First Amendment Coalition

What it reported doing in 2024

Strategic litigation, education and advocacyfac uses integrated advocacy - litigation, education and policy advocacy - to advance open government, free-press rights, and the public's right to know. Some examples of important fac achievements in 2024: - successfully obtained preliminary injunction in federal court to prevent enforcement of California law criminalizing publication of sealed arrest reports - in clear violation of first amendment case law.- led coalition of 26 organizations to advocate for student journalist dilan gohill, 19, who was arrested june 5 while covering protests and the occupation of the stanford university president's office.- fac worked in the California legislature and at local governments across the state to advance laws and policies that strengthen first amendment and open-government rights, and to fight laws that would weaken those rights.- in federal court, challenged on first amendment grounds a local ordinance that criminalizes journalism by barring presence with intent to observe or record at "sideshows," dangerous automotive events that have frequently captured headlines in the bay area. - representing a student journalist at cal poly san luis obispo, fac obtained significant policy changes in how the university handles public records requests after filing a California public records act lawsuit against the university.- fac's work on amicus briefs throughout 2024, at both the trial court and appellate level, helped advance arguments in favor of free expression, press freedoms and open government.- as part of its press freedom initiative, fac represented, on a pro bono basis, several journalists who were subpoenaed in 2024 for their confidential sources and notes. Some examples of achievements in educating and empowering the public to use their rights: - hosted daylong watchdog workshop for central valley journalists. The training program provided tips and tactics on newsgathering issues, including accessing public records, covering public meetings, protecting confidential news sources and rights and risks surrounding recording in different settings. - trained second annual cohort of California local news fellows on covering open meetings and using public records for accountability journalism.- mentored early career journalists as part of national freedom of information coalition's foi boot camp for journalists of color.- fac responded to 1,111 queries on its free legal hotline, educating and empowering journalists, activists and others to use their rights to speak and publish freely, and to promote government transparency.- fac hosted and/or organized numerous workshops on press freedoms and government transparency laws. - updated and expanded our extensive library of published resources.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 60.1%; rating input score 60
• Program expense ratio: 60%; rating input score 60
• Fundraising efficiency: $4.36 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 15; 15th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 3 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 50
  • Compensation committee: Missing
  • Independent consultant: Missing
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Pass
  • Written employment contract: Missing
  • Compensation survey or study: Pass
  • Board or committee approval: Pass
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: Limited
• 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: 5 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 62
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Fail
  • Document-retention policy: Fail
  • CEO compensation review process: Pass
  • Other executive compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Fail
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 1.9%; rating input score 42; 42nd percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 1.17; rating input score 48; 48th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.03; rating input score 57; 57th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 52.6%; rating input score 2; 2nd percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 13.4% per year; rating input score 100; 72nd percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 11.4% per year; rating input score 100; 71st percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 9.7% per year; rating input score 100; 58th percentile among comparable filings