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Non-profit

International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ)

Logo of the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (link)
Website:

www.icij.org/
Location:

WASHINGTON, DC
Tax ID:

81-4739107
Tax-Exempt Status:

501(c)(3)

Budget (2020):

Revenue: $3,022,355
Expenses: $4,716,831
Assets: $7,479,893
Type:

Journalist Industry Association
Formation:

1997
Executive Director:

Gerard Ryle
Budget (2022):

2022 Annual Report

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International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) is a left-of-center consortium of journalists that aims to support journalists and publish stories it claims are suppressed. ICIJ also financially supports smaller media companies to give them the ability to take on larger projects without solely bearing the costs. 1 As of July 2023, ICIJ’s members include 280 investigative journalists from 150 media partners in more than 100 countries and territories worldwide. 2

ICIJ is committed to the critical race theory-influenced concept of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), calling the concept essential to its success. 3 4 In 2020, ICIJ claimed that police and politicians were attacking its journalists during Black Lives Matter demonstrations. 5

The left-of-center Omidyar Network and Hollywood Foreign Press Association are two of ICIJ’s investors. 6 Since 2017, technology advocacy group Luminate has given ICIJ at least $6,000,000. 7 In 2017, the Omidyar Network gave ICIJ $4,500,000 for various projects. 8 9

History and Leadership

International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) was founded in 1997 by American journalist Charles Lewis as a project of the left-of-center Center for Public Integrity. In 2017, ICIJ spun off of the Center for Public Integrity and became a fully independent organization. 10 The new ICIJ received tax-exempt status from the Internal Revenue Service in 2017. 11

Gerard Ryle is the executive director of ICIJ. 12 13 He is also the first non-American director of ICIJ. Before joining ICIJ, he worked on the Panama Papers and the Paradise Papers investigations and was an investigative reporter in Australia. 14

ICIJ is governed by three committees: a board of directors with a fiduciary role, a journalism advisory committee made up of investigative reporters, and the ICIJ Network Committee, which serves the membership of ICIJ’s global network. 15 ICIJ’s Network Committee consists of members from Chile, the Netherlands, Japan, Pakistan, Puerto Rico, France, Iceland, Ghana, and Lebanon. 16

Activities and Funding

International Consortium of Investigative Journalists is a left-of-center consortium of journalists that aims to support journalists and stories it claims are suppressed. ICIJ also gives financially stressed media companies the ability to take on larger projects without solely bearing the cost. 17

ICIJ is headquartered in Washington, D.C., and has core team members in the United States, Egypt, Australia, France, Spain, Belgium, Hungary, Serbia, the United Kingdom, and Ireland. ICIJ also has regional coordinators in Asia, Africa, Latin America, the Middle East, Europe, and Eastern Europe. 18

As of July 2023, ICIJ’s members include 280 investigative journalists from 150 media partners in more than 100 countries and territories worldwide. 19 ICIJ has collaborated with newspapers, television stations, radio stations, and online publications. Its collaboration partners have included the Washington Post, French-language publication Le Monde, state-funded British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), Spanish-language publication El Pais, The Guardian, Japanese-language Asahi Shimbun, state-funded Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, state-funded Australian Broadcasting Corporation, and regional nonprofit journalism organizations in Europe, North America, Africa, Asia and Latin America. 20

ICIJ is committed to the critical race theory-influenced concept of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and has called the concept essential to its success. 21 22 In 2020, ICIJ claimed that police and politicians were attacking its journalists during Black Lives Matter protests and associated riots that took place following the police-custody death of George Floyd. 23

The organization collaborates on projects that drive social change, attempts to strengthen global investigative journalism as a sector, fosters collaboration on multinational projects, and convenes global investigative reporters and media outlets. 24 Its members subscribe to the left-of-center Society of Professional Journalists Code of Ethics. 25 26

ICIJ-affiliated reporters have won awards from the White House Correspondents’ Association, Institute for Nonprofit News, World Association of News Publishers, Society of Publishers in Asia, Inter American Press Association, Ed Scripps’s Scripps Howard Foundation, International Labor Organization, New York and D.C. Chapters of the Society of Professional Journalists, and others. 27

