Pro Publica Inc
Pro Publica Inc shows consistent revenue and asset growth with reported zero officer compensation.
EIN: 142007220 · New York, NY · NTEE: A20 · Updated: 2026-03-28
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Revenue | $77.2M |
| Total Expenses | $44.1M |
| Program Spending | 85% |
| Net Assets | $75.4M |
| Transparency Score | 90/100 |
Is Pro Publica Inc Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
Pro Publica Inc directs 85% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About Pro Publica Inc
Pro Publica Inc (EIN: 142007220) is a nonprofit organization based in New York, NY, classified under NTEE code A20. The organization reported total revenue of $77.2M and total assets of $108.1M according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Pro Publica Inc's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
Pro Publica Inc is a major nonprofit that has been operating for 18 years, with 13 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2011–2023). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of 15.6%.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $58.0M |
| Total Expenses | $44.1M |
| Surplus / Deficit | +$13.9M |
| Total Assets | $85.5M |
| Total Liabilities | $10.1M |
| Net Assets | $75.4M |
| Operating Margin | 24.0% |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio | 11.8% |
| Months of Reserves | 23.3 months |
Financial Health Grade: A
In 2023, Pro Publica Inc reported a surplus of $13.9M with revenue exceeding expenses, holds 23.3 months of operating reserves (strong position), has a debt-to-asset ratio of 11.8% (very low leverage).
Financial Trends
Over 13 years of filings (2011–2023), Pro Publica Inc's revenue has grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 15.6%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | +30.2% | +9.3% | +35.0% |
| 2022 | +23.7% | +18.1% | +4.2% |
| 2021 | -4.0% | +13.1% | +3.6% |
| 2020 | -4.4% | +5.5% | +14.5% |
| 2019 | +47.1% | +18.8% | +25.0% |
IRS Tax-Exempt Classification
| IRS Classification Codes | 1000 |
| IRS Ruling Date | 2008 |
Classification data from ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. Additional BMF data may be available after enrichment.
AI Transparency Report
Mission Effectiveness Score
NonprofitSpending's AI analysis rates Pro Publica Inc with a Mission Score of 90 out of 100 (Excellent). This score reflects the organization's overall financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance indicators derived from IRS 990 public filings.
Spending Breakdown
- admin: 10%
- programs: 85%
- fundraising: 5%
According to IRS 990 filings, Pro Publica Inc allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 10%, programs: 85%, fundraising: 5%. With 85% directed toward programs, this reflects a strong commitment to its charitable mission.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
- The organization reported a surplus of $13.9M, with revenue exceeding expenses.
- Debt-to-asset ratio: 11.8%.
Executive Compensation Analysis
Pro Publica Inc consistently reports 0% officer compensation across all available filings, which is highly unusual for an organization of its size and revenue. This either indicates that no compensation is paid to its officers, directors, trustees, or key employees, or that this specific data point in the provided filings does not capture the full picture of executive remuneration.
Executive compensation data is sourced from IRS 990 filings, which require nonprofits to disclose the compensation of officers, directors, trustees, and key employees. NonprofitSpending analyzes this data relative to the organization's total revenue and sector benchmarks to assess whether executive pay is reasonable.
Red Flags
The following concerns were identified during AI analysis of Pro Publica Inc's IRS 990 filings:
- Unusually low (0%) reported officer compensation across all filings, which may warrant further investigation into how executive leadership is compensated or if this data point is incomplete.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Pro Publica Inc:
- Consistent and significant revenue growth, from $10.3M in 2014 to $57.9M in 2023.
- Strong asset accumulation, growing from $6.8M in 2014 to $85.5M in 2023.
- Healthy financial position with assets significantly exceeding liabilities (e.g., $85.5M assets vs. $10.0M liabilities in 2023).
- Expenses consistently lower than revenue, indicating sound financial management and ability to build reserves.
Frequently Asked Questions about Pro Publica Inc
Is Pro Publica Inc a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Pro Publica Inc (EIN: 142007220) some concerns. Mission Score: 90/100. 1 red flag identified, 4 strengths noted.
How does Pro Publica Inc spend its money?
Pro Publica Inc directs 85% of its spending to programs and services. The remaining budget covers administration and fundraising costs.
Are donations to Pro Publica Inc tax-deductible?
Pro Publica Inc is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 142007220). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
What percentage of Pro Publica Inc's spending goes to programs?
Pro Publica Inc directs 85% to programs, 5% to fundraising. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark for efficient nonprofits.
How does Pro Publica Inc compare to similar nonprofits?
With a transparency score of 90/100 (Excellent), Pro Publica Inc is above average for NTEE category A20 nonprofits. The score reflects financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance quality based on IRS 990 data.
Where is Pro Publica Inc located?
Pro Publica Inc is headquartered in New York, New York and files with the IRS under EIN 142007220. It is classified under NTEE code A20.
