Democracy Now Productions Inc

Overview

Mission

Democracy now productions, inc. Produces a daily, national, listener-sponsored / non-commercial public radio and television news show. Democracy now productions, inc. Fulfills its mission by training journalist interns and community video producers in the art of civic journalism.

What it reported doing in 2024

To promote democracy by providing a daily, national, listener sponsored/non-commercial public radio and television news shows. Democracy now productions, inc. Has pioneered a unique multi-media collaboration involving non-profit community radio, the internet, satellite and cable television. Democracy now productions, inc. Also provides training to journalist interns and community video producers in the art of civic journalism.

Operating model

Revenue model
Donor-supported. 93% of the money available for current operations came from contributions and gifts.
Distribution model
Direct operator. The filing allocates 100% of reported program-service expenses outside its grant, affiliate-payment, and member-benefit lines. This expense classification does not rule out separately announced grant awards.
  • Includes noncash contributions: Reported contributions include donated property or goods.

Nonprofit profile at a glance

EIN
010708733
IRS 990 coverage
2019–2024
Forms available
Form 990 2024
Headquarters
New York, NY, USA
Phone
2124319090
Rating
77
Verdict
SUPPORTED
Rating confidence
Moderate
Sector
Media, Communications Organizations

Official website

The verdict

SUPPORTED - A large share of available resources goes toward mission work and the filed numbers largely add up. Fundraising costs are high for each dollar raised and revenue has declined or grown slowly.

Rating breakdown

  • Financial Efficiency: 76
  • Transparency & Controls: 79
  • Accountability: 83
  • Sustainability: 59
  • Growth: 60

Detailed rating inputs

Financial Efficiency

  • Mission deployment rate: 79.3%; rating input score 79
  • Program expense ratio: 81%; rating input score 81
  • Fundraising efficiency: $11.52 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 42; 42nd percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

  • Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 62nd percentile among comparable filings
  • Pay-setting controls: 3 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 50
    • Compensation committee: Pass
    • Independent consultant: Missing
    • Other Form 990s reviewed: Pass
    • Written employment contract: Missing
    • Compensation survey or study: Pass
    • Board or committee approval: Missing
  • Foreign activity oversight: Limited
  • Grant itemization coverage: Limited
  • Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
  • Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

  • Independent voting board: 71.4%; rating input score 71; 12th percentile among comparable filings
  • Governance controls: 8 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 100
    • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
    • Whistleblower policy: Pass
    • Document-retention policy: Pass
    • CEO compensation review process: Pass
    • Other executive compensation review process: NotApplicable
    • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
    • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
    • Audit committee oversight: Pass
    • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

  • Operating margin: 3.8%; rating input score 49; 49th percentile among comparable filings
  • Total-asset coverage ratio: 3.81; rating input score 80; 80th percentile among comparable filings
  • Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.02; rating input score 88; 88th percentile among comparable filings
  • Officer compensation ratio: 11.7%; rating input score 15; 15th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

  • Program expense growth: 3.7% per year; rating input score 100; 31st percentile among comparable filings
  • Revenue growth: -1.6% per year; rating input score 0; 5th percentile among comparable filings
  • Asset growth: 2.2% per year; rating input score 100; 18th percentile among comparable filings

Details

  • Where the money goes: 79.3% of revenue deployed · 81% of spending went to programs
  • Governance: 5 of 7 board members independent · 8 of 8 filing controls reported
  • Programs: 1 filed program accomplishment · $8.1M in reported program spending
  • Leadership: top reported pay $262K · 12 people listed · 3 of 6 pay-setting controls reported
  • Highest-paid contractors: 2 contractors listed · $631K reported
  • Consistency: 33 of 33 current checks pass
  • Schedules: 6 filed schedules · includes major donors and executive pay
  • Filing history: 5 annual filings from 2019 to 2024
  • Contacts: How to reach this organization
  • Money network: 7 filed money-flow records
  • Grant readiness: Federal tax and exclusion status, award history, and grant-maker relationships.
  • People: Everyone the filings name, and which of them the filings identify by more than a name.

Leadership & pay

12 people listed

Highest reported compensation

  • AMY GOODMAN (PRESIDENT AND EXECUTIVE PRODUCER): $262,198 total reported compensation
  • JULIE CROSBY (EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR): $203,130 total reported compensation
  • JACQUELINE SAM (DIR. OF FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION): $182,554 total reported compensation

Source: IRS Form 990. Selected filing: FY2024.