RELIGION NEWS FOUNDATION

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Financial Vulnerability Assessment (Tuckman-Chang)

4 risk indicators measuring financial stability and operational resilience

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Financial Trends

Organization Details

Formation Year

1999

Legal Domicile

Principal Officer

DEBORAH CALDWELL

Phone

8447676397

Tax Period

2024-07-01 to 2025-06-30

RELIGION NEWS FOUNDATION, founded in 1999, is a community nonprofit in the Religion sector that reported $9.4M in total revenue in fiscal year 2024. Revenue surged 592% from the prior year, signaling strong growth momentum. The organization ran a surplus of $5.0M, a strong 53% operating margin.

Mission

TO ADVANCE THE PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING OF RELIGION AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF RELIGION JOURNALISM.

Program Service Accomplishments

Program 1

Expenses: $3,335,512 Revenue: $183,022

EDITORIAL: RNS EDITORIAL TEAM PROVIDES ORIGINAL REPORTING AND COMMENTARY ON RELIGION, SPIRITUALITY AND FAITH. JOURNALISTS COVER BREAKING NEWS, INVESTIGATIVE REPORTS, PROFILES, FEATURES AND EXPLAINERS THAT FURTHER THE UNDERSTANDING OF WORLD'S RELIGIONS. DISTRIBUTION INCLUDES THE WEBSITE, E-NEWSLETTERS, PODCASTS, SOCIAL MEDIA AND ONLINE EVENTS.

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Trantor Score

Financial Health Score (300–850) · Liquidity · Solvency · Sustainability · Efficiency

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Liquidity (40%) • Solvency (30%) • Sustainability (20%) • Efficiency (10%)

Financial Overview (2024)

Revenue Breakdown

Contributions & Grants $9,029,426

Program Service Revenue $279,030

Investment Income $188,421

Other Revenue $-56,118

TOTAL REVENUE $9,440,759

Expense Breakdown

Grants Paid $16,000

Salaries & Benefits $2,433,700

Fundraising Expenses $307,938

Program Expenses $3,335,512

Other Expenses $2,024,237

TOTAL EXPENSES $4,473,937

Year-over-Year Comparison

	2024	2023	Change
Revenue	$9,440,759	$1,363,996	+5.9%
Expenses	$4,473,937	$3,723,335	+0.2%
Net Income	$4,966,822	$-2,359,339	-3.1%

Key Indicators

✗ Grants to Organizations ✓ Grants to Individuals ✗ Lobbying ✗ Political Activity ✓ Foreign Activities ✗ Donor Advised Fund ✓ Schedule B Required

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Financial Health Indicators

Comprehensive financial analysis: Altman Z-Score, liquidity, solvency, sustainability, efficiency, and growth metrics

Financial Distress Indicator

Liquidity & Cash Position

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Altman Z-Score • Liquidity Ratios • Solvency Analysis • Growth Indicators • Efficiency Metrics

Governance

Voting Members

Independent Members

Employees

N/A

Volunteers

Governance Policies

✓ Conflict of Interest Policy

✓ Whistleblower Policy

✓ Document Retention Policy

Special Practices & Reported Activities

✗ Operated a School

✗ Operated a Hospital

✗ Provided First Class Travel

✗ Reported Conflict of Interest

✗ Reported Asset Diversion

✗ Excess Benefit Transaction

✗ Made Political Expenditures

✗ Engaged in Lobbying

✗ Operated Donor Advised Fund

✗ Maintained Art Collections

✗ Filed Form 720

Compensation of Officers, Directors & Key Employees

Total Officers

$403,302

Total Directors

$211,077

Key Employees

Highest Compensated

reported

Name	Title	Hours/Week	Role	Reportable Comp	Other Comp	Total
DEBORAH CALDWELL	CEO AND PUBLISHER	40.00	Officer Director	$192,500	$11,377	$203,877
KEN CHITWOOD	PAST VICE CHAIR	2.00	Officer Director	$7,200	$0	$7,200
DAVE ROBERSON	CHAIR	2.00	Officer Director	$0	$0	$0
SEAN COUGHLIN	TREASURER	2.00	Officer Director	$0	$0	$0
ROBYN TOMLIN	SECRETARY	1.00	Officer Director	$0	$0	$0
SHAHED AMANULLAH	VICE CHAIR	2.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
JU-DON MARSHALL	BOARD MEMBER	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
STEVE WALDMAN	BOARD MEMBER	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
ELAINE JUSTICE	BOARD MEMBER	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
THOMAS LEVINSON	BOARD MEMBER	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
BETSY SHIRLEY	BOARD MEMBER	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
WON KIM	BOARD MEMBER	1.00	Director	$0	$0	$0
JOHN TERRILL	PAST BOARD CHAIR	1.00	Officer Director	$0	$0	$0
LAURA WILSON	FINANCE DIRECTOR	20.00	Officer	$81,631	$5,455	$87,086
PATRICIA TERRELL	CHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER	40.00	Officer	$93,750	$11,389	$105,139
PAUL O'DONNELL	EDITOR-IN-CHIEF	40.00	Highest	$135,965	$41,819	$177,784
ROXANNE STONE	MANAGING EDITOR	40.00	Highest	$120,080	$15,240	$135,320
TYLER BORCHERS	OPERATIONS DIRECTOR	40.00	Highest	$140,875	$13,599	$154,474
ROBERT SMIETANA	NATIONAL REPORTER	40.00	Highest	$115,068	$31,369	$146,437

Note: Compensation data is self-reported by the organization on their Form 990. "Reportable Comp" includes salary, bonuses, and other reportable compensation from the organization and related organizations. "Other Comp" includes benefits, deferred compensation, and non-taxable benefits.

Historical Data

Year	Revenue	Expenses	Assets	Net Income
2025	$9,440,759	$4,473,937	$9,164,947	$4,966,822
2024	$1,363,996	$3,723,335	$4,217,463	$-2,359,339
2023	$6,642,797	$3,022,930	$6,441,621	$3,619,867
2022	$2,640,609	$2,888,581	$2,784,139	$-247,972
2021	$3,743,885	$3,518,588	$3,281,750	$225,297
2020	$1,614,862	$4,866,186	$2,980,651	$-3,251,324
2019	$6,985,764	$2,949,023	$6,200,250	$4,036,741