Form990
Click to see attachment
Department of the TreasuryInternal Revenue Service
Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax
Under section 501(c), 527, or 4947(a)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code (except private foundations)
MediumBullet Do not enter social security numbers on this form as it may be made public.
MediumBullet Go to www.irs.gov/Form990 for instructions and the latest information.
OMB No. 1545-0047
2019
Open to Public Inspection
A For the 2019 calendar year, or tax year beginning 01-01-2019 , and ending 12-31-2019
BCheck if applicable:
CName of organization
PRO PUBLICA INC
 
 
Doing business as
 
 
Number and street (or P.O. box if mail is not delivered to street address)
155 AVE OF THE AMERICAS 13 FL
 
Room/suite
City or town, state or province, country, and ZIP or foreign postal code
NEW YORK, NY10013
D Employer identification number

14-2007220
E Telephone number

G Gross receipts $ 39,461,742
F Name and address of principal officer:
RICHARD J TOFEL
155 AVE OF THE AMERICAS 13 FL
NEW YORK,NY10013
I
Tax-exempt status: (   ) LeftBullet (insert no.) or
J
Website:MediumBullet
WWW.PROPUBLICA.ORG
H(a)
Is this a group return for
subordinates?
H(b)
Are all subordinates
included?
If "No," attach a list. (see instructions)
H(c)
Group exemption number MediumBullet  
K Form of organization:  
L Year of formation: 2007
M State of legal domicile: DE
Part I
Summary
Activities & Governance 1 Briefly describe the organization’s mission or most significant activities: TO EXPOSE ABUSES OF POWER AND BETRAYALS OF THE PUBLIC TRUST - SEE "SCHEDULE O" FOR CONTINUATIONBY GOVERNMENT, BUSINESS, AND OTHER INSTITUTIONS, USING THE MORAL FORCE OF INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM TO SPUR REFORM THROUGH THE SUSTAINED SPOTLIGHTING OF WRONGDOING.
2 Check this box MediumBullet
3 Number of voting members of the governing body (Part VI, line 1a) ........ 3 14
4 Number of independent voting members of the governing body (Part VI, line 1b) ..... 4 13
5 Total number of individuals employed in calendar year 2019 (Part V, line 2a) ...... 5 157
6 Total number of volunteers (estimate if necessary) ............. 6 15
7a Total unrelated business revenue from Part VIII, column (C), line 12 ........ 7a 93,935
b Net unrelated business taxable income from Form 990-T, line 39 ......... 7b 68,949
Revenues Prior Year Current Year
8 Contributions and grants (Part VIII, line 1h) ......... 25,576,127 37,366,751
9 Program service revenue (Part VIII, line 2g) ......... 302,000 620,950
10 Investment income (Part VIII, column (A), lines 3, 4, and 7d ) .... 288,145 514,196
11 Other revenue (Part VIII, column (A), lines 5, 6d, 8c, 9c, 10c, and 11e) 519,661 744,987
12 Total revenue—add lines 8 through 11 (must equal Part VIII, column (A), line 12) 26,685,933 39,246,884
Expenses; 13 Grants and similar amounts paid (Part IX, column (A), lines 1–3 )... 455,470 1,384,457
14 Benefits paid to or for members (Part IX, column (A), line 4)..... 0 0
15 Salaries, other compensation, employee benefits (Part IX, column (A), lines 5–10) 17,360,510 20,702,693
16a Professional fundraising fees (Part IX, column (A), line 11e) ..... 6,225 9,600
b Total fundraising expenses (Part IX, column (D), line 25) MediumBullet1,278,878    
17 Other expenses (Part IX, column (A), lines 11a–11d, 11f–24e).... 6,282,256 6,533,836
18 Total expenses. Add lines 13–17 (must equal Part IX, column (A), line 25) 24,104,461 28,630,586
19 Revenue less expenses. Subtract line 18 from line 12....... 2,581,472 10,616,298
Net Assets or Fund Balances; Beginning of Current Year End of Year
20 Total assets (Part X, line 16)............. 40,988,939 51,252,809
21 Total liabilities (Part X, line 26)............. 1,094,094 748,489
22 Net assets or fund balances. Subtract line 21 from line 20..... 39,894,845 50,504,320
Part II
Signature Block
Under penalties of perjury, I declare that I have examined this return, including accompanying schedules and statements, and to the best of my knowledge and belief, it is true, correct, and complete. Declaration of preparer (other than officer) is based on all information of which preparer has any knowledge.
Sign Here
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Signature of officer Date
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Type or print name and title
Paid Preparer Use Only
Print/Type preparer's name
Preparer's signature
Date
PTIN
Firm's name MediumBullet

Firm's EIN MediumBullet
Firm's address MediumBullet



Phone no.
May the IRS discuss this return with the preparer shown above? (see instructions) ..........
For Paperwork Reduction Act Notice, see the separate instructions.
Cat. No. 11282Y Form 990 (2019)
Form 990 (2019)
Page 2
Part III
Statement of Program Service Accomplishments
Check if Schedule O contains a response or note to any line in this Part III..............
1
Briefly describe the organization’s mission: PRO PUBLICA IS AN INDEPENDENT, NON-PROFIT, PULITZER PRIZE-WINNING NEWSROOM THAT PRODUCES INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST. OUR WORK FOCUSES EXCLUSIVELY ON TRULY IMPORTANT STORIES. SEE "SCHEDULE O" FOR CONTINUATION.WE PRODUCE JOURNALISM THAT SHINES A LIGHT ON EXPLOITATION OF THE WEAK BY THE STRONG AND ON THE FAILURES OF THOSE WITH POWER TO VINDICATE THE TRUST PLACED IN THEM. IN THE BEST TRADITIONS OF AMERICAN JOURNALISM IN THE PUBLIC SERVICE, WE AIM TO STIMULATE POSITIVE CHANGE, UNCOVERING UNSAVORY PRACTICES AND ABUSES OF POWER IN ORDER TO PROD REFORM. WE DO THIS IN AN ENTIRELY NON-PARTISAN AND NON-IDEOLOGICAL MANNER, ADHERING TO THE STRICTEST STANDARDS OF JOURNALISTIC IMPARTIALITY.OUR STATED MISSION IS "TO EXPOSE ABUSES OF POWER AND BETRAYALS OF THE PUBLIC TRUST BY GOVERNMENT, BUSINESS, AND OTHER INSTITUTIONS, USING THE MORAL FORCE OF INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM TO SPUR REFORM THROUGH THE SUSTAINED SPOTLIGHTING OF WRONGDOING."
2
Did the organization undertake any significant program services during the year which were not listed on
the prior Form 990 or 990-EZ? .....................
If "Yes," describe these new services on Schedule O.
3
Did the organization cease conducting, or make significant changes in how it conducts, any program
services? ...........................
If "Yes," describe these changes on Schedule O.
4
Describe the organization’s program service accomplishments for each of its three largest program services, as measured by expenses. Section 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) organizations are required to report the amount of grants and allocations to others, the total expenses, and revenue, if any, for each program service reported.
4a (Code:   ) (Expenses $ 24,505,304 including grants of $ 1,384,457 ) (Revenue $ 697,463 )
INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST - SEE SCHEDULE O FOR DETAILS
4b (Code:   ) (Expenses $   including grants of $   ) (Revenue $   )
4c (Code:   ) (Expenses $   including grants of $   ) (Revenue $   )
4d Other program services (Describe in Schedule O.)
(Expenses $   including grants of $   ) (Revenue $   )
4e Total program service expensesMediumBullet24,505,304
Form 990 (2019)
Form 990 (2019)
Page 3
Part IV
Checklist of Required Schedules
Yes
No
1
Is the organization described in section 501(c)(3) or 4947(a)(1) (other than a private foundation)? If "Yes," complete Schedule AClick to see attachment.....................
1
Yes
 
2
Is the organization required to complete Schedule B, Schedule of Contributors (see instructions)? Click to see attachment...
2
Yes
 
3
Did the organization engage in direct or indirect political campaign activities on behalf of or in opposition to candidates for public office? If "Yes," complete Schedule C, Part I.............
3
 
No
4
Section 501(c)(3) organizations. Did the organization engage in lobbying activities, or have a section 501(h) election in effect during the tax year? If "Yes," complete Schedule C, Part II.........
4
 
No
5
Is the organization a section 501(c)(4), 501(c)(5), or 501(c)(6) organization that receives membership dues, assessments, or similar amounts as defined in Revenue Procedure 98-19? If "Yes," complete Schedule C, Part III..
5
 
No
6
Did the organization maintain any donor advised funds or any similar funds or accounts for which donors have the right to provide advice on the distribution or investment of amounts in such funds or accounts? If "Yes," complete Schedule D, Part IClick to see attachment.........................
6
 
No
7
Did the organization receive or hold a conservation easement, including easements to preserve open space,
the environment, historic land areas, or historic structures? If "Yes," complete Schedule D, Part IIClick to see attachment....
7
 
No
8
Did the organization maintain collections of works of art, historical treasures, or other similar assets? If "Yes,"
complete Schedule D, Part IIIClick to see attachment..............
8
 
No
9
Did the organization report an amount in Part X, line 21 for escrow or custodial account liability; serve as a custodian for amounts not listed in Part X; or provide credit counseling, debt management, credit repair, or debt negotiation services? If "Yes," complete Schedule D, Part IVClick to see attachment..............
9
 
No
10
Did the organization, directly or through a related organization, hold assets in temporarily restricted endowments, permanent endowments, or quasi endowments? If "Yes," complete Schedule D, Part V......
10
 
No
11
If the organization’s answer to any of the following questions is "Yes," then complete Schedule D, Parts VI, VII, VIII, IX, or X as applicable.
a
Did the organization report an amount for land, buildings, and equipment in Part X, line 10? If "Yes," complete
Schedule D, Part VI. Click to see attachment...................
11a
Yes
 
b
Did the organization report an amount for investments—other securities in Part X, line 12 that is 5% or more of its total assets reported in Part X, line 16? If "Yes," complete Schedule D, Part VIIClick to see attachment.......
11b
 
No
c
Did the organization report an amount for investments—program related in Part X, line 13 that is 5% or more of its total assets reported in Part X, line 16? If "Yes," complete Schedule D, Part VIIIClick to see attachment.......
11c
 
No
d
Did the organization report an amount for other assets in Part X, line 15 that is 5% or more of its total assets reported in Part X, line 16? If "Yes," complete Schedule D, Part IXClick to see attachment............
11d
 
No
e
Did the organization report an amount for other liabilities in Part X, line 25? If "Yes," complete Schedule D, Part XClick to see attachment
11e
 
No
f
Did the organization’s separate or consolidated financial statements for the tax year include a footnote that addresses the organization’s liability for uncertain tax positions under FIN 48 (ASC 740)? If "Yes," complete Schedule D, Part XClick to see attachment
11f
Yes
 
12a
Did the organization obtain separate, independent audited financial statements for the tax year? If "Yes," complete
Schedule D, Parts XI and XIIClick to see attachment......................
12a
Yes
 
b
Was the organization included in consolidated, independent audited financial statements for the tax year? If "Yes," and if the organization answered "No" to line 12a, then completing Schedule D, Parts XI and XII is optional Click to see attachment
12b
 
No
13
Is the organization a school described in section 170(b)(1)(A)(ii)? If "Yes," complete Schedule E
13
 
No
14a
Did the organization maintain an office, employees, or agents outside of the United States? .....
14a
 
No
b
Did the organization have aggregate revenues or expenses of more than $10,000 from grantmaking, fundraising, business, investment, and program service activities outside the United States, or aggregate foreign investments valued at $100,000 or more? If "Yes," complete Schedule F, Parts I and IV.........
14b
 
No
15
Did the organization report on Part IX, column (A), line 3, more than $5,000 of grants or other assistance to or for any foreign organization? If “Yes,” complete Schedule F, Parts II and IV.....
15
 
No
16
Did the organization report on Part IX, column (A), line 3, more than $5,000 of aggregate grants or other assistance to or for foreign individuals? If “Yes,” complete Schedule F, Parts III and IV...
16
 
No
17
Did the organization report a total of more than $15,000 of expenses for professional fundraising services on Part IX, column (A), lines 6 and 11e? If "Yes," complete Schedule G, Part I(see instructions) ....
17
 
No
18
Did the organization report more than $15,000 total of fundraising event gross income and contributions on Part VIII, lines 1c and 8a? If "Yes," complete Schedule G, Part II............
18
 
No
19
Did the organization report more than $15,000 of gross income from gaming activities on Part VIII, line 9a? If "Yes," complete Schedule G, Part III...................
19
 
No
20a
Did the organization operate one or more hospital facilities? If "Yes," complete Schedule H....
20a
 
No
b
If "Yes" to line 20a, did the organization attach a copy of its audited financial statements to this return?
20b
 
 
21
Did the organization report more than $5,000 of grants or other assistance to any domestic organization or domestic government on Part IX, column (A), line 1? If “Yes,” complete Schedule I, Parts I and II.....Click to see attachment
21
Yes
 
Form 990 (2019)
Form 990 (2019)
Page 4
Part IV
Checklist of Required Schedules (continued)
Yes
No
22
Did the organization report more than $5,000 of grants or other assistance to or for domestic individuals on Part IX, column (A), line 2? If “Yes,” complete Schedule I, Parts I and III........Click to see attachment
22
Yes
 
23
Did the organization answer "Yes" to Part VII, Section A, line 3, 4, or 5 about compensation of the organization’s current and former officers, directors, trustees, key employees, and highest compensated employees? If "Yes," complete Schedule J....................... Click to see attachment
23
Yes
 
24a
Did the organization have a tax-exempt bond issue with an outstanding principal amount of more than $100,000 as of the last day of the year, that was issued after December 31, 2002? If “Yes,” answer lines 24b through 24d and complete Schedule K. If “No,” go to line 25a...............
24a
 
No
b
Did the organization invest any proceeds of tax-exempt bonds beyond a temporary period exception?...
24b
 
 
c
Did the organization maintain an escrow account other than a refunding escrow at any time during the year
to defease any tax-exempt bonds? ...............
24c
 
 
d
Did the organization act as an "on behalf of" issuer for bonds outstanding at any time during the year?...
24d
 
 
25a
Section 501(c)(3), 501(c)(4), and 501(c)(29) organizations. Did the organization engage in an excess benefit transaction with a disqualified person during the year? If "Yes," complete Schedule L, Part I ....
25a
 
No
b
Is the organization aware that it engaged in an excess benefit transaction with a disqualified person in a prior year, and that the transaction has not been reported on any of the organization’s prior Forms 990 or 990-EZ? If "Yes," complete Schedule L, Part I.......................
25b
 
No
26
Did the organization report any amount on Part X, line 5 or 22 for receivables from or payables to any current or former officer, director, trustee, key employee, creator or founder, substantial contributor, or 35% controlled entity or family member of any of these persons? If "Yes," complete Schedule L, Part II...........
26
 
No
27
Did the organization provide a grant or other assistance to any current or former officer, director, trustee, key employee, creator or founder, substantial contributor, or employee thereof, a grant selection committee member, or to a 35% controlled entity (including an employee thereof) or family member of any of these persons?
If "Yes," complete
Schedule L, Part III.........................
27
 
No
28
Was the organization a party to a business transaction with one of the following parties (see Schedule L, Part IV instructions for applicable filing thresholds, conditions, and exceptions):
a
A current or former officer, director, trustee, key employee, creator or founder, or substantial contributor? If "Yes," complete Schedule L, Part IV......................
28a
 
No
b
A family member of any individual described in line 28a? If "Yes," complete Schedule L, Part IV.....
28b
 
No
c
A 35% controlled entity of one or more individuals and/or organizations described in lines 28a or 28b? If "Yes," complete Schedule L, Part IV.....................
28c
 
No
29
Did the organization receive more than $25,000 in non-cash contributions? If "Yes," complete Schedule M..Click to see attachment
29
Yes
 
30
Did the organization receive contributions of art, historical treasures, or other similar assets, or qualified conservation contributions? If "Yes," complete Schedule M .................Click to see attachment
30
 
No
31
Did the organization liquidate, terminate, or dissolve and cease operations? If "Yes," complete Schedule N, Part I
31
 
No
32
Did the organization sell, exchange, dispose of, or transfer more than 25% of its net assets? If "Yes," complete Schedule N, Part II........................
32
 
No
33
Did the organization own 100% of an entity disregarded as separate from the organization under Regulations sections 301.7701-2 and 301.7701-3? If "Yes," complete Schedule R, Part I............
33
 
No
34
Was the organization related to any tax-exempt or taxable entity? If "Yes," complete Schedule R, Part II, III, or IV, and Part V, line 1.........................
34
 
No
35a
Did the organization have a controlled entity within the meaning of section 512(b)(13)?
35a
 
No
b
If ‘Yes’ to line 35a, did the organization receive any payment from or engage in any transaction with a controlled entity within the meaning of section 512(b)(13)? If "Yes," complete Schedule R, Part V, line 2 ...
35b
 
 
36
Section 501(c)(3) organizations. Did the organization make any transfers to an exempt non-charitable related organization? If "Yes," complete Schedule R, Part V, line 2.............
36
 
No
37
Did the organization conduct more than 5% of its activities through an entity that is not a related organization and that is treated as a partnership for federal income tax purposes? If "Yes," complete Schedule R, Part VI
37
 
No
38
Did the organization complete Schedule O and provide explanations in Schedule O for Part VI, lines 11b and 19? Note. All Form 990 filers are required to complete Schedule O. ............
38
Yes
 
Part V
Statements Regarding Other IRS Filings and Tax Compliance
Check if Schedule O contains a response or note to any line in this Part V...........
Yes
No
1a
Enter the number reported in Box 3 of Form 1096. Enter -0- if not applicable ..
1a
172
b
Enter the number of Forms W-2G included in line 1a. Enter -0- if not applicable .
1b
0
c
Did the organization comply with backup withholding rules for reportable payments to vendors and reportable gaming (gambling) winnings to prize winners? ..................
1c
 
 
Form 990 (2019)
Form 990 (2019)
Page 5
Part V
Statements Regarding Other IRS Filings and Tax Compliance (continued)
2a
Enter the number of employees reported on Form W-3, Transmittal of Wage and
Tax Statements, filed for the calendar year ending with or within the year covered by this return ..................
2a
157
b
If at least one is reported on line 2a, did the organization file all required federal employment tax returns?
Note. If the sum of lines 1a and 2a is greater than 250, you may be required to e-file (see instructions)
2b
Yes
 
3a
Did the organization have unrelated business gross income of $1,000 or more during the year?...
3a
Yes
 
b
If “Yes,” has it filed a Form 990-T for this year? If “No” to line 3b, provide an explanation in Schedule O...
3b
Yes
 
4a
At any time during the calendar year, did the organization have an interest in, or a signature or other authority over, a financial account in a foreign country (such as a bank account, securities account, or other financial account)? ..
4a
 
No
b
If "Yes," enter the name of the foreign country: MediumBullet
See instructions for filing requirements for FinCEN Form 114, Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts (FBAR).
5a
Was the organization a party to a prohibited tax shelter transaction at any time during the tax year? ..
5a
 
No
b
Did any taxable party notify the organization that it was or is a party to a prohibited tax shelter transaction?
5b
 
No
c
If "Yes," to line 5a or 5b, did the organization file Form 8886-T? ............
5c
 
 
6a
Does the organization have annual gross receipts that are normally greater than $100,000, and did the organization solicit any contributions that were not tax deductible as charitable contributions? ...
6a
 
No
b
If "Yes," did the organization include with every solicitation an express statement that such contributions or gifts were not tax deductible? ......................
6b
 
 
7
Organizations that may receive deductible contributions under section 170(c).
a
Did the organization receive a payment in excess of $75 made partly as a contribution and partly for goods and services provided to the payor? ....................
7a
 
No
b
If "Yes," did the organization notify the donor of the value of the goods or services provided? .....
7b
 
 
c
Did the organization sell, exchange, or otherwise dispose of tangible personal property for which it was required to file Form 8282? .........................
7c
 
No
d
If "Yes," indicate the number of Forms 8282 filed during the year ....
7d
 
e
Did the organization receive any funds, directly or indirectly, to pay premiums on a personal benefit contract?
7e
 
No
f
Did the organization, during the year, pay premiums, directly or indirectly, on a personal benefit contract? ..
7f
 
No
g
If the organization received a contribution of qualified intellectual property, did the organization file Form 8899 as required? ......................
7g
 
 
h
If the organization received a contribution of cars, boats, airplanes, or other vehicles, did the organization file a Form 1098-C? ..........................
7h
 
 
8
Sponsoring organizations maintaining donor advised funds. Did a donor advised fund maintained by the sponsoring organization have excess business holdings at any time during the year? ........
8
 
 
9
Sponsoring organizations maintaining donor advised funds.
a
Did the sponsoring organization make any taxable distributions under section 4966?........
9a
 
 
b
Did the sponsoring organization make a distribution to a donor, donor advisor, or related person?...
9b
 
 
10
Section 501(c)(7) organizations. Enter:
a
Initiation fees and capital contributions included on Part VIII, line 12 ...
10a
 
b
Gross receipts, included on Form 990, Part VIII, line 12, for public use of club facilities
10b
 
11
Section 501(c)(12) organizations. Enter:
a
Gross income from members or shareholders .........
11a
 
b
Gross income from other sources (Do not net amounts due or paid to other sources against amounts due or received from them.) ..........
11b
 
12a
Section 4947(a)(1) non-exempt charitable trusts. Is the organization filing Form 990 in lieu of Form 1041?
12a
 
 
b
If "Yes," enter the amount of tax-exempt interest received or accrued during the year.
12b
 
13
Section 501(c)(29) qualified nonprofit health insurance issuers.
a
Is the organization licensed to issue qualified health plans in more than one state? .........
Note. See the instructions for additional information the organization must report on Schedule O.
13a
 
 
b
Enter the amount of reserves the organization is required to maintain by the states in which the organization is licensed to issue qualified health plans ....
13b
 
c
Enter the amount of reserves on hand ............
13c
 
14a
Did the organization receive any payments for indoor tanning services during the tax year?.....
14a
 
No
b
If "Yes," has it filed a Form 720 to report these payments? If "No," provide an explanation in Schedule O..
14b
 
 
15
Is the organization subject to the section 4960 tax on payment(s) of more than $1,000,000 in remuneration or excess parachute payment(s) during the year? ....................
If "Yes," see instructions and file Form 4720, Schedule N.
15
 
No
16
Is the organization an educational institution subject to the section 4968 excise tax on net investment income? ..
If "Yes," complete Form 4720, Schedule O.
16
 
No
Form 990 (2019)
Form 990 (2019)
Page 6
Part VI
Governance, Management, and Disclosure For each "Yes" response to lines 2 through 7b below, and for a "No" response to lines 8a, 8b, or 10b below, describe the circumstances, processes, or changes in Schedule O. See instructions.
Check if Schedule O contains a response or note to any line in this Part VI..............
Section A. Governing Body and Management
Yes
No
1a
Enter the number of voting members of the governing body at the end of the tax year
1a
14
If there are material differences in voting rights among members of the governing body, or if the governing body delegated broad authority to an executive committee or similar committee, explain in Schedule O.
b
Enter the number of voting members included in line 1a, above, who are independent
1b
13
2
Did any officer, director, trustee, or key employee have a family relationship or a business relationship with any other officer, director, trustee, or key employee? .................
2
 
No
3
Did the organization delegate control over management duties customarily performed by or under the direct supervision of officers, directors or trustees, or key employees to a management company or other person? .
3
 
No
4
Did the organization make any significant changes to its governing documents since the prior Form 990 was filed? .
4
 
No
5
Did the organization become aware during the year of a significant diversion of the organization’s assets? .
5
 
No
6
Did the organization have members or stockholders? ................
6
 
No
7a
Did the organization have members, stockholders, or other persons who had the power to elect or appoint one or more members of the governing body? ....................
7a
 
No
b
Are any governance decisions of the organization reserved to (or subject to approval by) members, stockholders, or persons other than the governing body? ...................
7b
 
No
8
Did the organization contemporaneously document the meetings held or written actions undertaken during the year by the following:
a
The governing body? .......................
8a
Yes
 
b
Each committee with authority to act on behalf of the governing body? ............
8b
Yes
 
9
Is there any officer, director, trustee, or key employee listed in Part VII, Section A, who cannot be reached at the organization’s mailing address? If "Yes," provide the names and addresses in Schedule O.......
9
 
No
Section B. Policies (This Section B requests information about policies not required by the Internal Revenue Code.)
Yes
No
10a
Did the organization have local chapters, branches, or affiliates? ............
10a
 
No
b
If "Yes," did the organization have written policies and procedures governing the activities of such chapters, affiliates, and branches to ensure their operations are consistent with the organization's exempt purposes?
10b
 
 
11a
Has the organization provided a complete copy of this Form 990 to all members of its governing body before filing the form? ............................
11a
Yes
 
b
Describe in Schedule O the process, if any, used by the organization to review this Form 990. .....
12a
Did the organization have a written conflict of interest policy? If "No," go to line 13.......
12a
Yes
 
b
Were officers, directors, or trustees, and key employees required to disclose annually interests that could give rise to conflicts? ..........................
12b
Yes
 
c
Did the organization regularly and consistently monitor and enforce compliance with the policy? If "Yes," describe in Schedule O how this was done...................
12c
Yes
 
13
Did the organization have a written whistleblower policy? ...............
13
Yes
 
14
Did the organization have a written document retention and destruction policy? .........
14
Yes
 
15
Did the process for determining compensation of the following persons include a review and approval by independent persons, comparability data, and contemporaneous substantiation of the deliberation and decision?
a
The organization’s CEO, Executive Director, or top management official ...........
15a
Yes
 
b
Other officers or key employees of the organization ................
15b
Yes
 
If "Yes" to line 15a or 15b, describe the process in Schedule O (see instructions).
16a
Did the organization invest in, contribute assets to, or participate in a joint venture or similar arrangement with a taxable entity during the year? ......................
16a
 
No
b
If "Yes," did the organization follow a written policy or procedure requiring the organization to evaluate its participation in joint venture arrangements under applicable federal tax law, and take steps to safeguard the organization’s exempt status with respect to such arrangements? ............
16b
 
 
Section C. Disclosure
17
List the states with which a copy of this Form 990 is required to be filedMediumBullet
DC , AL , AK , AZ , AR , CA , CT , FL , GA , HI , IL , KS , KY , LA , ME , MD , MA , MI , MN , MS , MS , NH , NJ , NM , NY , NC , ND , OH , OK , OR , PA , RI , SC , TN , UT , VA , WA , WV , WI
18
Section 6104 requires an organization to make its Form 1023 (or 1024-A if applicable), 990, and 990-T (501(c)(3)s only) available for public inspection. Indicate how you made these available. Check all that apply.
19
Describe in Schedule O whether (and if so, how) the organization made its governing documents, conflict of interest policy, and financial statements available to the public during the tax year.
20
State the name, address, and telephone number of the person who possesses the organization's books and records:
MediumBulletSTEPHANIE N LITTLE VP FINANCE & ADMINISTRATION155 AVE OF THE AMERICAS 13 FL   NEW YORK,NY10013 (212) 514-5250
Form 990 (2019)
Form 990 (2019)
Page 7
Part VII
Compensation of Officers, Directors,Trustees, Key Employees, Highest Compensated Employees, and Independent Contractors
Check if Schedule O contains a response or note to any line in this Part VII..............
Section A. Officers, Directors, Trustees, Key Employees, and Highest Compensated Employees
1a Complete this table for all persons required to be listed. Report compensation for the calendar year ending with or within the organization’s tax year.
RoundBullet List all of the organization’s current officers, directors, trustees (whether individuals or organizations), regardless of amount
of compensation. Enter -0- in columns (D), (E), and (F) if no compensation was paid.

