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SOLUTIONS JOURNALISM NETWORK INC
NEW YORK, NY · EIN 462265729 · Form 990 · FY2024 · NTEE B99 · Education · Medium ($1M-$10M) · solutionsjournalism.org
revenue
$8.7M
expenses
$8.0M
net assets
$8.2M
employees
34
program ratio
81%
mission · from form 990

DEFINE AND SPREAD SOLUTIONS JOURNALISM-REPORTING ABOUT CREDIBLE RESPONSES TO SOCIAL PROBLEMS.

profile · synthesized from sources

The Solutions Journalism Network promotes rigorous reporting on responses to social problems, aiming to rebalance news coverage by highlighting evidence-based solutions. Founded in 2013, it supports journalists and newsrooms globally through training, resources, and its Solutions Story Tracker database. The organization works to increase public engagement, reduce polarization, and build trust in media by advancing a more constructive and accurate form of journalism.

irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024

What they reported doing

  1. #1 primary $628K
    SOLUTIONS INSIGHTS LAB THE ORGANIZATION GROWS AND MANAGES THE SOLUTIONS STORY TRACKER, A CURATED DATABASE OF SOLUTIONS JOURNALISM STORIES THAT HAVE BEEN REVIEWED, EVALUATED, AND TAGGED BY A TEAM OF SOLUTIONS SPECIALISTS. SEARCHABLE BY ISSUE, LOCATION, AUTHOR, NEWSROOM, AND STRATEGIC INSIGHTS, THIS DATABASE GREW IN 2025 TO INCLUDE MORE THAN 17,000 STORIES BY 9,700 JOURNALISTS ABOUT RESPONSES TO PROBLEMS IN 199 COUNTRIES. THE ORGANIZATION ALSO SUPPORTS UNIVERSITY FACULTY IN DEVELOPING AND SHARING TEACHING MATERIALS BASED ON SOLUTIONS JOURNALISM STORIES IN A RANGE OF DISCIPLINES.
named programs · 4 · from sources

What they call their work

Africa Initiative
Program supporting journalists in Africa to practice solutions journalism, with a focus on countering harmful stereotypes and building local capacity through fellowships and training
Climate Peer Network
Global network for journalists covering climate change, offering a space to share best practices, resources, and training in solutions-oriented environmental reporting
Solutions Insights Lab
Initiative that analyzes and disseminates strategic insights from solutions journalism reporting, supporting knowledge transfer across disciplines and newsrooms
Solutions Story Tracker
A curated, searchable database of over 17,700 solutions journalism stories from 2,200 news outlets in 19 languages, reviewed and tagged by specialists for issue, location, and strategic insights
activities · 8 groups

What they do

  • Support for Investigative and Independent Journalism 2 activities
    • Conduct research on the impact and practice of solutions journalism
      Conducts qualitative evaluations and maintains documentation on the outcomes of solutions journalism, including its effects on newsrooms and communities. This includes an impact tracker and a database showing how solutions-focused reporting has helped news organizations attract new funding.
    • Support newsroom integration of solutions journalism
      Supports newsrooms in producing solutions-focused, community-centered reporting through fellowship programs and direct collaboration, including in campaign coverage and climate reporting.
  • Open Research Infrastructure & Publishing 1 activity
    • Curate and maintain specialized collections of solutions journalism
      Maintains thematic collections of solutions journalism, including a curated archive of over 1,000 climate solutions stories from around the world to support focused reporting and research.
  • Public Awareness and Educational Outreach 1 activity
    • Deliver educational programming to students
      Hosts educational sessions for high school, college, and graduate students; delivered 46 sessions to more than 1,300 students since fall 2020.
  • Professional Association Capacity Building 1 activity
    • Facilitate peer learning networks for journalists
      Operates peer networks such as the Climate Peer Network, which provide forums for journalists to exchange ideas, share best practices, and collaborate on solutions journalism reporting.
  • Flexible Grants to Grassroots Organizations 1 activity
    • Fund newsroom projects and journalism fellowships
      Funds newsroom initiatives and fellowships for journalists to produce solutions journalism, supported by foundation grants and individual donors.
  • Nonprofit Investigative & Community Journalism 1 activity
    • Maintain and expand the Solutions Story Tracker database
      Operates and grows the Solutions Story Tracker®, a curated database of over 17,700 solutions journalism stories from journalists and news outlets in over 100 countries, documenting responses to social problems. As of 2025, the database includes content from 9,700 journalists across 199 countries.
  • Conflict Mediation & Resolution Services 1 activity
    • Train journalists in solutions journalism practices
      Provides training and professional development for journalists in solutions journalism methods, including conflict-resolution-based interviewing and listening practices, to improve community engagement, reduce polarization, and produce more nuanced reporting.
  • Uncategorized 1 activity
    • Support academic integration of solutions journalism
      Supports university faculty in developing and sharing teaching materials based on solutions journalism, with resources integrated into 266 courses between 2016 and 2020, reaching over 12,700 students.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$8.75M
Contributions & grants$8.25M94%
Program service revenue$168K2%
Investment income$323K4%
Other revenue$3K
expenses
Total expenses$7.95M
Program expenses81%
Admin / overhead11%
Fundraising8%
Salaries & benefits$4.16M
Grants paid out$933K
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$8.60M
Cash$5.78M
Investments$0
Liabilities$452K
Net assets$8.15M
Liquid reserves8.7 mo
4 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +77.3%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

