Education Writers Association

What it reported doing in 2024

For more than 75 years, ewa has supported journalists covering education through professional development, community, resources, and recognition. As the national professional association for reporters, editors, producers, and other journalists on the education beat, ewa works to strengthen education journalism and elevate its impact. Ewas long-term vision is grounded in the belief that: strong education journalism helps create informed citizens and leaders. Informed citizens and leaders make better decisions about education. Better decisions lead to stronger student outcomes and a more engaged society. High-quality education reporting plays an essential role in public understanding of schools, colleges, policy, and learning. Supporting journalists and strengthening the beat are central to ewas mission. Organizational values ewas work is guided by four core values: quality - supporting members in producing accurate, insightful, and impactful journalism. Community - building connections among professionals covering education and encouraging collaboration and learning. Professionalism - promoting fairness, accuracy, transparency, and editorial independence. Diversity - encouraging a broad range of voices, perspectives, and experiences in journalism and coverage. Membership ewas primary membership includes reporters, editors, producers, freelancers, and journalism educators whose work centers on independent news media. Ewa also offers student and community memberships, including professionals who support education journalism or work in education-related communications roles. Training and events ewa offers year-round programs designed to strengthen journalists reporting skills and deepen knowledge of education issues from early childhood through higher education and workforce pathways. National seminar - ewas flagship annual conference featuring issue- focused sessions, practical training, networking, and the presentation of national journalism awards. Higher education seminar - a focused annual event exploring postsecondary education policy, practice, and reporting. Webinars - free virtual programs covering timely education topics and reporting skills. Professional learning communities - cohort-based learning experiences that bring members together over time to examine major issues in depth. Customized support reporting fellowships - competitive opportunities that provide funding and support for ambitious education reporting projects. Coaching and career support - confidential guidance for journalists seeking help with reporting projects, storytelling, or career development. Recognition national awards for education reporting - ewas annual awards program honoring outstanding journalism across multiple categories, including the fred m. Hechinger grand prize for distinguished education reporting and the ronald moskowitz prize for outstanding beat reporting. Online resources through education writers association at ewa.org, members can access governance information, membership services, event registration, expert resources, training materials, articles, and podcasts featuring experienced education journalists.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 64.1%; rating input score 64
• Program expense ratio: 77.7%; rating input score 78
• Fundraising efficiency: $25.16 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 65; 65th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 5 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 83
  • Compensation committee: Pass
  • Independent consultant: Missing
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Pass
  • Written employment contract: Pass
  • Compensation survey or study: Pass
  • Board or committee approval: Pass
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: 100%; rating input score 100; 72nd percentile among comparable filings
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 7 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 88
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • Other executive compensation review process: Fail
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 19.8%; rating input score 77; 77th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 1.94; rating input score 61; 61st percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.15; rating input score 51; 51st percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 27.6%; rating input score 7; 7th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 1.7% per year; rating input score 100; 20th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 4% per year; rating input score 100; 34th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 10% per year; rating input score 100; 58th percentile among comparable filings