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Non-profit

Society of Environmental Journalists (SEJ)

This is a logo for Society of Environmental Journalists. (link)
Website:

www.sej.org/
Location:

Washington, DC
Tax ID:

52-0194031
Tax-Exempt Status:

501(c)(3)

Budget (2021):

Revenue: $1,270,811
Expenses: $1,519,465
Assets: $2,984,327
Type:

Environmental Activist Group
Formation:

1990
President:

Aparna Mukherjee
Budget (2022):

Revenue: $2,538,721

Expenses: $2,138,347

Assets: $2,674,492 1

References

  1. “Society of Environmental Journalists.” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. Part I. 2022. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/520194031/202313119349303311/full.

Contact InfluenceWatch with suggested edits or tips for additional profiles.

The Society of Environmental Journalists (SEJ) is an association of journalists who cover environmental issues for mainstream and left-of-center activist media outlets. It has been criticized for aligning with environmentalist viewpoints and policy goals. 1

SEJ operates the Fund for Environmental Journalism (FEJ), which helps fund journalists and news organizations to cover environmentalist issues. In 2022, SEJ spent $1,026,779 on FEJ. 2

In 2024, SEJ received program and operating grants from several left-of-center organizations including the Catena Foundation, Craigslist Charitable Fund, Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, Walton Family Foundation, William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, William Penn Foundation, and the Windward Fund. 3

History and Leadership

Society of Environmental Journalists  was founded in 1990 by a group of journalists from outlets including USA Today, National Geographic, left-progressive donor Ted Turner’s Turner Broadcasting, Minnesota Public Radio, and the Philadelphia Inquirer. 4 David Stolberg is the founder of SEJ. 5  Aparna Mukherjee is the executive director of SEJ. 6 Previously, Mukherjee worked for Resolve Philly, 7 LA2050, Wall Street Journal, New York Times, CNBC, Stanford University, Columbia University, The New Yorker, and others. 8

Luke Runyon is the president of SEJ 9 and Karla Mendes is the second vice president and diversity, equity, and inclusion chair of SEJ. Prior to joining SEJ, Mendes worked at the Thomson Reuters Foundation. 10

Activities and Funding

Society of Environmental Journalists is a membership-based organization that is open to journalists, students, and faculty at accredited schools and universities who focus their work on environmental issues. Individuals who work in public relations on environmentalist issues and those who lobby on environmentalist issues are not eligible for SEJ membership. 11

Prospective members must apply for membership to the SEJ board of directors, which has the sole discretion to grant or deny membership. 12 As of 2024, SEJ claims more than 1,500 journalists and academics working in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and 43 other countries. 13

Current SEJ members include reporters who have worked for or published with MSNBC, ProPublica, Scientific American, Salon, Chicago Tribune, Time Magazine, CNN, and others. 14

SEJ has an endowment that operates as a single donor-restricted fund to support general operations 15 and gives awards to reporters it recognizes as the best environmentalist reporters in the United States. 16

Previously, SEJ has been accused of protecting former Vice President Al Gore’s left-of-center environmental policy goals. 17

Fellowships

Society for Environmental Journalists runs a fellowship program to support left-of-center climate, environmentalist, and other journalists. 18

In 2024, SEJ fellowships were sponsored by the SEJ fellowships were sponsored by the left-of-center Environmental Defense Fund, MacArthur Foundation, Monterey Bay Aquarium, Walton Family Foundation, and William Penn Foundation. 19

Programming and Conferences

Society of Environmental Journalists hosts an annual conference to convene its members and discuss environmentalist reporting, left-of-center climate-related issues, and other topics since 1991. 20 These conferences are often funded by host institutions and outside organizations. 21

In 2024, SEJ’s annual conference was hosted by the University of Pennsylvania’s Annenberg Public Policy Center, which runs FactCheck.org. 22

Conference attendees focused on the left-of-center concept of climate disinformation and science disinformation, transition to weather-dependent forms of energy, and broader environmentalist issues. 23 Biden administration Environmental Protection Agency Administrator and left-of-center environmental activist Michael S. Regan delivered the keynote address at the conference. 24

The left-of-center John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation funds conference and diversity fellowships for the SEJ annual conference. 25

Fund for Environmental Journalism

In October 2009, the board of directors of Society of Environmental Journalists created the Fund for Environmental Journalism (FEJ) to support journalists and news organizations covering environmentalist issues. The FEJ was launched in 2010 with $10,000. 26 In 2022, SEJ spent $1,026,779 on FEJ. 27

