Nonprofit · EIN 31-1650883
RELIGION NEWS FOUNDATION
Tax-exempt · COLUMBIA, MO 65205
Financials
| Year ended | Form | Revenue | Expenses | Net income | Total assets | Liabilities | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 30, 2025 | 990 | $9,440,759 | $4,473,937 | $4,966,822 | $9,164,947 | $349,186 | $8,815,761 |
| June 30, 2024 | 990 | $1,363,996 | $3,723,335 | -$2,359,339 | $4,217,463 | $329,346 | $3,888,117 |
Financial details: 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025
Revenue
- Contributions, gifts and grants
- $9,029,426
- Program service revenue
- $279,030
- Investment income
- $188,421
- Net gain from sales of assets
- -$33
- Net income from fundraising events
- -$56,118
- Other revenue
- -$56,118
Expenses
- Grants and similar amounts paid
- $16,000
- Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
- $433,495
- Other salaries and wages
- $1,579,867
- Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
- $2,433,700
- Professional fundraising fees
- $0
- Legal fees
- $28,624
- Accounting fees
- $91,731
- Occupancy
- $13,761
- Travel
- $76,391
- Depreciation
- $5,976
- Program services (functional)
- $3,335,512
- Management and general (functional)
- $830,487
- Fundraising (functional)
- $307,938
Balance sheet and other
- Total assets, start of year
- $4,217,463
- Total assets, end of year
- $9,164,947
- Total liabilities, end of year
- $349,186
- Net assets, end of year
- $8,815,761
- Land, buildings and equipment
- $23,271
- Net assets without donor restrictions
- $741,046
- Net assets with donor restrictions
- $8,074,715
- Gross unrelated business income
- $96,008
- Gross receipts
- $9,503,840
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 10
- Year formed
- 1999
- State of legal domicile
- OH
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DEBORAH CALDWELL | CEO AND PUBLISHER Trustee or director, Officer | 40 | $192,500 | $11,377 |
| PAUL O'DONNELL | EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Highest-paid employee | 40 | $135,965 | $41,819 |
| TYLER BORCHERS | OPERATIONS DIRECTOR Highest-paid employee | 40 | $140,875 | $13,599 |
| ROBERT SMIETANA | NATIONAL REPORTER Highest-paid employee | 40 | $115,068 | $31,369 |
| ROXANNE STONE | MANAGING EDITOR Highest-paid employee | 40 | $120,080 | $15,240 |
| PATRICIA TERRELL | CHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER Officer | 40 | $93,750 | $11,389 |
| LAURA WILSON | FINANCE DIRECTOR Officer | 20 | $81,631 | $5,455 |
| KEN CHITWOOD | PAST VICE CHAIR Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $7,200 | $0 |
| DAVE ROBERSON | CHAIR Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| SEAN COUGHLIN | TREASURER Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| ROBYN TOMLIN | SECRETARY Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| SHAHED AMANULLAH | VICE CHAIR Trustee or director | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| JU-DON MARSHALL | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| STEVE WALDMAN | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| ELAINE JUSTICE | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
4 more people on this return
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| THOMAS LEVINSON | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| BETSY SHIRLEY | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| WON KIM | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 |
| JOHN TERRILL | PAST BOARD CHAIR Trustee or director, Officer | 1 | $0 |
990 for the year ended June 30, 2024: 15 people
| Name | Title | Hours / week | Compensation | Other / benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DEBORAH CALDWELL | CEO AND PUBLISHER Trustee or director, Officer | 40 | $184,394 | $10,221 |
| PAUL O'DONNELL | EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Highest-paid employee | 40 | $114,681 | $43,640 |
| ROBERT SMIETANA | NATIONAL REPORTER Highest-paid employee | 40 | $100,606 | $29,450 |
| ROXANNE STONE | MANAGING EDITOR Highest-paid employee | 40 | $107,640 | $13,569 |
| LAURA WILSON | FINANCE DIRECTOR Officer | 40 | $72,992 | $4,186 |
| KEN CHITWOOD | VICE CHAIR Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $7,200 | $0 |
| BESTY SHIRLEY | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| STEVEN WALDMAN | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| THOMAS LEVINSON | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| KIM WON | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| DAVE ROBERSON | TREASURER Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| DAWN ARAUJO-HAWKINS | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| JOHN TERRILL | BOARD CHAIR Trustee or director, Officer | 2 | $0 | $0 |
| SHAHED AMANULLAH | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
| ROBYN TOMLIN | BOARD MEMBER Trustee or director | 1 | $0 | $0 |
Address and contacts
- Address (IRS master file)
- PO BOX 1808, COLUMBIA, MO 65205-1808
- In care of
- % LAURA WILSON
- Principal officer (990 for 2024)
- DEBORAH CALDWELL, PO BOX 1808, COLUMBIA, MO 65205
- Signed the 990
- DEBORAH CALDWELL, CEO/PRESIDENT
- Phone
- (844) 767-6397
- Return prepared by
- WILLIAMS-KEEPERS LLC
Mission
TO ADVANCE THE PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING OF RELIGION AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF RELIGION JOURNALISM.
