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PRO PUBLICA INC
NEW YORK, NY · EIN 142007220 · Form 990 · FY2024 · NTEE A20 · Arts, Culture & Humanities · Very Large (>$50M) · propublica.org
revenue
$64.3M
expenses
$45.7M
net assets
$98.1M
employees
230
volunteers
15
program ratio
80%
mission · from form 990

TO EXPOSE ABUSES OF POWER AND BETRAYALS OF THE PUBLIC TRUST. [SEE CONTINUATION ON SCHEDULE O] BY GOVERNMENT, BUSINESS, AND OTHER INSTITUTIONS, USING THE MORAL FORCE OF INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM TO SPUR REFORM THROUGH THE SUSTAINED SPOTLIGHTING OF WRONGDOING.

profile · synthesized from sources

ProPublica is an independent, nonprofit newsroom that produces investigative journalism in the public interest. It focuses on exposing abuses of power and betrayals of public trust by government, corporations, and other powerful institutions. Its reporting has driven policy changes, legislative reforms, and criminal investigations across the United States.

named programs · 3 · from sources

What they call their work

Impact Reporting
Tracks and publishes the real-world effects of ProPublica's investigations, including legislative changes, policy reforms, and criminal proceedings
Local Reporting Network
Partners with local newsrooms across the U.S. to support investigative reporting on under-covered issues and institutions
SecureDrop
Operates a secure, anonymous platform for whistleblowers and sources to share sensitive documents and information with journalists
activities · 2 groups

What they do

  • Nonprofit Investigative & Community Journalism 5 activities
    • Advocacy and policy impact through investigative reporting
      Produces investigative journalism that leads to legislative changes, policy reforms, and institutional accountability, including extending rape statute of limitations in Massachusetts, prompting CMS reviews of physician practices, increasing Alaska school funding, reforming towing practices in Connecticut, reducing criminalization of homelessness in Albuquerque, and prompting sanctions against doctors in Texas.
    • Collaborative journalism partnerships
      Partners with hundreds of news organizations to report, edit, distribute, and create localized content based on investigative findings, amplifying reach and impact across national and regional outlets.
    • Development and publication of investigative data tools and applications
      Creates digital tools and databases to support investigative journalism and public transparency, including tracking habeas corpus cases, political spending by 527 organizations, political ads on Facebook, demographic data in private schools, and a database of individuals credibly accused of sexual misconduct in religious organizations, available in both English and Spanish.
    • Investigative journalism on systemic injustices and abuses of power
      Conducts in-depth investigative reporting across a wide range of public interest issues, including failures in mental health care, wrongful convictions, immigration enforcement practices, environmental risks, and government accountability. Investigations have been conducted in states including Montana, Massachusetts, Florida, Alaska, Texas, New Mexico, Illinois, and Washington.
    • Operation of a large-scale investigative newsroom
      Runs a newsroom staffed by over 150 journalists dedicated to investigative reporting in the public interest.
  • Uncategorized 1 activity
    • Recognition and awards for investigative journalism
      Has received nine Pulitzer Prizes, a Peabody Award, two Murrow Awards, a CCNow Journalism Award, and a Livingston Award for excellence in investigative journalism.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$64.27M
Contributions & grants$61.19M95%
Program service revenue$192K0%
Investment income$2.07M3%
Other revenue$814K
expenses
Total expenses$45.74M
Program expenses80%
Admin / overhead12%
Fundraising8%
Salaries & benefits$35.92M
Grants paid out$1.21M
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$108.06M
Cash$43.43M
Investments$40.12M
Liabilities$10.00M
Net assets$98.06M
Liquid reserves21.9 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +10.9%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

paid leadership · 11
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
STEPHEN ENGELBERG CO-CEO & EDITOR-IN-CHIEF 40 $518K
ROBIN SPARKMAN PRESIDENT CO-CEO & TREASURER 40 $500K
RAGAN RHYNE SVP, DEVELOPMENT & SECRETARY 40 $372K
CHARLES ORNSTEIN MANAGING EDITOR, LOCAL 40 $370K
TRACY WEBER MANAGING EDITOR 40 $349K
STEPHANIE LITTLE CHIEF FINANCIAL & ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER 40 $332K
JESSE EISINGER SENIOR EDITOR & REPORTER 40 $324K
JEREMY KUTNER GENERAL COUNSEL 40 $311K
GINGER THOMPSON CHIEF OF CORRESPONDENTS 40 $303K
TYSON EVANS CHIEF PRODUCT AND BRAND OFFICER 40 $297K
ALEXANDRA ZAYAS DEPUTY MANAGING EDITOR 40 $290K
board members · 14
  • ANGELA FILO — DIRECTOR
  • ANU KHOSLA — DIRECTOR
  • CARRIE LOZANO — DIRECTOR
  • CHARLES F WHITAKER — DIRECTOR
  • CLAIRE BERNARD — DIRECTOR
  • CLAIRE HOFFMAN — DIRECTOR
  • HENRY LOUIS GATES JR — DIRECTOR
  • JAMES M STONE — DIRECTOR
  • JONATHAN KLEIN — DIRECTOR
  • KATIE MCGRATH — DIRECTOR
  • MARK COLODNY — DIRECTOR
  • PAUL SAGAN — CHAIRMAN
  • ROBERT CS MONKS — DIRECTOR
  • STEVE DAETZ — DIRECTOR
relationships · 13

Who they work with

  • Connecticut Mirror Partner — Joint investigation with ProPublica on towing reforms in Connecticut
  • KQED Partner — Joint reporting with ProPublica on teacher misconduct in California
  • KYUK Partner — Collaborated with ProPublica and NPR on reporting about Alaska public school funding
  • Local Reporting Network Network — Shares tips with trusted newsroom partners in the Local Reporting Network if ProPublica is unable to follow up.
  • Local newsrooms Partner — Partners with local newsrooms across the U.S. to conduct investigative reporting.
  • Local newsrooms Partner — Partners with local newsrooms through the Local Reporting Network to support investigative journalism.
  • NPR Partner — Collaborated with ProPublica and KYUK on reporting about Alaska public school funding
  • ProPublica Network — Member of a nonprofit news network producing investigative journalism with public accountability focus.
  • ProPublica Partner — Entity managing advertising and sponsorship for its own media content.
  • Sahan Journal Partner — Joint investigation with ProPublica on predatory home financing schemes in Minnesota
  • WBUR Partner — Collaborated with ProPublica on reporting about rape statute limitations in Massachusetts
  • WBUR Partner — Collaborated with ProPublica on reporting about rape statute of limitations in Massachusetts.
  • hundreds of other news organizations Partner — Collaborates on reporting, editing, distribution, and creation of local content around investigations
strategies · 3

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.

  • Data-Driven Transparency and Public Accountability
    methodology: data-driven_transparency
    By building interactive data tools and public-facing databases, we produce greater transparency in legal and political systems, because accessible data enables public scrutiny and empowers citizens to hold institutions accountable.
  • Investigative Journalism as Moral and Policy Catalyst
    methodology: moral_force_of_investigative_journalism
    By conducting sustained investigative reporting on systemic wrongdoing and abuses of power, we produce public awareness and moral pressure that leads to policy reform, because persistent exposure shifts public discourse and compels institutional accountability.
  • Partnership-Driven Impact Amplification
    methodology: partnership_amplification
    By collaborating with local newsrooms and partner organizations, we produce broader reach and deeper impact from investigative journalism, because distributed networks increase accountability coverage and local resonance of national stories.