RoundBullet List all of the organization’s current key employees, if any. See instructions for definition of "key employee."
RoundBullet List the organization’s five current highest compensated employees (other than an officer, director, trustee or key employee)
who received reportable compensation (Box 5 of Form W-2 and/or Box 7 of Form 1099-MISC) of more than $100,000 from the
organization and any related organizations.

RoundBullet List all of the organization’s former officers, key employees, or highest compensated employees who received more than $100,000
of reportable compensation from the organization and any related organizations.

RoundBullet List all of the organization’s former directors or trustees that received, in the capacity as a former director or trustee of the
organization, more than $10,000 of reportable compensation from the organization and any related organizations.

See instructions for the order in which to list the persons above.
Check this box if neither the organization nor any related organization compensated any current officer, director, or trustee.
(A)
Name and title 		(B)
Average hours per week (list any hours for related organizations below dotted line) 		(C)
Position (do not check more than one box, unless person is both an officer and a director/trustee) 		(D)
Reportable compensation from the organization (W-2/1099-MISC) 		(E)
Reportable compensation from related organizations (W-2/1099-MISC) 		(F)
Estimated amount of other compensation from the organization and related organizations
Individual Trustee or Director; Institutional Trustee; OfficerInd; Key Employee; Highest compensated employee; FormerOfcrDirectorTrusteeInd;
(1) STEPHEN ENGELBERG......................................................................
CO-CEO & EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
 40.00
.................
  		    X       406,216 0 52,998
(2) RICHARD TOFEL PRESIDENT......................................................................
CO-CEO & TREASURER
 40.00
.................
  		    X       416,053 0 29,543
(3) ROBIN FIELDS......................................................................
MANAGING EDITOR
 40.00
.................
  		        X   299,924 0 19,238
(4) JESSE EISINGER......................................................................
SENIOR REPORTER
 40.00
.................
  		        X   237,660 0 48,586
(5) RAGAN RHYNE VICE PRESIDENT OF......................................................................
DEVELOPMENT & SECRETARY
 40.00
.................
  		    X       256,450 0 14,389
(6) CHARLES ORNSTEIN......................................................................
SENIOR EDITOR
 40.00
.................
  		        X   214,321 0 55,422
(7) TRACY WEBER......................................................................
SENIOR EDITOR
 40.00
.................
  		        X   228,798 0 36,524
(8) JOSEPH SEXTON......................................................................
SENIOR EDITOR
 40.00
.................
  		        X   220,402 0 36,157
(9) PAUL E STEIGER......................................................................
EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN
 30.00
.................
  		X   X       46,683 0 6,822
(10) PAUL SAGAN......................................................................
CHAIRMAN
 2.00
.................
  		X   X       0 0 0
(11) HERBERT M SANDLER......................................................................
FOUNDING CHAIRMAN THRU 6/5/19
 3.00
.................
  		X   X       0 0 0
(12) DANIELLE ALLEN......................................................................
DIRECTOR
 1.00
.................
  		X           0 0 0
(13) CLAIRE BERNARD......................................................................
DIRECTOR
 1.00
.................
  		X           0 0 0
(14) MARK COLODNY......................................................................
DIRECTOR
 1.00
.................
  		X           0 0 0
(15) STEVE DAETZ......................................................................
DIRECTOR
 1.00
.................
  		X           0 0 0
(16) ANGELA FILO......................................................................
DIRECTOR
 1.00
.................
  		X           0 0 0
(17) HENRY LOUIS GATES JR......................................................................
DIRECTOR
 1.00
.................
  		X           0 0 0
Form 990 (2019)
Form 990 (2019)
Page 8
Part VII
Section A. Officers, Directors, Trustees, Key Employees, and Highest Compensated Employees (continued)
(A)
Name and title 		(B)
Average hours per week (list any hours for related organizations below dotted line) 		(C)
Position (do not check more than one box, unless person is both an officer and a director/trustee) 		(D)
Reportable compensation from the organization (W-2/1099-MISC) 		(E)
Reportable compensation from related organizations (W-2/1099-MISC) 		(F)
Estimated amount of other compensation from the organization and related organizations
Individual Trustee or Director; Institutional Trustee; OfficerInd; Key Employee; Highest compensated employee; FormerOfcrDirectorTrusteeInd;
(18) CLAIRE HOFFMAN........................................................................
DIRECTOR
 1.00
.......................   		X           0 0 0
(19) KATIE MCGRATH........................................................................
DIRECTOR
 1.00
.......................   		X           0 0 0
(20) ROBERT CS MONKS........................................................................
DIRECTOR
 1.00
.......................   		X           0 0 0
(21) RONALD OLSON........................................................................
DIRECTOR
 1.00
.......................   		X           0 0 0
(22) JAMES STONE........................................................................
DIRECTOR
 1.00
.......................   		X           0 0 0
(23) S DONALD SUSSMAN........................................................................
DIRECTOR
 1.00
.......................   		X           0 0 0
(24) KAT TAYLOR........................................................................
DIRECTOR THRU 7/10/19
 1.00
.......................   		X           0 0 0












1b Sub-Total................MediumBullet
c Total from continuation sheets to Part VII, Section A....MediumBullet
d Total (add lines 1b and 1c)...........MediumBullet 2,326,507 0 299,679
2
Total number of individuals (including but not limited to those listed above) who received more than $100,000 of reportable compensation from the organization MediumBullet73
Yes
No
3
Did the organization list any former officer, director or trustee, key employee, or highest compensated employee on line 1a? If "Yes," complete Schedule J for such individual ..............
3
 
No
4
For any individual listed on line 1a, is the sum of reportable compensation and other compensation from the organization and related organizations greater than $150,000? If "Yes," complete Schedule J for such
individual...........................
4
Yes
 
5
Did any person listed on line 1a receive or accrue compensation from any unrelated organization or individual for services rendered to the organization? If "Yes," complete Schedule J for such person ........
5
 
No
Section B. Independent Contractors
1
Complete this table for your five highest compensated independent contractors that received more than $100,000 of compensation from the organization. Report compensation for the calendar year ending with or within the organization’s tax year.
(A)
Name and business address 		(B)
Description of services 		(C)
Compensation
HAYNES AND BOONE LLP

PO BOX 841399
DALLAS,TX752841399 		LEGAL SERVICES 162,103
AMAZON WEB SERVICES

PO BOX 84023
SEATTLE,WA981248423 		WEBSITE HOSTING SERVICES 130,857
2
Total number of independent contractors (including but not limited to those listed above) who received more than $100,000 of compensation from the organization MediumBullet2
Form 990 (2019)
Form 990 (2019)
Page 9
Part VIII
Statement of Revenue
Check if Schedule O contains a response or note to any line in this Part VIII.............
(A)
Total revenue 		(B)
Related or
exempt
function
revenue 		(C)
Unrelated
business
revenue 		(D)
Revenue
excluded from
tax under sections
512 - 514
Contributions, Gifts, GrantAmt and OtherAmt Similar Amounts 1a Federated campaigns..1a  
b Membership dues..1b  
c Fundraising events..1c  
d Related organizations1d  
e Government grants (contributions)1e  
f All other contributions, gifts, grants, and similar amounts not included above1f 37,366,751
g Noncash contributions included in lines 1a - 1f:$ 1g 203,384
h Total. Add lines 1a-1f.......MediumBullet 37,366,751
Program Service RevenueAmt Business Code
2a PROGRAM SERVICE FEES 519130 540,200 540,200    
b EDITORIAL FEES 519100 80,750 80,750    
c
d
e
f All other program service revenue.        
g Total. Add lines 2a–2f .....MediumBullet 620,950
OtherAmtRevenueAmt 3 Investment income (including dividends, interest, and othersimilar amounts) ......MediumBullet 515,219     515,219
4 Income from investment of tax-exempt bond proceedsMediumBullet        
5 Royalties...........MediumBullet 196,774 76,513   120,261
(ii) Personal (i) Real
6a Gross rents     6a
b Less: rental expenses     6b
c Rental income or (loss)     6c
d Net rental income or (loss).......MediumBullet        
(ii) Other (i) Securities
7a Gross amount from sales of assets other than inventory   213,835 7a
b Less: cost or other basis and sales expenses   214,858 7b
c Gain or (loss)   -1,023 7c
d Net gain or (loss).........MediumBullet -1,023     -1,023
8a Gross income from fundraising events (not including $   of contributions reported on line 1c). See Part IV, line 18 ....
8a  
b Less: direct expenses ... 8b  
c Net income or (loss) from fundraising events..MediumBullet      
9a Gross income from gaming activities.
See Part IV, line 19 ...
9a  
b Less: direct expenses ... 9b  
c Net income or (loss) from gaming activities..MediumBullet        
10a Gross sales of inventory, less
returns and allowances ..
10a  
b Less: cost of goods sold .. 10b  
c Net income or (loss) from sales of inventory..MediumBullet        
Business Code Miscellaneous Revenue
11a REIMBURSEMENT OF LEGAL FEES 900099 405,223     405,223
b ADVERTISING REVENUE 541800 93,935   93,935  
c HONORARIUMS REVENUE 900099 49,055     49,055
d All other revenue ....        
e Total. Add lines 11a–11d ...... MediumBullet 548,213
12 Total revenue. See instructions.....MediumBullet 39,246,884 697,463 93,935 1,088,735
Form 990 (2019)
Form 990 (2019)
Page 10
Part IX
Statement of Functional Expenses
Section 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) organizations must complete all columns. All other organizations must complete column (A).Check if Schedule O contains a response or note to any line in this Part IX..............
Do not include amounts reported on lines 6b,
7b, 8b, 9b, and 10b of Part VIII. 		(A)
Total expenses 		(B)
Program service expenses 		(C)
Management and general expenses 		(D)
Fundraising
expenses
1 Grants and other assistance to domestic organizations and domestic governments. See Part IV, line 21 .... 1,042,775 1,042,775
2 Grants and other assistance to domestic individuals. See Part IV, line 22 ........... 341,682 341,682
3 Grants and other assistance to foreign organizations, foreign governments, and foreign individuals. See Part IV, lines 15 and 16. .............    
4 Benefits paid to or for members .......    
5 Compensation of current officers, directors, trustees, and key employees ........... 1,229,154 512,719 445,596 270,839
6 Compensation not included above, to disqualified persons (as defined under section 4958(f)(1)) and persons described in section 4958(c)(3)(B) .........        
7 Other salaries and wages........ 15,804,374 13,935,937 1,435,271 433,166
8 Pension plan accruals and contributions (include section 401(k) and 403(b) employer contributions) .... 626,585 558,700 61,551 6,334
9 Other employee benefits ....... 1,811,646 1,563,205 196,787 51,654
10 Payroll taxes ........... 1,230,934 1,057,391 124,107 49,436
11 Fees for services (non-employees):        
a Management ......        
b Legal ......... 284,182 249,926 21,209 13,047
c Accounting ........... 69,502   69,502  
d Lobbying ...........        
e Professional fundraising services. See Part IV, line 17 9,600 9,600
f Investment management fees ......        
g Other (If line 11g amount exceeds 10% of line 25, column (A) amount, list line 11g expenses on Schedule O) 516,761 479,852   36,909
12 Advertising and promotion .... 138,815 79,095 55,068 4,652
13 Office expenses ....... 605,338 347,522 45,369 212,447
14 Information technology ...... 1,092,087 903,687 93,200 95,200
15 Royalties ..        
16 Occupancy ........... 1,387,779 1,229,704 106,231 51,844
17 Travel ............ 1,003,661 978,142 11,602 13,917
18 Payments of travel or entertainment expenses for any federal, state, or local public officials .        
19 Conferences, conventions, and meetings .... 131,708 68,076 61,041 2,591
20 Interest ...........        
21 Payments to affiliates .......        
22 Depreciation, depletion, and amortization .. 298,106 268,295 29,811  
23 Insurance ... 239,868 191,579 37,168 11,121
24 Other expenses. Itemize expenses not covered above (List miscellaneous expenses in line 24e. If line 24e amount exceeds 10% of line 25, column (A) amount, list line 24e expenses on Schedule O.)
a UBIT TAX EXPENSE 21,178   21,178  
b PODCAST EXPENSES 271,095 271,095    
c PUBLIC REC. COP. & SUBS 254,808 254,808    
d RECRUITMENT/PROF DEVEL. 116,253 83,862 18,911 13,480
e All other expenses 102,695 87,252 12,802 2,641
25 Total functional expenses. Add lines 1 through 24e 28,630,586 24,505,304 2,846,404 1,278,878
26 Joint costs. Complete this line only if the organization reported in column (B) joint costs from a combined educational campaign and fundraising solicitation. Check here MediumBullet if following SOP 98-2 (ASC 958-720).        
Form 990 (2019)
Form 990 (2019)
Page 11
Part X
Balance Sheet
Check if Schedule O contains a response or note to any line in this Part IX..............
(A)
Beginning of year 		(B)
End of year
Assets 1 Cash–non-interest-bearing ........ 5,317,242 1 5,266,631
2 Savings and temporary cash investments ......... 21,331,856 2 27,716,756
3 Pledges and grants receivable, net ...... 13,042,094 3 16,985,216
4 Accounts receivable, net ............. 8,912 4 24,712
5 Loans and other payables to any current or former officer, director, trustee, key employee, creator or founder, substantial contributor, or 35% controlled entity or family member of any of these persons .......
  5  
6 Loans and other receivables from other disqualified persons (as defined under section 4958(f)(1)), and persons described in section 4958(c)(3)(B) ...
  6  
7 Notes and loans receivable, net ...........   7  
8 Inventories for sale or use ............   8  
9 Prepaid expenses and deferred charges ...... 464,032 9 530,134
10a Land, buildings, and equipment: cost or other basis. Complete Part VI of Schedule D 10a 1,470,286
b Less: accumulated depreciation 10b 841,295 739,263 10c 628,991
11 Investments—publicly traded securities . 28,305 11 15,200
12 Investments—other securities. See Part IV, line 11 .....   12  
13 Investments—program-related. See Part IV, line 11 ..   13  
14 Intangible assets ...............   14  
15 Other assets. See Part IV, line 11 ........... 57,235 15 85,169
16 Total assets. Add lines 1 through 15 (must equal line 33)... 40,988,939 16 51,252,809
Liabilities 17 Accounts payable and accrued expenses ..... 659,311 17 254,144
18 Grants payable ...   18  
19 Deferred revenue ......... 434,783 19 494,345
20 Tax-exempt bond liabilities .........   20  
21 Escrow or custodial account liability. Complete Part IV of Schedule D   21  
22 Loans and other payables to any current or former officer, director, trustee, key employee, creator or founder, substantial contributor, or 35% controlled entity or family member of any of these persons .........
  22  
23 Secured mortgages and notes payable to unrelated third parties ..   23  
24 Unsecured notes and loans payable to unrelated third parties ..   24  
25 Other liabilities (including federal income tax, payables to related third parties, and other liabilities not included on lines 17 - 24). Complete Part X of Schedule D   25  
26 Total liabilities. Add lines 17 through 25.. 1,094,094 26 748,489
Net Assets or Fund Balance Organizations that follow FASB ASC 958, check here MediumBullet and complete lines 27, 28, 32, and 33.
27 Net assets without donor restrictions .......... 21,132,503 27 28,252,244
28 Net assets with donor restrictions ........... 18,762,342 28 22,252,076
Organizations that do not follow FASB ASC 958, check here MediumBullet and complete lines 29 through 33.
29 Capital stock or trust principal, or current funds .....   29  
30 Paid-in or capital surplus, or land, building or equipment fund ...   30  
31 Retained earnings, endowment, accumulated income, or other funds   31  
32 Total net assets or fund balances ........... 39,894,845 32 50,504,320
33 Total liabilities and net assets/fund balances ........ 40,988,939 33 51,252,809
Form 990 (2019)
Form 990 (2019)
Page 12
Part XI
Reconcilliation of Net Assets
Check if Schedule O contains a response or note to any line in this Part XI..............
1
Total revenue (must equal Part VIII, column (A), line 12) ............
1
39,246,884
2
Total expenses (must equal Part IX, column (A), line 25) ............
2
28,630,586
3
Revenue less expenses. Subtract line 2 from line 1 ..............
3
10,616,298
4
Net assets or fund balances at beginning of year (must equal Part X, line 32, column (A)) ..
4
39,894,845
5
Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments ...............
5
-6,823
6
Donated services and use of facilities .................
6
 
7
Investment expenses .....................
7
 
8
Prior period adjustments .....................
8
 
9
Other changes in net assets or fund balances (explain in Schedule O) ........
9
0
10
Net assets or fund balances at end of year. Combine lines 3 through 9 (must equal Part X, line 32, column (B))
10
50,504,320
Part XII
Financial Statements and Reporting
Check if Schedule O contains a response or note to any line in this Part XII.............
Yes
No
1
Accounting method used to prepare the Form 990:  
If the organization changed its method of accounting from a prior year or checked "Other," explain in
Schedule O.
2a
Were the organization’s financial statements compiled or reviewed by an independent accountant?
2a
 
No
If ‘Yes,’ check a box below to indicate whether the financial statements for the year were compiled or reviewed on a separate basis, consolidated basis, or both:
b
Were the organization’s financial statements audited by an independent accountant?
2b
Yes
 
If ‘Yes,’ check a box below to indicate whether the financial statements for the year were audited on a separate basis, consolidated basis, or both:
c
If "Yes," to line 2a or 2b, does the organization have a committee that assumes responsibility for oversight of the audit, review, or compilation of its financial statements and selection of an independent accountant?
2c
Yes
 
If the organization changed either its oversight process or selection process during the tax year, explain in Schedule O.
3a
As a result of a federal award, was the organization required to undergo an audit or audits as set forth in the Single Audit Act and OMB Circular A-133?
3a
 
No
b
If "Yes," did the organization undergo the required audit or audits? If the organization did not undergo the required audit or audits, explain why in Schedule O and describe any steps taken to undergo such audits.
3b
 
 
Form 990 (2019)
Form 990 (2019)
Additional Data


Software ID:  
Software Version:  
Form 990, Special Condition Description:
Special Condition Description
SCHEDULE A
(Form 990 or 990EZ)

Department of the Treasury
Internal Revenue Service
Public Charity Status and Public Support
Complete if the organization is a section 501(c)(3) organization or a section 4947(a)(1) nonexempt charitable trust.
right arrow Attach to Form 990 or Form 990-EZ.
right arrow Go to www.irs.gov/Form990 for instructions and the latest information.
OMB No. 1545-0047
2019
Open to Public
Inspection
Name of the organization
PRO PUBLICA INC
 
Employer identification number

14-2007220
Part I
Reason for Public Charity Status (All organizations must complete this part.) See instructions.
The organization is not a private foundation because it is: (For lines 1 through 12, check only one box.)
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
a
b
c
d
e
f
Enter the number of supported organizations ...............................  
g
Provide the following information about the supported organization(s).
(i) Name of supported organization (ii) EIN (iii) Type of organization (described on lines 1- 10 above (see instructions)) (iv) Is the organization listed in your governing document? (v) Amount of monetary support (see instructions) (vi) Amount of other support (see instructions)
Yes No
Total
 
   
For Paperwork Reduction Act Notice, see the Instructions for
Form 990 or 990-EZ.
Cat. No. 11285F
Schedule A (Form 990 or 990-EZ) 2019

Schedule A (Form 990 or 990-EZ) 2019
Page 2
Part II
Support Schedule for Organizations Described in Sections 170(b)(1)(A)(iv) and 170(b)(1)(A)(vi)
(Complete only if you checked the box on line 5, 7, or 8 of Part I or if the organization failed to qualify under Part III. If the organization failed to qualify under the tests listed below, please complete Part III.)
Section A. Public Support
Calendar year (or fiscal year beginning in) right arrow (a) 2015 (b) 2016 (c) 2017 (d) 2018 (e) 2019 (f) Total
1 Gifts, grants, contributions, and membership fees received. (Do not include any "unusual grant.") .. 16,882,164 13,765,153 43,063,123 25,576,127 37,366,751 136,653,318
2 Tax revenues levied for the organization's benefit and either paid to or expended on its behalf....            
3 The value of services or facilities furnished by a governmental unit to the organization without charge..            
4 Total. Add lines 1 through 3 16,882,164 13,765,153 43,063,123 25,576,127 37,366,751 136,653,318
5 The portion of total contributions by each person (other than a governmental unit or publicly supported organization) included on line 1 that exceeds 2% of the amount shown on line 11, column (f).. 27,419,239
6 Public support. Subtract line 5 from line 4. 109,234,079
Section B. Total Support
Calendar year (or fiscal year beginning in) right arrow (a) 2015 (b) 2016 (c) 2017 (d) 2018 (e) 2019 (f) Total
7 Amounts from line 4.. 16,882,164 13,765,153 43,063,123 25,576,127 37,366,751 136,653,318
8 Gross income from interest, dividends, payments received on securities loans, rents, royalties and income from similar sources... 23,875 105,365 91,606 449,799 635,480 1,306,125
9 Net income from unrelated business activities, whether or not the business is regularly carried on.. 10,286 8,230 52,755 36,395 68,949 176,615
10 Other income. Do not include gain or loss from the sale of capital assets (Explain in Part VI.).. 10,092 245,214 108,258 230,179 454,278 1,048,021
11 Total support. Add lines 7 through 10 139,184,079
12
12
1,825,568
13
First five years. If the Form 990 is for the organization's first, second, third, fourth, or fifth tax year as a section 501(c)(3) organization, check this box and stop here........................................right arrow
Section C. Computation of Public Support Percentage
14
14
78.480 %
15
15
74.810 %
16a
b
17a
b
18
Private foundation. If the organization did not check a box on line 13, 16a, 16b, 17a, or 17b, check this box and see
instructions ..................................................... right arrow
Schedule A (Form 990 or 990-EZ) 2019