How many years of IRS 990 filings does Pro Publica Inc have?
Pro Publica Inc has 13 years of IRS 990 filings on record at NonprofitSpending. This extensive filing history provides a strong basis for evaluating long-term financial trends. The most recent filing shows $77.2M in total revenue.
Is Pro Publica Inc a good charity?
Based on its strong financial growth, significant asset accumulation, and consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation, Pro Publica Inc appears to be a well-managed and financially healthy organization. Its mission focus on investigative journalism (NTEE Code A20) is supported by its financial stability.
How has Pro Publica Inc's revenue grown over time?
Pro Publica Inc has experienced substantial revenue growth, increasing from $10,324,275 in 2014 to $57,970,562 in 2023, and its latest reported revenue is $77,223,688. This indicates strong donor support and successful fundraising efforts.
What is the organization's asset growth trend?
The organization's assets have grown significantly, from $6,865,118 in 2014 to $85,514,123 in 2023, and currently stand at $108,058,174. This consistent growth suggests effective financial management and the building of a robust financial reserve.
What is the significance of 0% officer compensation?
The consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation is highly unusual for an organization of Pro Publica Inc's scale. It could mean that executive compensation is covered by other means not reflected in this specific 'Officer Comp' field, or that the organization truly operates with unpaid leadership, which would be a significant indicator of efficiency and dedication.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Pro Publica Inc showing financial trends over 13 years of public records:
Over 13 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), Pro Publica Inc's revenue has grown by 471.5%, moving from $10.1M to $58.0M. Total assets increased by 2281.2% over the same period, from $3.6M to $85.5M. Total functional expenses rose by 356.7%, from $9.7M to $44.1M. In its most recent filing year (2023), Pro Publica Inc reported a surplus of $13.9M, with revenue exceeding expenses. The organization holds $10.1M in liabilities against $85.5M in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 11.8%), resulting in net assets of $75.4M.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $58.0M | $44.1M | $85.5M | $10.1M | — | View 990 |
| 2022 | $44.5M | $40.3M | $63.4M | $5.6M | — | — |
| 2021 | $36.0M | $34.2M | $60.8M | $856K | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $37.5M | $30.2M | $58.7M | $884K | — | — |
| 2019 | $39.2M | $28.6M | $51.3M | $748K | — | View 990 |
| 2018 | $26.7M | $24.1M | $41.0M | $1.1M | — | View 990 |
| 2017 | $43.6M | $18.3M | $38.1M | $746K | — | View 990 |
| 2016 | $14.5M | $13.8M | $12.4M | $384K | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $17.0M | $12.5M | $11.6M | $285K | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $10.3M | $11.5M | $6.9M | $184K | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $13.8M | $10.3M | $7.9M | $95K | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $11.0M | $9.9M | $4.5M | $119K | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $10.1M | $9.7M | $3.6M | $252K | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $58.0M, expenses of $44.1M, and assets of $85.5M (revenue +30.2% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $44.5M, expenses of $40.3M, and assets of $63.4M (revenue +23.7% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $36.0M, expenses of $34.2M, and assets of $60.8M (revenue -4.0% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $37.5M, expenses of $30.2M, and assets of $58.7M (revenue -4.4% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $39.2M, expenses of $28.6M, and assets of $51.3M (revenue +47.1% year-over-year).
- 2018: Revenue of $26.7M, expenses of $24.1M, and assets of $41.0M (revenue -38.8% year-over-year).
- 2017: Revenue of $43.6M, expenses of $18.3M, and assets of $38.1M (revenue +199.6% year-over-year).
- 2016: Revenue of $14.5M, expenses of $13.8M, and assets of $12.4M (revenue -14.7% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $17.0M, expenses of $12.5M, and assets of $11.6M (revenue +65.1% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $10.3M, expenses of $11.5M, and assets of $6.9M (revenue -25.0% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $13.8M, expenses of $10.3M, and assets of $7.9M (revenue +25.6% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $11.0M, expenses of $9.9M, and assets of $4.5M (revenue +8.0% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $10.1M, expenses of $9.7M, and assets of $3.6M.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for Pro Publica Inc:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Pro Publica Inc is generated by NonprofitSpending's AI analysis engine. The data is sourced from publicly available IRS 990 filings accessed through the ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer API and IRS electronic filing records. The Mission Score, spending breakdown, and other analytical insights are produced by artificial intelligence and should be used as one of multiple factors when evaluating a nonprofit organization.
IRS 990 forms are annual information returns that most tax-exempt organizations must file with the IRS. These forms provide detailed financial information including revenue, expenses, assets, liabilities, and compensation of officers. NonprofitSpending processes this data to provide accessible transparency reports for donors, researchers, and the general public.
Disclaimer
AI-generated analysis based on IRS public records. Not financial or legal advice. Verify information directly with the organization.