paid leadership · 11
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
DAVID N BORNSTEIN CEO/CO-FOUNDER 40 $270K
ELIZABETH ANN SHARE CHIEF OF STRATEGIC RELATIONS 40 $203K
TINA ROSENBERG VARENIK SECRETARY/CO-FOUNDER 40 $201K
SARA CATANIA CHIEF PROGRAM OFFICER 40 $195K
JEFFERSON CUEVAS CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER 40 $163K
AMBIKA SAMARTHYA-HOWARD CHIEF OF INNOVATION 40 $163K
LINDA SHAW DIRECTOR BEACONS & ADVANCE PRACTICE 40 $127K
CORINNA MYERS CONTROLLER 40 $119K
FRANCINE HUFF VP OF PROGRAM 40 $118K
CHERELLE JACKSON CLIMATE DIRECTOR 40 $118K
AMY MAESTAS DIRECTOR OF COLLABORATIVES 40 $104K
board members · 10
  • BARNABY MARSH — TREASURER
  • CHRIS GEE — BOARD MEMBER
  • COURTNEY MARTIN — BOARD MEMBER/CO-FOUNDER
  • DAVID BOARDMAN — VICE CHAIR
  • ISRAEL BALDERAS — BOARD MEMBER
  • MARSHA COOKE — BOARD MEMBER
  • MAURISSE JOHNSON — BOARD MEMBER
  • MORGAN DIXON — BOARD MEMBER
  • RON NIXON — BOARD MEMBER
  • TRABIAN SHORTERS — CHAIR
relationships · 25

Who they work with

  • Atlanta Civic Circle Partner — Participates in fellowship programs with the Solutions Journalism Network to produce solutions-focused campaign coverage.
  • Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Funder — Provided support for a qualitative evaluation on solutions journalism as part of the Africa Initiative.
  • Candid Government — Recognized by Candid with Platinum Transparency 2026 seal
  • Candid Network — Profiled by Candid, reflecting commitment to transparency.
  • Chattanooga Times Free Press Partner — Newsroom that ran a solutions-focused series on poverty, resulting in increased public discourse and community action.
  • Climate Peer Network Network — Hosts and supports the Climate Peer Network for journalists covering climate solutions.
  • Courtney Martin Partner — Award-winning journalist and co-founder of the Solutions Journalism Network.
  • Daniel Kahneman Partner — Referenced for expertise in cognitive science and its relevance to journalism through an interview hosted by the American Press Institute.
  • David Bornstein Partner — Award-winning journalist and co-founder of the Solutions Journalism Network.
  • Grady Health System Partner — Collaborates on integrating solutions journalism into public health reporting
  • Guidestar Government — Provider of the Platinum Seal of Transparency awarded to Solutions Journalism Network.
  • Institute for Applied Positive Research Partner — Conducted research on the emotional impact of solutions-oriented reporting, cited by the organization.
  • Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Partner — Participates in fellowship programs with the Solutions Journalism Network to produce solutions-focused campaign coverage.
  • News Literacy Lab Partner — Produced a 2023 Impact Report on a school media-literacy program including solutions journalism, cited by the organization.
  • SmithGeiger Partner — Commissioned media research firm that studied the impact of solutions journalism on audience trust and engagement.
  • Solutions Journalism Network Network — Organization operates as a network advancing solutions journalism through collaborative learning and program delivery.
  • The Current (Lafayette) Partner — Participates in fellowship programs with the Solutions Journalism Network to produce solutions-focused campaign coverage.
  • The Trace Partner — Publication that launched a solutions-focused newsletter, The Trajectory, which received a significant audience response.
  • Tina Rosenberg Partner — Award-winning journalist and co-founder of the Solutions Journalism Network.
  • WITF-FM Partner — Participates in fellowship programs with the Solutions Journalism Network to produce solutions-focused campaign coverage.
  • foundations Funder — Provides financial support for newsroom projects and fellowships.
  • individual donors Funder — Provides financial support for organizational activities.
  • storytracker.solutionsjournalism.org Network — Hosts journalist profiles and impact tracking tools within the network
  • thewholestory.solutionsjournalism.org Network — Hosts the organization's blog as part of its network resources
  • university faculty Partner — Collaborates with university faculty to develop and share teaching materials based on solutions journalism stories.
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.

  • Audience Activation Through Evidence-Based Hope
    methodology: hope_with_teeth
    By presenting credible, evidence-backed responses to social problems, the organization fosters "hope with teeth," which activates audiences, increases civic engagement, and strengthens belief in progress, because people are more likely to act when they see tangible pathways for change.
  • Countering Deficit Narratives with Cognitive Science
    methodology: cognitive_science_informed_journalism
    By applying cognitive science insights to journalism, the organization counters entrenched, biased narratives and deficit-based reporting, because understanding how beliefs are shaped enables reporters to craft stories that increase audience openness to complexity, agency, and progress.
  • Field-Building Through Networked Learning
    methodology: network_building
    By connecting entrepreneurial journalists, educators, and newsroom leaders in collaborative learning communities with an "all-teach, all-learn" ethos, the organization accelerates the adoption of solutions journalism, because shared insight and peer-driven innovation strengthen practice more effectively than top-down training.
  • Solutions Journalism
    methodology: solutions_journalism
    By advancing rigorous reporting on responses to social problems—including evidence of effectiveness, limitations, and transferability—the organization produces more complete public discourse and builds public agency and hope, because audiences and institutions engage more constructively when they understand what is working and why.