irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2022
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $18KPUBLICATION OF VARIOUS BOOKS.
named programs · 3 · from sources
What they call their work
Harper's Books
Publication of books, including reissues and original works, often in the public interest or aligned with the magazine’s editorial mission
Harper's Magazine
Monthly publication of long-form journalism, essays, fiction, and cultural commentary
Weekly Review
Regular feature summarizing notable global events with a focus on politics, science, and culture
activities · 6 groups
What they do
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Literary and Cultural Publishing 4 activities
- Acceptance and review of unsolicited submissionsAccepts nonfiction queries by mail (without returning unsolicited manuscripts), considers unsolicited fiction submissions, and accepts art, illustration, photography, and Readings section submissions in any format—returnable if packaging and postage are included.
- Curated content publication across genresPublishes essays, criticism, memoirs, reporting, fiction, book and arts reviews, science coverage, and excerpts from books, government documents, speeches, and letters. Also hosts roundtable discussions and provides in-depth analysis of everyday visual materials such as maps and diagrams.
- Publication of books and special anthologiesPublishes books, including special illustrated anthologies such as An American Album: One Hundred and Fifty Years of Harper’s Magazine, and has published works by notable authors and historical figures. The organization also released over 311,000 English-language e-books on Amazon.com in October 2025.
- Publication of thematic and translated contentPublishes recurring features such as the "Weekly Review" summarizing global news, translated international opinion columns (including from French media), and special symposia like "Distant Mirrors" featuring original essays on historical figures and republished archival selections.
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Arts and Cultural Workforce Training 1 activity
- Art and digital marketing internship programsProvides part-time art internships in electronic page layout, color separation, and art/photo research, as well as digital marketing internships involving 10–15 hours per week on web production, social media, and newsletter production.
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Paid Internships in Media & Publishing 1 activity
- Editorial internship programsOffers editorial internships involving full-time work in critical reading, research, fact-checking, and contributions to the Harper's Index, providing early-career development in magazine publishing.
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Nonprofit Investigative & Community Journalism 1 activity
- Harper's Index and data-driven research featuresProduces Harper's Index, a recurring feature presenting statistical observations on social, political, and cultural trends. Also publishes original research findings, such as tracking AI-generated language in news articles and analyzing book checkout trends in school districts.
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Organizational Newsletter Production and Distribution 1 activity
- Weekly email commentary and archival curationProduces a weekly email that critiques the 24-hour news cycle and distributes another weekly email featuring curated stories from its 175-year archive in response to current events.
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Uncategorized 2 activities
- Hosting public and benefit eventsOrganized a gala benefit event in New York City on November 13, 2025, to celebrate 175 years of fearless journalism and literary excellence.
- Production and distribution of Harper's MagazineProduces and distributes print and digital issues of Harper's Magazine, with domestic delivery within six to eight weeks and international delivery up to twelve weeks. Provides subscribers online access to the current issue and a full digital archive dating back to 1850. Offers a money-back guarantee for subscription cancellations.
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financials · form 990PF · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$8.58M
Contributions & grants$6.86M80%
Program service revenue——
Investment income$10K0%
Other revenue—
expenses
Total expenses$8.04M
Program expenses87%
Admin / overhead13%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$530K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$2.27M
Cash$925K
Investments$116K
Liabilities$2.19M
Net assets$504K
Liquid reserves1.6 mo
4 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +10.0%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 4
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| LYNN CARLSON | TREASURER, VP/GEN MANAGER (END 10/2024 | 40 | $245K |
| SHAWN GREEN | TREASURER, VP/GEN MANAGER (BEG 11/2024 | 40 | $162K |
| VIRGINIA NAVARRO | SECRETARY | 40 | $101K |
| JOHN R MACARTHUR | PRESIDENT, PUBLISHER, DIRECTOR | 40 | $24K |
board members · 5
- ELIZABETH SAMET — DIRECTOR
- JACKSON LEARS — CHAIRMAN/DIRECTOR
- RANDALL KENNEDY — DIRECTOR
- ROSA BROOKS — DIRECTOR
- ROSANNA WARREN — DIRECTOR
relationships · 7
Who they work with
- Art Intern Partner — Receives mail submissions for art, illustration, and photography, particularly for the Readings section.
- Atlantic Richfield Company Funder — Co-provided grant of assets and funds with the MacArthur Foundation to establish the Harper’s Magazine Foundation in 1980.
- CDS Fulfillment Government — Manages Harper's Magazine subscriptions and related email communications through buysub.com
- John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation Funder — Provided grant of assets and funds to form the Harper’s Magazine Foundation in 1980.
- Le Devoir Partner — Collaborates with the French-language newspaper to publish translated opinion content.
- New York Times Partner — Cited the organization's distinctiveness in a media landscape.
- The New York Times Partner — Honored A. G. Sulzberger, Chairman and Publisher of The New York Times, at the 175th anniversary gala.
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.
- Archival Curation for Contemporary Insightmethodology: archival_curation_for_contemporary_relevanceBy curating historical content from its archive, the organization draws connections to current events and provides context for the present, because linking past and present strengthens public understanding of ongoing social and political dynamics.
- Data-Driven Cultural Critiquemethodology: data-driven_narrativeBy using curated statistical data and concise formats like the Harper’s Index, Readings, and Annotation, the organization highlights societal patterns and anomalies to enable cultural and political critique, because distilled, evidence-based narratives make complex trends accessible without sacrificing depth.
- Editorial Mentorship for Cognitive Developmentmethodology: editorial-mentorshipBy providing close editorial mentorship and involving interns in signature features like the Harper’s Index, the organization develops critical and creative thinking skills in emerging writers, because structured, hands-on engagement with rigorous editorial standards fosters intellectual growth.
- Ethical Authorship and Human-Centered Contentmethodology: ethical_authorshipBy prioritizing original human thought and expression over AI-generated content, the organization upholds authenticity and critical integrity in publishing, because human authorship is essential to maintaining trust, nuance, and ethical responsibility in public discourse.
- Print Publication as Cultural Resistancemethodology: print-as-resistanceBy committing to print publication, the organization resists the monopolistic control of digital platforms and preserves conditions for deep reading, because physical media offers a durable, attention-focused alternative to algorithmically driven digital content ecosystems.