Schedule A (Form 990 or 990-EZ) 2019
Page 3
Part III
Support Schedule for Organizations Described in Section 509(a)(2)
(Complete only if you checked the box on line 10 of Part I or if the organization failed to qualify under Part II. If the organization fails to qualify under the tests listed below, please complete Part II.)
Section A. Public Support
Calendar year (or fiscal year beginning in) right arrow (a) 2015 (b) 2016 (c) 2017 (d) 2018 (e) 2019 (f) Total
1 Gifts, grants, contributions, and membership fees received. (Do not include any "unusual grants.") .            
2 Gross receipts from admissions, merchandise sold or services performed, or facilities furnished in any activity that is related to the organization's tax-exempt purpose            
3 Gross receipts from activities that are not an unrelated trade or business under section 513 .....            
4 Tax revenues levied for the organization's benefit and either paid to or expended on its behalf...            
5 The value of services or facilities furnished by a governmental unit to the organization without charge            
6 Total. Add lines 1 through 5            
7a Amounts included on lines 1, 2, and 3 received from disqualified persons            
b Amounts included on lines 2 and 3 received from other than disqualified persons that exceed the greater of $5,000 or 1% of the amount on line 13 for the year.            
c Add lines 7a and 7b..            
8 Public support. (Subtract line 7c from line 6.)  
Section B. Total Support
Calendar year (or fiscal year beginning in) right arrow (a) 2015 (b) 2016 (c) 2017 (d) 2018 (e) 2019 (f) Total
9 Amounts from line 6...            
10a Gross income from interest, dividends, payments received on securities loans, rents, royalties and income from similar sources..            
b Unrelated business taxable income (less section 511 taxes) from businesses acquired after June 30, 1975.            
c Add lines 10a and 10b.            
11 Net income from unrelated business activities not included in line 10b, whether or not the business is regularly carried on.            
12 Other income. Do not include gain or loss from the sale of capital assets (Explain in Part VI.) ..            
13 Total support. (Add lines 9, 10c, 11, and 12.)..            
14
Section C. Computation of Public Support Percentage
15
15
 
16
16
 
Section D. Computation of Investment Income Percentage
17
17
 
18
18
 
19a
b
20
Schedule A (Form 990 or 990-EZ) 2019

Schedule A (Form 990 or 990-EZ) 2019
Page 4
Part IV
Supporting Organizations
(Complete only if you checked a box on line 12 of Part I. If you checked 12a of Part I, complete Sections A and B. If you checked 12b of Part I, complete Sections A and C. If you checked 12c of Part I, complete Sections A, D, and E. If you checked 12d of Part I, complete Sections A and D, and complete Part V.)
Section A. All Supporting Organizations
Yes
No
1
Are all of the organization’s supported organizations listed by name in the organization’s governing documents?
If "No," describe in Part VI how the supported organizations are designated. If designated by class or purpose,
describe the designation. If historic and continuing relationship, explain.
1
 
 
2
Did the organization have any supported organization that does not have an IRS determination of status under section 509(a)(1) or (2)? If "Yes," explain in Part VI how the organization determined that the supported organization was described in section 509(a)(1) or (2).
2
 
 
3a
Did the organization have a supported organization described in section 501(c)(4), (5), or (6)? If "Yes," answer (b) and (c) below.
3a
 
 
b
Did the organization confirm that each supported organization qualified under section 501(c)(4), (5), or (6) and satisfied the public support tests under section 509(a)(2)? If "Yes," describe in Part VI when and how the organization made the determination.
3b
 
 
c
Did the organization ensure that all support to such organizations was used exclusively for section 170(c)(2)(B) purposes? If "Yes," explain in Part VI what controls the organization put in place to ensure such use.
3c
 
 
4a
Was any supported organization not organized in the United States ("foreign supported organization")? If “Yes” and if you checked 12a or 12b in Part I, answer (b) and (c) below.
4a
 
 
b
Did the organization have ultimate control and discretion in deciding whether to make grants to the foreign supported organization? If “Yes,” describe in Part VI how the organization had such control and discretion despite being controlled or supervised by or in connection with its supported organizations.
4b
 
 
c
Did the organization support any foreign supported organization that does not have an IRS determination under sections 501(c)(3) and 509(a)(1) or (2)? If “Yes,” explain in Part VI what controls the organization used to ensure that all support to the foreign supported organization was used exclusively for section 170(c)(2)(B) purposes.
4c
 
 
5a
Did the organization add, substitute, or remove any supported organizations during the tax year? If “Yes,” answer (b) and (c) below (if applicable). Also, provide detail in Part VI, including (i) the names and EIN numbers of the supported organizations added, substituted, or removed; (ii) the reasons for each such action; (iii) the authority under the organization's organizing document authorizing such action; and (iv) how the action was accomplished (such as by amendment to the organizing document).
5a
 
 
b
Type I or Type II only. Was any added or substituted supported organization part of a class already designated in the organization's organizing document?
5b
 
 
c
Substitutions only. Was the substitution the result of an event beyond the organization's control?
5c
 
 
6
Did the organization provide support (whether in the form of grants or the provision of services or facilities) to anyone other than (i) its supported organizations, (ii) individuals that are part of the charitable class benefited by one or more of its supported organizations, or (iii) other supporting organizations that also support or benefit one or more of the filing organization’s supported organizations? If “Yes,” provide detail in Part VI.
6
 
 
7
Did the organization provide a grant, loan, compensation, or other similar payment to a substantial contributor (defined in section 4958(c)(3)(C)), a family member of a substantial contributor, or a 35% controlled entity with regard to a substantial contributor? If “Yes,” complete Part I of Schedule L (Form 990 or 990-EZ) .
7
 
 
8
Did the organization make a loan to a disqualified person (as defined in section 4958) not described in line 7? If “Yes,” complete Part I of Schedule L (Form 990 or 990-EZ).
8
 
 
9a
Was the organization controlled directly or indirectly at any time during the tax year by one or more disqualified persons as defined in section 4946 (other than foundation managers and organizations described in section 509(a)(1) or (2))? If “Yes,” provide detail in Part VI.
9a
 
 
b
Did one or more disqualified persons (as defined in line 9a) hold a controlling interest in any entity in which the supporting organization had an interest? If “Yes,” provide detail in Part VI.
9b
 
 
c
Did a disqualified person (as defined in line 9a) have an ownership interest in, or derive any personal benefit from, assets in which the supporting organization also had an interest? If “Yes,” provide detail in Part VI.
9c
 
 
10a
Was the organization subject to the excess business holdings rules of section 4943 because of section 4943(f) (regarding certain Type II supporting organizations, and all Type III non-functionally integrated supporting organizations)? If “Yes,” answer line 10b below.
10a
 
 
b
Did the organization have any excess business holdings in the tax year? (Use Schedule C, Form 4720, to determine whether the organization had excess business holdings).
10b
 
 
Schedule A (Form 990 or 990-EZ) 2019

Schedule A (Form 990 or 990-EZ) 2019
Page 5
Part IV
Supporting Organizations (continued)
Yes
No
11
Has the organization accepted a gift or contribution from any of the following persons?
a
A person who directly or indirectly controls, either alone or together with persons described in (b) and (c) below, the governing body of a supported organization?
11a
 
 
b
A family member of a person described in (a) above?
11b
 
 
c
A 35% controlled entity of a person described in (a) or (b) above? If “Yes” to a, b, or c, provide detail in Part VI.
11c
 
 
Section B. Type I Supporting Organizations
Yes
No
1
Did the directors, trustees, or membership of one or more supported organizations have the power to regularly appoint or elect at least a majority of the organization’s directors or trustees at all times during the tax year? If “No,” describe in Part VI how the supported organization(s) effectively operated, supervised, or controlled the organization’s activities. If the organization had more than one supported organization, describe how the powers to appoint and/or remove directors or trustees were allocated among the supported organizations and what conditions or restrictions, if any, applied to such powers during the tax year.
1
 
 
2
Did the organization operate for the benefit of any supported organization other than the supported organization(s) that operated, supervised, or controlled the supporting organization? If “Yes,” explain in Part VI how providing such benefit carried out the purposes of the supported organization(s) that operated, supervised or controlled the supporting organization.
2
 
 
Section C. Type II Supporting Organizations
Yes
No
1
Were a majority of the organization’s directors or trustees during the tax year also a majority of the directors or trustees of each of the organization’s supported organization(s)? If “No,” describe in Part VI how control or management of the supporting organization was vested in the same persons that controlled or managed the supported organization(s).
1
 
 
Section D. All Type III Supporting Organizations
Yes
No
1
Did the organization provide to each of its supported organizations, by the last day of the fifth month of the organization’s tax year, (i) a written notice describing the type and amount of support provided during the prior tax year, (ii) a copy of the Form 990 that was most recently filed as of the date of notification, and (iii) copies of the organization’s governing documents in effect on the date of notification, to the extent not previously provided?
1
 
 
2
Were any of the organization’s officers, directors, or trustees either (i) appointed or elected by the supported organization(s) or (ii) serving on the governing body of a supported organization? If "No," explain in Part VI how the organization maintained a close and continuous working relationship with the supported organization(s).
2
 
 
3
By reason of the relationship described in (2), did the organization’s supported organizations have a significant voice in the organization’s investment policies and in directing the use of the organization’s income or assets at all times during the tax year? If "Yes," describe in Part VI the role the organization’s supported organizations played in this regard.
3
 
 
Section E. Type III Functionally-Integrated Supporting Organizations
1
Check the box next to the method that the organization used to satisfy the Integral Part Test during the year (see instructions):
a
b
c
2
Activities Test. Answer (a) and (b) below.
Yes
No
a
Did substantially all of the organization’s activities during the tax year directly further the exempt purposes of the supported organization(s) to which the organization was responsive? If "Yes," then in Part VI identify those supported organizations and explain how these activities directly furthered their exempt purposes, how the organization was responsive to those supported organizations, and how the organization determined that these activities constituted substantially all of its activities.
2a
 
 
b
Did the activities described in (a) constitute activities that, but for the organization’s involvement, one or more of the organization’s supported organization(s) would have been engaged in? If "Yes," explain in Part VI the reasons for the organization’s position that its supported organization(s) would have engaged in these activities but for the organization’s involvement.
2b
 
 
3
Parent of Supported Organizations. Answer (a) and (b) below.
a
Did the organization have the power to regularly appoint or elect a majority of the officers, directors, or trustees of each of the supported organizations? Provide details in Part VI.
3a
 
 
b
Did the organization exercise a substantial degree of direction over the policies, programs and activities of each of its supported organizations? If "Yes," describe in Part VI. the role played by the organization in this regard.
3b
 
 
Schedule A (Form 990 or 990-EZ) 2019

Schedule A (Form 990 or 990-EZ) 2019
Page 6
Part V
Type III Non-Functionally Integrated 509(a)(3) Supporting Organizations
1
Section A - Adjusted Net Income (A) Prior Year (B) Current Year
(optional)
1 Net short-term capital gain 1    
2 Recoveries of prior-year distributions 2    
3 Other gross income (see instructions) 3    
4 Add lines 1 through 3 4    
5 Depreciation and depletion 5    
6 Portion of operating expenses paid or incurred for production or collection of gross income or for management, conservation, or maintenance of property held for production of income (see instructions) 6    
7 Other expenses (see instructions) 7    
8 Adjusted Net Income (subtract lines 5, 6 and 7 from line 4) 8    
Section B - Minimum Asset Amount (A) Prior Year (B) Current Year
(optional)
1 Aggregate fair market value of all non-exempt-use assets (see instructions for short tax year or assets held for part of year): 1
a Average monthly value of securities 1a    
b Average monthly cash balances 1b    
c Fair market value of other non-exempt-use assets 1c    
d Total (add lines 1a, 1b, and 1c) 1d    
e Discount claimed for blockage or other factors
(explain in detail in Part VI):  
2 Acquisition indebtedness applicable to non-exempt use assets 2    
3 Subtract line 2 from line 1d 3    
4 Cash deemed held for exempt use. Enter 1-1/2% of line 3 (for greater amount, see instructions). 4    
5 Net value of non-exempt-use assets (subtract line 4 from line 3) 5    
6 Multiply line 5 by .035 6    
7 Recoveries of prior-year distributions 7    
8 Minimum Asset Amount (add line 7 to line 6) 8    
Section C - Distributable Amount Current Year
1 Adjusted net income for prior year (from Section A, line 8, Column A) 1  
2 Enter 85% of line 1 2  
3 Minimum asset amount for prior year (from Section B, line 8, Column A) 3  
4 Enter greater of line 2 or line 3 4  
5 Income tax imposed in prior year 5  
6 Distributable Amount. Subtract line 5 from line 4, unless subject to emergency temporary reduction (see instructions) 6  
7
Schedule A (Form 990 or 990-EZ) 2019

Schedule A (Form 990 or 990-EZ) 2019
Page 7
Part V
Type III Non-Functionally Integrated 509(a)(3) Supporting Organizations(continued)
Section D - Distributions Current Year
1 Amounts paid to supported organizations to accomplish exempt purposes  
2 Amounts paid to perform activity that directly furthers exempt purposes of supported organizations, in
excess of income from activity		  
3 Administrative expenses paid to accomplish exempt purposes of supported organizations  
4 Amounts paid to acquire exempt-use assets  
5 Qualified set-aside amounts (prior IRS approval required)  
6 Other distributions (describe in Part VI). See instructions  
7Total annual distributions. Add lines 1 through 6.  
8 Distributions to attentive supported organizations to which the organization is responsive (provide
details in Part VI). See instructions		  
9 Distributable amount for 2019 from Section C, line 6  
10 Line 8 amount divided by Line 9 amount  
Section E - Distribution Allocations (see instructions) (i)
Excess Distributions 		(ii)
Underdistributions
Pre-2019 		(iii)
Distributable
Amount for 2019
1 Distributable amount for 2019 from Section C, line 6  
2 Underdistributions, if any, for years prior to 2019 (reasonable cause required-- explain in Part VI).
See instructions.		  
3 Excess distributions carryover, if any, to 2019:
a From 2014.......  
b From 2015.......  
c From 2016.......  
d From 2017.......  
e From 2018.......  
fTotal of lines 3a through e  
g Applied to underdistributions of prior years  
h Applied to 2019 distributable amount  
i Carryover from 2014 not applied (see
instructions) 		 
j Remainder. Subtract lines 3g, 3h, and 3i from 3f.  
4Distributions for 2019 from Section D, line 7:
$  
a Applied to underdistributions of prior years  
b Applied to 2019 distributable amount  
c Remainder. Subtract lines 4a and 4b from 4.  
5 Remaining underdistributions for years prior to
2019, if any. Subtract lines 3g and 4a from line 2.
If the amount is greater than zero, explain in Part VI.
See instructions.		  
6 Remaining underdistributions for 2019. Subtract
lines 3h and 4b from line 1. If the amount is greater
than zero, explain in Part VI. See instructions.		  
7 Excess distributions carryover to 2020. Add lines
3j and 4c.		  
8 Breakdown of line 7:
a Excess from 2015.....  
b Excess from 2016.....  
c Excess from 2017.....  
d Excess from 2018.....  
e Excess from 2019.....  
Schedule A (Form 990 or 990-EZ) (2019)

Schedule A (Form 990 or 990-EZ) 2019
Page 8
Part VI
Supplemental Information. Provide the explanations required by Part II, line 10; Part II, line 17a or 17b; Part III, line 12; Part IV, Section A, lines 1, 2, 3b, 3c, 4b, 4c, 5a, 6, 9a, 9b, 9c, 11a, 11b, and 11c; Part IV, Section B, lines 1 and 2; Part IV, Section C, line 1; Part IV, Section D, lines 2 and 3; Part IV, Section E, lines 1c, 2a, 2b, 3a and 3b; Part V, line 1; Part V, Section B, line 1e; Part V Section D, lines 5, 6, and 8; and Part V, Section E, lines 2, 5, and 6. Also complete this part for any additional information. (See instructions).
Facts And Circumstances Test
 
Return Reference Explanation
SCHEDULE A, PART II, LINE 10, EXPLANATION OF OTHER INCOME: HONORARIUMS REVENUE - 2015 AMOUNT: $ 10,092. 2016 AMOUNT: $ 26,750. 2017 AMOUNT: $ 90,734. 2018 AMOUNT: $ 77,346. 2019 AMOUNT: $ 49,055. REIMBURSEMENT OF LEGAL FEES - 2016 AMOUNT: $ 218,464. 2017 AMOUNT: $ 17,524. 2018 AMOUNT: $ 152,833. 2019 AMOUNT: $ 405,223.
Schedule A (Form 990 or 990-EZ) 2019


Additional Data


Software ID:  
Software Version:  
Schedule B
(Form 990, 990-EZ,
or 990-PF)
Department of the Treasury
Internal Revenue Service
Schedule of Contributors

Arrow Bullet Attach to Form 990, 990-EZ, or 990-PF.
Arrow Bullet Go to www.irs.gov/Form990 for the latest information.
OMB No. 1545-0047
2019
Name of the organization
PRO PUBLICA INC
 
Employer identification number

14-2007220
Organization type (check one):
Filers of:
Section:
Form 990 or 990-EZ






Form 990-PF




Check if your organization is covered by the General Rule or a Special Rule.  
Note: Only a section 501(c)(7), (8), or (10) organization can check boxes for both the General Rule and a Special Rule. See instructions.
General Rule
Special Rules
......... Arrow Bullet $  
Caution: An organization that isn't covered by the General Rule and/or the Special Rules doesn't file Schedule B (Form 990,
990-EZ, or 990-PF), but it must answer “No” on Part IV, line 2, of its Form 990; or check the box on line H of its Form 990-EZ
or on its Form 990PF, Part I, line 2, to certify that it doesn't meet the filing requirements of Schedule B (Form 990,
990-EZ, or 990-PF).
For Paperwork Reduction Act Notice, see the Instructions
for Form 990, 990-EZ, or 990-PF.
Cat. No. 30613XSchedule B (Form 990, 990-EZ, or 990-PF) (2019)
Schedule B (Form 990, 990-EZ, or 990-PF) (2019) Page 2
Name of organization
PRO PUBLICA INC
  		Employer identification number
14-2007220
Part I
Contributors
Contributors (see instructions). Use duplicate copies of Part I if additional space is needed.
(a)
No.		 (b)
Name, address, and ZIP + 4		 (c)
Total contributions		 (d)
Type of contribution
RESTRICTED
 
 
 
 
  ,    

$ RESTRICTED


(Complete Part II for noncash contributions.)
(a)
No.		 (b)
Name, address, and ZIP + 4		 (c)
Total contributions		 (d)
Type of contribution
 
 
 
 

$  


(Complete Part II for noncash contributions.)
(a)
No.		 (b)
Name, address, and ZIP + 4		 (c)
Total contributions		 (d)
Type of contribution
 
 
 
 

$  


(Complete Part II for noncash contributions.)
(a)
No.		 (b)
Name, address, and ZIP + 4		 (c)
Total contributions		 (d)
Type of contribution
 
 
 
 

$  


(Complete Part II for noncash contributions.)
(a)
No.		 (b)
Name, address, and ZIP + 4		 (c)
Total contributions		 (d)
Type of contribution
 
 
 
 

$  


(Complete Part II for noncash contributions.)
(a)
No.		 (b)
Name, address, and ZIP + 4		 (c)
Total contributions		 (d)
Type of contribution
 
 
 
 

$  


(Complete Part II for noncash contributions.)
Schedule B (Form 990, 990-EZ, or 990-PF) (2019)
Schedule B (Form 990, 990-EZ, or 990-PF) (2019)
Page 3
Name of organization
PRO PUBLICA INC
  		Employer identification number

14-2007220
Part II
Noncash Property (see instructions). Use duplicate copies of Part II if additional space is needed.
(a)
No. from Part I		 (b)
Description of noncash property given		 (c)
FMV (or estimate)
(See instructions) 		(d)
Date received
 
$    
(a)
No. from Part I		 (b)
Description of noncash property given		 (c)
FMV (or estimate)
(See instructions) 		(d)
Date received
 
$    
(a)
No. from Part I		 (b)
Description of noncash property given		 (c)
FMV (or estimate)
(See instructions) 		(d)
Date received
 
$    
(a)
No. from Part I		 (b)
Description of noncash property given		 (c)
FMV (or estimate)
(See instructions) 		(d)
Date received
 
$    
(a)
No. from Part I		 (b)
Description of noncash property given		 (c)
FMV (or estimate)
(See instructions) 		(d)
Date received
 
$    
(a)
No. from Part I		 (b)
Description of noncash property given		 (c)
FMV (or estimate)
(See instructions) 		(d)
Date received
 
$    
Schedule B (Form 990, 990-EZ, or 990-PF) (2019)
Schedule B (Form 990, 990-EZ, or 990-PF) (2019)
Page 4
Name of organization
PRO PUBLICA INC
  		Employer identification number

14-2007220
Part III
Exclusively religious, charitable, etc., contributions to organizations described in section 501(c)(7), (8), or (10) that total more than $1,000 for the year from any one contributor. Complete columns (a) through (e) and the following line entry. For organizations completing Part III, enter the total of exclusively religious, charitable, etc., contributions of $1,000 or less for the year. (Enter this information once. See instructions.) Arrow Bullet$  
Use duplicate copies of Part III if additional space is needed.
(a)
No. from Part I		 (b) Purpose of gift (c) Use of gift (d) Description of how gift is held
 
(e) Transfer of gift
Transferee's name, address, and ZIP 4 Relationship of transferor to transferee
 
 
     
 
(a)
No. from Part I		 (b) Purpose of gift (c) Use of gift (d) Description of how gift is held
 
(e) Transfer of gift
Transferee's name, address, and ZIP 4 Relationship of transferor to transferee
 
 
     
 
(a)
No. from Part I		 (b) Purpose of gift (c) Use of gift (d) Description of how gift is held
 
(e) Transfer of gift
Transferee's name, address, and ZIP 4 Relationship of transferor to transferee
 
 
     
 
(a)
No. from Part I		 (b) Purpose of gift (c) Use of gift (d) Description of how gift is held
 
(e) Transfer of gift
Transferee's name, address, and ZIP 4 Relationship of transferor to transferee
 
 
     
 
Schedule B (Form 990, 990-EZ, or 990-PF) (2019)

Additional Data


Software ID:  
Software Version:  
SCHEDULE D
(Form 990)
Department of the Treasury
Internal Revenue Service
Supplemental Financial Statements
SchDMd Bullet Complete if the organization answered "Yes," on Form 990,
Part IV, line 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11a, 11b, 11c, 11d, 11e, 11f, 12a, or 12b.
SchDMd Bullet Attach to Form 990.
SchDMd Bullet Go to www.irs.gov/Form990 for instructions and the latest information.
OMB No. 1545-0047
2019
Open to Public Inspection
Name of the organization
PRO PUBLICA INC
 
Employer identification number

14-2007220
Part I
Organizations Maintaining Donor Advised Funds or Other Similar Funds or Accounts. Complete if the organization answered "Yes" on Form 990, Part IV, line 6.
(a) Donor advised funds (b) Funds and other accounts
1 Total number at end of year .........    
2 Aggregate value of contributions to (during year)    
3 Aggregate value of grants from (during year)    
4 Aggregate value at end of year ........    
5
Did the organization inform all donors and donor advisors in writing that the assets held in donor advised funds are the organization’s property, subject to the organization’s exclusive legal control? ............
6
Did the organization inform all grantees, donors, and donor advisors in writing that grant funds can be used only for charitable purposes and not for the benefit of the donor or donor advisor, or for any other purpose conferring impermissible private benefit? ...................................
Part II
Conservation Easements.
Complete if the organization answered "Yes" on Form 990, Part IV, line 7.
1
Purpose(s) of conservation easements held by the organization (check all that apply).
2
Complete lines 2a through 2d if the organization held a qualified conservation contribution in the form of a conservation easement on the last day of the tax year.
Held at the End of the Year
a Total number of conservation easements ...................... 2a  
b Total acreage restricted by conservation easements .................... 2b  
c Number of conservation easements on a certified historic structure included in (a) ..... 2c  
d Number of conservation easements included in (c) acquired after 7/25/06, and not on a historic structure listed in the National Register ... 2d  
3
Number of conservation easements modified, transferred, released, extinguished, or terminated by the organization during the
tax year SchDMd Bullet  
4
Number of states where property subject to conservation easement is located SchDMd Bullet  
5
Does the organization have a written policy regarding the periodic monitoring, inspection, handling of violations, and enforcement of the conservation easements it holds? ............
6
Staff and volunteer hours devoted to monitoring, inspecting, handling of violations, and enforcing conservation easements during the year
SchDMd Bullet  
7
Amount of expenses incurred in monitoring, inspecting, handling of violations, and enforcing conservation easements during the year
SchDMd Bullet $  
8
Does each conservation easement reported on line 2(d) above satisfy the requirements of section 170(h)(4)(B)(i) and section 170(h)(4)(B)(ii)? .............................
9
In Part XIII, describe how the organization reports conservation easements in its revenue and expense statement, and
balance sheet, and include, if applicable, the text of the footnote to the organization’s financial statements that describes
the organization’s accounting for conservation easements.
Part III
Organizations Maintaining Collections of Art, Historical Treasures, or Other Similar Assets.
Complete if the organization answered "Yes" on Form 990, Part IV, line 8.
1a
If the organization elected, as permitted under FASB ASC 958, not to report in its revenue statement and balance sheet works of art, historical treasures, or other similar assets held for public exhibition, education, or research in furtherance of public service, provide, in Part XIII, the text of the footnote to its financial statements that describes these items.
b
If the organization elected, as permitted under FASB ASC 958, to report in its revenue statement and balance sheet works of art, historical treasures, or other similar assets held for public exhibition, education, or research in furtherance of public service, provide the following amounts relating to these items:
(i)
Revenue included on Form 990, Part VIII, line 1 .........................SchDMd Bullet $  
(ii)
Assets included in Form 990, Part X ...............................SchDMd Bullet $  
2
If the organization received or held works of art, historical treasures, or other similar assets for financial gain, provide the
following amounts required to be reported under FASB ASC 958 relating to these items:
a
Revenue included on Form 990, Part VIII, line 1 ..........................SchDMd Bullet $  
b
Assets included in Form 990, Part X ...............................SchDMd Bullet $  
For Paperwork Reduction Act Notice, see the Instructions for Form 990.
Cat. No. 52283D
Schedule D (Form 990) 2019

