Nonprofit · EIN 27-4108978
FOOD AND ENVIRONMENT REPORTING NETWORK
Tax-exempt · NEW YORK, NY 10036
Financials
| Year ended | Form | Revenue | Expenses | Net income | Total assets | Liabilities | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 30, 2025 | 990 | $1,304,394 | $1,503,629 | -$199,235 | $222,971 | $38,252 | $184,719 |
| June 30, 2024 | 990 | $1,311,279 | $1,544,192 | -$232,913 | $503,192 | $119,238 | $383,954 |
| June 30, 2023 | 990 | $1,326,124 | $1,318,716 | $7,408 | $703,939 | $87,072 | $616,867 |
Financial details: 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025
Revenue
- Contributions, gifts and grants
- $1,194,198
- Program service revenue
- $112,574
- Investment income
- $42
- Net income from fundraising events
- -$18,420
- Other revenue
- -$2,420
Expenses
- Grants and similar amounts paid
- $0
- Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
- $106,509
- Other salaries and wages
- $552,640
- Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
- $717,401
- Professional fundraising fees
- $0
- Accounting fees
- $37,245
- Occupancy
- $6,482
- Travel
- $51,927
- Program services (functional)
- $1,188,111
- Management and general (functional)
- $243,166
- Fundraising (functional)
- $72,352
Balance sheet and other
- Total assets, start of year
- $503,192
- Total assets, end of year
- $222,971
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $38,252
- Net assets, end of year
- $184,719
- Net assets without donor restrictions
- -$148,455
- Net assets with donor restrictions
- $333,174
- Gross receipts
- $1,322,814
- Employees
- 10
- Volunteers
- 4
- Year formed
- 2010
- State of legal domicile
- NY
From the e-filed returns the IRS publishes as XML (latest three processing years; amended returns replace the original). PDF copies at the IRS.
Officers, directors and key employees
As listed on the 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025, highest compensation first.
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| THEODORE ROSS | EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Highest-paid employee | 40 | $146,424 | $2,040 |
| WILLIAM CUNNINGHAM | EXECUTIVE EDITOR Highest-paid employee | 40 | $107,561 | $399 |
| THOMAS LASKAWY | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Officer | 40 | $103,964 | $785 |
| SAMUEL FROMARTZ | SECRETARY/EDITOR-AT-LARGE Trustee or director, Officer | 5 | $1,000 | $0 |
| NATHANIEL BROWN | CHAIR-TREASURER Trustee or director, Officer | 5 | $0 | $0 |
| TANYA HAIDER | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 5 | $0 | $0 |
| SARENA SNIDER | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 5 | $0 | $0 |
| SUSAN WEST | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 5 | $0 | $0 |
990 for the year ended June 30, 2024: 7 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| THOMAS LASKAWY | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Officer | 40 | $104,328 | $1,853 |
| WILLIAM CUNNINGHAM | EXECUTIVE EDITOR Highest-paid employee | 40 | $105,773 | $0 |
| SAMUEL FRORMARTZ SECRETARY | EDITOR-IN-CHIEF THRU JUL 2023 Trustee or director, Officer | 40 | $60,037 | $782 |
| NATHANIEL BROWN | CHAIR-TREASURER Trustee or director, Officer | 5 | $0 | $0 |
| AILEEN BURDICK | DIRECTOR THRU DEC 2023 Trustee or director | 5 | $0 | $0 |
| SARENA SNIDER | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 5 | $0 | $0 |
| SUSAN WEST | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 5 | $0 | $0 |
990 for the year ended June 30, 2023: 9 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| THOMAS LASKAWY | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Officer | 40 | $104,400 |
| WILLIAM CUNNINGHAM | EXECUTIVE EDITOR Highest-paid employee | 40 | $100,792 |
| SAMUEL FRORMARTZ | SECRETARY/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Trustee or director, Officer | 40 | $92,479 |
| NATHANIEL BROWN | CHAIR-TREASURER Trustee or director, Officer | 5 | $0 |
| AILEEN BURDICK | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 5 | $0 |
| LORRAINE FONTANES | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 5 | $0 |
| JOANNE KELLEY THRU 73122 | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 5 | $0 |
| SARENA SNIDER | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 5 | $0 |
| SUSAN WEST | DIRECTOR Trustee or director | 5 | $0 |
Address and contacts
- Address (IRS master file)
- 580 5TH AVE STE 820, NEW YORK, NY 10036-4762
- In care of
- % PAULA CROSSFIELD
- Mailing address (990-N for 2010)
- 241 East Seventh Street 5C, New York NY 10009
- Principal officer (990 for 2024)
- THOMAS LASKAWY, 580 FIFTH AVENUE 820, NEW YORK, NY 10036
- Principal officer (990-N for 2010)
- Naomi Starkman, 6020 Volkerts Road, Sebastopol CA 95472
- Signed the 990
- THOMAS LASKAWY, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
- Phone
- (646) 248-6014
- Website
- WWW.THEFERN.ORG
- Return prepared by
- PKF O'CONNOR DAVIES ADVISORY LLC
Mission
FERN SEEKS TO MAKE THE FOOD SYSTEM MORE SUSTAINABLE AND EQUITABLE THROUGH POWERFUL JOURNALISM AND STORYTELLING.
