irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $950KTHE MYANMAR MEDIA PROGRAM ("SIDA MYANMAR") PROVIDES A RANGE OF HIGHLY TAILORED MEDIA BUSINESS-ORIENTED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO MYANMAR'S INDEPENDENT MEDIA COMPANIES, INCLUDING ONE-TO-ONE EXPERT CONSULTING, GROUP WORKSHOPS, PEER-TO-PEER KNOWLEDGE SHARING AND DIRECT GRANTS FOR BUILDING MANAGEMENT CAPACITY.
- #2 $817KIN ITS GLOBAL PROGRAM, SUPPORTED BY SIDA, ("SIDA GLOBAL") MDIF UTILIZES ITS FINANCING AND CAPACITY BUILDING EXPERTISE TO IDENTIFY, DEVELOP, AND TRANSFORM MEDIA COMPANIES IN NEED, GLOBALLY, COMBINED WITH SIDA'S SUPPORT, TO PROVIDE LOAN AND EARLY STAGE EQUITY FINANCING, AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, PARTICULARLY IN BUILDING DIGITAL CAPACITY AND STRENGTHENING MEDIA BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT.
named programs · 5 · from sources
What they call their work
Amplify Program
Capacity-building initiative providing tailored technical assistance, workshops, peer learning, and consulting to strengthen the business sustainability of independent media companies across Africa, South Asia, and Southeast Asia.
Myanmar Media Program (SIDA Myanmar)
Provides targeted technical assistance and grants to independent media in Myanmar to build management capacity and resilience.
Nigeria Media Innovation Program (NAMIP)
Supports Nigerian media companies in testing and implementing new business strategies to improve innovation and long-term sustainability.
SIDA Global Program
Global initiative offering loan and early-stage equity financing, digital capacity development, and business strengthening support to independent media companies in need.
Western Balkans Fund
Investment and technical assistance program supporting independent media across Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, and Slovenia.
activities · 5 groups
What they do
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Free Expression Defense & Advocacy 1 activity
- Advocating for press freedom and journalist safetyResponds to threats against journalists by mobilizing legal, diplomatic, and advocacy networks through initiatives like the Aircover program. Supports media outlets in exposing corruption and combating disinformation in challenging political environments.
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Annual Impact and Evaluation Reporting 1 activity
- Conducting research and documenting insights in media developmentDocuments lessons learned from media support initiatives and publishes annual reports with insights on media development work, including findings from programs in Nigeria and other regions.
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Support for Investigative and Independent Journalism 1 activity
- Expanding reach and impact of independent media through direct supportSupports media companies in delivering trusted, socially relevant information across new formats and platforms, particularly in regions experiencing political and social instability. Media outlets supported by the organization reached 234 million people with news and information in the past year.
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Film Production Funding and Fiscal Sponsorship 1 activity
- Funding independent media ventures through debt and equity investmentsProvides debt and equity financing, along with quasi-equity, guarantees, and venture capital, to independent media organizations globally to support their sustainability and growth. Since 1996, has deployed $345.7 million in total financing across 161 media companies in dozens of countries.
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Data & Technology Capacity Building 1 activity
- Providing technical assistance and capacity-building to media organizationsOffers advisory services in business modeling, monetization, AI adoption, and management systems to strengthen the financial sustainability and operational resilience of independent media companies. In 2025, provided support to 82 media companies and hosted 16 knowledge-sharing events.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$14.73M
Contributions & grants$11.53M78%
Program service revenue$2.29M16%
Investment income$604K4%
Other revenue$305K
expenses
Total expenses$13.88M
Program expenses83%
Admin / overhead15%
Fundraising2%
Salaries & benefits$6.04M
Grants paid out$3.15M
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$53.78M
Cash$9.43M
Investments$35.39M
Liabilities$19.50M
Net assets$34.29M
Liquid reserves38.7 mo
4 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue -16.9%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 10
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| HARLAN MANDEL | CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER | 40 | $412K |
| DAN MARGOSHES | CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER | 40 | $284K |
| ELENA POPOVIC | SECRETARY/GENERAL COUNSEL | 40 | $257K |
| PATRICE SCHNEIDER | CHIEF STRATEGY OFFICER | 40 | $215K |
| JOANNA ROZYCKA | CHIEF INVESTMENT OFFICER | 40 | $198K |
| MEREDITH MOLOUGHNEY | CHIEF OF STAFF | 40 | $182K |
| PREMESH CHANDRAN | SENIOR ADVISOR TO CEO (OUTGOING) | 40 | $176K |
| GRZEGORZ KOSSAKOWSKI | INVESTMENT DIRECTOR OF EUROPE | 40 | $160K |
| BILAL RANDEREE | PROGRAM DIRECTOR | 40 | $159K |
| MARIE NEMCOVA | CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER | 40 | $103K |
board members · 7
- ADRIAAN STOOP — VICE CHAIR
- CATHERINE GICHERU — DIRECTOR
- KERSTIN MOGULL — DIRECTOR
- MARC DA COSTA — DIRECTOR
- MARIA-TERESA RONDEROS — DIRECTOR
- MICHAEL DEL NIN — DIRECTOR
- SHEILA CORONEL — CHAIR
relationships · 50
Who they work with
- Agora Partner — Polish media group supported in uncovering insider trading during the pandemic.
