M 990 PDF

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Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs I · Grants R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons A · Public support F · Foreign M · Noncash
See the full FY2024 990 (4 parts)
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $156,508,334 across 6 lines filed
VIII-1e Government grants$156,193,531
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$136,779
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$156,330,310
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $178,024$178,024
VIII-6 Net rental income or loss$0
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $0 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $178,024$156,508,334
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $156,950,464 across 18 lines filed
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $186,448 · Management $1,631,568$1,818,016
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $54,151,792 · Management $6,943,139$61,094,931
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $2,556,895 · Management $339,942$2,896,837
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $14,264,143 · Management $1,606,103$15,870,246
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $7,961,399 · Management $1,665,298$9,626,697
IX-11b Legal feesManagement $793,138$793,138
IX-11c Accounting feesPrograms $191,981 · Management $516,894$708,875
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $17,352,849 · Management $5,399,363$22,752,212
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $121,190 · Management $659,449$780,639
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $1,913,930 · Management $675,638$2,589,568
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $14,637,312 · Management $429,411$15,066,723
IX-15 RoyaltiesPrograms $423,092 · Management $637$423,729
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $3,589,846 · Management $12,758,077$16,347,923
IX-17 TravelPrograms $1,207,802 · Management $321,472$1,529,274
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $5,179 · Management $5,350$10,529
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $2,213,124 · Management $218,409$2,431,533
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $602 · Management $954,384$954,986
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $665,472 · Management $589,136$1,254,608
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $121,443,056 · Management $35,507,408 · Fundraising $0$156,950,464
Part X · Balance sheet $223,799,817 assets, 15 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $33,245,274$29,898,569
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $5,019,943$5,055,211
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $1,068,162$1,099,636
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $8,958,639$7,462,729
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $2,675,883$2,752,926
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $175,262,522$177,530,746
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $226,230,423$223,799,817
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $18,455,547$17,762,675
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $17,740,706$12,847,439
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $194,855,741$194,742,453
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $231,051,994$225,352,567
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year −$7,707,571−$4,438,750
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $2,886,000$2,886,000
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year −$4,821,571−$1,552,750
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $226,230,423$223,799,817
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets −$1,552,750 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$156,508,334
XI-2 Total expenses$156,950,464
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$442,130
XI-4 Net assets at start of year−$4,821,571
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$3,710,951
XI-10 Net assets at end of year−$1,552,750

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2024 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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