Program accomplishments
- EDITORIAL: RNS EDITORIAL TEAM PROVIDES ORIGINAL REPORTING AND COMMENTARY ON RELIGION, SPIRITUALITY AND FAITH. JOURNALISTS COVER BREAKING NEWS, INVESTIGATIVE REPORTS, PROFILES, FEATURES AND EXPLAINERS THAT FURTHER THE UNDERSTANDING OF WORLD'S RELIGIONS. DISTRIBUTION INCLUDES THE WEBSITE, E-NEWSLETTERS, PODCASTS, SOCIAL MEDIA AND ONLINE EVENTS.Expenses $3,335,512 · grants $16,000 · revenue $183,022
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
- 31-1650883
- Tax-exempt status
- 501(c)(3): Charitable, religious, educational or scientific organization
- Foundation status
- Supporting organization, Type I
- Donations deductible (Pub 78)
- Supporting organization, 50% limit
- Exempt since
- 2017
- Accounting year ends
- June
- Files
- Form 990 or 990-EZ
- Category (NTEE)
- Religion-related (X11)
- Assets (IRS master file)
- $9,164,947
- Income (IRS master file)
- $9,503,840
Filing history
| Form | Year ended | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 990 | June 2025 | $9,440,759 | $4,473,937 | $9,164,947 | XML |
| 990-T | June 2025 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | June 2024 | $1,363,996 | $3,723,335 | $4,217,463 | XML |
| 990-T | June 2024 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | June 2023 | $6,642,797 | $3,022,930 | $6,441,621 | IRS |
| 990-T | June 2023 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | June 2022 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990-T | June 2022 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | June 2021 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990-T | June 2021 | – | – | – | IRS |
| 990 | June 2019 | – | – | – | IRS |
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 31-1650883).
Questions about RELIGION NEWS FOUNDATION
- What is the EIN of RELIGION NEWS FOUNDATION?
- The employer identification number (EIN) of RELIGION NEWS FOUNDATION is 31-1650883.
- Is RELIGION NEWS FOUNDATION tax-exempt?
- Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 2017.
- Are donations to RELIGION NEWS FOUNDATION tax-deductible?
- Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Supporting organization, 50% limit).
- Which annual return does RELIGION NEWS FOUNDATION 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 RELIGION NEWS FOUNDATION 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 RELIGION NEWS FOUNDATION 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 RELIGION NEWS FOUNDATION?
- The 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025 names DEBORAH CALDWELL.
- Who are the officers and directors of RELIGION NEWS FOUNDATION?
- The 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025 lists 19 people; 8 received compensation from the organization, the highest $192,500 (DEBORAH CALDWELL, CEO AND PUBLISHER).
- How much revenue does RELIGION NEWS FOUNDATION have?
- On its 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025 it reported revenue of $9,440,759, expenses of $4,473,937 and total assets of $9,164,947 at year end.
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