2024-03-13T09:40:39-05:00 2023-06-30 873231666 PKF O'CONNOR DAVIES ADVISORY LLC 245 PARK AVENUE 12TH FLOOR NEW YORK NY 10167 990 2022-07-01 274108978 FOOD AND ENVIRONMENT REPORTING NETWORK INC FOOD 6462486014 580 FIFTH AVENUE 820 NEW YORK NY 10036 THOMAS LASKAWY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 6462486014 2024-03-13 1 THOMAS LASKAWY 999009999 1 EVA MRUK P00543254 2122862600 2024-03-12 3 AAL1 IAL1 2022 2023-04-26 12:10:37Z THOMAS LASKAWY 580 FIFTH AVENUE 820 NEW YORK NY 10036 1373208 0 X WWW.THEFERN.ORG X 2010 NY TO PRODUCE EXPLANATORY AND INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING ON FOOD, AGRICULTURE, AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH THROUGH PUBLICATION PARTNERSHIPS WITH RESPECTED LOCAL AND NATIONAL MEDIA OUTLETS. 6 5 11 6 0 0 1284542 1222847 96542 106489 122 4777 1787 -7989 1382993 1326124 0 0 0 0 704958 778683 0 0 68276 599386 540033 1304344 1318716 78649 7408 709191 703939 99732 87072 609459 616867 X THE FOOD & ENVIRONMENT REPORTING NETWORK (FERN) IS THE FIRST AND ONLY INDEPENDENT, NON-PROFIT, NON-PARTISAN NEWS ORGANIZATION THAT PRODUCES EXPLANATORY AND INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING ON FOOD, AGRICULTURE, AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH THROUGH PUBLICATION PARTNERSHIPS WITH RESPECTED LOCAL AND NATIONAL MEDIA OUTLETS. 0 0 901951 0 40987 THE FOOD & ENVIRONMENT REPORTING NETWORK CONTINUES TO DEMONSTRATE AN ABILITY TO DELIVER SMART, POWERFUL JOURNALISM THAT HELPS DEFINE, AND OFTEN LEADS THE MEDIA COVERAGE OF ITS AREAS OF FOCUS. DURING THE FISCAL YEAR, WE PRODUCED 25 EXPLANATORY OR INVESTIGATIVE REPORTS ON A RANGE OF TOPICS PUBLISHED WITH 13 OUTLETS, INCLUDING NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC, THE GUARDIAN, SMITHSONIAN MAGAZINE, THE NATION, THE ATLANTIC, AND OTHERS. DURING THE FISCAL YEAR, HOT FARM, FERN'S FIRST PODCAST, WON THE INSTITUTE FOR NONPROFIT NEWS 2022 INSIGHT AWARD FOR EXPLANATORY JOURNALISM. WE ALSO CONTINUED TO COVER THE BIGGEST STORIES ON THE FOOD AND AGRICULTURE BEAT, WHICH INCLUDE CLIMATE CHANGE AND BIODIVERSITY LOSS, LABOR ISSUES, AND EQUITY MORE GENERALLY. WE'VE REPORTED ON, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE DEBATE OVER CARBON-CAPTURE AND SEQUESTRATION AND WHAT IT MEANS FOR IOWA FARMERS, A DECADES-LONG FIGHT TO SECURE CLEAN DRINKING WATER SUPPLIES BY A CALIFORNIA TOWN FOUNDED BY BLACK AMERICANS, THE CONCERNING DROP IN SIZE OF PACIFIC SALMON AND WHAT THAT MIGHT MEAN FOR THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST ECOSYSTEM; LAB-GROWN MEAT'S SERIOUS PR PROBLEM, THE UNLIKELY ALLIANCE BEHIND THE WORK TO SAVE WILD RICE, THE LINKS BETWEEN WATER SCARCITY, EXTREME WEATHER, AND FOOD INSECURITY, CONCERNS OVER THE SCIENCE BEHIND ONE OF AGRICULTURE'S KEY CLIMATE SOLUTIONS, AN INVESTIGATION INTO CHILD WORKER LABOR VIOLATIONS IN THE FOOD INDUSTRY, A LOOK AT THE EXPLOSIVE RISE OF SEAWEED AQUACULTURE, AND AN EXPOS INTO A POLICE KILLING AT A MEATPACKING PLANT IN OKLAHOMA. MEANWHILE, THE GASTROPOD PODCAST PROJECT PRODUCED 21 NEW EPISODES TOTAL AND SAW AN INCREASE IN AVERAGE DOWNLOADS PER EPISODE WITHIN THE FIRST 6 WEEKS OF RELEASE. 116319 0 65502 WE PRODUCED DOZENS OF ORIGINAL REPORTED PIECES FOR OUR FERN'S AG INSIDER POLICY NEWS SERVICE. TOPICS THAT RECEIVED EXTENSIVE COVERAGE THIS YEAR, INCLUDED CLIMATE POLICY, CALIFORNIA WATER ISSUES, AND FOOD ACCESS POLICY. WE NOW HAVE MORE THAN 400 INDIVIDUAL AND CORPORATE SUBSCRIBERS AND A GROWING NUMBER OF ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONAL SUBSCRIBERS, INCLUDING NYU, HARVARD LAW SCHOOL, UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, BERKELEY, YALE, AND THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA, TO OUR SUBSCRIPTION-ONLY SERVICE. IN ADDITION, NEARLY 2,200 PEOPLE RECEIVE THE FREE NEWSLETTER VERSION EVERY WEEKDAY. 