Program accomplishments
- 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 GRANT YEAR TO DATE, FERN HAS PUBLISHED FOURTEEN LONG-FORM EXPLANATORY OR INVESTIGATIVE STORIES, SIX AUDIO PROJECTS, EIGHT REPORTED OPINION PIECES, AND ONE MULTI-PART SPECIAL SERIES; THAT WORK HAS BEEN DONE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH 23 OUTLETS, INCLUDING THE NEW YORK TIMES, BLOOMBERG BUSINESSWEEK, THE WASHINGTON POST, POLITICO, MOTHER JONES, AND INVERSE, AMONG OTHERS.DURING THE FISCAL YEAR, WE HAVE EXPANDED OUR AUDIO PRODUCTION, THANKS IN LARGE PART TO AN INCREASED CAPACITY FOR PRODUCING FINISHED AUDIO. THESE STORIES ARE DONE WITH THE SAME RIGOROUS, HIGH-IMPACT REPORTING TECHNIQUES WE BRING TO OUR TEXT ARTICLES. WE HAVE PARTNERED WITH PODCASTS, NPR FLAGSHIP PROGRAMS, AND NPR AFFILIATES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY FOR THIS WORK. WE SEE THIS AS A COMPELLING MEANS TO INCREASE THE REACH AND IMPACT OF OUR JOURNALISM.BUZZKILL, FERN'S SECOND LIMITED-SERIES PODCAST DISTRIBUTED BY PRX, WAS COMPLETED AND RELEASED IN JANUARY 2025. ACROSS SEVEN EPISODES, BUZZKILL EXPLORES THE POLLINATOR CRISIS, WHY IT MATTERS AND HOW WE CAN FIX IT. TERESA COTSIRILOS, FERN'S OWN AWARD-WINNING STAFF REPORTER, HOSTS THE SERIES. EPISODE REPORTERS INCLUDED ROWAN JACOBSEN, DAN CHARLES, EVE ABRAMS, ELLIOTT WOODS, AND BRIDGET HUBER. EXECUTIVE PRODUCER ADIZAH EGHAN, FORMERLY OF VICE MEDIA AND THE NEW YORK TIMES, OVERSAW THE PRODUCTION WITH FERN EDITOR-IN-CHIEF THEODORE ROSS, AND ALYSSA JEONG PERRY, FORMERLY OF NPR'S RADIOLAB, WAS SENIOR PRODUCER. TO DATE, THE PODCAST HAS NEARLY 40,000 DOWNLOADS AND WAS FEATURED PROMINENTLY ON BOTH APPLE PODCASTS AND NPR ONE PODCAST APPS. ITS PERFORMANCE PUTS IT IN THE TOP 5% OF ACTIVE PODCASTS, WHILE IT PEAKED AT #26 ON THE APPLE PODCASTS DOCUMENTARY CATEGORY. TO COMMEMORATE BUZZKILL'S RELEASE, FERN HOSTED A PANEL DISCUSSION ON URBAN BEEKEEPING AT NEW YORK CITY'S CIVIC HALL FOR AN AUDIENCE OF NEARLY 100. THE PANEL INCLUDED REBECCA LOUIE OF THE BEE CONSERVANCY, SARA HOBEL OF THE NEW YORK HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY, AND TERESA COTSIRILOS, BUZZKILL'S HOST, AND WAS MODERATED BY FORMER COLUMBIA JOURNALISM REVIEW'S EXECUTIVE EDITOR SEWELL CHAN. THE CONVERSATION WAS SO COMPELLING THAT WE RELEASED IT AS A BONUS SEVENTH EPISODE OF THE PODCAST.TO SUPPORT BUZZKILL, WE ALSO REVAMPED OUR EXISTING PODCAST FEED, WHICH WE HAD CREATED FOR THE HOT FARM PODCAST SERIES. WE CHANGED THE NAME TO "REAP/SOW: DISPATCHES FROM THE FRONT LINES OF FOOD, FARMING, AND THE ENVIRONMENT, AND ESTABLISHED IT AS FERN'S DEDICATED PODCAST CHANNEL, THE HOME FOR ALL OUR AUDIO WORK, WHETHER LIMITED SERIES, ONE-OFF PODCAST EPISODES, RADIO REPORTS, OR OTHER ITEMS.FERN ALSO INTRODUCED A NEW PODCAST CALLED FORKED, AN INSIDER'S LOOK AT THE POLITICS AND POLICY TURNING THE AMERICAN FOOD SYSTEM ON ITS HEAD. HOSTS THEODORE ROSS (FERN'S EDITOR-IN-CHIEF) AND HELENA BOTTEMILLER EVICH (FOOD FIX) OFFER AN ENGAGING AND CONVERSATIONAL ROUNDUP OF CURRENT POLICY DEVELOPMENTS IN FOOD AND FARMING, MAKING IMPORTANT BELTWAY NEWS ACCESSIBLE TO A CONCERNED, CONNECTED, BUT MAINSTREAM AUDIENCE. THIS IS A SHOW FOR ANYONE WHO CARES ABOUT WHAT THEY EAT AND WHERE THEIR FOOD COMES FROM.FERN FURTHER EXPANDED ITS SPECIAL SERIES PACKAGES, FIRST INTRODUCED WITH A FARM BILL SERIES IN PARTNERSHIP WITH MOTHER JONES THAT WON A JAMES BEARD AWARD FOR CRITICISM. THIS KIND OF FEATURE ALLOWS US TO COVER A