SEJ’s FEJ grants are only available for SEJ members and are focused on various left-of-center environmentalist issues. Awardees retain full editorial control of their final project when they accept FEJ funding. 28

Since 2010, FEJ has distributed more than $104,000 in grants, 29 including $47,605 for 11 different projects in 2024. 30

FEJ has received foundation grants from the Arthur Vining Davis Foundations, Bullitt Foundation, Burning River Foundation, Compton Foundation, Cornelius King Foundation, Cornell Douglas Foundation, Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, Energy Foundation, Environmental Defense Fund, Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, Grantham Foundation for the Protection of the Environment, the Heinz Endowments, Hewlett Foundation, The Nature Conservancy, Pew Charitable Trusts, Religion and environment Story Project, Spring Point Partners, Walton Family Foundation, Wilderness Society, and the Wyss Foundation. 31

Grantmaking

Society of Environmental Journalists made $926,200 in grants in 2022. These grants included $708,000 to Capital City Press, $100,000 to Guardian.org Foundation, $50,000 to the Institute for Journalism and Natural Resources, $50,000 to Native American-related website High Country News, and $18,2000 to Murray Global Enterprises. 32

In 2021, the organization made $696,252 of grants. These included $345,185 to Floodlight Inc, $125,135 to High Country News, and $100,000 to Guardian.org Foundation. 33

Funding

Society of Environmental Journalists receives most of its revenue from membership dues, 34 individual contributions 35 and grants, program service revenue. 36

In 2024, SEJ received program and operating grants from the Association of Health Care Journalists, Association of Health Care Journalists, Catena Foundation, Community Foundation for Northern Virginia, Craigslist Charitable Fund, Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, Klungness Family Foundation, John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, Mizrahi Family Charitable Fund, Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust, Orange County Community Foundation, Religion and Environment Story Project, Roundhouse Foundation, University of Missouri, Walton Family Foundation, William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, William Penn Foundation, and the Windward Fund. 37

In 2023, SEJ’s supporters and friends included the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, Conservation Voters for Idaho, Funder Collaborative on Oil and Gas, Gas Leaks Action, Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, HHMI, Maine Community Foundation, National Alliance of Forest Owners, Ocean Conservancy, Schneider Electric, Deloitte, Earthjustice, Good Food Institute, Knight Foundation, Mizrahi Family Charitable Fund, Princeton University, Solutions Journalism Network, and Woodwell Climate Research Center. 38

SEJ received program and operating support from Association of Health Care Journalists, BAND Foundation, Catena Foundation, Craigslist Charitable Fund, FJC: A Foundation of Philanthropic Funds, Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, Klungness Family Foundation, MacArthur Foundation, Maine Community Foundation, Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust, Orange County Community Foundation, Religion & Environment Story Project, Roundhouse Foundation, Scripps Howard Foundation, Walton Family Foundation, the Wilderness Society, and the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation in 2023. 39

In 2022, SEJ reported revenue of $2,538,721 and expenses of $2,138,347. In 2021, the organization reported revenue of $1,270,811 and expenses of $1,519,465. 40 SEJ received $30,000 from the left-of-center Resources Legacy Fund 41 and $25,000 from Orange County Community Foundation in 2019. 42

SEJ has also received grants from Pew Charitable Trusts, 43 environmentalist EarthJustice, 44 Wilderness Society, 45 Orange County Community Foundation, 46 and the left-of-center New Venture Fund, which is managed by Arabella Advisors. 47