Schedule D (Form 990) 2019
Page 2
Part III
Organizations Maintaining Collections of Art, Historical Treasures, or Other Similar Assets (continued)
3
Using the organization’s acquisition, accession, and other records, check any of the following that are a significant use of its collection items (check all that apply):
a
d
b
e
 
c
4
Provide a description of the organization’s collections and explain how they further the organization’s exempt purpose in
Part XIII.
5
During the year, did the organization solicit or receive donations of art, historical treasures or other similar
assets to be sold to raise funds rather than to be maintained as part of the organization’s collection?...
Part IV
Escrow and Custodial Arrangements. Complete if the organization answered "Yes" on Form 990, Part IV, line 9, or reported an amount on Form 990, Part X, line 21.
1a
Is the organization an agent, trustee, custodian or other intermediary for contributions or other assets not
included on Form 990, Part X? ....................................
b If "Yes," explain the arrangement in Part XIII and complete the following table: Amount
c Beginning balance ............................. 1c  
d Additions during the year ............................ 1d  
e Distributions during the year .......................... 1e  
f Ending balance ................................ 1f  
2a
Did the organization include an amount on Form 990, Part X, line 21, for escrow or custodial account liability? ...
b
If "Yes," explain the arrangement in Part XIII. Check here if the explanation has been provided in Part XIII ....
Part V
Endowment Funds.
Complete if the organization answered "Yes" on Form 990, Part IV, line 10.
(a) Current year (b) Prior year (c) Two years back (d) Three years back (e) Four years back
1a Beginning of year balance ....          
b Contributions ...          
c Net investment earnings, gains, and losses          
d Grants or scholarships ...          
e Other expenditures for facilities
and programs ... 		         
f Administrative expenses ....          
g End of year balance ......          
2
Provide the estimated percentage of the current year end balance (line 1g, column (a)) held as:
a
Board designated or quasi-endowment SchDMd Bullet  
b
Permanent endowment SchDMd Bullet  
c
Term endowment SchDMd Bullet  
The percentages on lines 2a, 2b, and 2c should equal 100%.
3a
Are there endowment funds not in the possession of the organization that are held and administered for the
organization by:

Yes
No
(i) Unrelated organizations .................
3a(i)
 
 
(ii) Related organizations .................
3a(ii)
 
 
b
If "Yes" on 3a(ii), are the related organizations listed as required on Schedule R? .........
3b
 
 
4
Describe in Part XIII the intended uses of the organization's endowment funds.
Part VI
Land, Buildings, and Equipment.
Complete if the organization answered "Yes" on Form 990, Part IV, line 11a. See Form 990, Part X, line 10.
Description of property (a) Cost or other basis
(investment) 		(b) Cost or other basis (other) (c) Accumulated depreciation (d) Book value
1a Land .....      
b Buildings ....        
c Leasehold improvements   266,318 99,877 166,441
d Equipment ....   756,155 519,182 236,973
e Other .....   447,813 222,236 225,577
Total. Add lines 1a through 1e. (Column (d) must equal Form 990, Part X, column (B), line 10(c).)..SchDMdBullet 628,991
Schedule D (Form 990) 2019

Schedule D (Form 990) 2019
Page 3
Part VII
Investments—Other Securities.
Complete if the organization answered "Yes" on Form 990, Part IV, line 11b. See Form 990, Part X, line 12.
(a) Description of security or category
(including name of security)		 (b) Book value (c) Method of valuation:
Cost or end-of-year market value
(1) Financial derivatives.........    
(2) Closely-held equity interests........    
(3)Other
(B)
(C)
(D)
(E)
(F)
(G)
(H)
(I)
Total. (Column (b) must equal Form 990, Part X, col. (B) line 12.)Small Bullet  
Part VIII
Investments—Program Related. Complete if the organization answered 'Yes' on Form 990, Part IV, line 11c. See Form 990, Part X, line 13.
(a) Description of investment (b) Book value (c) Method of valuation:
Cost or end-of-year market value
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
(6)
(7)
(8)
(9)
(10)
Total. (Column (b) must equal Form 990, Part X, col.(B) line 13.)Small Bullet  
Part IX
Other Assets.
Complete if the organization answered 'Yes' on Form 990, Part IV, line 11d. See Form 990, Part X, line 15.
(a) Description (b) Book value
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
(6)
(7)
(8)
(9)
(10)
Total. (Column (b) must equal Form 990, Part X, col.(B) line 15.)...........Small Bullet  
Part X
Other Liabilities.
Complete if the organization answered 'Yes' on Form 990, Part IV, line 11e or 11f. See Form 990, Part X, line 25.
1.(a) Description of liability (b) Book value
(1) Federal income taxes  
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
(6)
(7)
(8)
(9)
Total. (Column (b) must equal Form 990, Part X, col.(B) line 25.)Small Bullet  
2. Liability for uncertain tax positions. In Part XIII, provide the text of the footnote to the organization's financial statements that reports the organization's liability for uncertain tax positions under FIN 48 (ASC 740). Check here if the text of the footnote has been provided in Part XIII
Schedule D (Form 990) 2019

Schedule D (Form 990) 2019
Page 4
Part XI Reconciliation of Revenue per Audited Financial Statements With Revenue per Return. Complete if the organization answered 'Yes' on Form 990, Part IV, line 12a.
1 Total revenue, gains, and other support per audited financial statements ....... 1 38,834,838
2 Amounts included on line 1 but not on Form 990, Part VIII, line 12:
a Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments .... 2a -6,823
b Donated services and use of facilities ......... 2b  
c Recoveries of prior year grants ........... 2c  
d Other (Describe in Part XIII.) ............ 2d  
e Add lines 2a through 2d ..................... 2e -6,823
3 Subtract line 2e from line 1.................. 3 38,841,661
4 Amounts included on Form 990, Part VIII, line 12, but not on line 1:
a Investment expenses not included on Form 990, Part VIII, line 7b . 4a  
b Other (Describe in Part XIII.) ........... 4b 405,223
c Add lines 4a and 4b.................... 4c 405,223
5 Total revenue. Add lines 3 and 4c. (This must equal Form 990, Part I, line 12.) ...... 5 39,246,884
Part XII Reconciliation of Expenses per Audited Financial Statements With Expenses per Return. Complete if the organization answered 'Yes' on Form 990, Part IV, line 12a.
1 Total expenses and losses per audited financial statements ........... 1 28,225,363
2 Amounts included on line 1 but not on Form 990, Part IX, line 25:
a Donated services and use of facilities ......... 2a  
b Prior year adjustments ............ 2b  
c Other losses ................ 2c  
d Other (Describe in Part XIII.) ............ 2d  
e Add lines 2a through 2d.................... 2e 0
3 Subtract line 2e from line 1................... 3 28,225,363
4 Amounts included on Form 990, Part IX, line 25, but not on line 1:
a Investment expenses not included on Form 990, Part VIII, line 7b .. 4a  
b Other (Describe in Part XIII.) ............ 4b 405,223
c Add lines 4a and 4b..................... 4c 405,223
5 Total expenses. Add lines 3 and 4c. (This must equal Form 990, Part I, line 18.) ...... 5 28,630,586
Part XIII
Supplemental Information
Provide the descriptions required for Part II, lines 3, 5, and 9; Part III, lines 1a and 4; Part lV, lines 1b and 2b; Part V, line 4; Part X, line 2; Part XI, lines 2d and 4b; and Part XII, lines 2d and 4b. Also complete this part to provide any additional information.
Return Reference Explanation
PART X, LINE 2: THE ORGANIZATION RECOGNIZES THE EFFECT OF INCOME TAX POSITIONS ONLY IF THOSE POSITIONS ARE MORE LIKELY THAN NOT OF BEING SUSTAINED. MANAGEMENT HAS DETERMINED THAT THE ORGANIZATION HAD NO UNCERTAIN TAX POSITIONS THAT WOULD REQUIRE FINANCIAL STATEMENT RECOGNITION OR DISCLOSURE. THE ORGANIZATION IS NO LONGER SUBJECT TO EXAMINATIONS BY THE APPLICABLE TAXING JURISDICTIONS FOR PERIODS PRIOR TO 2016.
PART XI, LINE 4B - OTHER ADJUSTMENTS: REIMBURSEMENTS OF LEGAL DEFENSE EXPENSES REPORTED ON PART VIII 405,223.
PART XII, LINE 4B - OTHER ADJUSTMENTS: REIMBURSEMENTS OF LEGAL DEFENSE EXPENSES REPORTED ON PART VIII 405,223.
Schedule D (Form 990) 2019


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Schedule I
(Form 990)
Department of the Treasury
Internal Revenue Service
Grants and Other Assistance to Organizations,
Governments and Individuals in the United States
Complete if the organization answered "Yes," on Form 990, Part IV, line 21 or 22.
lBullet Attach to Form 990.
lBullet Go to www.irs.gov/Form990 for the latest information.
OMB No. 1545-0047
2019
Open to Public
Inspection
Name of the organization
PRO PUBLICA INC
 
Employer identification number
14-2007220
Part I
General Information on Grants and Assistance
1
Does the organization maintain records to substantiate the amount of the grants or assistance, the grantees' eligibility for the grants or assistance, and
the selection criteria used to award the grants or assistance? ........................
2
Describe in Part IV the organization's procedures for monitoring the use of grant funds in the United States.
Part II
Grants and Other Assistance to Domestic Organizations and Domestic Governments. Complete if the organization answered "Yes" on Form 990, Part IV, line 21, for any recipient
that received more than $5,000. Part II can be duplicated if additional space is needed.
(a) Name and address of organization
or government		 (b) EIN (c) IRC section
(if applicable)		 (d) Amount of cash grant (e) Amount of non-cash
assistance		 (f) Method of valuation
(book, FMV, appraisal,
other)		 (g) Description of
noncash assistance		 (h) Purpose of grant
or assistance
(1) ALABAMA MEDIA GROUP
1731 1ST AVENUE NORTH
BIRMINGHAM,AL35203 		13-4123607   86,148       PARTICIPATION IN LOCAL REPORTING NETWORK INITIATIVE
(2) ANCHORAGE DAILY NEWS
300 W 31ST AVENUE
ANCHORAGE,AK99503 		37-1869203   104,556       PARTICIPATION IN LOCAL REPORTING NETWORK INITIATIVE
(3) ARIZONA REPUBLIC
200 E VAN BUREN STREET
PHOENIX,AZ85004 		86-0937358   25,428       PARTICIPATION IN LOCAL REPORTING NETWORK INITIATIVE
(4) CAPITAL CITY PRESS LLC
7290 BLUEBONNET BOULEVARD
BATON ROUGE,LA70810 		72-0146160   30,650       PARTICIPATION IN LOCAL REPORTING NETWORK INITIATIVE
(5) CONNECTICUT NEWS PROJECT
1049 ASYLUM AVENUE
HARTFORD,CT06105 		27-0583046 501(C)(3) 86,100       PARTICIPATION IN LOCAL REPORTING NETWORK INITIATIVE
(6) KENTUCKY CENTER FOR INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING
619 S FOURTH STREET
LOUISEVILLE,KY40202 		61-1259787 501(C)(3) 46,128       PARTICIPATION IN LOCAL REPORTING NETWORK INITIATIVE
(7) MIAMI HERALD
3511 NW 91 AVENUE
MIAMI,FL33172 		20-5063905   41,930       PARTICIPATION IN LOCAL REPORTING NETWORK INITIATIVE
(8) NEW YORK PUBLIC RADIO
160 VARICK STREET
NEW YORK,NY10013 		13-3015230 501(C)(3) 97,176       PARTICIPATION IN LOCAL REPORTING NETWORK INITIATIVE
(9) NOLA MEDIA GROUP
4013 NI-10 SERVICE ROAD W
METAIRIE,LA70002 		13-4123607   31,848       PARTICIPATION IN LOCAL REPORTING NETWORK INITIATIVE
(10) NPR UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT SPRINGFIELD
28396 NETWORK PLACE
CHICAGO,IL60673 		37-6000511 GOVERNMENT 51,548       PARTICIPATION IN LOCAL REPORTING NETWORK INITIATIVE
(11) OREGON PUBLIC BROADCASTING
7140 SW MACADAM AVENUE
PORTLAND,OR97219 		93-0814638 501(C)(3) 46,128       PARTICIPATION IN LOCAL REPORTING NETWORK INITIATIVE
(12) THE BUSINESS JOURNAL
25 E BOARDMAN ST SUITE 306
YOUNGSTOWN,OH44503 		34-1461521   23,063       PARTICIPATION IN LOCAL REPORTING NETWORK INITIATIVE
(13) THE CAPITAL
300 EAST CROMWELL STREET
BALTIMORE,MD21230 		36-3779720   21,528       PARTICIPATION IN LOCAL REPORTING NETWORK INITIATIVE
(14) THE CHARLESTON GAZETTE-MAIL
1001 VIRGINIA ST E
CHARLESTON,WV25301 		46-3129352   53,652       PARTICIPATION IN LOCAL REPORTING NETWORK INITIATIVE
(15) THE COURIER-JOURNAL
525 W BROADWAY
LOUISEVILLE,KY40202 		20-3918856   52,884       PARTICIPATION IN LOCAL REPORTING NETWORK INITIATIVE
(16) THE FRONTIER MEDIA GROUP
12117 SOUTH 12TH COURT
JENKS,OK74037 		81-4620550 501(C)(3) 29,520       PARTICIPATION IN LOCAL REPORTING NETWORK INITIATIVE
(17) THE POST AND THE COURIER
132 COLUMBUS STREET
CHARLESTON,SC29403 		30-0537922   46,128       PARTICIPATION IN LOCAL REPORTING NETWORK INITIATIVE
(18) THE PUBLIC'S RADIO
ONE UNION STATIONS
PROVIDENCE,RI02903 		05-0498502 501(C)(3) 85,944       PARTICIPATION IN LOCAL REPORTING NETWORK INITIATIVE
(19) THE SACRAMENTO BEE
PO BOX 15779
SACRAMENTO,CA95852 		94-0666175   82,416       PARTICIPATION IN LOCAL REPORTING NETWORK INITIATIVE
2
Enter total number of section 501(c)(3) and government organizations listed in the line 1 table ................. Bullet Image
7
3
Enter total number of other organizations listed in the line 1 table ........................ . Bullet Image
12
For Paperwork Reduction Act Notice, see the Instructions for Form 990.
Cat. No. 50055P
Schedule I (Form 990) 2019

Schedule I (Form 990) 2019
Page 2
Part III
Grants and Other Assistance to Domestic Individuals. Complete if the organization answered "Yes" on Form 990, Part IV, line 22.
Part III can be duplicated if additional space is needed.
(a) Type of grant or assistance (b) Number of
recipients		 (c) Amount of
cash grant		 (d) Amount of
noncash assistance		 (e) Method of valuation (book,
FMV, appraisal, other)		 (f) Description of noncash assistance
(1) EMERGING REPORTER STIPEND 10 45,000      
(2) DIVERSITY STIPEND 18 13,500      
(3) LOCAL REPORTING NETWORK GRANT 5 283,182      
(3)
(4)
(5)
(6)
(7)
Part IV
Supplemental Information. Provide the information required in Part I, line 2; Part III, column (b); and any other additional information.
Return Reference Explanation
PART I, LINE 2: A) STIPEND NARRATIVE FOR INDIVIDUALS RECEIVING ASSISTANCE: STIPEND PAYMENTS REPRESENT A FORM OF GRANT ASSISTANCE PROVIDED TO PARTICIPANTS IN VARIOUS PROPUBLICA OUTREACH PROGRAMS. PARTICIPANTS IN THE PROGRAMS ARE SELECTED VIA COMPETITIVE APPLICATION PROCESS IN WHICH THE APPLICANTS ARE CHOSEN BASED ON THEIR QUALIFICATIONS AND CAREER PROSPECTS IN THE FIELD OF INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM. FUNDING IS OFTEN PROVIDED AS A PART OF A GRANT RECEIVED BY PROPUBLICA. IN SUCH INSTANCES, THE GRANT REQUIREMENTS DETERMINE THE AMOUNT OF FUNDING AVAILABLE AND MAY INFORM THE STIPEND PAYMENT PROCESS. IF THE FUNDING IS PROVIDED THROUGH PROPUBLICA'S GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET, FUNDING AVAILABILITY IS DETERMINED BASED ON OVERALL BUDGETARY CONCERNS. BASED ON THESE PARAMETERS, PROGRAM DIRECTORS DETERMINE WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING SITUATIONS APPLY: - ALL PARTICIPANTS RECEIVE EQUAL STIPEND AMOUNTS. - ALL PARTICIPANTS RECEIVE SOME STIPEND, WITH THE AWARD AMOUNT VARYING BASED ON DETERMINATION OF NEED. - SOME PARTICIPANTS RECEIVE STIPENDS, WITH THE AWARD AMOUNT VARYING BASED ON DETERMINATION OF NEED. IN THIS INSTANCE, APPLICANTS MUST APPLY FOR ASSISTANCE AS A SEPARATE PROCEDURE FROM THE GENERAL APPLICATION PROCESS AND ARE NOTIFIED THE AMOUNT OF THE TOTAL ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE BASED ON GRANT FUNDS AVAILABLE. APPLICATIONS FOR ASSISTANCE REQUIRE APPLICANTS TO ADDRESS THE FOLLOWING: - EXPLICITLY ANSWER THE QUESTION OF WHETHER OR NOT THEY NEED FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. - PROVIDE THE AMOUNT OF ASSISTANCE THAT THEY ARE REQUESTING BASED ON PRE-DETERMINED FUND AVAILABILITY. - EXPLAIN HOW THE FUNDING WOULD MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR THEM TO ATTEND THE PROGRAM WHEN THEY OTHERWISE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO. IF THE CASE IS COMPELLING, THE REQUEST FOR ASSISTANCE IS GRANTED UP TO THE LIMITS OF THE FUNDS AVAILABLE. IF THE EXPLANATION OF NEED INCLUDES THE COST OF EXPENSES THAT ARE ALREADY COVERED FOR ALL ATTENDEES, THE AMOUNT OF THE GRANT MAY BE REDUCED ACCORDINGLY. FOR EXAMPLE, THE DATA INSTITUTE PROGRAM COVERS THE COST OF LODGING AND TRAVEL FOR ALL ATTENDEES. IF LODGING/TRAVEL ARE INCLUDED IN THE EXPLANATION OF NEED, THE AMOUNT AWARDED MAY BE REDUCED. WHEN FUNDING IS PROVIDED VIA PASS-THROUGH GRANTS FROM OTHER ORGANIZATIONS, MONITORING OF FUND USAGE AND FOLLOW-UP ARE BASED UPON ONGOING VERBAL DIALOGUE, GRANT REPORTING REQUIREMENTS, AND WRITTEN GRANT REPORTS PROVIDED TO GRANTING ORGANIZATIONS AT THE END OF THE GRANT PERIOD. WHEN FUNDING IS PROVIDED THROUGH GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET DESIGNATION, PROPUBLICA MAINTAINS RECORDS OF INDIVIDUALS RECEIVING AND BENEFITTING FROM GRANT FUNDS, INCLUDING COMPLETED W-9 FORMS. AS THESE GRANTS ARE NEED-BASED, SUCH FUNDS MAY BE USED FOR ANY PURPOSE. B) NARRATIVE FOR ORGANIZATIONS & INDIVIDUALS RECEIVING ASSISTANCE THROUGH LOCAL REPORTING NETWORK: THE OTHER TYPE OF FUNDING PROPUBLICA PROVIDES IS THROUGH REGRANTING FOR ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS PARTICIPATING IN THE LOCAL REPORTING NETWORK INITIATIVE. THROUGH THIS INITIATIVE, PROPUBLICA PARTNERS WITH LOCAL NEWSROOMS THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES TO PROVIDE FUNDING FOR A REPORTER TO WORK ON AN INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM PROJECT FOR ONE YEAR. MOST OFTEN, THE GRANTEE IS THE NEWSROOM ORGANIZATION ITSELF; HOWEVER, OCCASIONALLY, FUNDING MAY BE PROVIDED DIRECTLY TO A REPORTER WITH AN AFFILIATION TO THE SELECTED NEWSROOM. NEWSROOMS ARE SELECTED TO PARTICIPATE IN LRN VIA A COMPETITIVE APPLICATION PROCESS, AND IN ADDITION TO FUNDING, LRN PARTNERS RECEIVE ACCESS TO PROPUBLICA RESOURCES INCLUDING EDITORS, TRAINING SESSIONS, AND CO-PUBLISHING OPPORTUNITIES. LRN GRANT AMOUNTS ARE DETERMINED BASED ON EACH REPORTER'S ANNUAL SALARY AND A STANDARD BENEFITS PERCENT ALLOCATION, WHICH WAS 23% FOR GRANTS ORIGINATING IN 2019, AND AMOUNTS ARE AGREED TO IN WRITING BY BOTH THE PARTICIPATING NEWSROOM AND PROPUBLICA. FUND USAGE FOR LRN IS MONITORED BY THE PROPUBLICA EDITORS WHO OVERSEE THE PROGRAM AND WORK DIRECTLY WITH THE REPORTERS. ULTIMATELY, THE REPORTERS ARE EXPECTED TO PUBLISH A FULL-LENGTH INVESTIGATIVE PIECE IN COORDINATION WITH PROPUBLICA. ALSO, PARTICIPATING ORGANIZATIONS MUST PROVIDE A WRITTEN ACCOUNTING FOR FUNDS USAGE AT THE END OF THE GRANT PERIOD, WHICH MOST OFTEN INCLUDES A COPY OF THE FUNDED REPORTER'S W2 FOR THE FUNDED GRANT YEAR.
Schedule I (Form 990) 2019



Additional Data


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Software Version:  


Schedule J
(Form 990)
Department of the Treasury
Internal Revenue Service
Compensation Information
For certain Officers, Directors, Trustees, Key Employees, and Highest
Compensated Employees
SchJMediumBullet Complete if the organization answered "Yes" on Form 990, Part IV, line 23.
SchJMediumBullet Attach to Form 990.
SchJMediumBullet Go to www.irs.gov/Form990 for instructions and the latest information.
OMB No. 1545-0047
2019
Open to Public Inspection
Name of the organization
PRO PUBLICA INC
 
Employer identification number

14-2007220
Part I
Questions Regarding Compensation
Yes
No
1a
Check the appropiate box(es) if the organization provided any of the following to or for a person listed on Form
990, Part VII, Section A, line 1a. Complete Part III to provide any relevant information regarding these items.
b
If any of the boxes on Line 1a are checked, did the organization follow a written policy regarding payment or reimbursement or provision of all of the expenses described above? If "No," complete Part III to explain .........
1b
 
 
2
Did the organization require substantiation prior to reimbursing or allowing expenses incurred by all
directors, trustees, officers, including the CEO/Executive Director, regarding the items checked on Line 1a? ..
2
 
 
3
Indicate which, if any, of the following the filing organization used to establish the compensation of the
organization's CEO/Executive Director. Check all that apply. Do not check any boxes for methods
used by a related organization to establish compensation of the CEO/Executive Director, but explain in Part III.
4
During the year, did any person listed on Form 990, Part VII, Section A, line 1a, with respect to the filing organization or a related organization:
a
Receive a severance payment or change-of-control payment? .............
4a
 
No
b
Participate in, or receive payment from, a supplemental nonqualified retirement plan? .........
4b
 
No
c
Participate in, or receive payment from, an equity-based compensation arrangement? .........
4c
 
No
If "Yes" to any of lines 4a-c, list the persons and provide the applicable amounts for each item in Part III.
Only 501(c)(3), 501(c)(4), and 501(c)(29) organizations must complete lines 5-9.
5
For persons listed on Form 990, Part VII, Section A, line 1a, did the organization pay or accrue any
compensation contingent on the revenues of:
a
The organization? ....................
5a
 
No
b
Any related organization? .......................
5b
 
No
If "Yes," on line 5a or 5b, describe in Part III.
6
For persons listed on Form 990, Part VII, Section A, line 1a, did the organization pay or accrue any
compensation contingent on the net earnings of:
a
The organization? ..................
6a
 
No
b
Any related organization? ......................
6b
 
No
If "Yes," on line 6a or 6b, describe in Part III.
7
For persons listed on Form 990, Part VII, Section A, line 1a, did the organization provide any nonfixed
payments not described in lines 5 and 6? If "Yes," describe in Part III ............
7
 
No
8
Were any amounts reported on Form 990, Part VII, paid or accured pursuant to a contract that was
subject to the initial contract exception described in Regulations section 53.4958-4(a)(3)? If "Yes," describe
in Part III ..........................
8
 
No
9
If "Yes" on line 8, did the organization also follow the rebuttable presumption procedure described in Regulations section 53.4958-6(c)? .........................
9
 