COMPLICATED SUBJECT FROM A RANGE OF ANGLES AND PERSPECTIVES IN SHORTER PIECES WITH DIFFERENT WRITERS. WE FOLLOWED THE FARM BILL SERIES WITH A 2024 SERIES ON FOOD WASTE WITH INVERSE, A DIGITAL CULTURE AND SCIENCE NEWS SITE FROM THE BUSTLE MEDIA GROUP, AND IN 2025 WE PRODUCED ANOTHER SERIES WITH INVERSE LOOKING AT ULTRAPROCESSED FOODS.A PRIME EXAMPLE OF THIS APPROACH COMES IN OUR "TROUBLE ON THE LINE" SERIES ABOUT HAITIAN IMMIGRANT WORKERS AT THE JBS MEATPACKING PLANT IN GREELEY, COLORADO. IT WAS PUBLISHED AS AN OP-ED WITH THE NEW YORK TIMES, ANOTHER OP-ED IN POLITICO, A LONGFORM TEXT PIECE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH MOTHER JONES, AN EPISODE OF THE REVEAL PODCAST, AND A RADIO FEATURE WITH HARVEST PUBLIC MEDIA WITH MORE COMPONENTS IN PRODUCTION.BUT EVEN OUR SPECIAL SERIES WITH INVERSE ON ULTRAPROCESSED FOODS ALLOWED US TO EXPERIMENT WITH FORMAT AND AUDIENCE. A Q&A WITH LEGENDARY NUTRITIONIST MARION NESTLE WAS PUBLISHED AS A TEXT ARTICLE, A PODCAST EPISODE ON REAP/SOW, AND AS A YOUTUBE VIDEO. AND IN A FIRST FOR FERN, WE WORKED WITH CORY BRADFORD, A SOCIAL MEDIA CONTENT CREATOR, ON FOUR SHORT VIDEOS INSPIRED BY OUR ARTICLES FOR TIKTOK AND INSTAGRAM WHICH COMBINED RECEIVED NEARLY 150,000 VIEWS.FERN WON SEVERAL AWARDS DURING THE FISCAL YEAR, FERN WON A 2025 JAMES BEARD AWARD IN THE CRITICISM AND NEWSLETTERS CATEGORY FOR THREE ARTICLES IN ITS FARM BILL SERIES PUBLISHED WITH MOTHER JONES. AN ADDITIONAL FIVE FERN STORIES RECEIVED NOMINATIONS FOR 2025 JAMES BEARD MEDIA AWARDS ACROSS 3 CATEGORIES: FOODWAYS, HEALTH AND WELLNESS, AND THE CRAIG CLAIBORNE DISTINGUISHED CRITICISM AWARD. FERN WAS NOMINATED FOR A 2025 NATIONAL MAGAZINE AWARD FOR FEATURE WRITING FOR MYA FRAZIER'S "POWER FAILURE" WITH SWITCHYARD. THIS STORY WAS ALSO THE WINNER OF A 2025 CCNOW JOURNALISM AWARD. FERN WON A SOCIETY FOR PROFESSIONAL JOURNALISTS NORCAL EXPLANATORY JOURNALISM AWARD FOR TERESA COTSIRILOS' AUDIO STORY ON AN INDIGENOUS COMMUNITY'S FIGHT FOR ITS WATER IN CALIFORNIA. FERN WAS NAMED A FINALIST FOR THE INSTITUTE OF NONPROFIT NEWS'S INSIGHT AWARD FOR EXPLANATORY JOURNALISM, FOR "REDFISH BLUES," A PODCAST EPISODE ON ENVIRONMENTAL THREATS TO THE REDFISH POPULATION ON THE LOUISIANA GULF COAST, PRODUCED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH WWNO'S SEA CHANGE PODCAST WHILE BUZZKILL WAS ALSO NOMINATED FOR AN INSIGHT AWARD FOR EXPLANATORY JOURNALISM FROM THE INSTITUTE FOR NONPROFIT NEWS.Expenses $1,126,534 · revenue $96,168
- WE PRODUCED DOZENS OF ORIGINAL REPORTED PIECES FOR OUR FERN'S AG INSIDER POLICY NEWS SERVICE DURING THE FIRST HALF OF THE FISCAL YEAR. TOPICS THAT RECEIVED EXTENSIVE COVERAGE THIS YEAR INCLUDED CLIMATE POLICY, CALIFORNIA WATER ISSUES, AND FOOD ACCESS POLICY. HOWEVER, AS OF JANUARY 2025, CHUCK ABBOTT, AG INSIDER'S CREATOR AND EDITOR, RETIRED, AND AFTER 10 YEARS, ORIGINAL REPORTING FOR AG INSIDER, WHICH HAS SERVED AN AUDIENCE OF POLICYMAKERS, ADVOCATES, AND EXPERTS WITH REPORTING ON AGRICULTURE AND FOOD POLICY, WAS TERMINATED. FERN CONTINUES TO MAINTAIN A FULL, FREE, SEARCHABLE ARCHIVE OF OUR DECADE OF AG INSIDER REPORTING AS A RESOURCE TO THE PUBLIC.Expenses $61,577 · revenue $16,406
What it must file and when
IRS records say it files Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N. Its accounting year ends in June, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.
| Tax year | Year ended | Due | IRS public records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | June 30, 2026 | November 16, 2026 | Not due yet |