References

  1. Brainard, Curtis. “SEJ Accused of Protecting Gore.” Columbia Journalism Review. October 12, 2009. Accessed April 28, 2024. https://www.cjr.org/the_observatory/sej_accused_of_protecting_gore.php.
  2. “Society of Environmental Journalists.” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. Part III. 2022. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/520194031/202313119349303311/full.
  3. “SEJ Funding Sources – Support Hard-Hitting Environmental Journalism.” Society of Environmental Journalists. Accessed April 28, 2024. https://www.sej.org/about-sej/funding-sources.
  4. “SEJ’s History.” Society of Environmental Journalists. Accessed April 28, 2024. https://www.sej.org/about-sej/history.
  5. “David Stolberg, Founder of SEJ, 1927-2021.” Society of Environmental Journalists. Accessed April 28, 2024. https://www.sej.org/david-stolberg-founder-sej-1927-2011.
  6. “Staff.” Society of Environmental Journalists. Accessed April 23, 2024. https://www.sej.org/about-sej/board-and-staff#Mukherjee.
  7. Schmidt, Sophia. “Hundreds of environmental journalists are coming to Philly to learn how to do their jobs better.” WHYY Philadelphia. April 2, 2024. Accessed April 28, 2024. https://whyy.org/articles/philadelphia-society-environmental-journalists-conference-journalism-2024/.
  8. “Experiences.” Aparna Mukherjee LinkedIn. Accessed April 23, 2024. https://www.linkedin.com/in/aparnamuk/details/experience/.
  9. “President.” Society of Environmental Journalists. Accessed April 23, 2024. https://www.sej.org/about-sej/board-and-staff#President.
  10. “SEJ Board and Staff.” Society of Environmental Journalists. Accessed April 28, 2024. https://www.sej.org/about-sej/board-and-staff#SecondVP.
  11. “How to Join SEJ.” Society of Environmental Journalists. Accessed April 28, 2024. https://www.sej.org/how-to-join-sej.
  12. “SEJ Bylaws.” Society of Environmental Journalists. Accessed April 28, 2024. https://www.sej.org/about-sej/bylaws.
  13. “SEJ’s History.” Society of Environmental Journalists. Accessed April 28, 2024. https://www.sej.org/about-sej/history.
  14. “Society of Environmental Journalists: Covering the most important stories on the planet.” SEJAbout YouTube Channel. Uploaded 2014. Accessed April 27, 0224. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BG297GG5ejE.
  15. “Society of Environmental Journalists, Inc.” Official Financial Statement. December 31, 2022. Accessed April 28, 2024. https://www.sej.org/sites/default/files/fy-2022-audit.pdf.
  16. “SEJ Awards for Reporting on the Environment.” Society of Environmental Journalists. Accessed April 28, 2024. https://www.sej.org/initiatives/awards-fellowships/sej-annual-awards-reporting-environment.
  17. Brainard, Curtis. “SEJ Accused of Protecting Gore.” Columbia Journalism Review. October 12, 2009. Accessed April 28, 2024. https://www.cjr.org/the_observatory/sej_accused_of_protecting_gore.php.
  18. “Join SEJ or Renew Your Membership.” Society of Environmental Journalists. Accessed April 28, 2024. https://www.sej.org/how-to-join-sej.
  19. “SEJ Funding Sources – Supporting Hard-Hitting Environmental Journalism.” Society of Environmental Journalists. Accessed April 28, 2024. https://www.sej.org/about-sej/funding-sources.
  20. Schmidt, Sophia. “Hundreds of environmental journalists are coming to Philly to learn how to do their jobs better.” WHYY Philadelphia. April 2, 2024. Accessed April 28, 2024. https://whyy.org/articles/philadelphia-society-environmental-journalists-conference-journalism-2024/.
  21. “SEJ Funding Sources – Support Hard-Hitting Environmental Journalism.” Society of Environmental Journalists. Accessed April 28, 2024. https://www.sej.org/about-sej/funding-sources.
  22. Schmidt, Sophia. “Hundreds of environmental journalists are coming to Philly to learn how to do their jobs better.” WHYY Philadelphia. April 2, 2024. Accessed April 28, 2024. https://whyy.org/articles/philadelphia-society-environmental-journalists-conference-journalism-2024/.
  23. “SEJ Annual Conference.” Society of Environmental Journalists. Accessed April 28, 2024. https://sej.org/initiatives/sej-annual-conferences/overview.
  24.  “Coverage: SEJ’s 33rd Annual Conference.” Society of Environmental Journalists. April 3, 2024. Accessed April 28, 2024. https://www.sej.org/initiatives/coverage-sejs-33rd-annual-conference.
  25. “Society of Environmental Journalists.” MacArthur Foundation. 2023. Accessed April 28, 2024. https://www.macfound.org/grantee/society-of-environmental-journalists-18426/.
  26. “About the Fund for Environmental Journalism.” Society of Environmental Journalists. Accessed April 28, 2024. https://www.sej.org/initiatives/about-fund-for-environmental-journalism.
  27. “Society of Environmental Journalists.” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. Part III. 2022. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/520194031/202313119349303311/full.
  28. “Fund for Environmental Journalism.” Society of Environmental Journalists. Accessed April 28, 2024. https://www.sej.org/initiatives/fund-for-environmental-journalism.
  29. “About the Fund for Environmental Journalism.” Society of Environmental Journalists. Accessed April 28, 2024. https://www.sej.org/initiatives/about-fund-for-environmental-journalism.
  30. “SEJ’s Fund for Environmental Journalism Awards $47,605 to Support Stories on the U.S. Clean Energy Transition.” Society of Environmental Journalists. March 14, 2024. Accessed April 28, 2024. https://www.sej.org/fej-grantees-2024.
  31. “Fund for Environmental Journalism.” Society of Environmental Journalists. Accessed April 28, 2024. https://www.sej.org/initiatives/fund-for-environmental-journalism.
  32. “Society of Environmental Journalists.” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. Schedule I. 2022. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/520194031/202313119349303311/full.
  33. “Society of Environmental Journalists.” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. Schedule I. 2022. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/520194031/202213149349303286/full.
  34. “How to Join SEJ.” Society of Environmental Journalists. Accessed April 28, 2024. https://www.sej.org/how-to-join-sej.
  35.  “Donate.” Society of Environmental Journalists. Accessed April 23, 2024. https://www.sej.org/donate-sej.
  36. “Society of Environmental Journalists.” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. Part I. 2022. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/520194031/202313119349303311/full.
  37. “SEJ Funding Sources – Support Hard-Hitting Environmental Journalism.” Society of Environmental Journalists. Accessed April 28, 2024. https://www.sej.org/about-sej/funding-sources.
  38. “SEJ Funding Sources – Support Hard-Hitting Environmental Journalism.” Society of Environmental Journalists. Accessed April 28, 2024. https://www.sej.org/about-sej/funding-sources.
  39. “SEJ Funding Sources – Support Hard-Hitting Environmental Journalism.” Society of Environmental Journalists. Accessed April 28, 2024. https://www.sej.org/about-sej/funding-sources.
  40. “Society of Environmental Journalists.” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. Part I. 2022. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/520194031/202313119349303311/full.
  41. “Resources Legacy Fund.” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. Schedule I. 2019. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/954703838/202013029349301426/full.
  42. “Orange County Community Foundation.” Return of Organization Exempt Form Income Tax. Schedule I. 2019. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/330378778/202141329349303684/full/.
  43.  “Pew Charitable Trusts.” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. Schedule I. 2019. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/562307147/202111059349301696/full.
  44. “EarthJustice.” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. Form 990. Schedule I. 2016. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/941730465/201910319349301116/full.
  45. [1] “Wilderness Society.” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. Schedule I. 2019. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/530167933/202031419349300938/full.
  46. “Orange County Community Foundation.” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. Schedule I. 2016, https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/330378778/202041489349300994/full.
  47. “New Venture Fund.” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. Schedule I. 2019. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/205806345/201413219349306531/full.
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Nonprofit Information

