irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2023
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $0CPJ'S REGIONAL PROGRAMS COVER AFRICA, THE AMERICAS, ASIA, EUROPE AND CENTRAL ASIA, AND THE MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA. THEY ARE LED BY EXPERTS WORLDWIDE WHO REPORT DAILY ON PRESS FREEDOM ABUSES IN CLOSE COLLABORATION WITH OUR NETWORK OF CORRESPONDENTS, WHO HAVE DEEP TIES WITH LOCAL JOURNALISTS AND ADVOCATES. WE ARE UNIQUE IN OUR ABILITY TO ENGAGE GOVERNMENT LEADERS LOCALLY AND GLOBALLY, AS WELL AS MOBILIZE THE MEDIA TO SUPPORT THE PRESS. OUR ADVOCACY TEAM LEADS OR COORDINATES STRATEGIC EFFORTS AND IMPACTFUL CAMPAIGNS THAT WEAVE CASES INTO THE MOST PRESSING ISSUES. THE TEAM ENGAGES WITH POLICYMAKERS AND LEADERS FROM THE UNITED STATES, THE EUROPEAN UNION, AND THE UNITED NATIONS, AMONG OTHER ENTITIES.
- #2 $0IN PARTNERSHIP WITH TEAMS ACROSS THE ORGANIZATION, THEY INJECT OUR REPORTING INTO MULTILATERAL SYSTEMS AND MECHANISMS THAT CHAMPION PRESS FREEDOM, PROTECT JOURNALISTS, AND HELP DELIVER JUSTICE. OUR EMERGENCIES TEAM PROVIDES PRE-EMPTIVE, TAILORED TOOLS AND RAPID RESPONSE SUPPORT TO JOURNALISTS UNDER THREAT ALL OVER THE WORLD. THE TEAM IS A PILLAR OF ASSISTANCE FOR JOURNALISTS FORCED TO FLEE FOR THEIR SAFETY AND PROVIDES TRAINING, CONSULTATIONS, AND GUIDANCE TO PREVENT DEATHS, DETENTIONS, KIDNAPPINGS, AND OTHER DANGERS.
named programs · 3 · from sources
What they call their work
Advocacy Team
Leads strategic campaigns and engages policymakers in the U.S., European Union, United Nations, and other entities to advance press freedom and protect journalists.
Emergencies Team
Provides pre-emptive tools and rapid response support to journalists under threat worldwide, including assistance for those forced to flee, as well as training and consultations to prevent harm.
Regional Programs
CPJ's regional programs cover Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe and Central Asia, and the Middle East and North Africa, monitoring press freedom abuses and engaging with local and global leaders to advocate for change.
activities · 3 groups
What they do
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Free Expression Defense & Advocacy 2 activities
- Advocating for journalists’ rights and policy changeLeads advocacy campaigns to defend press freedom by denouncing violations, engaging policymakers at national and multilateral levels (including the U.S., EU, and UN), and coordinating with international organizations. Focuses on securing justice for imprisoned or killed journalists and challenging legal harassment and surveillance of reporters in countries such as Mexico, Peru, Cuba, and Israel.
- Documenting press freedom violations and journalist attacksConducts annual research documenting hundreds of attacks on journalists and media workers globally, including killings, imprisonments, and legal harassment, with each case verified through multiple sources. Publishes findings in reports such as the annual prison census and country-specific analyses to track global press freedom trends.
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Human Rights Advocacy Funding 1 activity
- Funding emergency grants for journalists in distressProvides financial assistance to journalists under threat through the Gene Roberts Emergency Fund, which dispenses emergency grants to those facing crisis situations such as persecution, displacement, or urgent medical needs due to their reporting.
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Support for Investigative and Independent Journalism 1 activity
- Providing emergency assistance and safety support to at-risk journalistsOperates a Journalist Assistance Program that delivers rapid response aid—including humanitarian, medical, digital, and physical security support—to journalists facing threats, imprisonment, exile, or injury due to their work. Provides up-to-date safety information and referrals to additional resources such as fellowships and grants.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$12.27M
Contributions & grants$11.45M93%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$771K6%
Other revenue$46K
expenses
Total expenses$13.75M
Program expenses72%
Admin / overhead17%
Fundraising11%
Salaries & benefits$7.55M
Grants paid out$1.29M
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$38.36M
Cash$5.50M
Investments$17.45M
Liabilities$5.47M
Net assets$32.89M
Liquid reserves20.0 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +9.2%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 15
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JODIE GINSBERG | CEO | 40 | $372K |
| HILDA ROMERO | CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER | 40 | $281K |
| JOHN D WEIS | DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT | 40 | $273K |
| CARLOS MARTINEZ DE LA SERNA | PROGRAM DIRECTOR | 40 | $246K |
| GYPSY GULLEN KAISER | DIR. OF COMM. AND ADVOCACY | 40 | $233K |
| THERESA VARGAS | HR DIRECTOR | 40 | $221K |
| ARLENE GETZ | EDITORIAL DIRECTOR | 40 | $214K |
| AMELIA EVANS | DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF ADVOCACY | 40 | $197K |
| MOHAMED ELSAFANI | DEPUTY DIR. OF COMMUNICATIONS | 40 | $197K |
| MARGARET ABAM-DEPASS | DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF FINANCE | 40 | $191K |
| LUCY WESTCOTT | EMERGENCIES DIRECTOR | 40 | $180K |
| ERIC HELMS | DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT | 40 | $170K |
| ANGELA QUINTAL | AFRICA PROGRAM COORDINATOR | 40 | $159K |
| KATHLEEN JONES | DEPUTY EDITORIAL DIRECTOR | 40 | $155K |
| CASEY BAUER | MAJOR GIFTS OFFICER, INDIVIDUAL GIVING | 40 | $141K |
board members · 10
- AHMED RASHID — DIRECTOR
- ALAN MURRAY — DIRECTOR
- ALAN RUSBRIDGER — DIRECTOR
- ALESSANDRA GALLONI — DIRECTOR
- CAOILFHIONN GALLAGHER — DIRECTOR
- CLARENCE PAGE — DIRECTOR
- DARREN WALKER — DIRECTOR
- DAVID REMNICK — DIRECTOR
- DIANE BRAYTON — DIRECTOR
- GERALDINE FABRIKANT METZ — DIRECTOR
relationships · 50
Who they work with
- ACOS Alliance Coalition — Founding member of the ACOS Alliance, which promotes the Freelance Journalist Safety Principles.
