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Non-profit

Institute for Journalism and Natural Resources (INJR)

Website:

www.ijnr.org/
Location:

Madison, WI
Tax ID:

52-2073018
Tax-Exempt Status:

501(c)(3)

Budget (2021):

Revenue: $748,939
Expenses: $440,787
Assets: $615,388
Type:

Non-Profit
CEO:

David Spratt

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The Institute for Journalism and Natural Resources is a left-of-center environmentalist journalism training nonprofit based out of Madison, Wisconsin. 1 IJNR puts on training programs for editors and reporters who specialize in environment and natural resource beats. 2

The Institute for Journalism and Natural Resources states that climate change “is also revealing a troubled history of racist policies and practices in U.S. city planning.” 3 It stated that the U.S. has disinvested and neglected millions of Americans and made them vulnerable to climate impacts. 4 It stated in 2022 it had a workshop “focused” on “climate justice” and “environmental racism.” 5

Programs

The Institute for Journalism and Natural Resources puts on “field-based, immersion-style programming” so that the journalists “get out onto the landscape and hear first-hand from key players.” 6 IJNR pays for the costs of meals, lodging, local transportation and excursions during workshops and employers are expected to pay the full salary of their reporters attending. 7

The IJNR puts on workshops that last two to three days where journalists will hear between 10 to 20 speakers. 8 It also puts on institutes, which are weeks-long expenses-paid field trips that go on across North America. 9

2023 Reporting Grant Awards

Nine reporters were awarded grants by IJNR in 2023. Among the project winners were freelance journalist Emma Foehringer-Merchant and her project titled, “Amid climate change-fueled wildfires, power outages have become the norm in some California communities.” Sarah Melotte, a journalist from North Carolina’s Daily Yonder, was awarded a grant for a project titled, “Amid climate change-fueled wildfires, power outages have become the norm in some California communities.” 10

History

Frank Allen, a former bureau chief with the Wall Street Journal, 11 founded the Institute for Journalism and Natural Resources in 1995 because he was “disturbed” by the reporting on natural resources and the environment. 12 Allen was the dean of the University of Montana School of Journalism. 13

Finances

The Institute for Journalism & Natural Resources had $965,038 in total revenue in 2021. 14 It paid out $365,093 in salaries in 2021. 15 It has total assets of $615,388 in 2021. 16

IJNR distributed 44 grants for a total of $38,700 in 2022. 17

People

Dave Spratt is the CEO of the Institute for Journalism and Natural Resources. 18 He worked for 14 years with the Detroit News as an editor. 19

Karen Scanlon is the chair of the board of trustees for IJNR. She also works as the vice president of environmental stewardship for the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy. 20

Funders

The Institute for Journalism and Natural Resources is funded by a host of grant-making organizations that support left-of-center causes. IJNR funders include The Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, Ford Foundation, Robert R. McCormick Foundation, Compton Foundation, Wilburforce Foundation, John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, Gordon E. and Betty I. Moore Foundation, the Joyce Foundation and the McKnight Foundation. 21

Partnerships with Al Jazeera

Al Jazeera is an international news network owned by the State of Qatar through the Qatar Media Corporation and is headquartered in Doha, Qatar. 22

Media Bias/Fact Check gives Al Jazeera a “mixed rating” on factual reporting 23 and stated it has a “left-center bias.” 24

In 2021, the Institute for Journalism and Natural Resources awarded a grant to Al Jazeera editor Jillian Kestler-D’Amours under the “environmental justice” grant for a project titled, “Toxic legacy: The fight to end environmental racism in Canada.” 25

Al Jazeera reported Dec. 8, 2021, that the reporting for an article was produced in partnership with the Institute for Journalism and Natural Resources. 26 Al Jazeera reported July 17, 2023, that the reporting for an article was made possible in part by a fellowship with the Institute for Journalism and Natural Resources. 27