1018270 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 X 52 0 11 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 X 6 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 AR CA FL MD MI NJ NY PA WI X X X THOMAS LASKAWY 2153702765 725 WESTVIEW ST PHILADELPHIA PA 19119 SAMUEL FRORMARTZ SECRETARY/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF 40.00 X X 92479 0 0 NATHANIEL BROWN CHAIR-TREASURER 5.00 X X 0 0 0 AILEEN BURDICK DIRECTOR 5.00 X 0 0 0 LORRAINE FONTANES DIRECTOR 5.00 X 0 0 0 JOANNE KELLEY THRU 73122 DIRECTOR 5.00 X 0 0 0 SARENA SNIDER DIRECTOR 5.00 X 0 0 0 SUSAN WEST DIRECTOR 5.00 X 0 0 0 THOMAS LASKAWY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 40.00 X 104400 0 0 WILLIAM CUNNINGHAM EXECUTIVE EDITOR 40.00 X 100792 0 0 297671 0 0 2 0 0 0 GASTROPOD 57 TRULL STREET SOMERVILLE MA 02145 PODCAST PRODUCTION AND PROJECT MANAGEMEN 118006 1 2000 1220847 33535 1222847 EDITORIAL REVENUE 513110 73610 73610 SUBSCRIPTIONS REVENUE 513190 32879 32879 106489 4777 4777 33535 33535 0 0 2125 2000 13549 -11424 -11424 REIMBURSEMENT 900099 3435 3435 3435 1326124 106489 0 -3212 X 208800 175634 30550 2616 507579 426955 74265 6359 4018 3380 588 50 58286 49028 8528 730 34100 34100 213568 182195 5951 25422 15364 4455 7125 3784 63114 18300 29269 15545 162185 123821 25484 12880 2524 731 1170 623 35655 33456 2199 1087 315 505 267 12436 12436 1318716 1018270 232170 68276 186956 150128 307385 291482 200000 257710 14850 4619 709191 703939 84571 70769 15161 16303 99732 87072 X 61150 76023 548309 540844 609459 616867 709191 703939 7408 0 X X 0 1 X 1 0 X 561587 1202355 942796 1284542 1222847 5214127 561587 1202355 942796 1284542 1222847 5214127 2406664 2807463 20 494 326 122 4777 5739 1968 1084 1787 3435 8274 5228140 463488 0.53700 0.58130 X SCHEDULE A, PART II, LINE 10, EXPLANATION OF OTHER INCOME: REIMBURSEMENT - 2018 AMOUNT: $ 1,968. 2019 AMOUNT: $ 1,084. 2021 AMOUNT: $ 1,787. 2022 AMOUNT: $ 3,435. RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED 0 X 1339673 13549 13549 1326124 0 1326124 1332265 13549 13549 1318716 0 1318716 PART X, LINE 2: MANAGEMENT OF FERN HAS DETERMINED THAT THERE ARE NO MATERIAL UNCERTAIN TAX POSITIONS THAT REQUIRE RECOGNITION OR DISCLOSURE IN THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. FERN'S TAX RETURNS FOR ALL YEARS SINCE 2020 REMAIN OPEN TO EXAMINATION BY THE APPLICABLE TAXING AUTHORITIES. THERE ARE CURRENTLY NO EXAMINATIONS IN PROGRESS. PART XI, LINE 2D - OTHER ADJUSTMENTS: RECLASS SPECIAL EVENT EXPENSES 13,549. PART XII, LINE 2D - OTHER ADJUSTMENTS: RECLASS SPECIAL EVENT EXPENSES 13,549. X 2 33535 AVG. SELLING PRICE 0 0 0 0 PART I, COLUMN (B): THE ORGANIZATION IS REPORTING THE NUMBER OF CONTRIBUTORS IN COLUMN (B). FORM 990, PART I, QUESTION 5, AND PART V, QUESTION 2A THE ORGANIZATION CONTRACTED WITH A PROFESSIONAL EMPLOYER ORGANIZATION (PEO) FOR SERVICES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PAYROLL, TIMEKEEPING, EMPLOYEE BENEFITS, HR ADMINISTRATION AND WORKFORCE REGULATORY COMPLIANCE NEEDS. AS THE EMPLOYER OF RECORD FOR TAX PURPOSES, FORMS W-2 AND W-3 ARE ISSUED BY THE PEO AND FILED UNDER THE PEO'S FEDERAL EIN. IN THIS CO-EMPLOYMENT ARRANGEMENT, THE ORGANIZATION IS THE COMMON LAW EMPLOYER AND, ACCORDINGLY, COMPENSATION IS REPORTED ON FORM 990, PART VII, SECTION A AND PART IX, LINES 5-10. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 11B THE FORM 990 WAS PREPARED BY AN OUTSIDE ACCOUNTING FIRM, AND THEN REVIEWED BY THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR. A COMPLETE COPY OF THE FORM 990 IS PROVIDED TO ALL MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR THEIR REVIEW PRIOR TO FILING. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 12C ANNUALLY, BOARD MEMBERS AND OFFICERS ARE REQUIRED TO DISCLOSE ANY ACTUAL OR POSSIBLE CONFLICTS OF INTEREST TO THE GOVERNING BOARD. AFTER DISCLOSURE OF ALL THE MATERIAL FACTS, THE INDIVIDUAL MUST RECUSE THEMSELVES WHILE A DETERMINATION OF A CONFLICT OF INTEREST IS DISCUSSED AND VOTED UPON. AN INTERESTED PERSON MAY MAKE A PRESENTATION AT THE GOVERNING BOARD MEETING, BUT AFTER THE PRESENTATION HE/SHE LEAVES THE MEETING DURING THE DISCUSSION OF, AND VOTE ON THE TRANSACTION OR ARRANGEMENT INVOLVING THE POSSIBLE CONFLICT OF INTEREST. SUCH MATTERS INVOLVING THE EXISTENCE OF CONFLICTS OF INTEREST ARE DOCUMENTED IN THE MINUTES OF THE GOVERNING BOARD. ON AN ANNUAL BASIS, EACH BOARD MEMBER AND OFFICER IS REQUIRED TO SIGN A STATEMENT WHICH AFFIRMS THAT THEY RECEIVED A COPY OF THE CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY, READ AND UNDERSTAND IT, AND AGREE TO COMPLY WITH IT. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 15 TO DETERMINE COMPENSATION FOR THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, THE BOARD UTILIZES COMPARABLE COMPENSATION DATA OF PEER ORGANIZATIONS. THE AMOUNT FOR EACH POSITION IS APPROVED BY THE BOARD AND RECORDED IN THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING. THE PROCESS LAST OCCURRED IN 2023. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION C, LINE 19 FERN'S FORM 990 IS MADE AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC INSPECTION AS REQUIRED UNDER SECTION 6104 OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE. THE FORM 990 IS AVAILABLE ON FERN'S WEBSITE, THE NEW YORK STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL WEBSITE, GUIDESTAR.ORG AND OTHER SIMILAR TYPES OF WEBSITES. IN ADDITION, THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ARE AVAILABLE ON FERN'S WEBSITE AND THE CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY, ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION AND BY-LAWS ARE AVAILABLE UPON WRITTEN REQUEST. FORM 990, PART IX, LINE 11G COMMUNICATIONS: PROGRAM SERVICE EXPENSES 1,698. MANAGEMENT AND GENERAL EXPENSES 4,500. FUNDRAISING EXPENSES 13,500. TOTAL EXPENSES 19,698. PHOTOGRAPHER: PROGRAM SERVICE EXPENSES 21,300. MANAGEMENT AND GENERAL EXPENSES 0. FUNDRAISING EXPENSES 0. TOTAL EXPENSES 21,300. EDITORS: PROGRAM SERVICE EXPENSES 42,381. MANAGEMENT AND GENERAL EXPENSES 0. FUNDRAISING EXPENSES 1,785. TOTAL EXPENSES 44,166. WRITERS: PROGRAM SERVICE EXPENSES 108,475. MANAGEMENT AND GENERAL EXPENSES 0. FUNDRAISING EXPENSES 10,013. TOTAL EXPENSES 118,488. PAYROLL SERVICE FEE: PROGRAM SERVICE EXPENSES 8,341. MANAGEMENT AND GENERAL EXPENSES 1,451. FUNDRAISING EXPENSES 124. TOTAL EXPENSES 9,916. FORM 990, PART XII, LINE 2C: THE ORGANIZATION HAS A COMMITTEE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE OVERSIGHT OF THE AUDIT OF ITS FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND THE SELECTION OF AN INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANT. THE PROCESS HAS NOT CHANGED FROM THE PRIOR YEAR.