- ARTICLE 19 Partner — Collaborates within the Journalists in Distress Network to coordinate assistance for journalists at risk.
- African Defenders Partner — Collaborates within the Journalists in Distress Network to coordinate assistance for journalists at risk.
- Agence France-Presse Partner — Phil Chetwynd, Global News Director of Agence France-Presse, serves on CPJ's board of directors
- Amanecer Habanero Partner — Independent Cuban newsletter whose journalist, Austin Llerandi, is supported by CPJ against state harassment.
- Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy Partner — Former employer of CPJ staff member Cassandra Barragan; indicates professional network connection.
- Board of prominent journalists from around the world Partner — Board composed of prominent journalists that helps guide CPJ's activities.
- Canadian Journalists for Free Expression (CJFE) Partner — Collaborates within the Journalists in Distress Network to coordinate assistance for journalists at risk.
- Columbia Journalism Review Partner — Rebecca Blumenstein serves as chair of the board of the Columbia Journalism Review
- Defend Defenders/EHAHRDP Partner — Collaborates within the Journalists in Distress Network to coordinate assistance for journalists at risk.
- EMHRF Partner — Collaborates within the Journalists in Distress Network to coordinate assistance for journalists at risk.
- English PEN Partner — Collaborates within the Journalists in Distress Network to coordinate assistance for journalists at risk.
- European Centre for Press and Media Freedom Partner — Collaborates within the Journalists in Distress Network to coordinate assistance for journalists at risk.
- European Union Government — Engaged by CPJ's advocacy team to address press freedom issues.
- Free Press Initiative Zambia Partner — Founded by CPJ staff member Joan Chirwa; indicates organizational affiliation and partnership potential.
- Free Press Unlimited (FPU) Partner — Collaborates within the Journalists in Distress Network to coordinate assistance for journalists at risk.
- Freedom House Partner — Collaborates within the Journalists in Distress Network to coordinate assistance for journalists at risk.
- Friends of Firefighters Partner — Former employer of CPJ staff member Margaret Abam-DePass; indicates professional network connection.
- Frontline Defenders (FLD) Partner — Collaborates within the Journalists in Distress Network to coordinate assistance for journalists at risk.
- Gustavo Gorriti Partner — Investigative journalist honored with the CPJ International Press Freedom Award and supported by CPJ in opposing criminalization of his work.
- ICORN Partner — Collaborates within the Journalists in Distress Network to coordinate assistance for journalists at risk.
- IREX Journalist Safety Network Partner — Collaborates within the Journalists in Distress Network to coordinate assistance for journalists at risk.
- International Media Support (IMS) Partner — Collaborates within the Journalists in Distress Network to coordinate assistance for journalists at risk.
- International Rescue Committee Partner — Former employer of CPJ staff member Cassandra Barragan; indicates professional network connection.
- International Women’s Media Foundation (IWMF) Partner — Collaborates within the Journalists in Distress Network to coordinate assistance for journalists at risk.
- Internews Partner — Collaborates within the Journalists in Distress Network to coordinate assistance for journalists at risk.
- Jesuit Refugee Service Partner — Former employer of CPJ staff member Cassandra Barragan; indicates professional network connection.
- Journalists in Distress Network Network — Founding member of the Journalists in Distress Network, a coalition of 24 organizations providing direct assistance to threatened journalists.
- Marie Colvin Journalists’ Network Partner — Collaborates within the Journalists in Distress Network to coordinate assistance for journalists at risk.
- Media Defence Partner — Collaborates within the Journalists in Distress Network to coordinate assistance for journalists at risk.
+ 20 more
strategies · 5
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.
- Emergency Assistance as Immediate Protectionmethodology: emergency-assistanceBy providing direct emergency support to journalists under acute threat, CPJ mitigates immediate risks and enables continued reporting, because rapid intervention disrupts cycles of violence and signals institutional solidarity.
- Legal and Diplomatic Deterrencemethodology: legal-deterrenceBy advocating for legal accountability and engaging in high-level diplomatic advocacy, CPJ deters future abuses because state actors are less likely to target journalists when they face credible consequences.
- Research-Driven Advocacy and Accountabilitymethodology: research-based advocacyBy conducting original, on-the-ground research into press freedom violations, CPJ produces credible evidence that informs high-level advocacy, multilateral engagement, and calls for investigations, because authoritative data strengthens diplomatic and legal pressure for accountability.
- Risk Prevention Through Information and Safety Supportmethodology: risk-prevention-through-information-sharingBy sharing practical safety guidance and facilitating communication between journalists and news organizations, CPJ reduces the likelihood of harm because informed, coordinated practices enhance individual and institutional preparedness in high-risk environments.
- Visibility as Protectionmethodology: visibility-as-protectionBy documenting and publicizing attacks on journalists, CPJ increases public and diplomatic pressure on perpetrators, thereby deterring further violence and promoting accountability because visibility reduces the likelihood of impunity.