 
For Paperwork Reduction Act Notice, see the Instructions for Form 990.
Cat. No. 50053T
Schedule J (Form 990) 2019

Schedule J (Form 990) 2019
Page 2
Part II
Officers, Directors, Trustees, Key Employees, and Highest Compensated Employees. Use duplicate copies if additional space is needed.
For each individual whose compensation must be reported on Schedule J, report compensation from the organization on row (i) and from related organizations, described in the
instructions, on row (ii). Do not list any individuals that are not listed on Form 990, Part VII.
Note. The sum of columns (B)(i)-(iii) for each listed individual must equal the total amount of Form 990, Part VII, Section A, line 1a, applicable column (D) and (E) amounts for that individual.
(A) Name and Title (B) Breakdown of W-2 and/or 1099-MISC compensation (C) Retirement and other deferred compensation (D) Nontaxable
benefits		 (E) Total of columns
(B)(i)-(D) 		(F) Compensation in column (B) reported as deferred on prior Form 990
(i) Base
compensation 		(ii) Bonus & incentive
compensation 		(iii) Other reportable compensation
1STEPHEN ENGELBERG
CO-CEO & EDITOR-IN-CHIEF 		(i)

(ii)		 403,484
-------------
0 		0
-------------
0 		2,732
-------------
0 		14,000
-------------
0 		38,998
-------------
0 		459,214
-------------
0 		0
-------------
0
2RICHARD TOFEL PRESIDENT
CO-CEO & TREASURER 		(i)

(ii)		 413,321
-------------
0 		0
-------------
0 		2,732
-------------
0 		14,000
-------------
0 		15,543
-------------
0 		445,596
-------------
0 		0
-------------
0
3ROBIN FIELDS
MANAGING EDITOR 		(i)

(ii)		 298,972
-------------
0 		0
-------------
0 		952
-------------
0 		7,500
-------------
0 		11,738
-------------
0 		319,162
-------------
0 		0
-------------
0
4JESSE EISINGER
SENIOR REPORTER 		(i)

(ii)		 237,039
-------------
0 		0
-------------
0 		621
-------------
0 		12,288
-------------
0 		36,298
-------------
0 		286,246
-------------
0 		0
-------------
0
5RAGAN RHYNE VICE PRESIDENT OF
DEVELOPMENT & SECRETARY 		(i)

(ii)		 255,994
-------------
0 		0
-------------
0 		456
-------------
0 		12,875
-------------
0 		1,514
-------------
0 		270,839
-------------
0 		0
-------------
0
6CHARLES ORNSTEIN
SENIOR EDITOR 		(i)

(ii)		 213,700
-------------
0 		0
-------------
0 		621
-------------
0 		11,625
-------------
0 		43,797
-------------
0 		269,743
-------------
0 		0
-------------
0
7TRACY WEBER
SENIOR EDITOR 		(i)

(ii)		 227,018
-------------
0 		0
-------------
0 		1,780
-------------
0 		11,638
-------------
0 		24,886
-------------
0 		265,322
-------------
0 		0
-------------
0
8JOSEPH SEXTON
SENIOR EDITOR 		(i)

(ii)		 217,670
-------------
0 		0
-------------
0 		2,732
-------------
0 		11,275
-------------
0 		24,882
-------------
0 		256,559
-------------
0 		0
-------------
0
Schedule J (Form 990) 2019

Schedule J (Form 990) 2019
Page 3
Part III
Supplemental Information
Provide the information, explanation, or descriptions required for Part I, lines 1a, 1b, 3, 4a, 4b, 4c, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7, and 8, and for Part II. Also complete this part for any additional information.
Return Reference Explanation
Schedule J (Form 990) 2019

Additional Data


Software ID:  
Software Version:  
SCHEDULE M
(Form 990)

Department of the Treasury
Internal Revenue Service
Noncash Contributions
Right pointing arrow large imageComplete if the organizations answered "Yes" on Form 990, Part IV, lines 29 or 30.
Right pointing arrow large image Attach to Form 990.
Right pointing arrow large imageGo to www.irs.gov/Form990 for the latest information.
OMB No. 1545-0047
2019
Open to Public Inspection
Name of the organization
PRO PUBLICA INC
 
Employer identification number

14-2007220
Part I
Types of Property
(a)
Check if applicable 		(b)
Number of contributions or items contributed 		(c)
Noncash contribution amounts reported on
Form 990, Part VIII, line 1g 		(d)
Method of determining
noncash contribution amounts
1 Art—Works of art ....        
2 Art—Historical treasures .        
3 Art—Fractional interests ..        
4 Books and publications ..      
5 Clothing and household
goods ....... 		     
6 Cars and other vehicles ..        
7 Boats and planes ....        
8 Intellectual property ...        
9 Securities—Publicly traded . X 34 203,384 AVG. SELLING PRICE
10 Securities—Closely held stock .        
11 Securities—Partnership, LLC,
or trust interests .... 		       
12 Securities—Miscellaneous ..        
13 Qualified conservation
contribution—Historic
structures ..... 		       
14 Qualified conservation
contribution—Other ... 		       
15 Real estate—Residential .        
16 Real estate—Commercial ..        
17 Real estate—Other ...        
18 Collectibles .....        
19 Food inventory ...        
20 Drugs and medical supplies .        
21 Taxidermy ......        
22 Historical artifacts ....        
23 Scientific specimens ..        
24 Archeological artifacts ...        
25 Other Right pointing arrow large image ( )
26 Other Right pointing arrow large image ( )
27 Other Right pointing arrow large image ( )
28 Other Right pointing arrow large image ( )
29
Number of Forms 8283 received by the organization during the tax year for contributions
for which the organization completed Form 8283, Part IV, Donee Acknowledgement
29
0
Yes
No
30a
During the year, did the organization receive by contribution any property reported in Part I, lines 1 through 28, that it must hold for at least three years from the date of the initial contribution, and which isn't required to be used for exempt purposes for the entire holding period? ...................
30a
 
No
b
If "Yes," describe the arrangement in Part II.
31
Does the organization have a gift acceptance policy that requires the review of any nonstandard contributions?
31
 
No
32a
Does the organization hire or use third parties or related organizations to solicit, process, or sell noncash
contributions? ..........................
32a
 
No
b
If "Yes," describe in Part II.
33
If the organization didn't report an amount in column (c) for a type of property for which column (a) is checked,
describe in Part II.
For Paperwork Reduction Act Notice, see the Instructions for Form 990.
Cat. No. 51227J
Schedule M (Form 990) (2019)
Schedule M (Form 990) (2019)
Page 2
Part IISupplemental Information. Provide the information required by Part I, lines 30b, 32b, and 33, and whether the organization is reporting in Part I, column (b), the number of contributions, the number of items received, or a combination of both. Also complete this part for any additional information.
Return Reference Explanation
PART I, COLUMN (B): THE ORGANIZATION IS REPORTING THE NUMBER OF CONTRIBUTORS IN PART 1, COLUMN (B) OF SCHEDULE M.
Schedule M (Form 990) (2019)

Additional Data


Software ID:  
Software Version:  
SCHEDULE O
(Form 990 or 990-EZ)

Department of the Treasury
Internal Revenue Service
Supplemental Information to Form 990 or 990-EZ

Complete to provide information for responses to specific questions on
Form 990 or 990-EZ or to provide any additional information.
MediumBullet Attach to Form 990 or 990-EZ.
MediumBullet Go to www.irs.gov/Form990 for the latest information.
OMB No. 1545-0047
2019
Open to Public
Inspection
Name of the organization
PRO PUBLICA INC
 