The ICIJ won a Pulitzer Prize from the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting for its role in reporting on the Panama Papers, which investigated offshore financial dealings and claimed to expose ties between then-President Donald Trump and Russia. 28 29 30 ICIJ has also been instrumental in revealing the Chinese government’s authoritarian and surveillance activities targeting ethnic Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang, China. 31

In 2020, ICIJ spent $2,217,912 on its editorial content. Also in 2020, ICIJ spent $1,486,687 on digital capabilities to support remote work. 32 The National Endowment for Democracy has provided funding for some of these technology tools, including the I-Hub. 33

Funding

International Consortium of Investigative Journalists receives funding from individual contributions and grants. 34 In 2022, the organization reported revenue of $6,366,859 and expenses of $5,315,874. 35 In 2021, ICIJ reported revenue of $5,930,505 expenses of 5,459,058. 36

ICIJ ‘s investors include the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) and the left-of-center Omidyar Network. 37 HFPA became a partner of ICIJ in 2018 when it donated $1,000,000 at the Golden Globes ceremony. HFPA also gave ICIJ $1,000,000 in 2019. 38

The ICIJ has also received $6,000,000 from technology advocacy group Luminate since 2017. This includes grants totaling $4,500,000 in 2017 and $1,500,000 in 2021. 39 In 2017, the left-of-center Omidyar Network granted up to $4.5 million to ICIJ for various projects. 40 41

In 2022, ICIJ received support from the Dutch Adessium Foundation, Arnold Ventures, Bay and Paul Foundations, Bertha Foundation, Charities Aid Foundation of America American Donor Fund, Fritt Ord Foundation, Fund for Nonprofit News at the Miami Foundation’s NewsMatch project, Hollywood Foreign Press Association, Hurd Foundation, John and Florence Newman Foundation, Jonathan Logan Family Foundation, Limelight Foundation, Luminate, National Endowment for Democracy, Norad, liberal financier George Soros’s Open Society Foundations, Silver Mountain Foundation for the Arts, Swedish Postcode Foundation, Tinius Trust, and others. 42 The group also received pro bono work from ThinkHouse Marketing agency. 43

ICIJ also received $204,505 from Charities Aid Foundation of America in 2022. 44

In 2021, ICIJ received $500,000 from the Jonathan Logan Family Foundation in 2021, $250,000 from Wellspring Philanthropic Fund. 45

The consortium received $25,000 from the Miami Foundation 46 in 2019 and $28,000 from the Miami Foundation in 2018. 47 ICIJ has also received grants from left-of-center San Francisco Foundation in 2018 and 2017. 48 49

In 2017, ICIJ received $500,000 from the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, 50 $25,100 from the Jewish Communal Fund in 2017. 51

ICIJ also supports the Donor Bill of Rights developed by the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), the Association for Healthcare Philanthropy (AHP), Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) and the Giving Institute. 52