References

  1. Institute For Journalism & Natural Resources. 990 Form. 2021. Accessed Sept. 17, 2022. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/522073018/202341029349301629/full
  2. Institute For Journalism & Natural Resources. What We Do. Accessed Sept. 19, 2023. https://www.ijnr.org/what-we-do
  3.  Megan O’Toole. Jillian Kestler-D’Amours. “Toxic Legacy”; Al Jazeera. Dec. 8, 2021. Accessed Sept. 16, 2023. https://www.aljazeera.com/features/longform/2021/12/8/toxic-legacy-the-fight-to-end-environmental-racism-in-canada
  4. Jillian Kestler-D’Amours. “U.S. Critical Minerals Push: Can It Be Done Responsibly?”; Al Jazeera. July 17, 2023. Accessed Sept. 16, 2023.  https://www.aljazeera.com/news/longform/2023/7/17/us-needs-more-critical-minerals-can-it-be-done-responsibly
  5. Institute For Journalism & Natural Resources. 990 Form. 2021. Part III. Statement Of Program Service Accomplishments. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/522073018/202341029349301629/full
  6. Institute For Journalism & Natural Resources. Institutes + Workshops. Accessed Sept. 17, 2023. https://www.ijnr.org/institutes-workshops
  7. Institute For Journalism & Natural Resources. Institutes + Workshops. Accessed Sept. 17, 2023. https://www.ijnr.org/institutes-workshops
  8. Institute For Journalism & Natural Resources. Institutes + Workshops. Accessed Sept. 17, 2023. https://www.ijnr.org/institutes-workshops
  9. Institute For Journalism & Natural Resources. Institutes + Workshops. Accessed Sept. 17, 2023. https://www.ijnr.org/institutes-workshops
  10. Institute For Journalism & Natural Resources. IJNR’s 2023 Reporting Grant Awardees. Accessed Sept. 17, 2023. https://web-extract.constantcontact.com/v1/social_annotation_v2?permalink_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fconta.cc%2F3otCe4Q&image_url=https%3A%2F%2Fmlsvc01-prod.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fb1b184df201%2Fd66c5564-1055-48f0-bb56-3562424221fe.png&fbclid=IwAR1mUkJeIHRN0P2kr7nreiUr12_p5QKY2G8KyecH-DJZl3Y71FVekKGbNT0
  11. Todd Wilkinson. “This Rag Stacks Up Well Against The Rest”; Jackson Hole News And Guide. Nov. 12, 2003. Accessed Sept. 16, 2023.
  12. Treesource. “Treesource Board Chair Advocates Stronger Connections Between Foresters, Journalists”; April 28, 2017. Accessed Sept. 16, 2023. https://treesource.org/news/management-and-policy/treesource-board-chair-advocates-better-relationships-foresters-journalists/
  13. Treesource. “Treesource Board Chair Advocates Stronger Connections Between Foresters, Journalists”; April 28, 2017. Accessed Sept. 16, 2023. https://treesource.org/news/management-and-policy/treesource-board-chair-advocates-better-relationships-foresters-journalists/
  14.  Institute For Journalism & Natural Resources. Form 990. 2021. Part I. Summary. Accessed Sept. 16, 2023. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/522073018/202211789349301051/full
  15. Institute For Journalism & Natural Resources. Form 990. 2021. Part I. Summary. Accessed Sept. 16, 2023. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/522073018/202211789349301051/full
  16. Institute For Journalism & Natural Resources. Form 990. 2021. Part I. Summary. Accessed Sept. 16, 2023. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/522073018/202211789349301051/full
  17. Institute For Journalism & Natural Resources. 990 Form. 2021. Part III. Grants And Other Assistance To Domestic Individuals. Accessed Sept. 16, 2023. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/522073018/202211789349301051/full
  18. Institute For Journalism & Natural Resources. Meet The IJNR Staff. Accessed Sept. 19, 2023. https://www.ijnr.org/staff
  19. Institute For Journalism & Natural Resources. Meet The IJNR Staff. Accessed Sept. 19, 2023. https://www.ijnr.org/staff
  20. [1] Institute For Journalism & Natural Resources. Board Of Directors. Accessed Sept. 19, 2023. https://www.ijnr.org/board-of-directors
  21. Institute For Journalism & Natural Resources. Current And Recent Funders. Accessed Sept. 17, 2023. https://www.ijnr.org/funders
  22. Al Jazeera. About Us. Accessed Sept. 16, 2023. https://www.aljazeera.com/about-us
  23. Media Bias/Fact Check. “Al-Jazeera”; Accessed Sept. 16, 2023 https://mediabiasfactcheck.com/al-jazeera/
  24. Media Bias/Fact Check. “Al-Jazeera”; Accessed Sept. 16, 2023 https://mediabiasfactcheck.com/al-jazeera/
  25. [1] Institute For Journalism & Natural Resources. 2021 Field Reporting Awards. Accessed Sept. 19, 2023. https://www.ijnr.org/2021-field-reporting-awards
  26. Megan O’Toole. Jillian Kestler-D’Amours. “Toxic Legacy”; Al Jazeera. Dec. 8, 2021. Accessed Sept. 16, 2023. https://www.aljazeera.com/features/longform/2021/12/8/toxic-legacy-the-fight-to-end-environmental-racism-in-canada
  27. Jillian Kestler-D’Amours. “U.S. Critical Minerals Push: Can It Be Done Responsibly?”; Al Jazeera. July 17, 2023. Accessed Sept. 16, 2023.  https://www.aljazeera.com/news/longform/2023/7/17/us-needs-more-critical-minerals-can-it-be-done-responsibly
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Nonprofit Information

  • Accounting Period: December - November
  • Tax Exemption Received: August 1, 1998

    • 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
    2021 Dec Form 990 $748,939 $440,787 $615,388 $26,688 N $739,897 $0 $9,042 $119,183
    2020 Dec Form 990 $377,571 $666,594 $303,500 $22,952 N $374,302 $0 $3,269 $102,106 PDF
    2019 Dec Form 990 $796,028 $589,186 $593,059 $23,488 N $795,000 $0 $1,028 $100,901 PDF
    2018 Dec Form 990 $314,527 $567,489 $397,589 $40,450 N $313,385 $0 $1,142 $109,930 PDF
    2017 Dec Form 990 $848,696 $430,863 $629,938 $14,864 N $847,861 $0 $835 $70,527
    2016 Dec Form 990 $247,161 $264,336 $204,599 $9,085 N $246,833 $0 $328 $47,033 PDF
    2015 Dec Form 990 $435,663 $327,436 $219,651 $7,685 N $435,663 $0 $0 $51,200 PDF
    2014 Dec Form 990 $116,122 $251,158 $118,925 $14,907 N $115,783 $0 $289 $0 PDF
    2013 Dec Form 990 $258,810 $322,861 $256,288 $17,953 N $258,545 $0 $265 $0 PDF
    2012 Dec Form 990 $356,518 $208,171 $302,601 $3,303 N $356,293 $0 $225 $0 PDF
    2011 Dec Form 990 $250,490 $316,306 $153,667 $2,835 N $250,332 $0 $158 $0 PDF

    Additional Filings (PDFs)

    Institute for Journalism and Natural Resources (INJR)


    Madison, WI