Attach to Form 990 or Form 990-EZ.
Go to
www.irs.gov/Form990 for instructions and the latest information.
| (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 |
||||||
Calendar year
(or fiscal year beginning in)
![]() |
(a) 2017 | (b) 2018 | (c) 2019 | (d) 2020 | (e) 2021 | (f) Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gifts, grants, contributions, and membership fees received. (Do not include any "unusual grant.") .. | ||||||
| 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 | ||||||
| 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) .. | ||||||
| 6 | Public support. Subtract line 5 from line 4. | ||||||
Calendar year
(or fiscal year beginning in)
![]() |
(a) 2017 | (b) 2018 | (c) 2019 | (d) 2020 | (e) 2021 | (f) Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | Amounts from line 4.. | ||||||
| 8 | Gross income from interest, dividends, payments received on securities loans, rents, royalties and income from similar sources... | ||||||
| 9 | Net income from unrelated business activities, whether or not the business is regularly carried on.. | ||||||
| 10 | Other income. Do not include gain or loss from the sale of capital assets (Explain in Part VI.).. | ||||||
| 11 | Total support. Add lines 7 through 10 | ||||||
Calendar year (or fiscal year beginning in) ![]() |
(a) 2017 | (b) 2018 | (c) 2019 | (d) 2020 | (e) 2021 | (f) Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gifts, grants, contributions, and membership fees received. (Do not include any "unusual grants.") . | 5,843 | 5,843 | ||||
| 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 | 5,843 | 5,843 | ||||
| 7a | Amounts included on lines 1, 2, and 3 received from disqualified persons | 0 | |||||
| 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. | 0 | |||||
| c | Add lines 7a and 7b.. | 0 | |||||
| 8 | Public support. (Subtract line 7c from line 6.) | 5,843 | |||||
Calendar year (or fiscal year beginning in) ![]() |
(a) 2017 | (b) 2018 | (c) 2019 | (d) 2020 | (e) 2021 | (f) Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | Amounts from line 6... | 5,843 | 5,843 | ||||
| 10a | Gross income from interest, dividends, payments received on securities loans, rents, royalties and income from similar sources.. | 9,078 | 9,078 | ||||
| b | Unrelated business taxable income (less section 511 taxes) from businesses acquired after June 30, 1975. | ||||||
| c | Add lines 10a and 10b. | 9,078 | 9,078 | ||||
| 11 | Net income from unrelated business activities not included on 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.).. | 14,921 | 14,921 | ||||
| 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 0.015 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 0.035 | 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 | ||||
| Section D - Distributions | Current Year | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Amounts paid to supported organizations to accomplish exempt purposes | 1 | |
|
2
Amounts paid to perform activity that directly furthers exempt purposes of supported organizations, in excess of income from activity |
2 | |
| 3 Administrative expenses paid to accomplish exempt purposes of supported organizations | 3 | |
| 4 Amounts paid to acquire exempt-use assets | 4 | |
| 5 Qualified set-aside amounts (prior IRS approval required - provide details in Part VI) | 5 | |
| 6 Other distributions (describe in Part VI). See instructions | 6 | |
| 7Total annual distributions. Add lines 1 through 6. | 7 | |
|
8
Distributions to attentive supported organizations to which the organization is responsive (provide details in Part VI). See instructions |
8 | |
| 9 Distributable amount for 2021 from Section C, line 6 | 9 | |
| 10 Line 8 amount divided by Line 9 amount | 10 | |
| Section E - Distribution Allocations (see instructions) |
(i) Excess Distributions |
(ii) Underdistributions Pre-2021 |
(iii) Distributable Amount for 2021 |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Distributable amount for 2021 from Section C, line 6 | ||||
|
2
Underdistributions, if any, for years prior to 2021 (reasonable cause required-- explain in Part VI). See instructions. |
||||
| 3 Excess distributions carryover, if any, to 2021: | ||||
| a From 2016....... | ||||
| b From 2017....... | ||||
| c From 2018....... | ||||
| d From 2019....... | ||||
| e From 2020....... | ||||
| fTotal of lines 3a through e | ||||
| g Applied to underdistributions of prior years | ||||
| h Applied to 2021 distributable amount | ||||
|
i
Carryover from 2016 not applied (see instructions) |
||||
| j Remainder. Subtract lines 3g, 3h, and 3i from line 3f. | ||||
| 4Distributions for 2021 from Section D, line 7: | ||||
| $ | ||||
| a Applied to underdistributions of prior years | ||||
| b Applied to 2021 distributable amount | ||||
| c Remainder. Subtract lines 4a and 4b from line 4. | ||||
|
5
Remaining underdistributions for years prior to 2021, 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 2021. 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 2022. Add lines 3j and 4c. |
||||
| 8 Breakdown of line 7: | ||||
| a Excess from 2017..... | ||||
| b Excess from 2018..... | ||||
| c Excess from 2019..... | ||||
| d Excess from 2020..... | ||||
| e Excess from 2021..... | ||||
| Facts And Circumstances Test |
|---|
| Return Reference | Explanation |
|---|
| Software ID: | |
| Software Version: |
Attach to Form 990 or 990-EZ.