References

  1. “About.” ICIJ. Accessed July 25, 2023. https://www.icij.org/about/.
  2. “ICIJ 2022 Annual Report.” ICIJ. 2022. Accessed July 23, 2023. https://media.icij.org/uploads/2023/05/ICIJ-2022-Annual-Report.pdf.
  3. “Governance.” ICIJ. Accessed July 23, 2023. https://www.icij.org/about/corporate/.
  4. “Governance.” ICIJ. Accessed July 23, 2023. https://www.icij.org/about/corporate/.
  5. “Stop Attacks on Journalists Now.” ICIJ. June 7, 2020. Accessed July 23, 2023. https://www.icij.org/inside-icij/2020/06/stop-attacks-on-journalists-now/.
  6.  “About.” Crunchbase. Accessed July 23, 2023. https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/international-consortium-of-investigative-journalists
  7. “International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ).” Luminate. Accessed July 23, 2023. https://www.luminategroup.com/investee/icij-1.
  8. Ryle, Gerard. “Omidyar Network Grants Up to $4.5M to Support ICIJ Projects.” International Consortium of Investigative Journalists. April 5, 2017.Accessed July 23, 2023. https://www.icij.org/inside-icij/2017/04/omidyar-network-grants-45m-support-icij-projects/.
  9. Vinton, Kate. “Billionaire Pierre Omidyar’s Foundation Commits $100 Million To Support Investigative Journalism.” Forbes. April 5, 2017. Accessed July 23, 2023. https://www.forbes.com/sites/katevinton/2017/04/05/billionaire-pierre-omidyars-foundation-commits-100-million-to-support-investigative-journalism/?sh=41de2b6769f6.
  10. “Governance.” International Consortium of Investigative Journalists. July 2023. Accessed July 23, 2023. https://www.icij.org/about/corporate/.
  11.  “Determination Letter.” Internal Revenue Service. June 29, 2017. Accessed July 23, 2023. https://apps.irs.gov/pub/epostcard/dl/FinalLetter_81-4739107_INTERNATIONALCONSORTIUMOFINVESTIGATIVEJOURNALISTSINC_03282017_03.tif.
  12. “International Consortium of Investigative Journalists Inc.” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990). 2020. Part VII. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/814739107/202131179349300633/full.
  13. “Director.” ICIJ. Accessed July 23, 2023. https://www.icij.org/journalists/gerard-ryle/.
  14. Director.” ICIJ. Accessed July 23, 2023. https://www.icij.org/journalists/gerard-ryle/.
  15. “Governance.” ICIJ. Accessed July 23, 2023. https://www.icij.org/about/corporate/.
  16.  “Governance.” ICIJ. Accessed July 23, 2023. https://www.icij.org/about/corporate/.
  17.  “About.” ICIJ. Accessed July 25, 2023. https://www.icij.org/about/.
  18. “About.” International Consortium of Investigative Journalists. Accessed July 23, 2023. https://www.icij.org/about/.
  19. “ICIJ 2022 Annual Report.” ICIJ. 2022. Accessed July 23, 2023. https://media.icij.org/uploads/2023/05/ICIJ-2022-Annual-Report.pdf.
  20. “About.” International Consortium of Investigative Journalists. Accessed July 23, 2023. https://www.icij.org/about/.
  21. “Governance.” ICIJ. Accessed July 23, 2023. https://www.icij.org/about/corporate/.
  22. “Governance.” ICIJ. Accessed July 23, 2023. https://www.icij.org/about/corporate/.
  23. “Stop Attacks on Journalists Now.” ICIJ. June 7, 2020. Accessed July 23, 2023. https://www.icij.org/inside-icij/2020/06/stop-attacks-on-journalists-now/.
  24. “International Consortium of Investigative Journalists Inc.” Return of Organization Exempt Form Income Tax. (Form 990). 2020. Part I. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/814739107/202131179349300633/full.
  25. “Governance.” ICIJ. Accessed July 23, 2023. https://www.icij.org/about/corporate/.
  26. “SPJ Code of Ethics.” Society of Professional Journalists. Accessed July 23, 2023. https://www.spj.org/ethicscode.asp.
  27. “ICIJ 2022 Annual Report.” ICIJ. 2022. Accessed July 23, 2023. https://media.icij.org/uploads/2023/05/ICIJ-2022-Annual-Report.pdf.
  28. Hudson, Michael. “Panama Papers wins Pulitzer Prize.” ICIJ. April 7, 2017. Accessed July 25, 2023. https://www.icij.org/investigations/panama-papers/panama-papers-wins-pulitzer-prize/.
  29. “ICIJ 2022 Annual Report.” ICIJ. 2022. Accessed July 23, 2023. https://media.icij.org/uploads/2023/05/ICIJ-2022-Annual-Report.pdf.
  30. Fazzari, Rocco. “Offshore Trove Exposes Trump-Russia links and Piggy Banks of the Wealthiest 1 Percent.” ICIJ. November 5, 2017. Accessed July 25, 2023. https://www.icij.org/investigations/paradise-papers/paradise-papers-exposes-donald-trump-russia-links-and-piggy-banks-of-the-wealthiest-1-percent/.
  31. “China Cables.” International Consortium of Investigative Journalists. Accessed July 23, 2023. https://www.icij.org/investigations/china-cables/.