| 2024 | June 30, 2025 | November 17, 2025 | 990 on file |
| 2023 | June 30, 2024 | November 15, 2024 | 990 on file |
IRS record
- EIN
- 27-4108978
- Tax-exempt status
- 501(c)(3): Charitable, religious, educational or scientific organization
- Foundation status
- Publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(A)(vi))
- Donations deductible (Pub 78)
- Public charity, 50% deduction limit
- Exempt since
- 2011
- Accounting year ends
- June
- Files
- Form 990 or 990-EZ
- Category (NTEE)
- Food, agriculture and nutrition (K05)
- Assets (IRS master file)
- $222,971
- Income (IRS master file)
- $1,322,814
Filing history
| Form | Year ended | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 990 | June 2025 | $1,304,394 | $1,503,629 | $222,971 | XML |
| 990 | June 2024 | $1,311,279 | $1,544,192 | $503,192 | XML |
| 990 | June 2023 | $1,326,124 | $1,318,716 | $703,939 | XML |
| 990 | June 2022 | $1,382,993 | $1,304,344 | $709,191 | IRS |
| 990 | June 2021 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | December 2018 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990-N for 2010 Officer: Naomi Starkman | December 31, 2010 | ≤ $50,000 receipts | – | – | e-Postcard |
990-N: the IRS bulk file holds only the latest e-Postcard per organization; earlier years come from archived copies of that file since 2020 and can have gaps (the IRS e-Postcard search lists every one). 990, 990-EZ, 990-PF, 990-T: every e-filed return in the IRS e-file index since 2019; XML for the latest three processing years, amounts from the IRS Statistics of Income extracts before that. PDF copies and determination letters at the IRS (search EIN 27-4108978).
Questions about FOOD AND ENVIRONMENT REPORTING NETWORK
- What is the EIN of FOOD AND ENVIRONMENT REPORTING NETWORK?
- The employer identification number (EIN) of FOOD AND ENVIRONMENT REPORTING NETWORK is 27-4108978.
- Is FOOD AND ENVIRONMENT REPORTING NETWORK tax-exempt?
- Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 2011.
- Are donations to FOOD AND ENVIRONMENT REPORTING NETWORK tax-deductible?
- Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
- Which annual return does FOOD AND ENVIRONMENT REPORTING NETWORK file?
- Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N.
- When is the next return of FOOD AND ENVIRONMENT REPORTING NETWORK due?
- The return for tax year 2025 (the year ending June 30, 2026) is due November 16, 2026. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
- When did FOOD AND ENVIRONMENT REPORTING NETWORK last file with the IRS?
- The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended June 2025.
- Who is the principal officer of FOOD AND ENVIRONMENT REPORTING NETWORK?
- The 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025 names THOMAS LASKAWY.
- Who are the officers and directors of FOOD AND ENVIRONMENT REPORTING NETWORK?
- The 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025 lists 8 people; 4 received compensation from the organization, the highest $146,424 (THEODORE ROSS, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF).
- How much revenue does FOOD AND ENVIRONMENT REPORTING NETWORK have?
- On its 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025 it reported revenue of $1,304,394, expenses of $1,503,629 and total assets of $222,971 at year end.
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