Go to www.irs.gov/Form990 for the latest information.
| Return Reference | Explanation |
|---|---|
| FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION A, LINE 2 | STEWART BAINUM, JR HAS BUSINESS RELATIONSHIPS WITH WILLIAM JEWS AND CHRISTINE SHREVE. |
| FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 11B | THE HEAD OF FINANCE, CONTROLLER, AND TREASURER REVIEW THE RETURN WITH THE TAX PREPARER AND THEN A COPY OF THE FORM 990 IS MADE AVAILABLE TO THE FULL GOVERNING BODY PRIOR TO FILING WITH THE IRS. |
| FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 12C | VILJ ENACTED A CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY AT INCEPTION AND CIRCULATED IT TO ALL DIRECTORS. DIRECTORS ARE ASKED TO DISCLOSE ANNUALLY. DURING 2022, VILJ WILL EXPAND ITS CONFLICT REPORTING TO ALL OFFICERS AND KEY EMPLOYEES. |
| FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 15 | VILJ ACCUMULATED COMPENSATION DATA FROM NUMEROUS SOURCES INCLUDING NATIONAL EXECUTIVE SEARCH FIRMS FAMILIAR WITH THE INDUSTRY TO EVALUATE AND DETERMINE THE COMPENSATION OF THE KEY OFFICERS. DATA WAS PRESENTED TO THE BOARD FOR APPROVAL OF OFFICER COMPENSATION. |
| FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION C, LINE 19 | VILJ MAKES THE ORGANIZATIONAL AND GOVERNING DOCUMENTS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST. |
| FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 13 | VILJ ENACTED A WHISTLEBLOWER POLICY IN FEBRUARY 2022 WHICH IS NOW MADE AVAILABLE TO ALL EMPLOYEES. |
| ORGANIZATIONAL BACKGROUND | THE VENETOULIS INSTITUTE FOR LOCAL JOURNALISM IS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION FOUNDED IN 2021 TO BRING HIGH-QUALITY LOCAL NEWS TO THE BALTIMORE METRO AREA. OUR CHAIRMAN AND FOUNDER, STEWART BAINUM, JR., BEGAN THIS JOURNEY WITH OTHERS BECAUSE OF HIS BELIEF THAT LOCAL NEWS IS UNDER SIEGE ACROSS THE COUNTRY. DESPITE BALTIMORE'S PROUD HISTORY OF GREAT JOURNALISM, OUR REGION'S PUBLICATIONS HAVE NOT BEEN SPARED THE REALITIES OF THE NEWS INDUSTRY. DURING THE ONSET OF THE PANDEMIC IN 2020, STEWART HAD BEEN CONTEMPLATING NEW POTENTIAL SECTORS WHERE HE AND HIS FAMILY COULD MAKE A POSITIVE DIFFERENCE WITH THEIR PHILANTHROPIC CAPITAL. THEY HAD BEEN FUNDING GLOBAL HEALTH INITIATIVES IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA FOR SEVERAL YEARS, WITH POSITIVE RESULTS. STEWART WONDERED IF THERE WAS A PROJECT OR ISSUE STATESIDE THAT HAD A SIGNIFICANT MISSION UPSIDE AND WAS ALSO CHRONICALLY UNDERFUNDED. HE THOUGHT OF LOCAL NEWS. THE LATE TED VENETOULIS, FOR WHICH THE INSTITUTE IS NAMED, FIRST PUT THE IDEA OF STARTING A LOCAL NONPROFIT NEWS OUTLET, LIKE THE TEXAS TRIBUNE, ON HIS RADAR IN 2015. TED HAD BEEN PURSUING THIS IDEA FOR SEVERAL YEARS, BUT IN 2020 STEWART RETURNED TO IT WITH RENEWED VIGOR. TOGETHER, THE TWO OF THEM, ALONG WITH NOW-CEO AND THEN-CONSULTANT IMTIAZ PATEL, SET OFF TO EXPLORE THE LANDSCAPE TO SEE IF A SUCCESSFUL MODEL COULD BE CONCEIVED OF, AND BROUGHT INTO, THE BALTIMORE MARKET. STEWART MOUNTED A WELL-DOCUMENTED EFFORT TO PURCHASE THE BALTIMORE SUN, WITH INTENT TO KEEP IT OUT OF FOR-PROFIT HEDGE FUND HANDS AND INSTEAD OPERATE IT AS A NONPROFIT, MUCH AS THE LATE GERRY LENFEST HAD