  32. “International Consortium of Investigative Journalists.” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990). 2020. Part III. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/814739107/202131179349300633/full.
  33. “ICIJ 2022 Annual Report.” ICIJ. 2022. Accessed July 23, 2023. https://media.icij.org/uploads/2023/05/ICIJ-2022-Annual-Report.pdf.
  34. “Donate.” ICIJ. Accessed July 23, 2023. https://www.icij.org/donate/.
  35. “ICIJ 2022 Annual Report.” ICIJ. 2022. Accessed July 23, 2023. https://media.icij.org/uploads/2023/05/ICIJ-2022-Annual-Report.pdf.
  36. “International Consortium of Investigative Journalists.” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990). 2021. Part I. https://media.icij.org/uploads/2023/05/Public-Disclosure-Copy-ICIJ-2021.pdf.
  37. “About.” Crunchbase. Accessed July 23, 2023. https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/international-consortium-of-investigative-journalists.
  38. “HFPA.” ICIJ. Accessed July 23, 2023. https://www.icij.org/tags/hfpa/.
  39. “International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ).” Luminate. Accessed July 23, 2023. https://www.luminategroup.com/investee/icij-1.
  40. Ryle, Gerard. “Omidyar Network Grants Up to $4.5M to Support ICIJ Projects.” International Consortium of Investigative Journalists. April 5, 2017.Accessed July 23, 2023. https://www.icij.org/inside-icij/2017/04/omidyar-network-grants-45m-support-icij-projects/.
  41. Vinton, Kate. “Billionaire Pierre Omidyar’s Foundation Commits $100 Million To Support Investigative Journalism.” Forbes. April 5, 2017. Accessed July 23, 2023. https://www.forbes.com/sites/katevinton/2017/04/05/billionaire-pierre-omidyars-foundation-commits-100-million-to-support-investigative-journalism/?sh=41de2b6769f6.
  42. “Our Supporters.” International Consortium of Investigative Journalists. Accessed July 23, 2023. https://www.icij.org/about/our-supporters/.
  43. “Our Supporters.” International Consortium of Investigative Journalists. Accessed July 23, 2023. https://www.icij.org/about/our-supporters/.
  44. “International Consortium of Investigative Journalists.” Cause IQ. Accessed July 23, 2023. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/international-consortium-of-investigative-journali,814739107/.
  45. “International Consortium of Investigative Journalists.” Cause IQ. Accessed July 23, 2023. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/international-consortium-of-investigative-journali,814739107/.
  46. “The Miami Foundation Inc.” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990). 2018. Schedule I. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/650350357/201903189349302135/IRS990ScheduleI.
  47. “The Miami Foundation Inc.” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990). 2018. Schedule I. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/650350357/201903189349302135/IRS990ScheduleI.
  48. “San Francisco Foundation.” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990). 2017. Schedule I. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/10679337/201941339349301714/IRS990ScheduleI.
  49. “San Francisco Foundation.” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990). 2018. Schedule I. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/10679337/202011549349301116/full
  50. “Hollywood Foreign Press Association.” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990). 2017. Schedule I. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/956191816/201910439349301281/full.
  51. “Jewish Communal Fund.” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990). 2017. Schedule I. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/237174183/201930309349300313/IRS990ScheduleI.
  52. “Our Supporters.” International Consortium of Investigative Journalists. Accessed July 23, 2023. https://www.icij.org/about/our-supporters/.
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Nonprofit Information

  • Accounting Period: December - November
  • Tax Exemption Received: June 1, 2017

    • 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
    2020 Dec Form 990 $3,022,355 $4,716,831 $7,479,893 $410,386 N $2,994,964 $0 $27,391 $485,000 PDF
    2019 Dec Form 990 $6,091,462 $4,566,978 $9,042,532 $246,204 N $6,055,787 $0 $35,675 $485,000 PDF
    2018 Dec Form 990 $6,801,653 $3,742,472 $7,364,713 $100,580 N $6,801,653 $0 $0 $456,234 PDF
    2017 Dec Form 990 $6,975,907 $2,809,758 $4,284,015 $50,550 N $6,975,907 $0 $0 $400,795 PDF

    International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ)

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