Employer identification number

14-2007220
Return Reference Explanation
FORM 990, PART III, LINE 4A, DESCRIPTION OF PROGRAM SERVICE: OUR WORK SPURRED SIGNIFICANT IMPACT, INCLUDING THE SCRAPPING OF INDUSTRY-BACKED LEGISLATION THAT WOULD HAVE BARRED THE IRS FROM CREATING A FREE ELECTRONIC TAX FILING SYSTEM, MAJOR REFORMS TO CHICAGO'S AGGRESSIVE AND UNEQUAL TICKETING SYSTEM, MEDICAL DEBT CLEARED FOR SOME OF MEMPHIS', TENNESSEE'S POOREST PATIENTS, HATE GROUP MEMBERS SENTENCED TO PRISON, AN EMERGENCY BAN ON ISOLATED SECLUSION IN ILLINOIS SCHOOLS, AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS ALLOCATED TO IMPROVE PUBLIC SAFETY IN ALASKA. OUR JOURNALISM SHINED A LIGHT ON THREE OF THE MILITARY'S DEADLIEST ACCIDENTS IN DECADES AFTER SENIOR OFFICIALS IGNORED YEARS OF WARNINGS, A STUDENT AID LOOPHOLE IN WHICH WEALTHY PARENTS GAVE UP CUSTODY OF THEIR CHILDREN TO ACCESS NEED-BASED SCHOLARSHIPS, HOW THE INTENSE DEADLINE PRESSURE THAT AMAZON PUTS ON INDEPENDENT DELIVERY DRIVERS THREATENS PUBLIC SAFETY, A SECRET FACEBOOK PAGE WHERE CURRENT AND FORMER BORDER PATROL AGENTS SHARED JOKES ABOUT MIGRANT DEATHS, THE PERVASIVE USE OF JAILHOUSE INFORMANTS AND HOW THE PRACTICE CORRUPTS THE JUSTICE SYSTEM, POLITICALLY CONNECTED BILLIONAIRES BENEFITING FROM THE OPPORTUNITY ZONE TAX BREAK INTENDED AS AN ANTI-POVERTY MEASURE, AND HOW CARBON OFFSETS HAVE FAILED TO DELIVER THEIR PROMISED CLIMATE BENEFITS. IN 2019, PROPUBLICA EXPANDED ITS LOCAL REPORTING NETWORK TO 21 NEWSROOMS AROUND THE COUNTRY, WITH PROJECTS THAT EXPOSED HOW CALIFORNIA'S EFFORTS TO REDUCE THE POPULATION OF STATE PRISONS HAVE LED TO OVERCROWDED AND DANGEROUS CONDITIONS IN ITS COUNTY JAILS, THE PETROCHEMICAL INDUSTRY'S RAPID GROWTH IN LOUISIANA'S MOST POLLUTED COMMUNITIES, HOW THE LARGEST HOSPITAL SYSTEM IN MEMPHIS HAS SUED AND GARNISHED THE WAGES OF THOUSANDS OF POOR PATIENTS FOR UNPAID MEDICAL BILLS, AND HOW A LACK OF PUBLIC SAFETY RESOURCES AND GENERATIONS OF BROKEN GOVERNMENT PROMISES HAVE CREATED A SEXUAL ASSAULT AND CHILD-ABUSE CRISIS IN ALASKA. WE ALSO ANNOUNCED A NEW PARTNERSHIP WITH THE TEXAS TRIBUNE FOR A JOINTLY OPERATED INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING UNIT SERVING TEXAS BEGINNING IN 2020 AND LAUNCHED COLLABORATE, AN OPEN-SOURCE TOOL THAT MAKES IT EASIER FOR REPORTERS AND NEWSROOMS TO WORK TOGETHER ON DATA COLLABORATIONS. PROPUBLICA WON THE PULITZER PRIZE - OUR FIFTH - FOR FEATURE WRITING FOR A SERIES ON MS-13 CO-PUBLISHED WITH NEW YORK MAGAZINE, NEWSDAY AND THE NEW YORK TIMES MAGAZINE. OUR SERIES "ZERO TOLERANCE" WAS A FINALIST FOR THE PULITZER GOLD MEDAL FOR PUBLIC SERVICE, IN ADDITION TO WINNING THE FIRST-EVER PEABODY "CATALYST" AWARD AND THE GEORGE POLK AWARD FOR IMMIGRATION REPORTING. THE PROPUBLICA AND PBS FRONTLINE COLLABORATION "DOCUMENTING HATE" WON THE NEWS & DOCUMENTARY EMMY AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING INVESTIGATIVE DOCUMENTARY AND AN ALFRED I. DUPONT-COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY AWARD. OUR PUBLISHING PARTNERSHIPS CONTINUED TO GROW, WITH 70 IN 2019 ALONE. PARTNERS OVER THE PAST YEAR INCLUDED THE NEW YORK TIMES, THE WASHINGTON POST, NPR NEWS, FRONTLINE, UNIVISION, THE NEW YORKER AND THE ATLANTIC, AS WELL AS NEW NATIONAL PARTNERS AMERICAN BANKER, MILITARY TIMES AND THE TRACE. GROWING PLATFORM ACROSS ALL OUR DISTRIBUTION PLATFORMS, INCLUDING THIRD-PARTY DISTRIBUTORS SUCH AS APPLE NEWS, MICROSOFT NEWS, GOOGLE NEWS AND SMARTNEWS, MANY PROPUBLICA STORIES THIS YEAR RECORDED MORE THAN 1 MILLION PAGE VIEWS. OVERALL, TRAFFIC ON OUR OWN SITE ROSE 42%, WHILE NEWSLETTER SUBSCRIPTIONS NEARLY DOUBLED TO MORE THAN 250,000. IMPACT THE MOST IMPORTANT TEST OF PROPUBLICA IS WHETHER OUR WORK IS MAKING AN IMPACT. WE MEASURE OUR IMPACT NOT IN TERMS OF AUDIENCE SIZE OR HONORS BUT IN REAL-WORLD CHANGE. IN 2019, OUR JOURNALISM SPURRED SUCH CHANGE IN A NUMBER OF IMPORTANT AREAS. IRS REFORMS FREE TAX FILING PROGRAM IN APRIL, PROPUBLICA DREW ATTENTION TO A PROVISION IN THE PROPOSED TAXPAYER FIRST ACT THAT WOULD PERMANENTLY BAR THE IRS FROM CREATING A FREE ELECTRONIC TAX FILING SYSTEM, A MOVE THAT INTUIT, THE MAKER OF TURBOTAX;, H&R BLOCK;, AND OTHER TAX SOFTWARE COMPANIES HAVE SPENT MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN LOBBYING TO ENSURE. LATER THAT MONTH, WE SHOWED HOW TURBOTAX USES DECEPTIVE DESIGN, MISLEADING ADS AND TECHNICAL TRICKS TO GET PEOPLE TO PAY TO FILE THEIR TAXES, EVEN WHEN THEY ARE ELIGIBLE TO FILE FOR FREE. IN RESPONSE TO OUR STORIES, SCORES OF READERS CALLED TURBOTAX TO COMPLAIN - AND THE COMPANY AGREED TO REFUND THEIR MONEY. INTUIT ALSO CHANGED THE CODE ON THE TURBOTAX FREE FILE PAGE SO THAT IT IS NO LONGER HIDDEN FROM SEARCH ENGINES. IN MAY, THE IRS AND ITS INSPECTOR GENERAL ANNOUNCED AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE AGENCY'S FREE FILE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE TAX PREP INDUSTRY. THE NEW YORK DEPARTMENT OF FINANCIAL SERVICES LAUNCHED ITS OWN INVESTIGATION INTO INTUIT, H&R BLOCK AND TWO OTHER TAX PREP COMPANIES, AND THE LOS ANGELES CITY ATTORNEY FILED A LAWSUIT AGAINST INTUIT AND H&R BLOCK. IN JUNE, AMID GROWING PUBLIC OUTCRY FROM OUR INVESTIGATION, THE HOUSE AND SENATE PASSED A NEW VERSION OF THE TAXPAYER FIRST ACT THAT REMOVED THE INDUSTRY-BACKED PROVISION THAT WOULD HAVE ENSHRINED THE CURRENT SYSTEM. BY DECEMBER, THE IRS AGREED TO MAJOR REFORMS WITH THE TAX PREP SOFTWARE INDUSTRY, INCLUDING BARRING COMPANIES FROM HIDING THEIR FREE PRODUCTS FROM SEARCH ENGINES. THE CHANGES ALSO SCRAPPED A YEARS-OLD PROHIBITION ON THE IRS CREATING ITS OWN ONLINE FILING SYSTEM THAT WOULD ALLOW CITIZENS TO SIMPLY FILE THEIR TAXES FOR FREE. DISCRIMINATORY FACEBOOK POLICIES TERMINATED IN 2016, PROPUBLICA REPORTED THAT FACEBOOK ALLOWED ADVERTISERS TO BUY CREDIT, HOUSING AND EMPLOYMENT ADS THAT EXCLUDE ANYONE WITH AFRICAN AMERICAN, ASIAN AMERICAN OR LATINO AFFINITIES FROM SEEING THEM. OUR 2017 FOLLOW-UP FOUND THAT THE SOCIAL NETWORK HAD NOT REMEDIED THE PROBLEM. IN MARCH, THE COMPANY ANNOUNCED THAT FACEBOOK ADVERTISERS CAN NO LONGER TARGET USERS BY AGE, GENDER AND ZIP CODE FOR HOUSING, EMPLOYMENT AND CREDIT OFFERS - SWEEPING CHANGES INCLUDED IN A MAJOR SETTLEMENT WITH CIVIL RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS. A WEEK LATER, HOWEVER, THE DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT SUED FACEBOOK FOR VIOLATING THE FAIR HOUSING ACT, ALLEGING THAT THE SOCIAL NETWORK'S AD SYSTEM HAS THE EFFECT OF DISCRIMINATING EVEN WHEN ADVERTISERS DID NOT CHOOSE TO DO SO. IN A CIVIL RIGHTS AUDIT RELEASED IN JULY, FACEBOOK PLEDGED TO CREATE A NEW PORTAL SPECIFICALLY FOR ADVERTISERS BUYING HOUSING, EMPLOYMENT AND CREDIT ADS THAT WOULD LIMIT THE OPTIONS AVAILABLE AND REMOVE MORE THAN 5,000 CATEGORIES RELATED TO PROTECTED GROUPS OF PEOPLE. NEW YORK'S DEPARTMENT OF FINANCIAL SERVICES ALSO LAUNCHED ITS OWN INVESTIGATION INTO FACEBOOK AND WHETHER STATE-REGULATED ADVERTISERS ARE USING THE PLATFORM TO DISCRIMINATE. AND IN SEPTEMBER, THE U.S. EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION RULED THAT SEVEN EMPLOYERS, INCLUDING CAPITAL ONE, EDWARD JONES AND ENTERPRISE HOLDINGS, VIOLATED CIVIL RIGHTS LAW THROUGH THEIR USE OF FACEBOOK'S TARGETING ADVERTISING BEFORE 2019 TO EXCLUDE WOMEN AND OLDER WORKERS FROM JOB ADS. CHICAGO MAYOR MOVES TO END CITY'S PUNITIVE TICKETING PRACTICES IN 2018, A PROPUBLICA ILLINOIS AND WBEZ INVESTIGATION SHOWED THAT CHICAGO USES AGGRESSIVE TICKETING PRACTICES TO BOOST REVENUE, DISPROPORTIONATELY TARGETING POOR, MINORITY RESIDENTS AND TRAPPING THEM IN SPIRALING DEBT. THE CITY'S PUNITIVE COLLECTION MEASURES, INCLUDING BOOTING AND IMPOUNDING VEHICLES OR SUSPENDING DRIVER'S LICENSES AS A WAY TO PRESSURE DEBTORS TO PAY THEIR TICKETS, HAVE PUSHED TENS OF THOUSANDS OF MOSTLY BLACK MOTORISTS INTO CHAPTER 13 BANKRUPTCY. IN RESPONSE TO OUR REPORTING, A FEDERAL APPEALS COURT RULED THAT CHICAGO CAN NO LONGER HOLD IMPOUNDED CARS AFTER DRIVERS FILE FOR BANKRUPTCY. IN JULY, NEW MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT INTRODUCED A SERIES OF PROPOSALS TO REFORM THE CITY'S BROKEN TICKETING SYSTEM, INCLUDING NO LONGER ALLOWING LICENSE SUSPENSIONS OVER UNPAID PARKING TICKETS AND MAKING CITY PAYMENT PLANS MORE AFFORDABLE. IN SEPTEMBER, THE CHICAGO CITY COUNCIL APPROVED AN OVERHAUL OF ITS PUNITIVE SYSTEM, MAKING CHICAGO THE LARGEST U.S. CITY TO ENACT MAJOR REFORMS OF ITS SYSTEM OF FINES AND FEES; AND IN OCTOBER, ILLINOIS LAWMAKERS PASSED THE LICENSE TO WORK ACT, ENDING LICENSE SUSPENSIONS FOR A NUMBER OF NON-MOVING VIOLATIONS, INCLUDING UNPAID PARKING AND VEHICLE COMPLIANCE TICKETS. TROUBLED CHARITY MORE THAN ME SHUTS DOWN IN PARTNERSHIP WITH TIME MAGAZINE, PROPUBLICA LAUNCHED AN INVESTIGATION IN 2018 INTO AN ACCLAIMED AMERICAN CHARITY CALLED MORE THAN ME OPERATING IN LIBERIA. IT REVEALED HOW THE ORGANIZATION MISSED KEY OPPORTUNITIES TO PREVENT THE RAPE OF GIRLS IN ITS CARE BY SENIOR STAFF MEMBER MACINTOSH JOHNSON, MISLED DONORS AND THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE EXTENT OF THE ABUSE AND FAILED TO ENSURE ALL OF HIS POTENTIAL VICTIMS WERE TESTED AFTER IT CAME TO LIGHT HE HAD AIDS WHEN HE DIED. IN MAY, THE NONPROFIT'S U.S. BOARD RELEASED AN INDEPENDENT REPORT THAT ECHOED OUR FINDINGS, IDENTIFYING SIGNIFICANT DEFICITS IN MORE THAN ME'S POLICIES, GOVERNANCE AND ADMINISTRATION AND STRONGLY CRITICIZING THE ACTIONS OF FOUNDER AND EX-CEO KATIE MEYLER, WHO RESIGNED IN APRIL.
IN JUNE, A PANEL OF LIBERIAN CIVIL SOCIETY LEADERS HEADED BY A PROMINENT LOCAL LAWYER ALSO PUBLISHED AN INDEPENDENT REPORT CALLING OUT MORE THAN ME'S AMERICAN BOARD FOR AN "ASTONISHING FAILURE OF OVERSIGHT." LATER THAT MONTH, MORE THAN ME SHUTTERED ITS OPERATIONS, CITING "SEVERE FINANCIAL PRESSURE DUE TO OUR INABILITY TO FUNDRAISE." NONPROFIT HOSPITAL STOPS SUING ITS OWN EMPLOYEES MLK50, A MEMBER OF OUR LOCAL REPORTING NETWORK, PARTNERED WITH PROPUBLICA FOR AN INVESTIGATION INTO METHODIST LE BONHEUR HEALTHCARE, THE LARGEST HOSPITAL SYSTEM IN MEMPHIS, AND HOW IT HAS SUED AND GARNISHED THE WAGES OF THOUSANDS OF ITS POOREST PATIENTS, INCLUDING ITS OWN EMPLOYEES, FOR UNPAID MEDICAL BILLS. AS A NONPROFIT, METHODIST PAYS VIRTUALLY NO LOCAL, STATE OR FEDERAL INCOME TAX AND IN RETURN IS SUPPOSED TO PROVIDE COMMUNITY BENEFITS. BUT ITS FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE POLICY ALL BUT IGNORED PATIENTS WITH ANY FORM OF HEALTH INSURANCE, NO MATTER THEIR OUT-OF-POCKET COSTS. ITS HEALTH PLAN ALSO DIDN'T ALLOW METHODIST EMPLOYEES TO SEEK CARE AT HOSPITALS WITH MORE GENEROUS FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE POLICIES. PROMPTED BY OUR REPORTING, METHODIST'S CEO PROMISED A 30-DAY REVIEW OF ITS COLLECTION POLICY AND SUSPENDED COURT COLLECTION ACTIVITIES OVER UNPAID MEDICAL BILLS DURING THAT PERIOD, IMMEDIATELY DROPPING MORE THAN TWO DOZEN CASES THAT WERE SET FOR INITIAL HEARINGS. ONCE THE REVIEW WAS COMPLETED AT THE END OF JULY, METHODIST ANNOUNCED A BROAD RANGE OF REFORMS, INCLUDING THAT IT WOULD RAISE ITS MINIMUM WAGE, DRAMATICALLY EXPAND ITS FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE POLICY FOR HOSPITAL CARE AND STOP SUING ITS OWN EMPLOYEES FOR UNPAID MEDICAL DEBTS. IN SEPTEMBER, METHODIST FORGAVE NEARLY $12 MILLION IN DEBTS OWED BY MORE THAN 6,500 PATIENTS, INCLUDING MORE THAN $30,000 FROM A WOMAN FEATURED IN OUR STORY. EMERGENCY BAN ON "ISOLATED TIMEOUTS" ENACTED IN NOVEMBER, PROPUBLICA ILLINOIS PARTNERED WITH THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE ON AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE USE OF "ISOLATED TIMEOUT" ROOMS WITHIN ILLINOIS PUBLIC SCHOOLS. WE FOUND THAT CHILDREN AS YOUNG AS FIVE WERE SENT TO SECLUSION ROOMS, SOMETIMES FOR HOURS ON END, ALONE AND OFTEN TERRIFIED, FOR INFRACTIONS AS MINOR AS SPILLING MILK. THESE ISOLATED TIMEOUTS WERE ROUTINELY - AND ILLEGALLY - MISUSED ACROSS THE STATE. THE DAY AFTER OUR REPORT WAS PUBLISHED, GOV. J.B. PRITZKER CALLED THE PRACTICE "APPALLING AND VOWED TO WORK WITH LEGISLATORS TO ENACT A PERMANENT BAN. IN ADDITION, HE DIRECTED THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION TO MAKE EMERGENCY RULES TO END ISOLATED SECLUSION IN ILLINOIS SCHOOLS. UNDER THESE RULES, CHILDREN ARE NOW PUT IN TIMEOUT ONLY IF A "TRAINED ADULT" IS IN THE ROOM AND THE DOOR IS UNLOCKED. TIMEOUTS MUST ALSO BE USED ONLY FOR THERAPEUTIC REASONS OR TO PROTECT THE SAFETY OF STUDENTS AND STAFF. POLICE CHARGED WITH MISCONDUCT THE SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE, A MEMBER OF OUR LOCAL REPORTING NETWORK, PARTNERED WITH PROPUBLICA FOR A 2018 INVESTIGATION THAT REVEALED DEEP FLAWS AND ABUSES OF POWER IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IN ELKHART, INDIANA. AMONG OTHER REVELATIONS, THE SERIES REVEALED VIDEO SHOWING TWO ELKHART POLICE OFFICERS REPEATEDLY PUNCHING A HANDCUFFED MAN - AN INCIDENT FOR WHICH THE OFFICERS HAD BEEN ISSUED ONLY REPRIMANDS AND WHICH ONLY BECAME PUBLIC AFTER PROPUBLICA AND THE TRIBUNE BEGAN INVESTIGATING. IN MARCH, A FEDERAL GRAND JURY INDICTED THE TWO POLICE OFFICERS ON CIVIL RIGHTS CHARGES. AN OUTSIDE STUDY OF THE ELKHART POLICE DEPARTMENT ORDERED AFTER OUR INVESTIGATION FOUND THAT THE FORCE LACKS ACCOUNTABILITY, WITH OFFICERS VIEWED IN THE COMMUNITY AS "COWBOYS" WHO ENGAGE IN "ROUGH TREATMENT OF CIVILIANS." THE STUDY ALSO OFFERED RECOMMENDATIONS TO MAKE OFFICER DISCIPLINE MORE CONSISTENT, PROMOTIONS LESS POLITICAL, CITIZEN COMPLAINTS EASIER TO FILE AND THE DEPARTMENT'S WORKINGS MORE TRANSPARENT. UNSAFE CHILDREN'S SHELTERS CLOSED PROPUBLICA ILLINOIS REPORTED EXTENSIVELY IN 2018 ON CONDITIONS INSIDE THE STATE'S SHELTERS FOR IMMIGRANT CHILDREN, FINDING PROBLEMS INCLUDING SEXUAL ABUSE, LAX SUPERVISION AND RUNAWAY CHILDREN. IN MARCH, HEARTLAND HUMAN CARE SERVICES, WHICH MANAGED SOME OF THE SHELTERS FEATURED IN THIS REPORTING, ANNOUNCED PLANS TO CLOSE FOUR OF ITS SHELTERS IN SUBURBAN CHICAGO AND ADD STAFF, TRAINING AND OTHER RESOURCES AT ITS REMAINING FIVE FACILITIES. FEDERAL FUNDING APPROVED TO PREVENT LAND THEFT IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE NEW YORKER, PROPUBLICA PUBLISHED AN INVESTIGATION INTO HEIRS' PROPERTY, A LEGAL MEANS FOR LAND TO BE PASSED DOWN TO FAMILY WITHOUT A WILL, WHICH HAS MADE PROPERTY OWNERS VULNERABLE TO LOSING THEIR LAND AND PROHIBITS THEM FROM RECEIVING THE FULL BENEFITS OF LAND OWNERSHIP. THIS HAD LED TO BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN LAND LOSS, PRIMARY BY BLACK LANDOWNERS IN THE SOUTHERN U.S. WITHIN DAYS OF OUR REPORTING, SENS. DOUG JONES OF ALABAMA AND TIM SCOTT OF SOUTH CAROLINA SENT A LETTER URGING THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE TO IMMEDIATELY IMPLEMENT HEIRS' PROPERTY PROVISIONS THAT WERE SECURED IN THE AGRICULTURE IMPROVEMENT ACT OF 2018. SHORTLY AFTER, THE USDA ANNOUNCED TWO LISTENING SESSIONS ON HEIRS' PROPERTY TO ASSIST WITH A RELENDING PROGRAM TO CLEAR TITLES AND ADDRESS OBSTACLES TO GAINING ACCESS TO CERTAIN GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS. IN OCTOBER, THE U.S. SENATE PASSED AN AMENDMENT TO HELP HEIRS' PROPERTY OWNERS CLEAR THEIR TITLES. THE AMENDMENT, WHICH ALSO PASSED IN THE HOUSE, INCLUDES $5 MILLION IN FUNDING FOR LENDING ORGANIZATIONS TO PROVIDE LOANS TO LANDOWNERS WHO ARE SEEKING TO CLEAR UP OR CONSOLIDATE OWNERSHIP, HELPING THEM PAY FOR LEGAL ASSISTANCE OR OBTAIN NECESSARY DOCUMENTATION. BORDER PATROL FACEBOOK GROUP SPURS MULTIPLE INVESTIGATIONS IN JULY, PROPUBLICA UNCOVERED A SECRET FACEBOOK GROUP WHERE CURRENT AND FORMER BORDER PATROL AGENTS WERE CAUGHT SHARING VULGAR AND DEROGATORY POSTS, INCLUDING JOKES ABOUT MIGRANT DEATHS AND DEPICTIONS OF REP. ALEXANDRIA OCASIO-CORTEZ BEING SEXUALLY ASSAULTED. IN RESPONSE TO OUR STORY, U.S. CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION INFORMED INVESTIGATORS WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY'S OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL AND OPENED AN INQUIRY. THE HOUSE COMMITTEE ON OVERSIGHT AND REFORM LAUNCHED ITS OWN PROBE WITH A HEARING THAT INCLUDED OCASIO-CORTEZ QUESTIONING THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY CHIEF AT THE TIME. CBP ALSO PLACED SEVERAL EMPLOYEES ON RESTRICTED DUTY AND ISSUED LETTERS TO THOSE CONFIRMED AS BEING ACTIVE IN THE FACEBOOK GROUP, INSTRUCTING THEM TO STOP POSTING OBJECTIONABLE MATERIAL. WITHIN WEEKS, TOP CBP OFFICIALS ANNOUNCED THE AGENCY HAD OPENED INVESTIGATIONS INTO 70 INDIVIDUALS, INCLUDING 62 CURRENT AND EIGHT FORMER EMPLOYEES, WITH CONNECTIONS TO THE GROUP. FEDERAL OFFICIALS WORK TO CLOSE STUDENT AID LOOPHOLES PROPUBLICA ILLINOIS WAS THE FIRST TO REPORT THAT DOZENS OF WELL-OFF PARENTS ARE GIVING UP CUSTODY OF THEIR CHILDREN TO ACCESS NEED-BASED SCHOLARSHIPS AND COLLEGE FINANCIAL AID THAT THEY WOULDN'T BE ELIGIBLE FOR OTHERWISE. SHORTLY AFTER WE PUBLISHED, THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION'S INSPECTOR GENERAL SAID IT WANTS TO CLOSE THIS LEGAL LOOPHOLE AND RECOMMENDED MODIFYING THE LANGUAGE ON FEDERAL FINANCIAL AID FORMS; THE ILLINOIS GOVERNOR VOWED TO ROOT OUT PARENTS WHO WERE SCAMMING THE SYSTEM AND DIRECTED HIS STAFF TO FURTHER INVESTIGATE THE ISSUE; AND THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI STARTED EXAMINING ITS STUDENTS, SAYING IT WOULD PULL FINANCIAL AID FROM ANYONE CAUGHT EXPLOITING GUARDIANSHIP FOR THEIR OWN PERSONAL GAIN. MEMBERS OF THE ILLINOIS HOUSE HIGHER EDUCATION AND APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEES ALSO HELD HEARINGS ON THE SCANDAL TO EXPLORE THE POTENTIAL DRAFTING OF A NEW LAW. THREE WHITE SUPREMACISTS SENTENCED TO PRISON IN 2018, PROPUBLICA AND PBS FRONTLINE PUBLISHED A SERIES OF INVESTIGATIONS, INCLUDING TWO FULL-LENGTH DOCUMENTARIES, IDENTIFYING SOME OF THE MOST VIOLENT FIGURES WITHIN AMERICA'S RESURGENT WHITE SUPREMACIST MOVEMENT AND THEIR INVOLVEMENT IN THE DEADLY 2017 "UNITE THE RIGHT" RALLY IN CHARLOTTESVILLE, VIRGINIA. BY MAY 2019, FOUR MEMBERS OR ASSOCIATES OF THE HATE GROUP RISE ABOVE MOVEMENT PLEADED GUILTY TO FEDERAL CHARGES FOR THEIR ROLE IN THE VIOLENCE. IN JULY, THREE OF THE MEN WERE SENTENCED TO MORE THAN TWO YEARS IN PRISON. THE FOURTH MAN IS STILL AWAITING SENTENCE. FEDERAL FUNDS PULLED FROM HARMFUL PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL IN 2018, PROPUBLICA ILLINOIS UNCOVERED NUMEROUS ALLEGATIONS OF SEXUAL ABUSE AND ASSAULT AGAINST CHILDREN WHO WERE PATIENTS AT CHICAGO LAKESHORE HOSPITAL, A PSYCHIATRIC FACILITY. IN RESPONSE TO THE REPORT, IN 2019 THE CENTERS FOR MEDICARE AND MEDICAID SERVICES TERMINATED AN AGREEMENT WITH LAKESHORE AND PULLED FEDERAL FUNDING FROM THE HOSPITAL. THE ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH ALSO ANNOUNCED IT IS MOVING FORWARD WITH PLANS TO REVOKE THE HOSPITAL'S LICENSE. MILLIONS ALLOCATED TO IMPROVE ALASKA PUBLIC SAFETY THE ANCHORAGE DAILY NEWS, A MEMBER OF THE PROPUBLICA LOCAL REPORTING NETWORK, PARTNERED WITH US FOR A PROJECT THAT UNCOVERED DISTURBING LEVELS OF SEXUAL ABUSE IN ALASKA'S REMOTE, RURAL VILLAGES. ALMOST ALL OF THESE COMMUNITIES ARE PRIMARILY ALASKA NATIVE AND OFTEN HAVE NO LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT.
