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IRS-authorized e-file provider · not the IRS

Nonprofit · EIN 93-2405011

MEDIA AND DEMOCRACY PROJECT INC

Tax-exempt · NEW YORK, NY 10025

Financials

$35K$28K2023$16K$8K2024$40K$36K2025
Revenue Expenses · by fiscal year end
Financials of MEDIA AND DEMOCRACY PROJECT INC by year, from its e-filed returns
Year endedFormRevenueExpensesNet incomeTotal assetsLiabilitiesNet assets
December 31, 2025990$39,606$35,669$3,937$17,689$0$17,689
December 31, 2024990$15,662$8,449$7,213$13,752$0$13,752
December 31, 2023990$34,964$28,425$6,539$6,539$0$6,539
Financial details: 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025

Revenue

Contributions, gifts and grants
$39,606
Membership dues
$575
Program service revenue
$0
Investment income
$0
Other revenue
$0

Expenses

Grants and similar amounts paid
$103
Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
$0
Professional fundraising fees
$0
Legal fees
$21,000
Accounting fees
$1,937
Program services (functional)
$32,814
Management and general (functional)
$2,115
Fundraising (functional)
$740

Balance sheet and other

Total assets, start of year
$13,752
Total assets, end of year
$17,689
Total liabilities, end of year
$0
Net assets, end of year
$17,689
Net assets without donor restrictions
$17,689
Gross receipts
$39,606
Employees
0
Volunteers
30
Year formed
2023
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 December 31, 2025, highest compensation first.

NameTitleHours / weekCompensation
MILO VASSALLOEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Trustee or director, Officer
10$0
JONATHAN REISSCHAIR & TREASURER
Trustee or director, Officer
5$0
CAROLYN BARCLIFTSECRETARY
Trustee or director, Officer
2$0
BRIAN HANSBURYBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
2$0
NOELLE PELLOWSKIBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
2$0
ELEANOR H ATKINSONBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
2$0
990 for the year ended December 31, 2024: 6 people
NameTitleHours / weekCompensation
JONATHAN REISSCHAIR & TREASURER
Trustee or director, Officer
3$0
CAROLYN BARCLIFTSECRETARY
Trustee or director, Officer
3$0
MILO VASSALLOEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Trustee or director, Officer
10$0
ELEANOR H ATKINSONBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
3$0
BRIAN HANSBURYBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
3$0
NOELLE PELLOWSKIBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
3$0
990 for the year ended December 31, 2023: 6 people
NameTitleHours / weekCompensation
JONATHAN REISSCHAIR & TREASURER
Trustee or director, Officer
3$0
CAROLYN BARCLIFTSECRETARY
Trustee or director, Officer
3$0
MILO VASSALLOEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Trustee or director, Officer
10$0
ELEANOR H ATKINSONBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
3$0
BRIAN HANSBURYBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
3$0
NOELLE PELLOWSKIBOARD MEMBER
Trustee or director
3$0

Address and contacts

Address (IRS master file)
PO BOX 20596, NEW YORK, NY 10025-1521
In care of
% MEDIA AND DEMOCRACY PROJECT
Principal officer (990 for 2025)
JONATHAN REISS, PO BOX 20596, NEW YORK, NY 10025
Signed the 990
JONATHAN REISS, CHAIR & TREASURER
Phone
(917) 270-0552
Return prepared by
VASQUEZ COMPANY LLP

Mission

THE MEDIA AND DEMOCRACY PROJECT (MAD) IS A NON-PARTISAN, VOLUNTEER LED, GRASSROOTS CIVIC MEMBERSHIP ORGANIZATION FIGHTING FOR A MORE INFORMATIVE AND PRO-DEMOCRACY MEDIA THAT OPERATES IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST.

