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Non-profit

Franklin News Network

Tax ID:

26-4066298
Tax-Exempt Status:

501(c)(3)

Budget (2019):

Revenue: $2,298,543
Expenses: $2,034,659
Assets: $926,305
Website:

franklinnews.org
Location:

Chicago, Illinois
Formation:

2010
Type:

Non-Profit
Executive Director:

Christopher Krug
Executive Director's Salary:

$295,000 8

References

  1. Franklin News Foundation, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990), 2019, Part VII, Section A, Line 1a.

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The Franklin News Foundation (formerly the Franklin Center for Government and Public Integrity) is a non-profit, public interest news organization that funds journalism that focuses on government accountability, especially related to transparency, accountability, and fiscal responsibility. 1

The Franklin News Foundation is an associate member of the State Policy Network, a coalition of free-market state-level policy organizations. 2

Activity

The Franklin News Foundation funds and supports public interest journalism at both the state and local levels and has expressed a goal to establish and maintain a 50-state digital hub and newswire service focusing on government accountability. The Foundation intends to present objective reporting that exposes what it claims to be government mismanagement and overreach, lack of fiscal responsibility, and damaging public policies, in an effort to encourage regulatory reforms and legislative changes. 1

The Franklin News Foundation’s projects include The Center Square, the Illinois Radio Network, and Franklin Media Group. 3

The Center Square provides news, data, and analysis focused on the economics of state and local governments, especially as it concerns costs to taxpayers. The Center Square currently operates in 18 states and distributes journalism through its website, social media, and legacy publishers. 3

Illinois Radio Network (IRN) is a news and information source for radio stations across Illinois, currently providing content to 84 affiliate radio stations. IRN has operated for over 30 years and focuses on statehouse and statewide news. 3

Franklin Media Group is the for-profit advertising partner of both The Center Square and Illinois Radio Network. 3

Funding

The Franklin News Foundation is funded by donations from individuals, foundations, and corporations. While the Franklin News Foundation does not disclose its donors, tax filings show notable donations from Donors Capital Fund ($6.87 million in 2014), 4 Donors Trust ($910,221 in 2019), 5 and the Illinois Policy Institute ($595,000 in 2018). 6

Board of Directors

John Tillman serves as chair of the board of the Franklin News Foundation and is founder of both the Illinois Policy Institute and the Liberty Justice Center. 7

Charles Mitchell is the president and CEO of the Commonwealth Foundation and serves on the board of Americans for Fair Treatment. 7

References

  1.  “Mission, Vision & Values.” Franklin News Foundation, 2021. Accessed September 21, 2021. https://www.franklinnews.org/mission-vision-values/.
  2. “The Network.” State Policy Network, 2021. Accessed September 21, 2021. https://spn.org/directory/.
  3. “Business Units of Operation.” Franklin News Foundation, 2021. Accessed September 21, 2021. https://www.franklinnews.org/business-units-of-operation/.
  4. Donors Capital Fund, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990), 2014, Schedule I, Part II.
  5. Donors Trust, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990), 2019, Schedule I, Part II.
  6. Illinois Policy Institute, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990), 2018, Schedule I, Part II.
  7. “Board Members.” Franklin News Foundation, 2021. Accessed September 21, 2021. https://www.franklinnews.org/about/board-members/.
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Nonprofit Information

  • Accounting Period: December - November
  • Tax Exemption Received: June 1, 2009

    • Available Filings

    Period Form Type Total revenue Total functional expenses Total assets (EOY) Total liabilities (EOY) Unrelated business income? Total contributions Program service revenue Investment income Comp. of current officers, directors, etc. Form 990
    2019 Dec Form 990 $2,298,543 $2,034,659 $926,305 $47,665 Y $2,290,502 $0 $115 $0 PDF
    2018 Dec Form 990 $1,714,140 $1,651,328 $821,440 $141,023 N $1,713,981 $0 $330 $368,373 PDF
    2017 Dec Form 990 $1,377,091 $1,668,152 $544,451 $59,645 Y $1,420,232 $0 $737 $45,872 PDF
    2016 Dec Form 990 $3,190,004 $4,189,004 $869,492 $86,107 N $3,172,181 $0 $0 $175,000 PDF
    2015 Dec Form 990 $8,816,029 $7,057,535 $2,356,581 $574,196 N $8,752,948 $0 $2 $282,265 PDF
    2014 Dec Form 990 $10,049,984 $9,847,101 $423,334 $399,443 N $9,964,374 $0 $526 $382,345 PDF
    2013 Dec Form 990 $8,118,913 $8,678,265 $368,356 $547,348 N $8,077,274 $0 $116 $458,016 PDF
    2012 Dec Form 990 $11,625,189 $11,773,324 $631,030 $250,670 N $11,621,132 $0 $1,686 $189,500 PDF
    2011 Dec Form 990 $6,614,542 $6,672,066 $526,338 $52,374 N $6,611,263 $0 $3,279 $0 PDF

    Additional Filings (PDFs)