- Allianz Foundation Funder — Funder supporting MDIF's mission to strengthen free media.
- BBC Media Action Partner — Collaborates with MDIF on the PIMHIE project under the Amplify Kenya and Ethiopia initiatives.
- Cambio Partner — Client digital media platform in Colombia supported to strengthen sales and sustain editorial independence.
- Cambio Colombia Partner — Media organization that transformed its commercial strategy with MDIF support.
- City&Me Partner — Media organization producing impactful work in Serbia with MDIF support.
- Colab.re Partner — Collaborates with MDIF on media initiatives; photo credit indicates partnership engagement.
- Daily Maverick Partner — Media organization conducting investigative journalism in South Africa with MDIF support.
- Daily Maverick Partner — South African independent news outlet supported in exposing government corruption and state capture.
- Daily Maverick Partner — South African media outlet supported by MDIF in exposing state capture
- ERSTE Stiftung Funder — Funder supporting MDIF's mission to strengthen free media.
- El Faro Partner — El Salvadoran media outlet supported by MDIF in exposing government negotiations with gangs
- El Faro Partner — Salvadoran news outlet supported in exposing secret government negotiations with gangs.
- European Union Government — Complies with the EU’s Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR) in funding and investing practices.
- Food For Mzansi Partner — Client media outlet in South Africa supported to strengthen its business model.
- GLS Treuhand e.V. Funder — Funder supporting MDIF's mission to strengthen free media.
- HotNews Partner — Client media organization undergoing growth supported by MDIF's Amplify model.
- Impact Fund Denmark Funder — Funder supporting MDIF's mission to strengthen free media.
- Insajder Partner — Serbian media outlet supported in improving lives of vulnerable populations through investigative TV programming.
- Institusjonen Fritt Ord Funder — Funder supporting MDIF's mission to strengthen free media.
- International Fund for Public Interest Media (IFPIM) Funder — Funder supporting MDIF's mission to strengthen free media.
- JP/Politiken Hus Foundation Funder — Funder supporting MDIF's mission to strengthen free media.
- Josh Talks Partner — Organization involved in efforts to democratize AI in media.
- Kanal 77 Partner — Radio station in North Macedonia supported through digital transformation.
- Katadata Partner — Client media organization that received advisory support on AI adoption.
- Katadata Partner — Indonesian digital media outlet supported to expand audience engagement and revenue.
- King Baudouin Foundation (KBF) Funder — Funder supporting MDIF's mission to strengthen free media.
- Liga.net Partner — Ukrainian digital news portal supported during national crisis events.
- Luminate Funder — Funder supporting MDIF's mission to strengthen free media.
- Malaysiakini Partner — Pioneering digital outlet in Malaysia supported to grow reader revenue and expose human rights abuses.
+ 20 more
strategies · 4
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Blended Finance as Catalytic Mechanismmethodology: philanthropy-led_blended_financeBy using philanthropy-led blended finance structures, the organization de-risks and scales investment in independent media, bridging the gap between grant funding and commercial capital. This produces sustainable media enterprises because patient, mission-aligned capital allows for long-term growth where traditional investors would perceive too much risk.
- Capacity Building Through Tailored Organizational Developmentmethodology: targeted_capacity_buildingBy delivering targeted, assessment-based capacity-building interventions—including one-on-one consulting, peer learning, and workshops—the organization strengthens the long-term sustainability of media organizations because customized support addresses root operational and strategic challenges more effectively than standardized technical assistance.
- Integrated Support Modelmethodology: integrated_support_modelBy combining financial investment with hands-on advisory support and sector expertise, the organization strengthens media companies' business operations and management capacity, enabling journalists to focus on content creation and thereby increasing the resilience and impact of independent media. This approach produces both social and financial returns because it addresses structural weaknesses in media organizations holistically.
- Media as Democratic Infrastructuremethodology: media-as-infrastructureBy treating independent media as essential public infrastructure—akin to utilities—the organization justifies patient, mission-aligned investment and non-market interventions because a functioning democracy depends on reliable information systems, and thus media sustainability is a public good requiring structural support.