DONE IN PHILADELPHIA WITH THE INQUIRER BACK IN 2016. THWARTED BY THE HEDGE FUND IN HIS ATTEMPTS TO PURCHASE THE SUN, STEWART MADE A RUN AT PURCHASING TRIBUNE COMPANY, LINING UP POTENTIAL BUYERS FOR THE OTHER ASSETS. THESE EFFORTS ULTIMATELY FELL SHORT IN MAY 2021, SO THEY TURNED THEIR ATTENTION TO BUILDING AN ENTIRELY NEW LOCAL NEWS ORGANIZATION FROM THE GROUND UP, TAILOR-MADE TO SERVE THE BALTIMORE COMMUNITY AND MARKET. IN OCTOBER 2021, STEWART UNVEILED INITIAL PLANS FOR FOUNDING THE BALTIMORE BANNER AND ANNOUNCED THAT KIMI YOSHINO WAS LEAVING HER POST AS MANAGING EDITOR OF THE LOS ANGELES TIMES TO JOIN THE BANNER AS EDITOR IN CHIEF. THE SAME DAY, HE SIGNALED HE WOULD PROVIDE OR RAISE $50 MILLION IN PHILANTHROPIC SEED FUNDING OVER THE FIRST FOUR YEARS TO ENABLE THE BANNER TO QUICKLY ACHIEVE SCALE AND ALLOW THE TIME TO BUILD AND TEST THE MODEL. AS STEWART, TED VENETOULIS, (WHO PASSED AWAY IN OCTOBER 2021), AND IMTIAZ CONCEIVED THE BALTIMORE BANNER, THEY WERE INTENTIONAL FROM DAY ONE ABOUT THE KIND OF ORGANIZATION THEY WANTED TO BUILD FROM ITS AREAS OF FOCUS TO THE TYPE OF TEAM REQUIRED. ONE OF THE EARLIEST DECISIONS WAS TO STRUCTURE IT AS A NONPROFIT DELIVERING QUALITY, TRUSTWORTHY NEWS AND FOCUSING ON MISSION AND COMMUNITY IMPACT. AND UNLIKE THE HEDGE FUNDS DAMAGING LEGACY NEWS OUTLETS, THEY AGREED THEY WOULDN'T BE FOCUSED ON PROFITS. AN OPPORTUNITY EXISTED TO PROVE THE CONCEPT THAT A SUSTAINABLE NONPROFIT DIGITAL NEWS ORGANIZATION COULD BE IMPLEMENTED AT A SCALE NOT PREVIOUSLY SEEN IN OTHER CITIES. THE ENSUING MONTHS WERE CONSUMED WITH RAMPING UP HIRING ON BOTH THE BUSINESS SIDE AND IN THE NEWSROOM, A MAJOR PR PUSH TO CREATE BRAND AWARENESS AND SHARE OUR STORY, AND A METICULOUS PRODUCT DESIGN EFFORT TO CREATE THE WEBSITE AND DIGITAL EXPERIENCES READERS WOULD WANT. IN MAY 2022, THE BANNER ANNOUNCED ITS JOINT OPERATING VENTURE WITH PUBLIC RADIO STATION WYPR, ESTABLISHING A MULTI-PLATFORM MEDIA APPROACH FOR LAUNCH. FOLLOWING SEVERAL MONTHS OF LIMITED STORY DISTRIBUTION VIA EMAIL NEWSLETTERS, THE CULMINATION OF THE INSTITUTE'S FIRST YEAR OF WORK WAS THE LAUNCH OF THE BALTIMORE BANNER ON JUNE 14, 2022. IN THE COMING YEAR, THE VENETOULIS INSTITUTE ANTICIPATES DESIGNING A SERIES OF TRAINING EXPERIENCES FOR ASPIRING JOURNALISTS AND MEDIA PROFESSIONALS FROM AMONG THE HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE RANKS IN BALTIMORE AND MARYLAND. THE NEWSROOM WILL ALSO CONTINUE TO LOOK FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO PARTNER WITH LIKE-MINDED LOCAL NEWS ORGANIZATIONS TO EXPAND ITS REACH, AND IN CERTAIN CASES, TO CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR MORE IN-DEPTH, INVESTIGATIVE COVERAGE ON TOPICS WITH SUBSTANTIAL PUBLIC IMPACT. THROUGH THESE EFFORTS, THE INSTITUTE WILL PURSUE ITS MISSION TO STRENGTHEN, UNITE, AND INSPIRE THE COMMUNITIES SERVED. |
| HUMAN RESOURCES AND PERSONNEL SERVICES | VILJ IS PART OF A CO-EMPLOYMENT ARRANGEMENT WITH INSPERITY PEO SERVICES, LP (INSPERITY). INSPERITY IS A CERTIFIED PROFESSIONAL EMPLOYER ORGANIZATION. INSPERITY PROVIDES HUMAN RESOURCES SERVICES INCLUDING PAYROLL AND TAX WITHHOLDING AND REPORTING SERVICES. |
| Software ID: | |
| Software Version: |