IN THE WAKE OF OUR INVESTIGATION, U.S. ATTORNEY GENERAL WILLIAM BARR VISITED ALASKA TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE PROBLEMS HIGHLIGHTED IN OUR REPORT. IN JUNE, HE DECLARED AN EMERGENCY FOR PUBLIC SAFETY IN RURAL ALASKA AND ANNOUNCED MORE THAN $10 MILLION IN FUNDS AS PART OF A SWEEPING PLAN TO BETTER SUPPORT LAW ENFORCEMENT IN ALASKA NATIVE VILLAGES, INCLUDING THREE NEW FEDERAL PROSECUTORS TO FOCUS ON RURAL ALASKA, THE HIRING OF 20 MORE OFFICERS AND UPGRADING PUBLIC SAFETY INFRASTRUCTURE FOR ALASKA VILLAGES. IN OCTOBER, BARR ANNOUNCED AN ADDITIONAL $42 MILLION TOWARD MORE VILLAGE LAW ENFORCEMENT AND TRIBAL VICTIM SERVICES. ERROR-RIDDLED IMMIGRATION RULE CORRECTED IN AUGUST, PROPUBLICA REVEALED THAT A SWEEPING IMMIGRATION POLICY RUSHED BY THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION - INTENDED TO MAKE IT HARDER FOR LOW-INCOME IMMIGRANTS TO COME TO OR REMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES - INCLUDED A PROVISION TREATING THE FAMILIES OF U.S. CITIZENS IN THE MILITARY MORE HARSHLY THAN FAMILIES OF NONCITIZENS IN THE MILITARY. SIX WEEKS LATER, THE ADMINISTRATION ANNOUNCED THAT IT WOULD CORRECT THESE SUBSTANTIVE ERRORS. RHODE ISLAND MOVES TO CERTIFY 911 CALL TAKERS IN CPR PROPUBLICA'S LOCAL REPORTING NETWORK SERIES WITH THE PUBLIC'S RADIO EXAMINED RHODE ISLAND'S 911 SYSTEM AND HOW A LACK OF TRAINING AND RESOURCES HAS LEFT OPERATORS ILL-PREPARED FOR THE MOST URGENT MEDICAL EMERGENCIES, INCLUDING CARDIAC ARREST, AND IS RESULTING IN UNNECESSARY DEATHS. UNLIKE EVERY OTHER NEW ENGLAND STATE, RHODE ISLAND DOESN'T REQUIRE ITS 911 OPERATORS TO BE TRAINED IN HOW TO PROVIDE CPR INSTRUCTIONS BY PHONE - A CRUCIAL STEP THAT CAN POTENTIALLY PREVENT HUNDREDS OF UNNECESSARY DEATHS EACH YEAR. IN RESPONSE TO OUR INVESTIGATION, RHODE ISLAND'S LEGISLATURE INCREASED THE TRAINING BUDGET FOR 911 CALL TAKERS TO CERTIFY THEM IN EMERGENCY MEDICAL DISPATCH AND TO COLLECT DATA TRACKING THEIR PERFORMANCE. THE STATE POLICE SUPERINTENDENT PLEDGED TO CONDUCT A THOROUGH REVIEW OF PROCEDURES AND TRAINING PROVIDED TO 911 CALL TAKERS, AND IN APRIL, GOV. GINA RAIMONDO SUPPORTED THE SUPERINTENDENT'S RECOMMENDATION TO HAVE ALL OF THE STATE'S 911 CALL TAKERS TRAINED TO PROVIDE EMERGENCY MEDICAL INSTRUCTIONS OVER THE PHONE BEFORE FIRST RESPONDERS ARRIVE. BIASED POLICE PRACTICE ABANDONED IN 2018, PROPUBLICA AND THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER REPORTED ON TACTICS USED BY STATE AND LOCAL POLICE OFFICERS IN PENNSYLVANIA TO HELP U.S. IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT ROUND UP IMMIGRANTS FOR DEPORTATION. IN FEBRUARY, THE PENNSYLVANIA STATE POLICE IMPLEMENTED A NEW POLICY THAT BANS SOME OF THE MOST EGREGIOUS BEHAVIORS PROFILED IN OUR REPORTING, INCLUDING QUESTIONING LATINO MOTORISTS ABOUT IMMIGRATION ISSUES DURING ROUTINE TRAFFIC STOPS. UNDER THE NEW POLICY, STATE TROOPERS ARE ALSO PROHIBITED FROM DETAINING OR ARRESTING FOREIGN NATIONALS SIMPLY FOR BEING IN THE COUNTRY ILLEGALLY. IN ADDITION, THE ACLU FILED A FEDERAL LAWSUIT IN JUNE ALLEGING THAT PENNSYLVANIA TROOPERS WERE PROFILING PEOPLE WHO APPEARED TO BE LATINX, REGARDLESS OF THEIR CITIZENSHIP STATUS, AND ILLEGALLY STOPPING THEN WITHOUT CAUSE. FLAWED "VOTER FRAUD" SYSTEM SUSPENDED IN 2017, PROPUBLICA AND GIZMODO REPORTED THAT A KANSAS SYSTEM SUPPOSEDLY MEANT TO IDENTIFY VOTER FRAUD WAS RIDDLED WITH ERRORS AND DATA SECURITY FLAWS THAT COULD IMPERIL THE SAFETY OF MILLIONS OF PEOPLE'S RECORDS. IN DECEMBER, KANSAS SECRETARY OF STATE SCOTT SCHWAB ANNOUNCED THAT THE STATE WILL ABANDON THE USE OF THE CONTROVERSIAL TECHNOLOGY. VIOLENT VIGILANTE SENTENCED TO PRISON IN ONE OF PROPUBLICA'S EARLY INVESTIGATIONS FROM 2010, EXPLORING NEW ORLEANS POLICE VIOLENCE IN THE CHAOTIC AFTERMATH OF HURRICANE KATRINA, WE REPORTED THAT WHITE VIGILANTES ORGANIZED AN ARMED GROUP TO KEEP AFRICAN AMERICANS FROM ENTERING THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF ALGIERS POINT. WHILE THE ENCLAVE WAS SUPPOSED TO SERVE AS AN OFFICIAL EVACUATION ZONE FOR FLOOD VICTIMS, VIGILANTES SHOT AFRICAN AMERICANS WHO APPROACHED SEEKING TRANSPORTATION. IN FEBRUARY 2019, A FEDERAL JUDGE SENTENCED ROLAND BOURGEOIS JR., WHOM PROPUBLICA IDENTIFIED AS A PARTICIPANT IN THE INCIDENT, TO 10 YEARS IN PRISON FOR HIS ROLE IN THE SHOOTINGS. MEDICAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST CURTAILED IN SEPTEMBER 2018, PROPUBLICA PUBLISHED A SERIES OF INVESTIGATIONS WITH THE NEW YORK TIMES DETAILING UNDISCLOSED RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN MEMORIAL SLOAN KETTERING CANCER CENTER AND FOR-PROFIT HEALTH CARE COMPANIES, HIGHLIGHTING CONFLICTS OF INTEREST. IN JANUARY, MSK ANNOUNCED THAT IT WOULD BAR ITS TOP EXECUTIVES FROM SERVING ON CORPORATE BOARDS OF DRUG AND HEALTH CARE COMPANIES. HOSPITAL OFFICIALS ALSO TOLD THE CENTER'S STAFF THAT THE EXECUTIVE BOARD HAD FORMALIZED A SERIES OF REFORMS - INCLUDING PROHIBITING BOARD MEMBERS FROM INVESTING IN STARTUP COMPANIES THAT MSK HELPED FOUND AND PREVENTING HOSPITAL EMPLOYEES WHO REPRESENT MSK ON CORPORATE BOARDS FROM ACCEPTING EQUITY STAKES OR STOCK OPTIONS FROM THE COMPANIES. ELECTION BOARD RESTRUCTURED PROPUBLICA, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE LEXINGTON HERALD-LEADER, DETAILED KENTUCKY SECRETARY OF STATE ALISON LUNDERGAN GRIMES' USE OF THE VOTER REGISTRATION SYSTEM TO LOOK UP THE VOTING RECORDS OF STATE EMPLOYEES, JOB APPLICANTS AND POLITICAL RIVALS. THE NEWS ORGANIZATIONS ALSO DUG INTO A NO-BID ELECTION SECURITY CONTRACT THAT GRIMES GAVE TO AN INEXPERIENCED CAMPAIGN DONOR AND ALLEGATIONS THAT SHE INTENTIONALLY FAILED TO COMPLY WITH A FEDERAL CONSENT DECREE TO IMPROVE THE STATE'S VOTER ROLLS. IN MARCH, THE KENTUCKY LEGISLATURE PASSED A BILL, WHICH THE GOVERNOR SIGNED INTO LAW, THAT STRIPPED GRIMES OF HER AUTHORITY OVER THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS, RESTRUCTURED THE SBE AND MADE MISUSING THE VOTER REGISTRATION SYSTEM A MISDEMEANOR CRIME. THE SECRETARY OF STATE IS NOW A NONVOTING MEMBER OF THE SBE, AND THE BOARD WILL INCLUDE TWO FORMER COUNTY CLERKS, ONE FROM EACH PARTY. HOSPITAL'S MANAGEMENT TEAM REPLACED IN 2018, PROPUBLICA COLLABORATED WITH THE HOUSTON CHRONICLE TO REPORT ON PERVASIVE PROBLEMS WITH ST. LUKE'S MEDICAL CENTER'S ONCE-RENOWNED HEART TRANSPLANT PROGRAM, WHICH IN RECENT YEARS HAD SOME OF THE WORST OUTCOMES IN THE COUNTRY. IN JANUARY, THE CENTERS FOR MEDICARE AND MEDICAID SERVICES SENT A TEAM OF 11 FEDERAL AND STATE INSPECTORS TO CONDUCT A COMPREHENSIVE INVESTIGATION OF THE HOSPITAL. ALSO IN JANUARY, ST. LUKE'S BOARD REPLACED THE HOSPITAL'S PRESIDENT, CHIEF NURSING OFFICER AND SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT OF OPERATIONS AFTER YET ANOTHER PATIENT DIED, THIS TIME AFTER RECEIVING A TRANSFUSION WITH THE WRONG BLOOD TYPE. OVERSIGHT FOR PRIVATE GARBAGE COLLECTION TIGHTENED IN 2018, PROPUBLICA PROFILED DANGEROUS PRACTICES AND CONDITIONS IN THE WORLD OF PRIVATE COMMERCIAL GARBAGE COLLECTION IN NEW YORK CITY, INCLUDING FATAL ACCIDENTS, "SHAM UNIONS AND CHECKERED OVERSIGHT. IN FEBRUARY, THE NEW YORK CITY COUNCIL PASSED A BILL AUTHORIZING THE BUSINESS INTEGRITY COMMISSION TO DIRECTLY POLICE THE LABOR UNIONS AT PRIVATE TRASH COMPANIES ACROSS THE CITY, EMPOWERING THE AGENCY TO REMOVE OFFICIALS WITH CRIMINAL CONVICTIONS, AS WELL AS OFFICIALS WHO ASSOCIATE WITH MEMBERS OF ORGANIZED CRIME OR ANYONE CONVICTED OF A RACKETEERING ACTIVITY. IN MARCH, COMMISSIONER DANIEL BROWNELL OF THE BIC - AFTER MONTHS OF EMBARRASSING NEWS COVERAGE AND CALLS FOR THE AGENCY TO STEP UP ITS OVERSIGHT - RESIGNED. IN OCTOBER, THE NEW YORK CITY COUNCIL PASSED LEGISLATION TO OVERHAUL THE SANITATION INDUSTRY AND HOLD HAULERS TO STRICT LABOR AND ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARDS. AND IN NOVEMBER, MAYOR BILL DE BLASIO SIGNED A SERIES OF BILLS TO REORGANIZE THE TRASH COLLECTION BUSINESS INTO ZONES, WHICH IS EXPECTED TO IMPROVE SAFETY AND REDUCE TRUCK TRAFFIC BY UP TO 50%. INACCURATE GANG DATABASE ASSAILED IN 2018, PROPUBLICA ILLINOIS INVESTIGATED CHICAGO'S GANG DATABASE - WHICH HAS BEEN ACCESSED MORE THAN 1 MILLION TIMES OVER THE LAST DECADE BY IMMIGRATION OFFICIALS, THE FBI AND SCORES OF OTHER AGENCIES - AND FOUND THAT IT IS RIDDLED WITH DUBIOUS ENTRIES, DISCREPANCIES AND OUTRIGHT ERRORS. PROPUBLICA WAS THE FIRST NEWS ORGANIZATION TO OBTAIN AND PUBLISH THE CONTENTS OF THE DATABASE. IN APRIL, CHICAGO'S INSPECTOR GENERAL RELEASED A 159-PAGE REPORT CONFIRMING THE ERRORS AND FINDING THAT THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS DONE LITTLE TO MAKE SURE THE INFORMATION IS ACCURATE. IN A LETTER TO THE INSPECTOR GENERAL'S OFFICE, THEN POLICE SUPERINTENDENT EDDIE JOHNSON WROTE THAT THE DEPARTMENT IS RETOOLING ITS DATA SYSTEM TO CREATE CLEARER STANDARDS, IMPROVE OFFICER TRAINING, PERFORM REGULAR AUDITS AND IMPLEMENT AN APPEALS PROCESS FOR THOSE WRONGLY LISTED IN THE DATABASE. UNIVERSITY REFORMS POLICIES THAT PROTECTED SEXUAL HARASSERS PROPUBLICA AND NPR ILLINOIS, A LOCAL REPORTING NETWORK PARTNER, PUBLISHED AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN'S HANDLING OF SEXUAL MISCONDUCT ALLEGATIONS AGAINST FACULTY AND STAFF, REVEALING THAT SEVERAL PROFESSORS WHO VIOLATED THEIR POLICIES WERE ALLOWED TO STAY ON STAFF OR QUIETLY RESIGN AND TAKE PAID LEAVE WITH THEIR REPUTATIONS INTACT.
SINCE OUR REPORTING, STATE AND NATIONAL LAWMAKERS, VICTIMS' RIGHTS ADVOCATES AND STUDENTS CALLED FOR A REVIEW OF THE UNIVERSITY'S SEXUAL HARASSMENT POLICIES. THE UNIVERSITY PLEDGED TO END THE USE OF CONFIDENTIALITY CLAUSES WHEN PROFESSORS ARE FIRED AND IS SEEKING TO CHANGE POLICY TO PREVENT FACULTY AND ADMINISTRATORS FROM ARGUING THAT ACADEMIC FREEDOM SHIELDS THEM IN SEXUAL MISCONDUCT CASES. IN ADDITION, ONE OF THE PROFESSORS WHO VIOLATED THE SEXUAL MISCONDUCT POLICY RESIGNED FROM A NEWER POSITION AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA A MONTH AFTER WE REQUESTED DOCUMENTS ABOUT HIS HIRING. ROLE OF SCHOOL-BASED POLICE OFFICERS LIMITED IN A 2018 ARTICLE CO-PUBLISHED WITH THE NEW YORK TIMES MAGAZINE, PROPUBLICA TOLD THE STORY OF ALEX, A LONG ISLAND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT WHO WAS ACCUSED OF GANG MEMBERSHIP AND DEPORTED TO HONDURAS FOR DRAWING A DEVIL, HIS SCHOOL MASCOT BUT ALSO AN MS-13 SYMBOL. A SCHOOL-BASED POLICE OFFICER REPORTED THE DOODLE, CIRCUMVENTING PRIVACY PROTECTIONS. IN RESPONSE TO THE STORY, IN JANUARY THE HUNTINGTON SCHOOL DISTRICT, WHICH ALEX HAD ATTENDED, REMOVED POLICE FROM SCHOOL BUILDINGS. ALONG WITH OTHER LONG ISLAND DISTRICTS, IT ALSO SOUGHT A FORMAL AGREEMENT WITH THE POLICE LIMITING OFFICERS' ROLES IN SCHOOLS. HOSPITAL REPORTS CHILD ABUSE SKEPTIC TO STATE MEDICAL BOARD LAST SEPTEMBER, PROPUBLICA AND THE NEW YORKER PUBLISHED AN IN-DEPTH PROFILE ON DR. MICHAEL HOLICK, A RENOWNED SCIENTIST TURNED EXPERT WITNESS WHO HAS HELPED ALLEGED CHILD ABUSERS AVOID PRISON AND EVEN REGAIN CUSTODY OF THE BABIES THEY WERE ACCUSED OF HARMING BY ATTRIBUTING THE INFANT'S INJURIES TO A RARE GENETIC CONDITION. OVER THE COURSE OF SEVEN YEARS, HOLICK HAS CONSULTED OR TESTIFIED IN MORE THAN 300 CHILD ABUSE CASES AND REPEATEDLY POINTED TO HYPERMOBILE EHLERS-DANLOS SYNDROME, EVEN THOUGH THE CONDITION ONLY OCCURS, AT MOST, IN 0.02% OF THE POPULATION. IN THE WAKE OF THE ARTICLE, BOSTON MEDICAL CENTER, WHERE HOLICK PRACTICES, NOTIFIED THE MASSACHUSETTS MEDICAL BOARD OF EARLIER DISCIPLINARY ACTION IT HAD TAKEN AGAINST HIM. HIS PROFILE PAGE ON THE BOARD'S WEBSITE NOW ALERTS MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC OF HIS RESTRICTED PRIVILEGES. HUGE MEDICAL CHARGES CLEARED IN NOVEMBER, PROPUBLICA PUBLISHED A STORY ABOUT LAUREN BARD, AN EMERGENCY ROOM NURSE WHO WAS CHARGED ALMOST $900,000 FOR THE BIRTH OF HER PREMATURE BABY AFTER THE HOSPITAL WHERE SHE WORKS REJECTED HER APPLICATION FOR INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR THE NEWBORN. THE HOSPITAL FALSELY TOLD HER IT WAS UNABLE TO REVERSE THE DECISION BECAUSE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS. AS PART OF THE REPORTING PROCESS, OUR REPORTER CONTACTED THE HOSPITAL TO CONFIRM THE DETAILS AND SOLICIT ITS RESPONSE. THE HOSPITAL IMMEDIATELY REVERSED ITS DECISION AND RETROACTIVELY ENROLLED BARD'S DAUGHTER IN THE PLAN, REMOVING THE DEBT. INVESTIGATIONS INTO UNETHICAL HOSPITAL PROGRAM LAUNCHED IN OCTOBER, PROPUBLICA PUBLISHED AN INVESTIGATION OF THE TRANSPLANT TEAM AT NEWARK BETH ISRAEL MEDICAL CENTER THAT REVEALED ATTEMPTS TO ARTIFICIALLY INCREASE THE PROGRAM'S SURVIVAL RATE, AN IMPORTANT INDICATOR USED BY FEDERAL REGULATORS. IN ONE EGREGIOUS CASE, FOR A FULL YEAR IT KEPT A PATIENT ALIVE IN A VEGETATIVE COMA WHO HAD NO CHANCE OF RECOVERY - WITHOUT INFORMING HIS FAMILY OF HIS DIRE PROGNOSIS - APPARENTLY TO BOOST ITS SURVIVAL RATE. SINCE OUR REPORTING, THE FEDERAL AGENCY RESPONSIBLE FOR TRANSPLANT OVERSIGHT ANNOUNCED THAT IT WOULD INVESTIGATE THE HOSPITAL, THE HOSPITAL BEGAN AN AUDIT OF ITS OWN AND IT PLACED THE DIRECTOR OF THE HEART TRANSPLANT PROGRAM ON ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE. IN NOVEMBER, THE FBI OPENED ITS OWN INVESTIGATION INTO THE UNIT TO DETERMINE IF THE HOSPITAL COMMITTED MEDICARE OR MEDICAID FRAUD BY KEEPING PATIENTS IN HOSPITAL BEDS TO RAISE SURVIVAL RATES. QUESTIONABLE TAX BREAKS PUT ON HOLD PROPUBLICA PARTNERED WITH WNYC AS PART OF THE LOCAL REPORTING NETWORK TO INVESTIGATE GEORGE NORCROSS, AN INSURANCE BROKER WIDELY REGARDED AS THE MOST POWERFUL UNELECTED OFFICIAL IN NEW JERSEY. WE FOUND THAT A LUCRATIVE TAX INCENTIVE BILL LED TO AT LEAST $1.1 BILLION IN TAX BREAKS FOR HIS COMPANY, PARTNERS AND CLIENTS OF HIS BROTHER. SHORTLY AFTER WE PUBLISHED THE STORY, GOV. PHIL MURPHY ISSUED A STATEMENT SAYING HE IS "DEEPLY TROUBLED" BY THE FINDINGS AND THAT A TASK FORCE HE APPOINTED WILL FURTHER SCRUTINIZE PROJECTS TIED TO NORCROSS. IN JUNE, STATE OFFICIALS FROZE A $260 MILLION TAX BREAK GIVEN TO HOLTEC INTERNATIONAL (NORCROSS SERVES ON ITS BOARD OF DIRECTORS), PENDING FURTHER INVESTIGATION OF INACCURACIES IN ITS APPLICATION. IN AUGUST, MURPHY VETOED LEGISLATION THAT WOULD HAVE EXTENDED THE TAX BREAKS SPOTLIGHTED BY OUR REPORTING. JUDGE ORDERS EXPANDED OVERSIGHT FOR MENTALLY ILL NEW YORKERS IN 2018, PROPUBLICA AND PBS FRONTLINE INVESTIGATED HOW A NEW YORK POLICY TO MOVE PEOPLE WITH MENTAL ILLNESS OUT OF INSTITUTIONS AND INTO PRIVATE APARTMENTS HAS PROVEN PERILOUS AND SOMETIMES EVEN DEADLY FOR THE CITY'S MOST VULNERABLE. THE STORY PROMPTED U.S. DISTRICT JUDGE NICHOLAS GARAUFIS TO COMMISSION A REPORT FROM CLARENCE SUNDRAM, THE INDEPENDENT COURT MONITOR ASSIGNED TO OVERSEE THE TRANSITION TO SUPPORTED HOUSING. IN JULY, THE FINDINGS WERE RELEASED AND REVEALED A NUMBER OF SHORTCOMINGS, INCLUDING LENGTHY DELAYS IN FILING INCIDENT REPORTS AND AN OVERALL FAILURE BY THE STATE TO SUFFICIENTLY INVESTIGATE PROBLEMS AND SHARE RESULTS. MOST NOTABLY, SUNDRAM FOUND THAT THE INCIDENT REPORTING SYSTEM MEANT TO SAFEGUARD RESIDENTS ONLY TRACKED A FRACTION OF THEM AND ONLY THROUGH THEIR FIRST SIX MONTHS IN SUPPORTED HOUSING, EVEN THOUGH SERIOUS INCIDENTS OFTEN OCCUR WELL AFTER THAT PERIOD. GARAUFIS HAS SINCE DEMANDED THAT THE INCIDENT REPORTING SYSTEM BE EXPANDED AND THAT GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS PRESENT A PLAN IN SEPTEMBER TO IMPROVE OVERSIGHT. TEXAS LEGISLATORS CREATE TASK FORCE ON SEXUAL ASSAULT IN NOVEMBER 2018, PROPUBLICA - IN PARTNERSHIP WITH NEWSY AND REVEAL FROM THE CENTER FOR INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING - EXAMINED HOW THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT AND DOZENS OF OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY USE WHAT'S KNOWN AS "EXCEPTIONAL CLEARANCE" TO CLOSE A SIGNIFICANT SHARE OF THEIR RAPE CASES WITHOUT ACTUALLY SOLVING THEM. THE STORY PROMPTED THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT TO REQUEST AN INDEPENDENT AUDIT BY TEXAS OFFICIALS, WHICH FOUND THAT AUSTIN POLICE HAD IMPROPERLY CLEARED NEARLY A THIRD OF SEXUAL ASSAULT CASES FROM 2017, A MISCLASSIFICATION THAT MADE THE DEPARTMENT'S RATE OF SOLVING RAPE CASES APPEAR HIGHER. IN JANUARY, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED IT HAD CALLED ON A THIRD PARTY TO EXAMINE HOW IT HANDLES RAPE INVESTIGATIONS FROM THE INITIAL CALL TO THE CLOSE OF THE CASE. BY EARLY MAY, THE TEXAS HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO CREATE THE SEXUAL ASSAULT SURVIVORS' TASK FORCE, BRINGING MONEY AND SUPPORT AT THE HIGHEST LEVELS OF STATE GOVERNMENT TO REFORM HOW RAPES ARE TRACKED, INVESTIGATED AND PROSECUTED ACROSS TEXAS. THE LEAD SPONSOR OF THE BIPARTISAN MEASURE CREDITED THE SERIES FOR SPURRING TEXAS LAWMAKERS TO ACT. SENATORS PROPOSE CRACKDOWN ON BENEFITS BROKERS A PROPUBLICA INVESTIGATION IN FEBRUARY DETAILED HOW HEALTH INSURERS PROVIDE LUCRATIVE COMMISSIONS AND GIFTS TO BROKERS, THE MIDDLEMEN THAT HELP COMPANIES SELECT EMPLOYEE BENEFITS, AND SHOWED HOW THESE HIDDEN SIDE DEALS INDIRECTLY INCREASE THE COST OF HEALTH PLANS. IN MAY, SENS. LAMAR ALEXANDER, R-TENN., AND SEN. PATTY MURRAY, D-WASH., LEADERS OF THE HEALTH, EDUCATION, LABOR AND PENSIONS COMMITTEE, INCLUDED NEW REQUIREMENTS FOR BROKERS IN THEIR DRAFT BILL, THE LOWER HEALTH CARE COSTS ACT. THE PROPOSAL WOULD SPECIFICALLY FORCE BROKERS TO REVEAL COMPENSATION THEY'VE RECEIVED FROM INSURERS AND OTHER VENDORS, IN WRITING, AT THE TIME AN EMPLOYER SIGNS UP FOR BENEFITS. SETTLEMENT REACHED WITH CHINESE DRYWALL MAKER IN 2010, PROPUBLICA AND THE SARASOTA HERALD-TRIBUNE INVESTIGATED HOW COMPANIES HAD USED TAINTED CHINESE-MADE DRYWALL IN NEARLY 7,000 HOMES ACROSS THE U.S. - AND IMPORTED ENOUGH OF THE MATERIAL TO BE USED IN AT LEAST 100,000 HOUSES - DESPITE CONCERNS THAT THE DRYWALL WAS DEFECTIVE AND GAVE OFF SULFUR FUMES CAPABLE OF CORRODING WIRING, DAMAGING APPLIANCES AND EVEN CONTRIBUTING TO SERIOUS RESPIRATORY PROBLEMS. IN AUGUST, A PROPOSED $248 MILLION SETTLEMENT WAS FILED BETWEEN PROPERTY OWNERS AND TAISHAN GYPSUM CO., THE DRYWALL MAKER. CLOSER SCRUTINY APPLIED TO USE OF CARBON CREDITS FOR FOREST PRESERVATION A PROPUBLICA STORY PUBLISHED IN MAY UNCOVERED MOUNTING EVIDENCE THAT USING CARBON CREDITS FOR FOREST PRESERVATION HAS FAILED TO PRODUCE THEIR PROMISED CLIMATE BENEFITS. IN JUNE, A SENIOR OFFICIAL AT THE UNITED NATIONS SAID PROPUBLICA'S FINDINGS INFLUENCED THE UN'S NEWS RELEASE QUESTIONING THE USE OF CARBON OFFSETS, AN ENVIRONMENTAL STRATEGY THE UN HAD LONG SUPPORTED. LATER THAT MONTH, WHILE GREENLIGHTING A PLAN THAT COULD LEAD TO THE WIDESPREAD USE OF FOREST PRESERVATION OFFSETS IN CALIFORNIA, STATE LEGISLATORS CAUTIONED REGULATORS ON CALIFORNIA'S AIR RESOURCES BOARD TO CONDUCT "VIGOROUS AND PROACTIVE MONITORING" TO ENSURE EMISSIONS CUTS, IN RECOGNITION OF WHAT WE FOUND IN OUR REPORTING.
OPPORTUNITY ZONE ABUSES TARGETED PROPUBLICA REPORTED ON SEVERAL EXAMPLES OF POLITICALLY CONNECTED BILLIONAIRES BENEFITING FROM THE OPPORTUNITY ZONE TAX BREAK, A 2017 ANTI-POVERTY MEASURE MEANT TO ATTRACT BUSINESSES TO LOW-INCOME COMMUNITIES. IN NOVEMBER, SEN. RON WYDEN INTRODUCED A BILL THAT WOULD SIGNIFICANTLY NARROW THE SCOPE OF THE PROGRAM BY REMOVING HUNDREDS OF OPPORTUNITY ZONES OUTSIDE LOW-INCOME AREAS, NARROWING THE KINDS OF ELIGIBLE INVESTMENTS AND REQUIRING INCREASED REPORTING FOR RECIPIENTS OF THE TAX BREAK. LATER IN THE MONTH, REP. RASHIDA TLAIB INTRODUCED A BILL TO REPEAL THE OPPORTUNITY ZONE TAX BREAK FROM THE TAX CODE. UNPROVEN STEM CELL TREATMENTS PUT ON NOTICE IN MAY, PROPUBLICA PARTNERED WITH THE NEW YORKER FOR AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE VIRTUALLY UNREGULATED STEM CELL INDUSTRY, WHICH USES PSEUDOSCIENCE AND, IN MANY CASES, DISREPUTABLE MEDICAL STAFF TO SELL STEM CELL THERAPY AS A MIRACLE CURE FOR EVERYTHING FROM ALZHEIMER'S TO ARTHRITIC KNEES. WEEKS AFTER OUR INVESTIGATION, THE FDA NOTIFIED THE COMPANY R3 STEM CELL, A MAJOR DISTRIBUTOR OF UNAPPROVED BIRTH TISSUE PRODUCTS, THAT THEIR PRODUCTS ARE CONSIDERED DRUGS AND MUST HAVE FDA APPROVAL IN ORDER TO BE SOLD LEGALLY. SEXUAL HARASSMENT INVESTIGATION LAUNCHED FOLLOWING PROPUBLICA'S INVESTIGATION WITH THE NEW YORK TIMES INTO PHILANTHROPIST MICHAEL STEINHARDT'S SEXUAL HARASSMENT OF WOMEN SEEKING HIS SUPPORT, NYU HIRED A LAW FIRM TO INVESTIGATE WHETHER STEINHARDT - THE NAMESAKE OF ITS STEINHARDT SCHOOL OF CULTURE, EDUCATION AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT - HAD ENGAGED IN INAPPROPRIATE CONDUCT WITH STUDENTS, FACULTY OR STAFF. SENATORS INTRODUCE BILL TO FIX CRUMBLING PUBLIC HOUSING IN 2018 AND EARLY 2019, PROPUBLICA PARTNERED WITH THE SOUTHERN ILLINOISAN AS PART OF OUR LOCAL REPORTING NETWORK TO INVESTIGATE HUD'S FLAWED OVERSIGHT OF LIVING CONDITIONS IN FEDERALLY SUBSIDIZED HOUSING IN SMALL AND MID-SIZED CITIES, REVEALING CRUMBLING BUILDINGS RIDDLED WITH RATS, COCKROACHES, MOLD AND LEAD. CITING OUR REPORTING, IN NOVEMBER SENS. DICK DURBIN, TAMMY DUCKWORTH AND KAMALA HARRIS INTRODUCED THE HOUSING IS INFRASTRUCTURE ACT, ADDING $70 BILLION TO THE PUBLIC HOUSING CAPITAL FUND, WHICH WOULD AID IN BUILDING, MODERNIZING AND REHABILITATING THE PUBLIC HOUSING STOCK THROUGHOUT ILLINOIS. LAWMAKERS MOVE TO OVERHAUL TROUBLED JUDGE SELECTION SYSTEM IN NOVEMBER, PROPUBLICA AND THE POST AND COURIER, A LOCAL REPORTING NETWORK PARTNER, EXPOSED HOW SOUTH CAROLINA'S SYSTEM FOR SELECTING MAGISTRATE JUDGES IS RIFE WITH POLITICS AND FLAWED OVERSIGHT, PROVIDING FERTILE GROUND FOR INCOMPETENCE AND CORRUPTION ON THE BENCH. THE INVESTIGATION FOUND THAT MAGISTRATES, WHO HANDLE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF LOWER COURT CASES A YEAR, ARE OFTEN POLITICALLY CONNECTED INSIDERS, MOST OF WHOM HAVE NEVER PRACTICED LAW IN THEIR LIFE. FOLLOWING THE REPORT, STATE SEN. TOM DAVIS FILED LEGISLATION THAT WOULD BOLSTER THE REQUIRED LEGAL TRAINING FOR MAGISTRATES WHO AREN'T LAWYERS, INCREASE PROTECTIONS FOR THE MANY CRIMINAL DEFENDANTS WHO APPEAR BEFORE THEM, AND ADD A LAYER OF SCRUTINY TO MAGISTRATE APPOINTMENTS. TRANSPARENCY ON POLITICAL APPOINTEES CHAMPIONED IN 2018, PROPUBLICA LAUNCHED TRUMP TOWN, A SEARCHABLE DATABASE OF THE PRESIDENT'S POLITICAL APPOINTEES, ALONG WITH THEIR FEDERAL LOBBYING AND FINANCIAL RECORDS. IN MARCH 2019, THE GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE URGED CONGRESS TO CONSIDER LEGISLATION THAT WOULD REQUIRE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO MAKE KEY INFORMATION ABOUT POLITICAL APPOINTEES - INCLUDING THEIR NAMES, TITLES AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURES - PUBLIC. THE GAO CITED TRUMP TOWN AS THE ONLY PLACE TO CURRENTLY FIND MUCH OF THIS DATA AND ARGUED THAT THE INFORMATION IS CRUCIAL TO HOLDING APPOINTEES TO HIGH STANDARDS AND ENSURING THE INTEGRITY OF ACTIONS TAKEN ON THE PUBLIC'S BEHALF. RECOGNITION FOR OUR WORK PROPUBLICA'S WORK WAS HONORED IN 2019 AS FOLLOWS: THREE ARTICLES IN OUR "TRAPPED IN GANGLAND" SERIES ON MS-13 BY REPORTER HANNAH DREIER - CO-PUBLISHED WITH NEW YORK MAGAZINE, NEWSDAY AND THE NEW YORK TIMES MAGAZINE - WON THE PULITZER PRIZE FOR FEATURE WRITING. THE SERIES ALSO WON THE MOLLY NATIONAL JOURNALISM PRIZE, THE JOHN BARTLOW MARTIN AWARD FOR PUBLIC INTEREST MAGAZINE JOURNALISM, BOTH EWA'S NATIONAL AWARD FOR EDUCATION REPORTING IN THE FEATURE STORIES CATEGORY AND ITS OVERALL TOP HONOR, THE FRED M. HECHINGER GRAND PRIZE FOR DISTINGUISHED EDUCATION REPORTING, THE SOCIETY OF PROFESSIONAL JOURNALISTS' ETHICS IN JOURNALISM AWARD, THE HILLMAN PRIZE FOR MAGAZINE JOURNALISM, THE JOHN JAY COLLEGE/HARRY FRANK GUGGENHEIM AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE JOURNALISM IN THE SERIES CATEGORY, THE FAIR MEDIA COUNCIL'S FOLIO AWARD FOR STORY OF THE YEAR, THE DANIEL SCHORR JOURNALISM PRIZE, THE MORLEY SAFER AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING REPORTING AND THE SHORTY AWARD FOR SOCIAL MEDIA. THE SERIES WAS A FINALIST FOR THE PEABODY AWARD FOR RADIO/PODCAST, THE NATIONAL MAGAZINE AWARD FOR PUBLIC INTEREST, THE ANTHONY SHADID AWARD FOR JOURNALISM ETHICS, THE NEWS LEADERS ASSOCIATION'S BATTEN MEDAL FOR COURAGE IN JOURNALISM AND THE ANCIL PAYNE AWARD FOR ETHICS IN JOURNALISM. DREIER WAS RECOGNIZED AS A FINALIST FOR THE MICHAEL KELLY AWARD, AS WELL AS THE LIVINGSTON AWARD IN LOCAL REPORTING, FOR HER WORK ON THE SERIES. STORIES FROM OUR SERIES EXAMINING THE IMPACT OF TRUMP'S "ZERO TOLERANCE" IMMIGRATION POLICY AT THE BORDER WERE A FINALIST FOR THE PULITZER GOLD MEDAL FOR PUBLIC SERVICE. THE SERIES WON THE FIRST-EVER PEABODY "CATALYST" AWARD, THE GEORGE POLK AWARD FOR IMMIGRATION REPORTING, THE PAUL TOBENKIN MEMORIAL AWARD, THE INVESTIGATIVE REPORTERS AND EDITORS AWARD FOR BREAKING NEWS, THE EDWARD R. MURROW AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN SOUND AND THE CHICAGO JOURNALISM AWARD FOR INVESTIGATIONS, AND WERE A FINALIST FOR THE GOLDSMITH PRIZE FOR INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING AND THE CHICAGO HEADLINE CLUB'S PETER LISAGOR AWARD FOR BEST INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING AND BEST ILLUSTRATION. SENIOR REPORTER GINGER THOMPSON, WHO LED THIS COVERAGE, WON THE 2019 JOHN CHANCELLOR AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN JOURNALISM, WHICH RECOGNIZES ONE JOURNALIST EACH YEAR FOR THEIR CUMULATIVE ACCOMPLISHMENTS. THOMPSON'S WORK HAS LARGELY COVERED THE HUMAN CONSEQUENCES OF FEDERAL POLICY ON BOTH SIDES OF THE U.S.