  • Accounting Period: December - November
  • Tax Exemption Received: August 1, 1990

    • 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 $1,270,811 $1,519,465 $2,984,327 $869,220 N $1,104,894 $149,593 $11,035 $148,360
    2020 Dec Form 990 $1,392,162 $1,577,972 $2,406,210 $90,790 N $1,148,988 $234,477 $11,590 $158,420
    2019 Dec Form 990 $2,527,835 $1,519,290 $2,477,970 $15,940 Y $1,953,780 $548,522 $22,188 $136,004 PDF
    2018 Dec Form 990 $1,336,195 $1,341,410 $1,337,597 $20,952 N $844,600 $454,843 $32,181 $0 PDF
    2017 Dec Form 990 $1,169,752 $1,294,118 $1,388,712 $12,617 Y $698,974 $405,148 $44,026 $0 PDF
    2016 Dec Form 990 $1,710,997 $1,176,665 $1,503,321 $10,620 Y $1,212,292 $459,058 $22,628 $86,876 PDF
    2015 Dec Form 990 $861,395 $1,151,097 $1,000,391 $46,541 Y $398,128 $419,177 $17,143 $86,876 PDF
    2014 Dec Form 990 $1,167,332 $906,485 $1,295,085 $27,678 Y $741,215 $386,661 $12,852 $86,876 PDF
    2013 Dec Form 990 $896,737 $842,131 $1,040,317 $34,257 Y $506,508 $358,144 $7,993 $117,068 PDF
    2012 Dec Form 990 $1,028,391 $864,369 $956,894 $32,396 Y $585,359 $372,551 $8,261 $86,876 PDF
    2011 Dec Form 990 $850,390 $1,014,326 $761,304 $26,874 Y $302,001 $512,543 $6,238 $88,376 PDF

    Additional Filings (PDFs)

    Society of Environmental Journalists (SEJ)

    1629 K Street NW, Suite 300
    Washington, DC