990 for the year ended December 31, 2025

Program accomplishments

  • REGULATORY ADVOCACYMAD ACTIVELY PARTICIPATES IN THE REGULATORY PROCESS ON MEDIA-RELATED ISSUES. MOST NOTABLY, WE HAVE FILED SEVERAL REGULATORY COMMENTS, PRIMARILY TO THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION (FCC) RELATED TO MEDIA OWNERSHIP CONSOLIDATION. IN 2023, WE FILED A PETITION TO DENY FOX A LOCAL TV LICENSE BASED ON THE FAILURE OF FOX TELEVISIONS STATIONS AND RUPERT AND LACHLAN MURDOCH TO MEET THE CHARACTER QUALIFICATIONS FOR LICENSURE NEEDED TO OWN LOCAL TV STATIONS. THE FCC'S MEDIA BUREAU DISMISSED OUR PETITION IN JANUARY 2025 AND WE FILED AN APPEAL WITH THE FULL COMMISSION, WHICH IS STILL PENDING. IN 2025, MAD ALSO SUBMITTED OTHER REGULATORY COMMENTS RELATED TO OWNERSHIP CONSOLIDATION AND PRESS FREEDOM.
    Expenses $21,000 · grants $103
  • MEDIA EDUCATION AND ADVOCACYMAD'S CORE ACTIVITIES ARE PUBLIC ONLINE EVENTS TO INFORM, EDUCATE AND ACTIVATE OUR MEMBERS AND THE PUBLIC ON PRESS-RELATED ISSUES. WE HELD 12 REGULAR MONTHLY MEETINGS, 5 SPECIAL EVENTS AND 10 WORKSHOPS AND OTHER SMALLER MEETINGS. AT ALL OF THESE EVENTS, WE PROVIDE ESSENTIAL INFORMATION, HIGHLIGHT THOUGHT LEADERS AND HEROIC ACTIONS, AND ENCOURAGE ATTENDEES TO ACT. TOTAL REGISTRATION FOR THESE MEETINGS EXCEEDED 7,000 INCLUDING A SCREENING OF A FILM AND A DISCUSSION WITH THE FILM'S DIRECTOR, WITH OVER 500 ATTENDEES. WE HAVE AN ACTIVE SOCIAL MEDIA, OUR BLOG AND PUBLISH IN EXTERNAL, EDITED PUBLICATIONS. OUR BLOG HAS OVER 9,000 SUBSCRIBERS
    Expenses $8,814
  • SUPPORT OF LOCAL AND INDEPENDENT NEWS ORGANIZATIONSMAD ALSO INCREASED OUR ACTIVITY IN SUPPORT OF LOCAL JOURNALISM IN 2025. WE EXPANDED OUR LOCAL JOURNALISM DIRECTORY TO OVER 2,200 NEWS OUTLETS WORTH READING AND SUPPORTING. THE DIRECTORY WAS FEATURED IN THE #2 ACTION TO PROTECT DEMOCRACY ON A LIST OF 29 FROM PROTECT DEMOCRACY. WE ALSO HELD TWO SPECIAL EVENTS IN SUPPORT OF LOCAL NEWS AND ADVOCATED FOR STATE LEGISLATION TO SUPPORT LOCAL NEWS AS WELL AS PROMOTING IT ACTIVELY IN OUR REGULAR MEETINGS, SOCIAL MEDIA AND BLOGS. WE WERE ASKED TO CO-LEAD A NY STATE BASED COALITION TO ORGANIZE STAKEHOLDERS ON LOCAL MEDIA POLICY.
    Expenses $3,000

What it must file and when

IRS records say it files Form 990-N (e-Postcard). Gross receipts normally $50,000 or less. Its accounting year ends in December, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.

Tax yearYear endedDueIRS public records
2025December 31, 2025May 15, 2026990 on file
2024December 31, 2024May 15, 2025990 on file
2023December 31, 2023May 15, 2024990 on file

File the 2026 990-N for MEDIA AND DEMOCRACY PROJECT INC

Due May 17, 2027 · e-filed with the IRS by 990.tax, an IRS-authorized e-file provider

IRS record

EIN
93-2405011
Tax-exempt status
501(c)(4): Social welfare organization
Donations deductible
No
Exempt since
2024
Accounting year ends
December
Files
Form 990-N (e-Postcard)
Assets (IRS master file)
$17,689
Income (IRS master file)
$39,606

Filing history

FormYear endedRevenueExpensesAssetsReturn
990December 2025$39,606$35,669$17,689IRS
990December 2024$15,662$8,449$13,752IRS
990December 2023$34,964$28,425$6,539XML

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 93-2405011).

Questions about MEDIA AND DEMOCRACY PROJECT INC

What is the EIN of MEDIA AND DEMOCRACY PROJECT INC?
The employer identification number (EIN) of MEDIA AND DEMOCRACY PROJECT INC is 93-2405011.
Is MEDIA AND DEMOCRACY PROJECT INC tax-exempt?
Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(4) since 2024.
Are donations to MEDIA AND DEMOCRACY PROJECT INC tax-deductible?
No. The IRS master file says contributions to it are not deductible.
Which annual return does MEDIA AND DEMOCRACY PROJECT INC file?
Form 990-N (e-Postcard). Gross receipts normally $50,000 or less.
When is the next return of MEDIA AND DEMOCRACY PROJECT INC due?
The return for tax year 2026 (the year ending December 31, 2026) is due May 17, 2027. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
When did MEDIA AND DEMOCRACY PROJECT INC last file with the IRS?
The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended December 2025.
Who is the principal officer of MEDIA AND DEMOCRACY PROJECT INC?
The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 names JONATHAN REISS.
Who are the officers and directors of MEDIA AND DEMOCRACY PROJECT INC?
The 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 lists 6 people; 0 received compensation from the organization.
How much revenue does MEDIA AND DEMOCRACY PROJECT INC have?
On its 990 for the year ended December 31, 2025 it reported revenue of $39,606, expenses of $35,669 and total assets of $17,689 at year end.

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