-MEXICO BORDER, FROM THE WAR ON DRUGS TO IMMIGRATION. PROPUBLICA AND PBS FRONTLINE'S COLLABORATION "DOCUMENTING HATE" WON THE NEWS & DOCUMENTARY EMMY AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING INVESTIGATIVE DOCUMENTARY AND AN ALFRED I. DUPONT-COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY AWARD. FOR HIS WORK ON THE TWO-PART SPECIAL, REPORTER A.C. THOMPSON WON THE WALTER CRONKITE AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN TELEVISION POLITICAL JOURNALISM IN THE CATEGORY OF INDIVIDUAL ACHIEVEMENT BY A NATIONAL JOURNALIST. THE FILMS WERE ALSO NOMINATED FOR THE NEWS & DOCUMENTARY EMMY AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING WRITING, THE SCRIPPS HOWARD NATIONAL JOURNALISM AWARD IN THE CATEGORY OF BROADCAST - NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL COVERAGE, AND THE NATIONAL MAGAZINE AWARD FOR SOCIAL MEDIA. PROPUBLICA WON AN ONLINE JOURNALISM AWARD FOR GENERAL EXCELLENCE IN ONLINE JOURNALISM, OUR FIFTH SUCH AWARD. "UNPROTECTED," AN INVESTIGATION CO-PUBLISHED WITH TIME MAGAZINE, AS WELL AS A PROPUBLICA DOCUMENTARY ON ABUSE AT AN AMERICAN CHARITY FOR VULNERABLE GIRLS IN LIBERIA, WON THE SOCIETY OF AMERICAN BUSINESS EDITORS AND WRITERS' BEST IN BUSINESS AWARD IN THE INTERNATIONAL CATEGORY, THE EDWARD R. MURROW AWARD FOR BEST NEWS DOCUMENTARY IN THE SMALL DIGITAL NEWS ORGANIZATION DIVISION, A NATIONAL PRESS PHOTOGRAPHERS ASSOCIATION AWARD FOR ONLINE VIDEO STORYTELLING, AND THE WORLD PRESS PHOTO DIGITAL STORYTELLING PRIZE AND PICTURES OF THE YEAR AWARD FOR DOCUMENTARY JOURNALISM. PHOTOJOURNALIST KATHLEEN FLYNN WON THE NATIONAL PRESS PHOTOGRAPHERS ASSOCIATION HUMANITARIAN AWARD FOR HER WORK ON THE PROJECT. THE INVESTIGATION WAS A FINALIST FOR THE NATIONAL MAGAZINE AWARD FOR REPORTING, THE GERALD LOEB AWARD FOR VIDEO, THE NEWS LEADERS ASSOCIATION'S DORI MAYNARD AWARD FOR JUSTICE IN JOURNALISM, THE OVERSEAS PRESS CLUB'S MADELINE DANE ROSS AWARD FOR BEST INTERNATIONAL REPORTING ON HUMAN RIGHTS, THE TAYLOR FAMILY AWARD FOR FAIRNESS IN JOURNALISM, WORLD PRESS PHOTO'S ONLINE VIDEO OF THE YEAR AND THE WEBBY AWARD FOR LONGFORM DOCUMENTARY, AND RECEIVED HONORABLE MENTION FOR THE NATIONAL PRESS PHOTOGRAPHERS ASSOCIATION AWARD FOR ONLINE VISUAL PRESENTATION. REPORTER FINLAY YOUNG WAS NAMED A FINALIST FOR THE LIVINGSTON AWARD IN INTERNATIONAL REPORTING FOR HIS WORK ON THE SERIES AND, WITH FLYNN, RECEIVED AN HONORABLE MENTION FROM THE JUDGES FOR THE JAMES FOLEY MEDILL MEDAL FOR COURAGE IN JOURNALISM. "CASE CLEARED: HOW RAPE GOES UNPUNISHED IN AMERICA," A JOINT PROPUBLICA, NEWSY AND REVEAL SERIES, WON THE ONLINE NEWS ASSOCIATION'S AL NEUHARTH INNOVATION IN INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM AWARD AND THE SOCIETY OF PROFESSIONAL JOURNALISTS' SIGMA DELTA CHI AWARD FOR ONLINE INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING, AND WAS NOMINATED FOR A NEWS & DOCUMENTARY EMMY AWARD IN OUTSTANDING INVESTIGATIVE REPORT IN A NEWSMAGAZINE. OUR INVESTIGATION ON AGE DISCRIMINATION IN THE WORKPLACE WON A GERALD LOEB AWARD IN BEAT REPORTING.
"BLOOD WILL TELL," A COLLABORATION WITH THE NEW YORK TIMES MAGAZINE, WON THE SCRIPPS HOWARD AWARD FOR HUMAN INTEREST STORYTELLING AND RECEIVED AN HONORABLE MENTION FOR THE MOLLY NATIONAL JOURNALISM PRIZE. PROPUBLICA'S "FLOOD THY NEIGHBOR" SERIES IN PARTNERSHIP WITH REVEAL AND VOX WON THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES OF SCIENCES, ENGINEERING AND MEDICINE'S COMMUNICATIONS AWARD IN THE ONLINE CATEGORY AND WAS A FINALIST FOR ONA'S ONLINE JOURNALISM AWARD IN EXCELLENCE AND INNOVATION IN VISUAL DIGITAL STORYTELLING. THE INTERACTIVE FROM THE SERIES, "TO SEE HOW LEVEES INCREASE FLOODING, WE BUILT OUR OWN," WAS NAMED A FINALIST FOR A GEN DATA JOURNALISM AWARD FOR DATA VISUALIZATION OF THE YEAR. "I DON'T WANT TO SHOOT YOU, BROTHER," PROPUBLICA'S MULTIMEDIA REPORT WITH FRONTLINE DISPATCH, WON NABJ'S SALUTE TO EXCELLENCE AWARD IN THE DIGITAL MEDIA - SINGLE STORY: FEATURE CATEGORY AND WAS A FINALIST FOR THE NEWS LEADERS ASSOCIATION'S DEBORAH HOWELL AWARD FOR WRITING EXCELLENCE. "STUCK KIDS," A PROPUBLICA ILLINOIS SERIES ON CHILDREN HELD IN PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITALS AFTER THEY'VE BEEN CLEARED FOR RELEASE, WON THE AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN HEALTH CARE JOURNALISM FOR HEALTH POLICY AND THE SOCIETY OF PROFESSIONAL JOURNALISTS' SIGMA DELTA CHI AWARD FOR ONLINE NON-DEADLINE REPORTING. IT WAS A FINALIST FOR ONA'S ONLINE JOURNALISM AWARD IN THE FEATURE, SMALL NEWSROOM CATEGORY, THE BETTER GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION'S RICHARD H. DRIEHAUS FOUNDATION AWARD FOR INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING AND THE CHICAGO HEADLINE CLUB'S PETER LISAGOR AWARD FOR BEST NON-DEADLINE REPORTING SERIES. A LOCAL REPORTING NETWORK PROJECT WITH THE CHARLESTON GAZETTE-MAIL ON THE EFFECTS OF THE NATURAL GAS INDUSTRY ON COMMUNITIES WON THE ONLINE JOURNALISM AWARD FOR EXPLANATORY REPORTING AND WAS A FINALIST FOR THE SCRIPPS HOWARD NATIONAL JOURNALISM AWARD FOR ENVIRONMENTAL REPORTING. THE PROJECT WAS ALSO RECOGNIZED WITH FOUR AWARDS FROM THE WEST VIRGINIA PRESS ASSOCIATION'S ANNUAL EDITORIAL CONTEST. "HEALTH INSURANCE HUSTLE" WON THE SOCIETY OF AMERICAN BUSINESS EDITORS AND WRITERS' BEST IN BUSINESS AWARD FOR HEALTH/SCIENCE, WAS A FINALIST FOR THE GERALD LOEB AWARD IN EXPLANATORY REPORTING AND RECEIVED AN HONORABLE MENTION FROM THE NATIONAL PRESS CLUB AWARDS IN THE CONSUMER JOURNALISM - PERIODICALS CATEGORY. THE PROPUBLICA ILLINOIS AND WBEZ SERIES "DRIVEN INTO DEBT" WON THE SOCIETY OF PROFESSIONAL JOURNALISTS' SIGMA DELTA CHI AWARD FOR ONLINE INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING (INDEPENDENT), AS WELL AS TWO OF THE CHICAGO HEADLINE CLUB'S PETER LISAGOR AWARDS IN BEST INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING AND BEST DATA JOURNALISM. THE SERIES RECEIVED HONORABLE MENTION IN THE SOCIETY OF AMERICAN BUSINESS EDITORS AND WRITERS' BEST IN BUSINESS AWARD IN THE INVESTIGATIVE CATEGORY, AND WAS A FINALIST FOR THE BETTER GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION'S RICHARD H. DRIEHAUS FOUNDATION AWARD FOR INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING AND THE PETER LISAGOR AWARDS FOR BEST INVESTIGATIVE/PUBLIC SERVICE AND BEST USE OF FEATURES VIDEO. "THE BILLION-DOLLAR LOOPHOLE," PROPUBLICA'S REPORT CO-PUBLISHED WITH FORTUNE ON CONSERVATION EASEMENTS, WON THE NATIONAL PRESS CLUB'S LEE WALCZAK AWARD FOR POLITICAL ANALYSIS AND WAS A FINALIST FOR THE DEADLINE CLUB AWARD FOR BUSINESS FEATURE. OUR COLLABORATION WITH WNYC, "TRUMP, INC.," WON THE SOCIETY OF THE SILURIANS EXCELLENCE IN JOURNALISM MEDALLION FOR RADIO FEATURE NEWS AND THE PUBLIC RADIO NEWS DIRECTORS INCORPORATED'S AWARD FOR BEST COLLABORATIVE EFFORT. THE JOINT PODCAST WAS ALSO SELECTED AS A FINALIST FOR A GERALD LOEB AWARD IN THE AUDIO CATEGORY. OUR LOCAL REPORTING NETWORK COLLABORATION WITH THE SANTA FE NEW MEXICAN ON NUCLEAR WORKER SAFETY WON THE AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN HEALTH CARE JOURNALISM FOR PUBLIC HEALTH AND THE NATIONAL HEADLINER AWARD IN THE TELEVISION/ENVIRONMENTAL CATEGORY. "INSIDE TRUMP'S VA" WON THE NATIONAL PRESS CLUB'S SANDY HUME AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN POLITICAL JOURNALISM AND RECEIVED HONORABLE MENTION IN THE TONER PRIZE FOR EXCELLENCE IN POLITICAL REPORTING. ELECTIONLAND, OUR COLLABORATION COVERING THE 2018 MIDTERMS, WON ONA'S ONLINE JOURNALISM AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE IN COLLABORATION AND PARTNERSHIPS. JESSICA HUSEMAN, PROPUBLICA'S LEAD REPORTER ON THE PROJECT, WAS NAMED A WINNER OF THE SOCIETY OF PROFESSIONAL JOURNALISTS' SUNSHINE AWARD. OUR REPORTING ON THE UNDERREPRESENTATION OF AFRICAN AMERICAN PATIENTS IN CLINICAL TRIALS OF NEW CANCER DRUGS WON THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR CANCER RESEARCH'S JUNE L. BIEDLER PRIZE FOR CANCER JOURNALISM FOR ONLINE/MULTIMEDIA AND WAS A FINALIST FOR THE SOCIETY OF AMERICAN BUSINESS EDITORS AND WRITERS' BEST IN BUSINESS AWARD FOR HEALTH/SCIENCE. "THE RIGHT TO FAIL," A PROJECT WITH PBS FRONTLINE ON PROBLEMS WITH A NEW YORK CITY POLICY TO MOVE MENTALLY ILL PEOPLE INTO PRIVATE APARTMENTS, WON THE FOLIO AWARDS' ROBERT W. GREENE AWARD IN INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING AND THE DEADLINE CLUB AWARD IN NEWSPAPER OR DIGITAL LOCAL NEWS REPORTING. "DR. DEATH," A COLLABORATION WITH WONDERY, WON THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF JOURNALISTS AND AUTHORS' JUNE ROTH MEMORIAL AWARD FOR AN OUTSTANDING MEDICAL ARTICLE AND WON THIRD PLACE FOR THE AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN HEALTH CARE JOURNALISM IN THE INVESTIGATIVE CATEGORY. "FUEL TO THE FIRE," CO-PUBLISHED WITH THE NEW YORK TIMES MAGAZINE, WON THE OVERSEAS PRESS CLUB'S WHITMAN BASSOW AWARD FOR BEST INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL REPORTING. THE COLLABORATION WAS NAMED A FINALIST FOR THE JOHN B. OAKES AWARD FOR DISTINGUISHED ENVIRONMENTAL JOURNALISM AND RECEIVED AN HONORABLE MENTION FROM THE SOCIETY OF ENVIRONMENTAL JOURNALISTS AWARDS IN THE OUTSTANDING FEATURE STORY CATEGORY. "SLOAN KETTERING CANCER CENTER'S CRISIS," A COLLABORATION WITH THE NEW YORK TIMES, WON THE DEADLINE CLUB AWARD FOR BUSINESS INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING. THE SERIES WAS ALSO A FINALIST FOR A GERALD LOEB AWARD IN LOCAL REPORTING. OUR LOCAL REPORTING NETWORK COLLABORATION WITH AL.COM ON ALABAMA SHERIFFS' RELEASE OF SICK INMATES TO AVOID THE COST OF MEDICAL CARE WON THE SIDNEY AWARD FOR OCTOBER. OUR LOCAL REPORTING NETWORK COLLABORATION WITH THE SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE, "ACCUSED IN ELKHART," WON THE INDIANA SOCIETY OF PROFESSIONAL JOURNALISTS' BEST IN INDIANA CONTEST FOR STORY OF THE YEAR, AND IT WAS A FINALIST FOR THE GOLDSMITH PRIZE FOR INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING, THE NEWS LEADERS ASSOCIATION'S FRANK BLETHEN AWARD FOR LOCAL ACCOUNTABILITY REPORTING AND THE INDIANA ASSOCIATED PRESS MEDIA AWARDS FOR INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING AND ENTERPRISE REPORTING. OUR LOCAL REPORTING NETWORK COLLABORATION WITH THE SOUTHERN ILLINOISAN ON PUBLIC HOUSING FAILURES IN SOUTHERN ILLINOIS WON THE ILLINOIS PRESS ASSOCIATION'S KNIGHT CHAIR AWARD FOR SUSTAINED INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM AND THE ILLINOIS PRESS ASSOCIATION AWARD FOR INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING. THE INVESTIGATION WON SECOND PLACE FOR THE ILLINOIS PRESS ASSOCIATION AWARD FOR ENTERPRISE SERIES AND WAS A FINALIST FOR THE ILLINOIS ASSOCIATED PRESS MEDIA AWARD FOR INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING. PROPUBLICA ILLINOIS' MULTIMEDIA REPORT "WE WILL KEEP ON FIGHTING FOR HIM," ON THE IMPACT OF A TROUBLING CLINICAL DRUG TRIAL FOR CHILDREN WITH BIPOLAR DISORDER, WON THE CHICAGO HEADLINE CLUB'S PETER LISAGOR AWARD IN BEST FEATURE STORY. "LOUISIANA'S ETHICAL SWAMP," PROPUBLICA'S LOCAL REPORTING NETWORK SERIES WITH THE ADVOCATE, WON THE LOUISIANA PRESS ASSOCIATION'S GIBBS ADAMS AWARD FOR BEST INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING. THE PROPUBLICA ILLINOIS SERIES "THE $3 MILLION RESEARCH BREAKDOWN," INVESTIGATING HOW A STAR PSYCHIATRIST AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT CHICAGO VIOLATED PROTOCOLS AND PUT CHILDREN AT RISK, WAS A FINALIST FOR THE NATIONAL AWARD FOR EDUCATION REPORTING IN THE SINGLE-TOPIC NEWS CATEGORY AND FOR THE CHICAGO HEADLINE CLUB'S PETER LISAGOR AWARD FOR BEST FEATURE STORY, BEST MULTIMEDIA FEATURE PRESENTATION AND BEST SERIES. "POLITIC-IL INSIDER," A PROPUBLICA ILLINOIS COLUMN BY MICK DUMKE, WON TWO OF THE CHICAGO HEADLINE CLUB'S PETER LISAGOR AWARDS IN THE CATEGORIES OF BEST INDIVIDUAL BLOG POST AND BEST CONTINUING BLOG. PROPUBLICA PRESIDENT RICHARD TOFEL WAS HONORED WITH THE CUNY SCHOOL OF JOURNALISM NEWMARK JOURNALISM AWARD. PROPUBLICA EDITOR-IN-CHIEF STEPHEN ENGELBERG WON THE NEW ENGLAND FIRST AMENDMENT COALITION'S STEPHEN HAMBLETT FIRST AMENDMENT AWARD. "THE WAITING GAME," AN IMMERSIVE NEWS GAME BY PROPUBLICA AND WNYC, WAS A FINALIST FOR THE NATIONAL MAGAZINE AWARD FOR DIGITAL INNOVATION AND THE NEWS LEADERS ASSOCIATION'S PUNCH SULZBERGER AWARD FOR INNOVATIVE STORYTELLING. PROPUBLICA ILLINOIS WAS A FINALIST FOR THE CHICAGO HEADLINE CLUB'S PETER LISAGOR AWARD FOR GENERAL EXCELLENCE IN ONLINE JOURNALISM. OUR COLLABORATION WITH THE INVESTIGATIVE FUND, "TRASHED: INSIDE THE DEADLY WORLD OF PRIVATE GARBAGE COLLECTION," WAS A FINALIST FOR THE NEWS LEADERS ASSOCIATION'S FRANK BLETHEN AWARD FOR LOCAL ACCOUNTABILITY REPORTING AND THE INVESTIGATIVE REPORTERS AND EDITORS TOM RENNER AWARD, AND IT RECEIVED AN HONORABLE MENTION FOR THE JOHN BARTLOW MARTIN AWARD FOR PUBLIC INTEREST MAGAZINE JOURNALISM.
OUR "TRUMP TOWN" NEWS APP, TRACKING EX-LOBBYISTS AND WASHINGTON INSIDERS WHO HAVE BEEN APPOINTED ACROSS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, WAS A FINALIST FOR THE NEWS LEADERS ASSOCIATION'S FIRST AMENDMENT AWARD. PROPUBLICA'S AL SHAW, CLAIRE PERLMAN, ALEX MIERJESKI AND DEREK KRAVITZ WERE FINALISTS FOR THE LIVINGSTON AWARD IN NATIONAL REPORTING FOR THEIR WORK ON THE PROJECT. OUR COLLABORATION WITH THE NEW YORK TIMES ON THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION'S PULLBACK ON CIVIL RIGHTS IN EDUCATION WAS A FINALIST FOR THE NATIONAL AWARD FOR EDUCATION REPORTING IN THE SINGLE-TOPIC NEWS CATEGORY. OUR "MISEDUCATION" PROJECT EXAMINING RACIAL DISPARITIES IN EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES AND SCHOOL DISCIPLINE WAS A FINALIST FOR THE NATIONAL AWARD FOR EDUCATION REPORTING FOR PUBLIC SERVICE, THE GEN DATA JOURNALISM AWARD FOR INVESTIGATION OF THE YEAR, AND NABJ'S SALUTE TO EXCELLENCE AWARD IN THE DIGITAL MEDIA ONLINE PROJECT: NEWS CATEGORY. OUR REPORTING ON THE TROUBLING WAY THAT POLICE INVESTIGATE THE MURDERS OF TRANS WOMEN WAS A FINALIST FOR THE GLAAD MEDIA AWARD OUTSTANDING DIGITAL JOURNALISM. PROPUBLICA AND THE HOUSTON CHRONICLE'S "HEART FAILURE" INVESTIGATION WON A SHOWCASE SILVER AWARD FROM THE HEADLINERS FOUNDATION OF TEXAS, AND WAS A FINALIST FOR THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR HEALTH CARE MANAGEMENT FOUNDATION'S HEALTH CARE PRINT JOURNALISM AWARD. OUR LOCAL REPORTING NETWORK COLLABORATION WITH WMFE-FM ON PTSD IN FIRST RESPONDERS WAS A FINALIST IN THE FLORIDA ASSOCIATED PRESS PROFESSIONAL BROADCASTERS CONTEST. OUR NEWS APPLICATIONS AND DATA VISUALIZATIONS WON 22 SOCIETY FOR NEWS DESIGN AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE FOR FEATURES, COVERAGE, MULTIMEDIA, GRAPHICS, STORY PAGE DESIGN, MAPS, NEW TOOLS, USE OF DATA, NATIONAL, LOCAL ISSUES, SOCIAL MEDIA AND THE INDIVIDUAL PORTFOLIO OF NEWS APPLICATIONS DEVELOPER AL SHAW; SIX MALOFIEJ AWARDS FOR INFOGRAPHICS; AND PROPUBLICA'S NEWS APPLICATIONS DEPARTMENT AS A WHOLE WAS RECOGNIZED AS A FINALIST FOR THE GEN COMPETITION'S BEST DATA JOURNALISM TEAM PORTFOLIO (LARGE NEWSROOM). SHAW WAS ALSO A FINALIST FOR THE GEN DATA JOURNALISM AWARD FOR BEST INDIVIDUAL PORTFOLIO.
FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 11B PRO PUBLICA HAS ITS FORM 990 PREPARED BY AN OUTSIDE ACCOUNTING FIRM AND HAS ESTABLISHED THE FOLLOWING REVIEW PROCESS TO ENSURE THAT THE INFORMATION REPORTED IS COMPLETE AND ACCURATE. WHEN THE FORM 990 HAS BEEN PREPARED, REVIEWED BY THE PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT OF FINANCE & ADMINISTRATION AND IS READY TO BE FILED WITH THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE, IT'S SUBMITTED ELECTRONICALLY TO MEMBERS OF PRO PUBLICA'S GOVERNING BODY FOR ANY COMMENTS PRIOR TO ITS SUBMISSION. THE GOVERNING BODY IS PROVIDED WITH AT LEAST ONE WEEK TO REVIEW THE PREPARED FORM 990 AND PROVIDE THEIR COMMENTS. ANY COMMENTS ARE THEN GROUPED, SUMMARIZED AND PROVIDED TO THE AUDIT COMMITTEE FOR THEIR REVIEW. EACH ISSUE IS DOCUMENTED AND ADDRESSED UNTIL THE RETURN IS FINALIZED AND APPROVED FOR FILING.
FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 12C PRO PUBLICA HAS A CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY, WHICH APPLIES TO ALL DIRECTORS (BOARD MEMBERS), OFFICERS, AND EMPLOYEES. AN INTERESTED PERSON MUST DISCLOSE AS SOON AS PRACTICABLE TO THE SECRETARY THE EXISTENCE OF A POTENTIAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST AND ALL MATERIAL FACTS RELATED TO THE CONFLICT. IF A DIRECTOR OR OFFICER IS UNCERTAIN ABOUT WHETHER A CONFLICT EXISTS, HE/SHE SHOULD REPORT THE POSSIBLE CONFLICT IN ALL CASES IN WHICH A CRITICAL EXTERNAL OBSERVER MIGHT REASONABLY PERCEIVE A CONFLICT TO EXIST. THE BOARD COMMITTEE WILL DETERMINE IF A CONFLICT OF INTEREST EXISTS. IN THE EVENT THAT A CONFLICT OF INTEREST ARISES, THE DIRECTOR OR OFFICER WITH WHOM THE CONFLICT PERTAINS TO IS EXCLUDED FROM VOTING ON THE ISSUE. HE/SHE WILL LEAVE THE ROOM AND THE OTHER DIRECTORS VOTE ON THE ISSUE PERTAINING TO THAT SPECIFIC TRANSACTION. WITH RESPECT TO ANY BOARD COMMITTEE'S DISCUSSION, DECISION, OR ACTIONS INVOLVING TRANSACTIONS IN WHICH A DIRECTOR OR OFFICER HAS A CONFLICT OF INTEREST, THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD COMMITTEE MEETING WILL REFLECT THE BOARD'S DELIBERATIONS AND VOTING PROCESS. IN CASE OF AN INTERESTED PARTY WHO IS NOT A DIRECTOR OR OFFICER, THE PRESIDENT MONITORS AND ENFORCES THE ORGANIZATION'S COMPLIANCE WITH ITS CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY. IF AN EMPLOYEE HAS A CONFLICT OF INTEREST, HE/SHE CANNOT PARTICIPATE IN THE DECISION MAKING OF THE CONFLICTED TRANSACTION.
FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 15 SALARIES FOR THE CEOS ARE SET BY THE BOARD. THE BOARD USES THE SERVICES OF A LAW FIRM (CAPLIN & DRYSDALE, WHO SPECIALIZE IN NOT FOR PROFIT ISSUES) FOR GUIDANCE ON ALL MATTERS OF CEO COMPENSATION. THE BOARD REVIEWS PROPOSED COMPENSATION INCREASES FOR THE CEOS IN RELATION TO THEIR PERFORMANCE, RATES OF INFLATION, COMPENSATION PRACTICES AND PLANS FOR OTHER PROPUBLICA EMPLOYEES, AND COMPARABLE DATA. COMPARABLE DATA MAY INCLUDE INFORMATION ABOUT JOURNALISM OUTLETS AS WELL AS OTHER NOT FOR PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS. APPROVED SALARY CHANGES ARE DOCUMENTED IN HUMAN RESOURCES FILES AND REQUIRE THE SIGNATURE OF BOTH THE EMPLOYEE AND THE HR DIRECTOR. THE BOARD'S CONSIDERATION OF THIS MATTER IS ALSO DOCUMENTED IN THE MINUTES OF THE EXECUTIVE SESSION. THIS PROCESS WAS LAST COMPLETED IN 2019.
FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION C, LINE 19 THE ORGANIZATION MAKES ITS FORM 990 AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC INSPECTION AS REQUIRED UNDER SECTION 6104 OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE. THE RETURN IS POSTED ON GUIDESTAR.ORG AND OTHER SIMILAR TYPES OF WEBSITES. IN ADDITION, THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY, ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION, FORM 990, FORM 1023, AND BY-LAWS ARE ALSO AVAILABLE UPON WRITTEN REQUEST, AND ON THE ORGANIZATION'S WEBSITE (WWW.PROPUBLICA.ORG).
FORM 990, PART XII, LINE 2C: PRO PUBLICA HAS AN AUDIT COMMITTEE THAT ASSUMES RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE OVERSIGHT OF THE AUDIT OF ITS FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND FOR THE SELECTION OF AN INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANT. THE PROCESS HAS NOT CHANGED FROM THE PRIOR YEAR.
For Paperwork Reduction Act Notice, see the Instructions for Form 990 or 990-EZ.
Cat. No. 51056K
Schedule O (Form 990 or 990-EZ) 2019


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