Mongabay Org Corp

What it reported doing in 2024

Journalism programs in 2024, mongabay published over 6,500 articles and videos in six languages, authored by about 750 individuals. This reporting attracted an average of just over six million visitors a month to our websites. Mongabay's team surpassed 100 members and we launched multiple initiatives after years of development to deliver more innovative and diverse storytelling, from data journalism to expanded reporting around the world. Mongabay's coverage was extensive, both geographically and thematically. Key editorial themes included tropical forests, wildlife conservation, the energy transition, indigenous rights, environmental defender protection, marine fisheries, coral reefs, planetary health, the circular economy and nature-based solutions addressing biodiversity loss, food security and climate change.notably, we debuted the mongabay data studio, an initiative that leverages data-driven storytelling to deepen readers' understanding of complex environmental issues. The data studio aligns with a broader effort to diversify content formats, including the unveiling of our redesigned news site in july. The new site integrates features like enhanced search capabilities, thematic special issues and multimedia offerings. These capacities enabled mongabay to publish a special issue on illegal airstrips in the peruvian amazon that used ai to visually search through satellite imagery and verify the information through investigative journalism. Similarly, mongabay achieved another long-awaited milestone with the establishment of a short-form news program, the newswire desk, filling a critical gap in covering breaking developments. By producing concise, timely updates, we expanded our appeal to general-interest audiences without compromising our hallmark depth. Mongabay continued to receive growing recognition for its achievements and reporting. A newsroom profile by the columbia journalism review further validated mongabay's reputation as a trailblazer in nonprofit journalism. The piece lauded our international presence and our ability to consistently uncover underreported stories. In a recent survey, 73% of contributing journalists stated their stories would have gone unpublished if not for mongabay.capacity-building programsmongabay we welcomed six new journalists into the fourth and fifth cohorts of the y. Eva tan fellowship program and saw the completion of the third cohort. Together, the nine journalists represented seven countries on three continents: kenya, bhutan, nigeria, pakistan, cameroon, india and brazil. In all, fellows produced 33 stories in english throughout the year, and three of those articles were collaborative reports examining common issues shared across regions. Several fellows have gone on to win additional fellowships, international awards and jobs at prestigious outlets in their home countries. Our spanish-language program completed its third cohort of fellows with journalists from ecuador, bolivia and honduras, and welcomed the fourth cohort. Mongabay africa launched its french-language fellowship. We received around 500 applications for the new program, from which 12 fellows were selected and trained in the sahel and congo basin across two cohorts. The fellows produced 37 articles and three short-form videos.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 66.8%; rating input score 67
• Program expense ratio: 91.1%; rating input score 91
• Fundraising efficiency: $33.25 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 69; 69th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 92.3%; rating input score 92; 8th 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: 3 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 38
  • Claims monitoring procedures: Pass
  • Requires narrative reports: Fail
  • Conducts field audits: Fail
  • May suspend future funding: Fail
  • Requires financial reports: Pass
  • Conducts site visits: Fail
  • Requires grant agreements: Pass
  • May require repayment: Fail
• Grant itemization coverage: 0%; rating input score 0; 4th percentile among comparable filings
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 92.3%; rating input score 92; 25th percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 9 of 9 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: Pass
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 29.3%; rating input score 88; 88th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 2.92; rating input score 74; 74th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.02; rating input score 91; 91st percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 10.2%; rating input score 20; 20th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 19.9% per year; rating input score 100; 90th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 21.6% per year; rating input score 100; 93rd percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 26.3% per year; rating input score 100; 94th percentile among comparable filings